No complains here so far, and my wife hasn't been easy on her SP4 for a little over a year now. Yes, it's expensive, but still less than the Macbooks we compared it to, and they didn't have touch screens.
Had to call MS tech support once, don't recall what for, but they were actually helpful and pointed us to some Surface specific driver/firmware updates that didn't come with Windows updates. I believe it was the "Surface Platform Installer".
From what I'm reading, Microsoft seem to be going the Apple route. Don't repair, replace. Glue it together so its damaged beyond repair if you try to take it apart to replace the battery etc. Battery tech is getting better, but its not that good yet, IMHO. No matter, I can't afford either. =(
Yeah, they're making their PC's closed off so you can't do any upgrades and have to send it in for repair should it need any.
In that respect, maybe not getting the Surface Book was a blessing in disguise.... from a do it yourself repair perspective. It's still an impressive piece of equipment though.
There are advantages. It looks really nice, no screw holes (no screws), nice and thin when bonded together. Downside is good luck opening it up without breaking things in the process. It also appears, even if you get it open, there isn't much to be upgraded. SSD is soldered in and RAM too I think? Battery is about all you can unplug.
Of course I would need the most expensive (4000€) model of the Surface Book with performance base...It's a great device on paper.
BUT...it is expensive, once battery dies it's DEAD and the device serve only as a paperweight. Windows 10 still does NOT work 100% flawlessly on these machines.
NOPE, I buy something else, with same or better performance, more configuration options during and after purchase, that can be upgraded on demand and something with replaceable battery and something that I can take completely apart and clean without destroying the device. :)
The thing that makes me nervous is, it appears firmware (BIOS) updates get pushed to them via Windows update. A BSOD is one thing, being bricked by Windows Update is another.
We are dealing here with serious equipment with eye watering prices to match.....for example..
Surface Pro up to £2699 + £250 for keyboard and pen = £2949.....and that does not include a mouse.
Surface Studio up to £4249 + £90 for Surface Dial = £4339.
If one is expected to repurchase a pen after only 14 months, from my point of view it does not inspire confidence in M$ products.
By not backing up servicing on the small product they lose my business on the large.
Last edited by dencal; 12 Aug 2017 at 05:43.
I'm personally not hating on both the Surface Pro and Surface Book Pro as I and many others think they're good performing products. They've certainly set the market ablaze and people and reviews rave about them. In the end the only real question is life expectancy.
Regardless they're still good products, though a bit pricey. Speaking of pricing, I head one reviewer speculate the reason they're so pricey is not to push their competitors away as they're also supplying those same competitors with their products. Buy pricing their offerings slightly higher, they allow the others to stay competitive pricewise.
A win-win for MS - they sell hardware/software to their competitors while also competing against them (at a higher price range) in a crowed mobile PC market.
Again, life expectancy will be the real issue since no one wants to pay a premium for an item they hear may not make it past two years. CR didn't do them any favors.
I agree that you get a lot of bang for the buck. But as you stated, the life expectancy is a worry. That is what also worries me.
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