Surface Go

I've been a Surface fan for several years. I have the Surface Pro 3, and tried the Surface Laptop. At this point in time, one of the more power intense devices isn't necessary for me. I actually returned the Surface Laptop because I didn't feel I used it enough. The Go hits the sweet spot for me because the size is perfect. I primarily use the device from the couch, so the smaller size is a lot nicer. It's very comfortable to hold and so lightweight! If you don't need this to function as a workhorse computer then it is perfectly adequate. I have a business laptop, so never do work from my personal computers. So for me, this is really all the computer I need. I'm not a gamer or editor, so I basically just browse web forums, watch youtube or Netflix, and other basic tasks. I have Word, Excel, etc installed too which is super nice. I think for people in my use case, the Go has plenty of power. The Go's speed is pretty good. At times it seems really fast, and at other times I do notice it is a little slower than more powerful devices. I mostly notice the slower speed when opening new apps or screens. I played a simple game from the Microsoft Store (one of those cooking themed games) and was surprised at how speedy the Go functioned. It really didn't lag at all while I played it. Videos also look crisp and clean on the Go. The only time I noticed the Go acting buggy was with the touch pad keyboard. There were occasions when the keyboard would not open when it was supposed to. The on screen keyboard is sufficient for web browsing, but I would much prefer an actual keyboard for doing a lot of typing. In this regard, I do think you should pick up a secondary keyboard for the Go. I would honestly just recommend the Microsoft keyboard made for the Go, since it was made for this device. It will connect to it perfectly and makes it really easy to travel with. However, if you are only going to use the Go from a desk and not travel with it much, you could probably just choose a cheaper keyboard. It is a shame Microsoft doesn't just include the keyboard with the purchase. Overall I'm really happy with the Go. For me it was a better fit than the Surface Laptop (also a good device but more power than I needed, and the size was preferable on the Go). The main cons are the keyboard not being included in the price tag and the general price of the Go (I bought the 8gb version). If the keyboard was just included in the package it would make the overall price easier to swallow. For basic tasks or as a secondary unit this is a great computer. It has the great build quality of a Surface device but in a more compact device.

There is a lot to love about this but it falls just short of perfect. Let me be upfront - I am a dyed in the wool Apple man and have been ever since Microsoft brought out widows 8 which I hated with a passion. At that point I already had an iPhone and iPad so going the whole hog with a MacBook seemed a no brainier. I still think it is the best integrated system there is but recently, the fact that iPad iOS is so limited has begun to annoy me. I still have to use a pc for work. This meant I was carrying around a notebook and pen (my iPad didn’t support the pencil) an iPad to be able to use all my productivity apps that my workplace wouldn’t allow me install or more likely didn’t exist on pc. I was about to update my iPad with a new one that used the pencil but I still needed a mobile platform for a full version of excel, not the iOS cut down version. So I looked at the Go. What’s to like? Well windows 10 is a breath of fresh air and is what Windows 8 should have been. I love the fact that on such a tiny gadget, I get full versions of office 365 which is perfect as I move from location to location and spend a hell of a lot of time on trains. To my utter amazement, when I set up my one drive, it recognised I had a work OneDrive account and gave me access without any todo which I fully expected from my super security conscious employer. I have chosen to break the mould and keep it in S mode. I find it largely fine. There are a few things I would love to put on it but I have realised I don’t actually need them. One is my cycling fitness training app the Sufferfest. (It’s on my old iPad) I would have to come out of S mode to be able to Download that because it’s not on the windows store. Also the kindle app isn’t on the Microsoft store!! What?!! That is a real shame actually and was nearly a deal breaker. I read a lot of technical books which I like to note in OneNote. I’ve got over it by having to use my kindle device which is far from ideal as still annoying. The reason for keeping it in s mode is I still don’t trust windows. Apples ecosystm just works. Windows does too but in my experience you need to know how too change the oil and spark plugs when you lift the bonnet. Not so with Apple. Windows S provides a nice safe environment which doesnt allow apps to mess with your settings and I love that. My old home PC take about 5 minutes to boot up because of all the garbage in my start up. I haven’t worked out how to get rid of it but then I use my MacBook all the time now. As a result, the fact this comes with an old and supposedly slow processor, I dont find it noticeably sluggish at all. I am sure 8gb and 120gb of solid state memory really helps but I also don’t do anything that hammers the processor like photo of film editing.I will use my Mac for that. I also don’t play games (life’s too short and there is a whole world to play in outside). I do use spreadsheets a lot. I say that but as a senior manager, I have many minions who do the heavy lifting but I do need to review their stuff. Some of the financial models we use can be fairly large and they seem to work just fine on the surface go. Similarly PowerPoint t and word seem fine and I have yet to find any presentations that are sluggish but then I haven’t had any yet with more than about 30 slides. I mainly use it for OneNote anyway, especially in meetings. With the pen it’s brilliant. I don’t need my notebook and pen anymore. The only bummer and I don’t know if it is the processor or not (I guess it probably is) I find the hand writing recognition software is slow, probably too slow for my needs. But, the accuracy of the recognition is seriously impressive. Another thing to like is the USBc port. I bought a little Lenovo adaptor that gives me a VGA type adaptor as well as HDMI and a USB port. To the usb port I have an old usb expansion port plugged in which means I can run it on a big screen as well as use external keyboard and mouse. Mind you, I don’t bother doing that much as the track pad and keyboard are fine, as is the screen (bar the gripes below). So what’s not to like. Well a few things bug me a little. Firstly, as an (ahem!) older gentleman, I like things big so I do t need my reading glasses all the time. Annoyingly, Microsoft have shrunk the icons to match the screen size. I am sure there is a setting that would enable them to be bigger and therefore probably fewer of them but I haven’t found it yet. Apple iOS icons are a decent size. When you’ve filled the desktop, they give you another page to swipe through. Don’t think this puppy does that. Shame. The second thing that is really annoying is that there doesn’t appear to be any anti glare. This is really annoying when i’m Commuting. Finally battery life sucks. The quoted 7 hours is laughable. I dont seem to get much more than 4 maybe 5 hours which is appalling. The good thing is i’m not often that far from a power plug so it’s not been a problem yet. Also, you can carve it with a USBc cable but it takes forever and doesn’t seem to work with the IPad uk usb charger unit. The charger that comes with it isn’t too bulky and the US one is nice and small. I don’t rate the Edge browser nor Bing as a search engine. I can’t seem to set another search engine such as DuckDuckGo or god forbid google as my default browser. However saving one as a favourite works but it’s an extra step to get onto the web. I have had a few problems with accessing one of my web enabled IOS productivity apps - Toodledo which I have using for years. It seems the version of java or whatever gizmo needed to get the full benefit isn’t up to date enough and working out how to do updates in S mode was a complete pain, thankfully sorted for me by the flagship Microsoft store on Oxford Street, London. As it happens, I discovered Microsoft ToDO which does what I want really well. Finally the Microsoft store is pants really! There’s not a busting amount on it given the huge quantity of software available for download from vendor sites. Ok, you can always come out of S mode but for someone with no interest in knowing how to tinker under the bonnet, I want a device which just works. Windows has never been that OS. I think windows 10 S has the potential but I am probably the only review that likes the idea and reality of S mode (to a point). Overall, I am really happy with this and it does what I need. I’d still prefer to use an iPad at the end of the day but that is probs it because I am used to them. But until they introduce a Mac OS like windows 10 that can work on their iPads and therefore do all I need with MS office, I will stick happily to my surface go. I think Microsoft are onto a winner and maybe if they clear some of my minor niggles for the Go version 2, it really will become a fantastic go to tablet that is an iPad killer. Just no cigar yet Microsoft!

If you need a PC to do light work and can live with a 10 inch display, you'll love it. Or maybe you want a tablet that can be more than just that. I like the whole philosophy behind it, a device that you can take anywhere and use it in all your activities. After using it at work I can take the keyboard off and watch a movie or browse the web while listening some music or use a pen to do some digital painting as a hobby, It's just so versatile. I think this is the closest thing to what Microsoft wanted to achieve with the Surface line. Even closer than the already great Surface Pro. And there's this premium feel to it. The magnesium body feels very solid, the kickstand doesn't move if you don't want to and if you pair it with the Alcantara keyboard it's just a very different experience that you can feel. And yet it's so light. You'll have a disappointing experience touching a plastic laptop after using one of these. The downside is that it isn't precisely cheap. If you want it to be more than a tablet, you'll have to add the type cover keyboard, around $100 or more if you buy a Microsoft one (it's also great but I'm not reviewing it here). This just happens to be an affordable Surface product, and they're always expensive. But also so versatile and innovative that you'll find they worth it. It's also very sturdy. I found that out yesterday (there was a dog involved), it fell from a feet high right on the edge of the screen. I thought I would find a shattered or cracked display, but there was nothing on it. Not even on the edge, not a single dent or scratch on the whole thing, and it's working like if nothing happened (I'm using it to write this review). Most people complain about relatively short battery life but you can work for hours on it. I get it to work the whole day with the screen at its darkest and the battery saving mode on. Unless you use it outside that's enough brightness and performance for what you'll be using it. Another common complain are the thick bezels, but they're there for a reason, which becomes very obvious when you use it like a tablet. This might not be the device for you if what you want is high performance for CPU or graphic demanding tasks (and of course it's far from being a gamer PC) or if you really hate Windows. But if you're looking for a portable PC/tablet you can't go wrong with this. It's light, sturdy, completelly silent, has a sleek desing and offers a full desktop experience. And if you already own a Surface Pro you'll find this fascinating and even charming. It's a scaled down version of it.

In the current 10-12" market, nothing else ticks all the boxes that the Surface Go does. Small and lightweight, Windows 10, "2-in-1"-esque device with optional detachable keyboard, USB-C charging, touch screen, great cameras front & back for Zoom calls. It looks and feels like a grown-up device that I can use for work, and stands apart from the weaker (and more colorful) kids' toys in its size range. Currently a 1st gen Go can be picked up second-hand for within the same price range as anything else new in its size. No matter how you slice it, I felt like this was by far the best and most valuable option available to me. Speaking of kids - definitely don't give this to your kids. Probably my biggest complaint about these things is their fragility. Out of the batch that I deployed for a work project for use by adults, about half of them ended up with broken touchscreens, even in protective cases. The second-hand market reflects the fragility of these screens. You can often contain the damage with some electrical tape around the bezel and still end up with a usable device. Something else about the hardware also seems to cause these tablets to be prone to failure. A few of the ones at my job just stopped turning on altogether. I am actually on my second personally-owned one for the same reason. In spite of these issues, as much as I wish they were built to last longer, I would still recommend a Go to any adult specifically needing a super-portable Windows device in the 10-12" size range. You really can't beat them. They're a joy to use, and great little devices with a lot to offer for their size.

Why I love this thing, it's because it does way more for me than what tablets promised to do. If you are looking at chromebook type devices, this is a much more versatile device imo. It's a full windows OS so I never need to think "will it run this program that I normally use". It will. I wouldn't recommend it for use over 3+ continuous hours because this is a 10" screen afterall and it will strain your eyes especially if you like smaller fonts. The GO works perfectly for me because from time to time I need to log into work to do work and I don't feel like carrying my laptop with me everywhere in case I need it. GO is much lighter and is perfect for those cases where I need to spend 45 minutes logging into the office to restart a server/service etc. But being a regular laptop it works offline. While you won't be able to do much with mobile apps since windows mobile app is pathetic. But for content consumption like watching movies, you are better off with windows than ios or android because you have access to full VLC, windows media player and all the other wonderful tools that doesn't required a walled off garden and the permission of a giant corporation to be allowed to install it. I don't care if MS likes it if I install something or not because they can't control it. So I no longer have to carry a laptop and a tablet when I travel. This is sufficient. From a practical stand point, think of what you can do with a i3 processor and thats what the surface GO can handle easily. Adobe Premiere seems perfectly fine. I wouldn't try hard core gaming. It's not designed for that kind of stress. Anything else, it will run fine. It won't get hot, no throttling. Don't like that it only have 1 USB C and no USB A. Don't like the idea of dongles on a mobile device. Defeats the purpose. The alcantara keyboard is very responsive but I find that I do make more typing mistakes because of the size. But it's still comfortable enough to write a document without making me Rage. First thing I did was get rid of Windows S (stands for stupid) and go right to Windows 10 Pro. I already have a surface book so I didn't need to buy a pen. For those complaining that this doesn't come with a pen. I personally would have hated a pen to be included because nothing is free and they would have jacked up the price of the base model with a pen. Since I already have a pen why would I buy another one? One nice thing you can do is that win 10 now supports casting from your android and ios devices (latter is more temperamental because well ... Apple). So I can navigate through youTube or kindle on my phone and cast it directly to my Surface GO and get a bigger playback screen. It's basically remote desktop for mobile devices but with view only. Doesn't take a genius to realize that MS is eventually going to make interaction possible ala remote desktop. So for 1-2 hours workload or not knowing when you need to work so you need to carry a laptop with you always, I'm thrilled with this device. I got it during the holidays and deals. Paid $403 for the device with 8gigs ram/ 128gig ssd. $105 for the alcantara keyboard. Another $30 for a 128gig microSD. Biggest gripe is that I wish the bezels were smaller and the screen closer to 11". If they just improve palm rejection there wouldn't be a need for thick bezel. 2nd gripe is the lack of USB A. A minor gripe would be the power supply is not the same as my surface book which has a usb A on it for charging devices. They could have just used the same charger.

EDIT, 8/18/18 - So it's been almost a week since I've had my Surface Go. I still love it, but I'm beginning to see the limitations of this device. The limitations are due to Windows 10, not the hardware itself. And I feel that these limitations are very slight--slight enough for me to keep the rating at 5 stars. I feel that these tiny issues are ones that can be adjusted or fixed with software updates, and that's fine with me. The device is still great as-is, but Windows 10 needs little tweaks to make the device better--that's all I'm saying. Personally, I think the issue here is that Windows 10 isn't built for mobile devices. It's still for devices that are meant to sit on a desk or table and aren't nearly as portable--like PCs. The Surface Go is great because it's so portable, but it can be better. For that to happen, Microsoft needs to tailor Windows 10 to make mobile devices like the Surface Go function like a mobile device should. For instance, as it stands right now, I can't listen to music or podcasts with the screen off. I can do that with my iPhone or iPad. But I have to babysit the Surface Go, just like I have to babysit my PC at home. I have to be sitting around, making sure the Surface Go remains awake. Sure, I could mess with power management settings, but why should I have to do that? The competition doesn't require me to do that. Microsoft needs to match that. Many mobile devices have widgets or other controls that can be accessed without unlocking the device. I feel that Microsoft has to match this, too, with Windows 10. It also needs widgets that can be accessed without having to unlock the device. Just very basic controls--turn wifi on or off (for real, not this garbage with Apple disconnecting from wifi for a day), and basic audio controls. Finally: Windows apps should be optimized so that a user can get away with using programs without a stylus or keyboard of some kind. Along with the Surface Go, I have an Ockel Sirius A that I got through an Indiegogo campaign earlier this year--that device has a screen that's about the same size as your average phablet, and it runs on Windows 10. A stylus, mouse or trackpad is definitely needed if you want to get work done on it, even if you plug a lager monitor into the Sirius A. I understand that--Windows 10 just isn't built for a screen that small. But I don't think there's any excuse for a device like the Surface Go that has a screen that's, what...about 10.5"? Like an iPad? And on an iPad, users are expected to be able to use apps on that tablet without needing a stylus or trackpad of some kind. But I can't say the same for the Surface Go. Some of those icons--like taskbar icons, or some of the buttons or drop-down menus I've seen in iTunes, as two examples--are still too small to select them with just a finger. You'd still need a stylus/mouse/trackpad to use the Surface Go as-is. And, sure...of course you can mess around with the display settings on the Surface Go to fix this. But again--why should I have to do that when the competition doesn't require me to do that, and the apps on the competition's devices work just fine without extra hardware of some kind? Overall: Microsoft is getting there when it comes to mobile devices, but it also still has a ways to go to keep up with the competition. ORIGINAL REVIEW: I just got my Surface Go yesterday, and I have to say—it’s a genuinely nice device to have. I like it a lot. I plan on using the Surface Go as a “workhorse” device. I do a lot of writing and I work with spreadsheets, so that’s mostly what I’ll be doing on the Surface Go. I also have iTunes on it—I’m in the middle of downloading some albums to it right now—and I’m downloading some Netflix shows to watch later. The Surface Go can handle all of this very well—and I plan on keeping it in S mode, just to see how far I can go with this device being this way. Word and Excel docs, along with iTunes and Netflix, is pretty much all that I need a device like the Surface Go to handle. I’ve seen at least one tech reviewer (iJustine?) play Fortnite on her Surface Go review unit, so it’s not impossible to do it. It’s just—playing games is not a priority of mine for a device like this one. I want this device to be the one that I’ll do some actual work on. If I want to do fun stuff, I’ll use my smartphone. Overall: I think the Surface Go is a nice device to have if you want a backup computer—something to do the bare minimum of what you expect your average computer to do. Also, just remember who this device is supposed to be for: students and enterprise. If you’re in a school or business environment, then this’ll be a great device to have.

Ive been messing around with this computed for a few weeks now, Ive previously been partial to apple computers. I figured ive give this a go and reminisce of my old windows days. THIS COMPUTER MUST BE BOUGHT WITH ALL ATTACHMENTS OTHERWISE IT MAKES EVERYTHING VERY COMPLICATED. I initially wanted a tablet I could doodle on and travel with and really wish i would have just paid a little extra and got an ipad pro or spent less and just bought a chromebook or something. In a nut shell everything about this computer is complicated... typing, drawing, clicking buttons, pretty much everything. It has a computer and tablet mode which changes how the computer works; for example tablet mode changes the desktop space layout and pops up a keyboard when you click in a typing space - computer mode does not activate a keyboard, so unless you have one bluetooth you need to switch to tablet. Clicking to navigate on webpages just stops working sometimes. Certain web sites like hulu has been very buggy and the app straight up doesn't work... Don't waste your money! This thing is probably the least intuitive device I've ever used when it comes to SO many things even as basic as spell check. AGAIN CERTAINLY DON'T BOTHER WITHOUT THE KEYBOARD AND PEN EVERYTHING IS NEEDED, BUT AGAIN DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON THIS THING! Im really confused with all of these positive reviews.

This little machine is the best secondary device I have ever owned! I can take this tablet anywhere and spend hours watching videos, writing code, answering emails, remotely connecting to my cloud servers, reading ebooks -- it's almost as capable as a full laptop in a tablet form factor. What makes this most surprising is that I am really not a fan of Microsoft. I am a hardcore Linux user, and have been using Ubuntu Linux as my primary desktop since 2012. I write code professionally, generally with non-Microsoft tech like Node, Python, and React. I wanted to write a review for other software developers. Here is what I can do on this Surface Go: - Connect to remote servers with ssh. Tunnel via ssh and connect via Remote Desktop to Windows machines. - Build and debug Node.js and React applications with VS Code. - Build and debug python applications with VS Code. - Using WSL to mount micro SD card (formatted NTFS) and clone Git repositories. - Run node applications with npm on WSL. - Installed VirtualBox and run docker on Ubuntu Server guest. (Vt-x is enabled.) Create and run MongoDB, MySQL, Nginx, etc. docker containers without issue. - Type on the keyboard 95% as fast and comfortably as my full size keyboard. - ...and watch movies, read books, surf web, send emails, etc. Performance is surprisingly good. I'm not expecting i7 level speed, but this is remarkably faster than atom based machines I've owned. It really exceeded my expectations. I was tempted to wipe the machine and install Ubuntu right out of the box. However, I decided to try out Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). I'm glad I did. It's been a seamless integration experience so far. I installed Node via nvm, git, and other utilities in WSL. I run VS Code to edit code that I've cloned into a folder on the SD card. Docker works with Docker Toolbox (using Virtualbox). Though, I decided to just create a normal VirtualBox VM and run docker from there. The Pentium Gold 4415Y supports virtualization just fine. I wouldn't use this as my primary work machine. (I have a Lenovo x270 i7 with multiple monitors for that.) But, if you are a technical user like me and have been searching for a device you can take anywhere (bookstore, coffee shop, airport) and be productive without sacrificing a lot of utility, then this is it! I think Microsoft actually nailed it with the Surface Go.

Before deciding to purchase this, I watched and read many reviews online. The Surface Go has received so much hate and I just don't understand why. This isn't meant to be used as the main computer. However, it is perfect as a browsing and media machine. The build quality on Surface products is nothing short of incredible. The body is all metal and is incredibly sturdy and exudes quality. The hinged stand which is a staple of Surface devices is nothing short of amazing. You can set it at any angle and it just works. It is incredibly secure and never slips. The only issues I have with the Go is the bezels (I wish they were a bit smaller), and only having one USB-C port. It would have been amazing to be able to charge the Go through one USB-C connection while I use the other for attaching devices. Yes, I know you can use the included charger which attaches to the expansion slot, but I find it so much easier to just charge though USB-C even if it is slightly slower. Not needing to bring a separate charger just for this computer and instead charge it with the same cable I would for my phone is so much more convenient. As a computer, this works for browsing. I have personally taken it out of S-mode so I can install any Windows application on it I want. With 8GB of RAM and the 128GB SSD, the performance isn't bad at all. It isn't the most responsive when using Chrome on large web pages, but that is to be expected. Chrome is fairly resource intensive. On the other hand, using Edge it easily handles any page you can throw at it. Windows productivity software like Excel, Word, and Power Point work exactly as you would expect them to. Communication software works perfectly as well. One of the things I really like about the surface line is the face unlock. It does use an IR light so you won't have any issues unlocking it even in the dark. Doing so is incredibly fast and it pains me having to type in a password manually on my desktop computer. One thing I am unable to review is the Surface keyboard. If I need a keyboard I will just connect to one wirelessly through Bluetooth. The stylus is great though. It does fall short of something like a Wacom tablet but is usable for drawing and perfect for a mouse substitute. For a media tablet this checks every box as well. I installed K-Lite Codec Pack on it and it has no issues playing anything I can throw at it. Even 50GB+ 4k movies with DTS audio streamed over the network from my server are no problem at all for this. Same with 4k YouTube videos. The speakers are quite surprising. They are loud, clear, provide a decent amount of bass, and are actually stereo. The screen is excellent quality with a great contrast ratio and vivid colors. The battery life when viewing media is also more than enough for a cross-country flight. Now, the heart of the matter is value. The Surface Go isn't a cheap device. Yes, it is primarily a tablet. But it is also so much more. The build quality is on par with the new iPad Pro's. But the iPad is almost twice the price, has half the storage, and is running a mobile OS. You can do everything on this you can with a tablet, while still having the flexibility of a full computer. To me, this is a win-win situation. The intended customer for this isn't someone looking for a $250 Android tablet. The customer who should be getting this will mostly be using it as a tablet, while still wanting the option to use it as a full computer when they are on the go. For that, the Surface Go is perfect.

Excelente relación calidad precio. Es el producto perfecto para quien busca movilidad y versatilidad en un solo producto. El rendimiento es aceptable para navegación por internet y actividades de ofimática. Pero evitalo si lo quieres para jugar o editar foto o vídeo. Sus capacidades no son las adecuadas. La calidad de construcción es excelente. La batería dura alrededor de 6 hrs en el modo ahorrador.

Ich arbeite oft mit Schreibpads, und wenn ich einen Vortrag gebe, brauche ich ein Tablet, was keine Probleme hat, meine handschriftlichen Notizen sofort über Beamer oder Smart-Board umzusetzen. Das Surface Go packt es sehr gut! Ich hatte vor ein paar Monaten ein günstigere Marke gekauft und leider war das Tablet von der günstigeren Marke nicht so gut.

لم يصلني ????

La Surface Go es justo lo que buscaba, necesitaba algo muy portátil para poder viajar y trabajar, principalmente en word, excel, leer y anotar pdfs, algo que no se puede hacer muy bien en las tablets. Llevo una semana utilizándola y ha funcionado excelente. Compré el teclado y el lápiz...siento que el lápiz está de más, pero es muy práctico cuando no uso el teclado. Le quité el modo S desde el inicio para poder tener mi administrador de citas de mendeley (el plugin de citas en word funciona!) y otras aplicaciones, todo va bien.