Microsoft Surface Laptop Overview - Is It Worth It In 2021?

[@lmull3]

Seems like the biggest feature of any of the Surface products to me is the 3:2 aspect ratio. You just don't get that anywhere else. At the same time, using fabric for a top cover around the keyboard seems like bad idea considering that would likely wick up skin oil. I'd bet that's why it turns brown.

[@JackStavris]

Yeah, it feels nice but doesn't seem to age well, the other colours will discolour but the Platinum/grey looks the worst. Thankfully since the Surface Laptop 3 they offer an aluminium top case as an option now.

[@Blueblur444]

I have to say, i've never been the biggest fan of the original Surface line - I think what they did for the tablet PC market is cool, but the hardware failure rate and difficulty of repair is pretty egregious (supported many at my last and current jobs). However, I recently got a Surface Book 2, and it has changed my opinion a bit. There are few other Windows laptops that provide such a nice all round user experience. I like the 3:2 screens too.

[@mrrsomkaitechnologycambodi3627]

beautiful I am using it

[@The_Healer_Dr]

How is it working now??

[@Nonje4560]

Will you do a "review" of windows 11 now its out and/or a windows 10 retrospective?

[@JackStavris]

There will be a video or two on Windows 11 coming soon.

[@Nonje4560]

@@JackStavris ok

[@pilsplease7561]

the thing that makes no sense is that my laptop with the i3 7100u from the same generation is supported for windows 11 but it has a tpm 2.0 chip in it. The surface should be supported unless it doesnt have tpm which is required then it wouldnt be otherwise it should be.

[@JackStavris]

The cutt off for Surface devices is Surface Pro 6/Surface Laptop 2 or later, which are 8th gen, though some 7th gen exceptions have been made like the Surface Studio 2 & some variants of the Surface Book 2 as well. I think they should have made the cut off Surface Pro 5/Surface Laptop 1 or higher, that covers all 7th gen models which all have TPM 2.0.

[@pilsplease7561]

@@JackStavris Yeah, My laptop is a thinkpad E570 If I recall which given it is supported mostly because it has a tpm chip and stuff that most consumer laptops of the era would not have had. It still had factory warranty to boot till 2025. Best part of buying business grade laptops lol.

[@JackStavris]

@@pilsplease7561 I agree, a few years back I got a Dell XPS 15 9550 for my sister which was made in early 2016 however it has a warranty until 2023 I think.

[@pilsplease7561]

@@JackStavris The thing I like about business grade is that they dont build the batteries into the laptops or solder the ram or any of the anti consumer bullshit, and they also have really long warranties and they come to your house to fix it. I had a t440 that had a warranty till literally last year that the wifi chip died, they literally took it back to the factory and replaced everything. I got a brand new laptop out of the deal. Best warranty ever. Which is why I buy lenovo they just consistently have fantastic customer service and never have dropped the ball on repairs. Other companies I have had good support from have been Digital Storm, which is a online systems builder here in the US had a guy stay 5 hours after closing unpaid because of a wacky driver issue. Have also had good support from apple with mac, devices and ive only owned 2, a 2015 imac which i got rid of and my current m1 mac mini.

[@JackStavris]

@@pilsplease7561 Lenovo & Dell are my go to OEMs these days, although I'm really starting to like HP a lot more since my work gave me an EliteBook x360 1030 G4 when I started my job a few months ago. Apple support is always great imo. When I bought my iPad Pro I realized I got one with too little storage so when I went back to the store the guy there didn't even question it and swapped it out for me and all I paid was the difference for the higher storage one.

[@katinall]

how does it hold up now? i’m thinking of getting one

[@JackStavris]

Not that great, it's fairly slow and can't be upgraded, it also doesn't support Windows 11 without workarounds in the registry. Get the Surface Laptop 2 at the bare minimum or a Surface Laptop 3. You'll get a quad-core processor & official Windows 11 support, and USB-C support on the SL3.

[@banks3388]

It runs Linux really well...

[@JackStavris]

you need virginity for that to apply