Unless I'm missing something, the ergonomics look pretty similar to past Surfaces. I agree that they don't work particularly well as *lap*tops but it seems like a good compromise to get the true tablet ergos when the keyboard is detached. Having started using them after prior experience with X series Thinkpad tablets, they're much more pleasant to hold and ink on, even if the keyboard either needs to be awkwardly folded or go in a bag during standing tablet use.

I think the iPad with the Logitech Keyboard case works a bit better as a laptop replacement. You still get the flap at the back to hold it up, but the base is a flat surface, and it has reasonably decent keys. Software is a bit limited, but there is the Remote Desktop app to run Windows Software from another machine, but you should still get a proper laptop if that is your main intended use-case for it.

At work, I mostly use it to sign documents with the Apple Pencil, and as a second screen to run Teams while using my laptop for actual proper work.

Not sure how the author missed that the Surface Pro != Surface Book, it's been a decade. The author wants a Book... not a Pro.

I have 4 Pro's, a 13.5 Book and a 15in book. All 6 are running the Surface kernel with KDE. Touch and rotation is a little wonky when diverging from Gnome (I'm using xinput for corrections) but all in all they are the best Linux tablets/2-in-1's on the.marker.

The real draw back about the Book is that there is no USB ports so you have to use an adapter or hub. The real drawback about the Pro is the smaller screen. With the 15in Book, in CodeBlocks I get about 80 lines and 120 columns. With a Pro, I get about 50 lines and 80 columns.

While it should be obvious, you can't use a Pro as a laptop unless you get one of the 3rd party stands. To be honest, the Book works fine but for me it kind of wobbles a bit when used on my lap. The OEM keyboard is horrible for both.

FWIW, I don't use anything as a "laptop" because I use all monitors in portrait orientation (I seldomly edit video).

We're largely moving away from the Surface tablets unless an eligible user really wants one. For several years they've been issued to users who are frequent fliers or C-Suite level but the policy has changed for a few reasons.

Unless you are going to use it as a tablet regularly a laptop is more convenient for most purposes.

The overall cost of a surface for any given spec is significantly higher than the equivalent laptop.

A good 13" laptop isn't much bigger, or heavier, than a Surface tablet plus keyboard.

Laptop connectivity is generally better - you don't need to carry around a video/network/USB adapter.

We're constantly struggling to source Surface's reliably - MS themselves cancelled an order without even bothering to tell us, another previously reliable supplier sent the wrong keyboard and took 3 months to refund the cost, etc.

Laptop keyboards are far better.

Been fiddling with an el Cheapo Lenovo P11 using the pen and Gboard handwriting recognition interface.

I am quite impressed how well this pretty generic tech combo works. Even with my prescription standard handwriting it works surprisingly well.

I have composed a couple of A4+ sized emails taking perhaps 15% longer than on a desktop (Android 11/Bluemail v Linux/Evolution.)

Something like this with an A4 sized e-Paper display and ML enhanced handwriting recognition was what was envisaging as "just around the corner" 40 years ago. At that time I was more interested in being able to enter math and logic notations.

Of course we have always been fobbed of by the likes of these MS thigh cutters and Apple's thigh cookers (remember ;)

I was fascinated at the time by the GO PenPoint OS but never got my hands on any of the hardware or software only some of the developer documentation which I particularly remember as being extremely well written cf MS and other's efforts.

I found it to be an overpriced iPad pretending to be a convertible laptop. I couldn’t stand the keyboard. The fact that it ran Win 10 was good in some ways, terrible in others; notably, it had problems connecting to certain secure networks. As I needed it specifically to carry around and connect to various networks, this was a major problem. The fact that it cost more than an iPad but gave more trouble was the final straw. Fortunately it wasn’t actually mine, it was a work machine, and I traded it in for a Lenovo laptop. The Lenovo is also Win 10, but doesn’t have the connectivity issues. And has a much better keyboard. And a bigger display.

I am quite unlikely to try a Surface again. The company is dumping the Surface units, replacing them with Lenovos and iPad Pros.

Marvell chipset. Loads of issues. Later versions use Intel which is more stable.

Surface Pro keyboard - horrible thing!

Much prefer my Surface Book form factor - Laptop on Laptop - flip screen on keyboard so it sits nice with my Monitor on the desk. Sadly it's been superceeded by the much more expensive (I think) Surface Studio.

Also like my kids X360's as an option.

Unrepairable / unmaintainable e-waste.

But then I can say the same for an awful lot of hardware.

I believe that, for the last three generations (at least), they've improved from 'just above Apple' (on the basis of not engaging in component serialisation) to 'just a bit more above Apple' (on the basis of accessible, socketed storage). The Surface Books are 'quite a bit above Apple' because you can remove the keyboard without reaching for the heat gun, drilling any rivets or replacing the entire lower chassis.

Admittedly, Apple sets a very low bar.

Why would anyone buy a device with a form factor they don't like or a keyboard they can't stand? Both very personal choices. I've used Surface Pros for years and for me they've been a good compromise between laptop and tablet. I also had the same form factor X1 at work which was also very effective albeit heavier. For travel especially, the flexibility works well. In my experience, it is much easier to use a Surface on a train or plane, than it is to use a clamshell laptop. Perhaps my legs have more natural padding, but I don't find it uncomfortable to use on my lap occasionally. Only real issue with that is the cat likes to knock it over; I don't think we can blame Microsoft for that. Biggest complaint is serviceability. My current Surface Pro 7 has slowed to a crawl. I suspect a faulty SSD but this is the generation before they made them replaceable.

Because either:

1. They didn't think anyone would make something useless/horrible/untested... 'how bad can it be?'

2. Corporate IT got a deal, so in fact the user isn't the buyer

Same exact problems: contact points, design, too hot. As long as I used the provided (and oversized) Dell docking station (USB-C) for power, monitor, ethernet, wired mouse, it was decent, but could have used more memory. Starting Office apps were slow, as were some internet connections. Okay for a hotel room desk, but so is a regular laptop.

Granted, this was actually provided by the "customer" (hence anon) using their special flavor of Windows, requiring my special credentials smartcard + PIN for system and online app access Every Single Day. It was work that I couldn't do from my normal work laptop. I was glad to turn that thing in, and the next time a customer rep suggested getting me back inside their network I said "normal laptop or no deal". Turns out the current project didn't need internal access that bad after all.

I like my Surface Pro, but I understand why others wouldn't. A decision to buy the latest one would be based on the spec uplift from the previous version and the price point(s)

It would be useful to have a review from someone who had used one before - it's hardly a new form-factor

I've been using the Surface Pro since version 3, its a great device, rock solid and never have had issue with it. I travel 3 to 4 times per months and have never had issue using this devlce as a laptop. I love the form factor size and the ability to replace the keyboard whenever its needed. I've now had every version 3 to 8, didn't get the 9 since the cellular support is only in the ARM model which that is complete garbage. Overall they are great devices, we issue the Pro and Surface Laptop to all management and above in my company and have never had complaints.

This article, and the complaints therein, are over a decade late. Pretty much all the usability issues were identified and documented in the months following the launch of the 1st gen Surface in late 2012.