Great portable computer. I have the Surface Pro 3 so I am familiar with the Surface family. I decided to see how long I can use the Surface Go with windows 10 S OS, which means that you can only install apps from the MS Windows Store...so far, so good. If I have a need to upgrade to Windows 10 Home, the switch is very easy via the Windows Store...just remember, you may have to update the Windows Store app then the upgrade to Windows 10 Home, for free, is available.
I use this as a secondary computer to surf web, watch Netflix, work on MS Office documents...works exactly as advertised.
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.
I think the Surface Go is a fantastic device if you don't set your expectations unreasonably high. For reference, I got the 64GB base model, a black type cover, and a Surface pen.
After unboxing, setup takes slightly longer than "just a moment" as the device likes to say, but if you've already got a Windows 10 device, it's pretty quick and easy. Following the initial startup, the device will need to download a variety of updates, but within 2 hours or so mine was fully up to date after multiple installations, restarts, etc... standard computer update affairs.
I switched it out of "S mode" almost immediately, because I didn't want to be bootstrapped to the Microsoft store, and it's nice that they give you the option. It doesn't require any restart or anything, and allows you to install apps from anywhere.
Regarding performance, I have done email, lots of internet browsing and video watching, movies, drawing, and light photo editing and social networking. The device is not lightning fast and it doesn't need to be. It rarely lags more than a second or 2 to open programs but if you're used to a higher performing desktop or laptop then you will notice. The glossy screen is beautiful and photos and videos look great. There are front firing speakers that sound pretty decent but not much better than your average smartphone speakers, but this is understandable. The device makes zero noise as well, no fans or spinning disks are present here and it rarely gets hot to the touch.
Really any light duty thing you would do on a normal Windows 10 PC can be done here. And that's where this thing shines, it's versatility is just head and shoulders above laptops because of how wonderfully portable it is. It feels sturdy, good in the hand or in the lap, and the fully adjustable kickstand is magnificent. In my opinion, the add on keyboard is absolutely essential. It clips on quickly and easily with nice strong magnets. The keys are small and take some getting used to, but having a full keyboard with back-lighting in this form factor is amazing. They are far better than on screen typing. The trackpad is also wonderful, it looks silly large on there but that is a good thing. It's responsive and has a nice clicky feeling.
I don't think that the Surface Pen is nearly as essential, but it is fun and works excellent. I could see myself using it for casual note taking, there is virtually no noticeable lag.
The charger the device comes with has a proprietary port, but you can also charge it via USB-C, which is great if you have a phone with that port, because you only need one charger while you travel.
The only things worth complaining about on this device are made up for by its sturdy build and excellent functionality. It makes a fantastic bridge between the smartphone and PC, perfect for when a smartphone just isn't enough and a full size PC is too much. You don't even need to stow it during takeoff and landing on planes!!! So, set your expectations to a realistic level and the Surface Go, even the base model, will meet them.
As an added bonus personally, the Surface Go has helped me use my smartphone less, to the point that I removed most social media from my phone. When you don't have Facebook and Instagram in your pocket at all times, it is pretty amazing how quickly you realize how often you used to mindlessly scroll through your feeds. So you could say it has made me more mindful of my screen time and helped me leave both it and my phone in my pocket or out of reach more often, which we could all use a break from now and then.
One more thing... this one is just a tip. Don't buy office! This device has a small enough screen that it qualifies for the free version of MS Office Mobile. Search online for how to get them!
UPDATE 2/4/19: I've owned this for several months now and have had zero issues. Changing out of S mode and installing Chrome and other non-Windows store programs has been no problem, no noticeable impact to memory usage or performance. Battery life is still good, just a great little device to have.
This is an outstanding device for what it was made for. Received it yesterday and found it to be more, much more, than I expected. The quality build is what you would expect from the surface line. The battery life could be better, but until the battery industry provides improved battery size, weight with performance, this is what we have to deal with for this size screen and quality with an intel chip. Most reviewers are bashing this thinking it should do what the surface pro does, how comical and disrespectful of their responsibility as professional tech authorities. My advice is to try it for yourself. Don't listen to the naysayers. This is an outstanding mobile device that has the ability to do on the go what you couldn't otherwise do with this size package. Are there improvements to be made, yes. But we didn't get the surface pro out the door before we had to deal with surface pro, 2,3, and 4...just saying :)
Just a couple things on the other review.
1. Upgrading to Windows Home from S mode was a breeze. Not sure what the other review was talking about, and it's free.
2. Your going to have updates. This product was built and packaged way before they could update it with the latest firmware and other neccesarry improvements. Before you start using it, always go to update it to the latest software and firmware improvements. It didn't take long at all.
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.
Feature Product
- High-res 10" PixelSense Display designed to be viewed, touched, and written on
- Lightest Surface yet, starting at 1.15lbs; Touch: 10-point multi-touch
- All-day battery life, with up to 9 hours of unplugged power; Ambient light sensor
- Runs Windows 10 Home in S Mode, streamlined for security and superior performance
- Includes multi-tasking USB-C, fast-charging Surface Connect, and headphone jack. Use it in Laptop, Tablet or Studio Mode
Description
New 10” Surface Go is perfect for all your daily tasks, giving you laptop performance with tablet portability, a stunning touchscreen, and the Windows and Office experience you know. From email, browsing, and home projects to unwinding with a favorite TV show, Surface Lingo is by your side wherever you are — with up to 9 hours1 of battery life, built-in HD cameras, hassle-free connectivity, and all the ports you need, including multi-tasking USB-C.
Disclaimers:
- Battery
life: Up to 9 hours of video playback. Testing conducted by Microsoft in June 2018] using preproduction Intel Pentium Gold 4415Y Processor, 128GB, 8GB RAM device. Testing consisted of full battery discharge during video playback. All settings were default except: Wi-Fi was associated with a network and Auto-Brightness disabled. Battery life varies significantly with settings, usage, and other factors.
- Windows
10 in S Mode works exclusively with apps from the Microsoft Store within Windows. Certain default settings, features, and apps cannot be changed. Some accessories and apps compatible with Windows 10 may not work (including some antivirus and accessibility apps), and performance may vary. If you switch to Windows 10 Pro configuration (fee may apply), you can’t switch back to Windows 10 in S Mode. Learn more at Windows.com/Windows10SFAQ.
This is what i always wanted, something small and compact that i can carry around when i go traveling or use in a hotel.
I really like the Microsoft Hello that let you unlock or log in windows with your face, it really quick, it takes like 1 second or less to recognize you. This surface only has a USB-C port which i like it alot, just get a USB-C hub and you can connect anything to it like HDMI to TV, use wired internet, or connect your other USB devices to it. You can also charge your surface with USB-C, no need to carry an extra cable, just use the same USB-C cable as your samsung galaxy phone.
It preinstall with Windows Home-S which only let you install apps or programs from the Microsoft store, but you can switch to Windows Home for free which let you install any programs.
My only complain is when you scroll the screen up or down, it's not very smooth and sometime there' a lag like half a second, like your move your finger up/down, the screen moves the screen half second later.
I have been using the Surface Go with 8GB of RAM for a couple months now and have become a big fan of what Microsoft has created. The tablet ships with a light version of Windows. I would have been content with keeping that version if the Microsoft App Store wasn't a ghost town. I opted to complete the one time upgrade to Windows Home, which I recommend as you will have access to a far greater selection of applications. One note of caution is that the Surface Go is a smaller form factor so utilizing certain legacy applications may be frustrating as menus and controls are small and hard to control with touch.
I also purchased the optional type cover as I intended on utilizing the tablet for productivity apps and it works great with the tablet. It is a great accessory that makes the tablet far more useful.
I have used Samsung and Apple tablets along with a Pixelbook as I needed small form factors for traveling with that also could be great media consumption devices. For productivity purposes the Samsung and Apple tablets were frustrating compared to the Surface Go especially in comparing the attachable keyboards and how well OneDrive and Office 365 work. For media consumption the Apple and Samsung tablets were better only because they have a native Amazon Prime Video app. For some reason Microsoft has not prioritized getting Amazon to produce a native app for their tablets yet. If they do this will make the Surface Go as good as the Apple and Samsung devices for offline Streaming services. The Windows OS is better than iOS and Samsung's corrupted Android due to its versatility especially with file management and being largely application agnostic. Apple does not want to make it easy unless you use Apple services while Samsung can't streamline their file management.
The Pixelbook's Chrome OS there really is clunky compared to what can be done with the Surface. The Pixelbook is elegant and has the best keyboard I've used, yet the Chrome OS is challenging and hasn't figured out how to make Android apps work seamlessly on the platform. With the switch to the Surface I also ditched the Google line of productivity apps that suffered inefficient interfaces and seemed half-baked with limited features. Although Office 365 does cost money and Google's does not, you get what you pay for.
If you do not want to be tied to a single ecosystem that is stifling and expensive (Apple) and want a more refined experience than what Google has achieved with Android or Chrome then the Surface Go is a great option. This is the first table I've actually come to be a fan for.
I gave the tablet 5 stars for the quality of the device and OS. I wanted to give this product less of a glowing review due to the ghost town of the app store, but that should not be solely Microsoft's fault as developers are free to do what they want. That being said Microsoft makes up for a lot of missing functionality due to its legacy desktop apps that can be accessed if the OS is upgraded to Windows Home.
Now Microsoft needs to really spend money to get developers on board to make this OS more useful in tablet mode.
I have been looking for the perfect combination computer and tablet for ten years. They finally DID it. The new Surface Go is really light and thin, so it's easy to handle and take with you, and the size is perfect. It seems sturdy, and I don't worry about it being fragile. The screen resolution is fabulous. I also got a large screen monitor, and when I'm using my Surface Go as a desktop, I connect it to that. We just got new speakers with a huge subwoofer, and the sound from this is awesome. The Surface Go has 3 ports: a headphone jack (that's where I plug in my speakers), a tiny USB-c port, and the special port for the charging cord. You HAVE to get an adapter to use usb-a things (regular size) with this. I bought four different adapters until I found my favorite: the Lention USB-c Multi-Port Hub with 4K HDMI Output. Then I can plug in 4 things plus my hdmi cord from the big monitor. I didn't buy the Surface keyboard, but use a wireless full size keyboard with it. When I use it as a tablet, the on-screen keyboard pops up, and I use that. The 8 gbs of RAM are perfect for my use, and the storage memory is quite adequate. I can fit all my documents and music, but only some of my photos. I use an external hard drive for backup and for my photos. If you stream all your music, then you could fit all your photos. I always copy my music, though, so my music takes up a lot of space. I also bought the wireless pen. It will write on a blank page from Microsoft Word. If you choose to buy the latest Word, it will do handwriting recognition, too. There are also sticky notes and notes apps that work with this computer and the pen. So, this is IT, the perfect tablet/desktop. Highly recommended. Oh, and Windows 10 works with all my old software. Cool.
I was looking for a hybrid computer to use for my personal life. I have a designated work computer for my business. I wanted something I could take with me everywhere and use for reading, movies, shopping, videos, etc... I have used it to stream music, Netflix, shop and write reviews on Amazon. :-) This computer has fit all my criteria and beyond.
Exactly what I was looking for! It's perfect for media consumption and light productivity when I'm on the go. Switching from S mode to Windows 10 Home is free and a breeze (note: if you want to upgrade to the pro version of Windows 10, you would have to pay $99 as of writing). Battery life is as expected and everything runs smoothly. I'm happy to see that it borrows a lot of features from the Surface Pro line that I was not expecting (unlike previous years), such as a Windows Hello enabled front-facing camera and a wide-range kickstand. I know many pointed out the size of its bezels when it was announced, but to be honest I rarely notice them and it's great being able to hold on to it when using it as a tablet without having to worry about accidently tapping something. The Surface Go has a lot going on for it, and I recommend you check it out for yourself.
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