I’m looking for a cheap and portable tablet that I can use for writing. Microsoft Surface Pro tablets, at least around the gen 4 models, are rather cheap to buy used, and they seem decently well made. Naturally, were I to buy one, I would have to install Linux onto it.
I’ve been peripherally aware of the Linux Surface project for some time now. I looked at it recently, after having not for some time, and it seems that they have really made good progress compared to what I remember, and it’s making me much more interested in trying to install Linux on a Surface Pro.
Having never owned a Surface Pro, I’m not sure which models are the most reliable and sturdy. I’m not looking for something that’s the flashiest; I want something that works well. I want something pragmatic — something akin to the idea of an older era of Thinkpad (eg T460). I want a pen with low input delay and good accuracy, reliable and responsive touch controls, and a decent display. I was thinking the Surface Pro 4 might be a good choice, but it’s hard to know as there aren’t many videos out there of people installing Linux on them, so I’m wondering what your experience has been with Microsoft Surface Pro’s and installing Linux on one.
Cross-posts:
I don’t get this sentiment, not a m$ fan but the surface hardware always made sense to me. Full laptop specs in a tablet style shape with a unique and useful aspect ratio. Sure they gimped the processor but it’s still 4 times as much CPU as an ipad. It’s a shame that android or IOS seem to be the only truly usable tablet operating systems these days.
As a side note I’m pretty shocked still at how poorly windows 11 performs on my SP7. It’s weirdly bad considering it’s their own damn hardware. There have been improvements since these things ran Windows 8 but touch still feels like a gimmick rather than a first class experience.
Windows 10/11 really make the surface line feel sub-premium IMO, but you’re absolutely right that the hardware is pretty fucken solid.
the type covers are pretty ass though, i’d pay good money for a surface keyboard that’s like 5x thicker and has actual real switches.