Artist Review: Microsoft Surface Pro 8 & Slim Pen 2

[@sloppynyuszi]

Microsoft fixing the pen was all I wanted. Went with the i5 and 16gb of RAM. Saw some videos where they showed the surface throttles a lot on the i7 practically to the point that speed advantage is gone. Clip studio and TVpaint run with no hiccups, but blender struggles a bit too much. Imported some Nomad sculpts to play around with it, and you can bake a cake and build an extension to a house by the time the file loads.

[@teohontech7141]

Thanks for sharing your experience

[@thefloorhasgone]

I wanted the 32gb ram options, but is only available is purchased as a full priced business option.

[@Jaugarez]

How is the line work using this pen?

[@thomasp.9381]

I read that Zbrush runned better than Blender for sculpts is that true ?

[@thefloorhasgone]

one of the best reviews of seen of the surface pro 8! :D great drawings too :)

[@pepitoperez7849]

You're an amazing artist and your review was so helpful. I wanna buy this laptop for photoshop editing and start drawing. Im a Mac user so I dont know windows. You inspired me. Thank you!

[@GoldChocobo77]

If you put the frame rate to 60 instead of 120 then the battery life lasts 12h. And Microsoft is working on an update to have dynamic frame rate like Apple does, meaning automatically adapting the frame rate based on usage to save battery life. Once this releases, this will significantly improve battery life while optimizing frame rates too.

[@teohontech7141]

My frame rate is already set to 60 FPS

[@glub1381]

There's no universe where the surface gets 12hrs of battery life no matter what you do to it

[@illajayscrewedup5886]

Very enjoyable reviews, thank you

[@abhijeetbalsaraf5907]

Very well-rounded review.. I agree with battery life being it's main disadvantage, otherwise Microsoft has improved it to perfection this time.

[@zerocal76]

If you had the KZbin Super Thanks/donation button I'd donate! Super-thorough review & demo especially for newcomers to digital art 🙏

[@jgraphicdesign2084]

I love how in depth this review has been thank you Teoh I'd just like to point out how fragile the microsoft surface pen tips are but luckily they also sell pen tips seperately

[@jgraphicdesign2084]

No issues with slim pen 2 though! works beautifully

[@annakoren1626]

Very clean review and inspection of the product.

[@ondography]

Thank you for this excellent well created tutorial. It has been helpful in making a decision. Keep up the great work, I have no critiques!

[@michelemalessa6765]

I just got my surface pro 8. Very excited to start drawing!!

[@niktoizvatnikak5248]

so how's it?

[@L0rd0fTh3N3rdz]

Yeah, how is it?

[@agusugian]

I'll be the third guy asking how is it

[@adambrooks6580]

How is it?

[@NoHairMan]

Thank you for this very thorough review!

[@doaflamingo3713]

great review teoh !

[@abhisheksharma21387]

Well rounded, no nonsense review and amazong art work. Would love to download some of those if you're generous to share.

[@joehodgson2815]

I love the idea of a tablet and pc on one device, but with the prices in Spain, it would be more or less the same price (or just a few hundred more anyway) to buy an LG Gram/Macbook Air laptop plus an iPad Pro, and get the best of both worlds

[@nicetrayyy]

Same. It’s similar everywhere in Europe sadly. I’m not sure how Apple is able to pull it out without changing their price noticeably

[@bigfudge3223]

@@nicetrayyy supply chain and distribution is just better than microsoft’s

[@sloppynyuszi]

@@bigfudge3223 also, they just sell at a higher volume. Maybe the surface outsells the Mac, but I can’t imagine it’s by much, but the screen not being touch probably saves production, and the current M1 chip I gander is also a smaller cost as they produce it for wide range of Macs and iPads and it’s an in-house product. Not sourced like at Microsoft. The iPad of course outsells the Surface pro ;)

[@purple.zombiee]

22:22 how did you undo that line? Did you press the middle button on the pen? How did Medibang know how to undo it?

[@teohontech7141]

I press keyboard Ctrl Z

[@rene9901]

Hi .. thanks for putting up this amazing elaborated vedio ... I wonder while using the slim pen 2 if you use any screen protector ... I need good recommendations

[@teohontech7141]

I don't use a screen protector. I used to use matte screen protectors but I've gotten used to just drawing on glass, UNLESS the pen is slippery on the glass

[@sitoudien9816]

I wish this device came out in 2019. MS is so slow in updates. I got the SP7 instead.

[@ralbav]

Very good video. Has you suffered the old problem with the pen while you are making zoom in Photoshop? In old version surface with Windows 10, when you made zoom in Photoshop, the stylus only moved the canvas instead of drawing.

[@waterlily2566]

Guys it’s Black Friday, if you’re thinking about getting one now would be the chance to get like 400$ off (at Best Buy at least)

[@danieloherrick6332]

Microsoft store has the same pricing and, if you have an American Express credit card, you can get a $100 statement credit for purchases over $500 until 12/31/22 (only from the Microsoft store, not BB).

[@berkayyesildagli1680]

18:18 I have to disagree with buying the older Surface Pen for notetaking purposes to save money. I have used that one with Surface Go 1, Surface Pro 7, Surface Go 2 and I struggled a lot with note taking, less on Surface Pro 7 due to better SoC, I guess.

[@teohontech7141]

What problem do you have with the older Surface Pen. That pen has jitter for drawing, and it if can’t even be used for writing, it’s pretty much a useless pen.

[@redandgoldfan3869]

good detailed review, thanks for sharing

[@littleco9667]

Thanks for the review! May I know what is the drawing app/software in 14:48? Do you have any recommendation of drawing app/software for surface pro8/9~?

[@teohontech7141]

Concepts. Sketchbook, Medibang, Clip Studio, Leonardo, Krita

[@littleco9667]

@@teohontech7141 thank you!

[@thang4695]

Thanks so much for your video. It helped me to find out what these lines are what I have on my Surface which you mentioned is a hardware damage. I will let my surface replace.

[@teohontech7141]

What's wrong with your device?

[@thang4695]

@@teohontech7141 It has this strips on the screen and I can see the lights behind the screen.

[@teohontech7141]

@@thang4695 Most likely hardware issue, especially if yours look like what I have at 10:20

[@thang4695]

@@teohontech7141 Did you send it back for warranty exchange?

[@teohontech7141]

@@thang4695 Not yet. This is not my main computer but I'll be sending in for warranty exchange in the 10th month. 😅

[@aishwaryag8536]

Does the slim pen 2 work with HP spectre?

[@ezkill1238]

Do you have to press and hold the button for it to draw? Similar to the ConceptD 3 Ezel pen.

[@teohyc]

No need to press any button to draw.

[@Analucia-qw1wc]

I noticed something weird in 14:31 Is pen tip attached with a metal like a headphone jack , is that exactly or just something similar ?

[@teohontech7141]

It does look like a headphone jack, but this is much thinner. 😂

[@Analucia-qw1wc]

@@teohontech7141 🤣😂

[@jovitachow]

Do you use Painter on Surface Pro 8? If so, how did you feel? By the way, thx for the wonderful review which is helpful since I am planning to buy a SP 8.

[@teohontech7141]

Corel Painter? I don't use that so I can't say much.

[@damn_true_garage]

hi, I just bought a Microsoft Surface 8, I want to ask, did you use an additional screen protector?

[@teohyc]

I don't use screen protectors. the flip cover should provide enough protector

[@jaedo71]

So you use the full blown desktop art programs?

[@teohontech7141]

Yes. But there are drawing apps designed with minimal and bigger UI for touch

[@dudana53]

How to write on hot surface pro?

[@imadalsidrawi]

Please dear When i want to record the screen, the pen doesn't work correctly but my pen not slim , my pen is normal

[@teohontech7141]

This only works with Microsoft Surface Pen, and Microsoft Slim Pen 1/2

[@Theo3OOO]

What program are you using to draw on? I have a SP8 withe the pen and I love it. I'm a teacher so I've been using whiteboard more than anything.

[@teohontech7141]

The two main apps shown are Concepts (my favourite) and Medibang Paint (shown towards end of video). Others I recommend checking out are Sketchable, Sketchbook, Clip Studio Paint, Krita, Leonardo

[@thefloorhasgone]

You don't use pro create?

[@teohyc]

@@thefloorhasgone Procreate is only available on iPad

[@breeze9248]

no tilt check?

[@sketchbook6323]

does it power enough to run photoshop, obs screen recording, google meet share screen, export second screen with hdmi, at the same time? i was considering it for class demo, currently my surface pro 4 is very lag, even i'm not using obs yet.

[@teohontech7141]

Photoshop + OBS recording is alright. I don't use the other apps.

[@irkiat]

Hey, i'm planning to purchase Surface and shipped it to Indonesia. Do you think its better if i procure it from Amazon or Singapore stores?

[@teohontech7141]

I don’t think there is any difference. Just note there is no international warranty

[@germano77rm]

Thanks for the video. Which is the name of the software you are using to drawing by the slim pen ?

[@teohontech7141]

Concepts

[@youtubed20]

Any sound effects when drawing... Thanks.

[@MEneifal]

does it have wacom technology or does it run on microsofft intridge (which is dogshit)

[@ABDELHAK-g9o]

very nice and practical

[@aboudaymane8195]

Very healpful

[@jaedo71]

So do you think I could get by with the i5 version and 16gb RAM?

[@teohontech7141]

It should work fine

[@jaedo71]

@@teohontech7141 Thanks!!! Should I consider even an older surface? How old of a model would you go??

[@teohontech7141]

@@jaedo71 Pro 8 is still alright

[@krishnasri6115]

hello do we actually need screen protector to use pen on it

[@teohontech7141]

No

[@patrickdeveloper7186]

Can you draw normally while charging? I have a surface go but the lines will go crazy if you use the pen while charging the surface

[@y21rico83]

draws perfectly fine while charging! i have the battery limit on when i draw at home and my pro 8 is always plugged in

[@ghostaccount9865]

How much storage the system takes out of the original storage?

[@teohontech7141]

About 15-20GB

[@schmaerzkeks]

Which Draw Software do you use?

[@teohontech7141]

Medibang

[@miguelsalazar733]

do you recommend as an extra tool for animators?

[@teohontech7141]

Yes, I think it's good enough

[@The_Cali_Dude_88]

is the 'prior' lineage somehow easily removed?... I can see faint lines real easy

[@teohontech7141]

The drafting lines can be removed as they are on a separate layer.

[@abbyb485]

What is the best drawing app both free and that you have to pay for?

[@teohontech7141]

Krita is free. Others you can consider are Clip Studio Paint, Concepts, Sketchbook, Medibang Paint, Affinity Photo

[@zarqazara9430]

Can you do a review of surface pro x

[@samthescotsman]

for just personal use would 128gb be enough or should i get 256gb?

[@teohontech7141]

128GB is actually just 96GB usable storage. It should be enough if you're not working with huge files, or install too many apps. This tablet has been out for many months now. I've seen Microsoft sell the 256GB model at the price of 128GB occasionally on their website, so look out for those deals or on Amazon.

[@onysitv3671]

what app is this ? @1:56?

[@teohontech7141]

Concepts

[@burtscuddledoobies921]

I was wondering if you guys who review Mac technology could Diversify the types of software you run tests on. It’s very difficult to find contrasting critique of graphic design software using the M1 chip. In particular the Mac mini. I know that you guys who review this technology have graphic designers who work for you it would be awesome if they could offer some stress test of Adobe software as well as 3-D modeling applications.

[@teohontech7141]

Unfortunately I personally don't use 3D software on the Mac. You may get more answers from Reddit forums of specific 3D software. Graphic design software don't stress the M1 processor at all.

[@burtscuddledoobies921]

@@teohontech7141 what about adobe illustrator stuff

[@teohontech7141]

@@burtscuddledoobies921 Pressure sensitivity does not work with Adobe Illustrator

[@veassnatouch8086]

what software do you use in this totural ?

[@teohontech7141]

Medibang Paint Pro

[@janbrouwer50]

What app is he using for the drawing?

[@teohontech7141]

Medibang Paint Pro

[@karlleiserbach1411]

Which software are you using

[@teohontech7141]

Concepts for the flat colouring style. The last drawing was drawn with Medibang Paint

[@TheKenttt]

Just got the surface pro 8, trying to draw with sketchbook pro and the slim pen is very wobbly. anyone have a fix? Do I need to switch drawing software?

[@teohontech7141]

Try other apps, e.g. Medibang Paint Pro, Concepts, Sketchable, Krita to test whether it's a pen hardware issue or software issue.

[@TheKenttt]

@@teohontech7141 yeah i think it's a pen issue. Did the same thing with other apps.

[@realbueno3067]

❤️❤️❤️

[@karinalusy]

that's is awosme

[@eyhtwozed2606]

Do you experience any tiny electric shock at the bottom right of the device while charging? Any jittery lines while charging or when the device gets hot at the back ? I get jittery lines when my palm is on screen when its gets hot too. To add on, does the battery discharges even tho its shutdown? Im experiencing these issues throughout my surfaces (sp3, sp2017 and sp7 plus).

[@teohontech7141]

I did not experience any line quality interference while drawing when tablet is charging. When it's charging, there will be some electric current that can be felt which is normal for laptops. Happens on iPad too. Battery will discharge when shutdown too. All tablet and laptop batteries do that. But discharge will lower than actual shut down though. I don't have a % of how much discharge overnight while speed but I've been using the tablet for a few weeks and I don't feel like that daily night sleep discharge is an issue. Or you can just shut down. The tablet starts up very fast. Tablet gets slightly warm while charging. Not hot. The only time I see tablet get hot is when it's running Adobe Creative Cloud and it's updating apps. That's the only time I can actually hear the fans come on.

[@briannhinton]

I’ve never seen as much degradation as the industry claims with battery cycles. I think it’s because most batteries are built with extra capacity to balance the loss. Or it’s just not as big of a deal as everyone makes it out to be.

[@teohontech7141]

Usually batteries can last longer than the usual 80% degradation claims. Unless there is battery fault.

[@briannhinton]

@@teohontech7141 yeah my Surface Go that has not the greatest battery life has maintained the not great battery life 😂

[@danieloherrick6332]

If you are comfortable mucking about in the Windows registry and some advanced (sometimes hidden) system settings, you can significantly improve battery life over using Microsoft default settings. I had an article written for increasing battery life in a 3rd generation Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga. Using the tweaks, I increase my battery life by about 2 hours. Don't have the ThinkPad anymore. If I find the article, I'll post a link. A bit dated, but probably 80& of the tweaks will work. Try a search for increasing battery life with Windows.

[@Nikee413]

@@danieloherrick6332 Have you found the article now? Been wanting to increase battery life too, to the point of wanting to get a power bank, but those made for laptops tend to be quite heavy.

[@ckmoore]

Have you tried the program "Tablet Pro"? It is supposed to give you good control over customizing the pen buttons. Also, when you did the line test did you make sure to remove all smoothing? When I tested the pen in store, it had more wobble than in your video. But, they did not have CSP installed. Just the.. sketchbook? Whiteboard? Something like that. Also OneNote. Very visible wobble even with the slim pen 2 :(

[@teohontech7141]

I've tried Tablet Pro. It's useful if I plan to use the tablet alone with the keyboard. But I usually use a keyboard so there's no need for Tablet Pro. I always do my line tests with Medibang Paint because there are few features to affect line quality. CSP actually has better line quality/performance than Medibang Paint. I've tested Slim Pen 2 on various drawing apps and line quality is mostly the same. If you draw extremely slowly there will still be micro jitter though, but that's not a speed I think people will draw with. OneNote works fine. The line quality will be affected by interference but I'm not sure which type. I placed a plastic rule, a piece of paper, to draw a straight line with the edge and I had very wavy lines.

[@keys299]

The tablet brightness looks so dark…

[@teohontech7141]

Max brightness is 450 nits so it can be bright if you make it bright. In this video, I have to match the brightness to the room brightness as I have uncontrolled room brightness.

[@64jcl]

A shame that the pen is slim, I wish there was a version like the which feels more like a real pen to me.

[@teohontech7141]

That pen is not too bad. Just needs time to get use to

[@dskim8075]

👍

[@ufade2]

Repairableity is horrible on these god forbid you ever need to swap a battery.

[@jornealbutler]

How smooth is drawing on Medibang with the Surface Pro 8? I tried drawing with a Surface Pro 7 Plus and the Surface Pen and didn't run as smooth as I wanted it to be while I was drawing. It wasn't too laggy, but I was experiencing a bit of choppy brushstrokes.

[@teohontech7141]

Medibang feels smooth enough. It's not an app that uses too much processing power

[@lnkd61]

How'd you get dynamic refresh rate? Not seeing that on my SP8 settings.

[@teohontech7141]

There’s no dynamic refresh. It’s either 60 or 120Hz.

[@JohnSmith-gb8hd]

The updated Intel gfx drivers enable dynamic refresh.

[@tyranno_mp1254]

This surface Vs samsung galaxy book pro 360 for artist? I think samsung win, no?

[@karlleiserbach1411]

If only artist is your gole than ipad pro or samsung galaxy tab s8 ultra is a better choice

[@mgattan5511]

Where’s your art works as artist lol 😂

[@teohontech7141]

You can see some here instagram.com/parkablogs/

[@maximme]

Lost me when " you need to buy the pen and then buy the charger for the pen..." Microsoft should just stay out of the game.

[@teohontech7141]

Yeah. They could have just made the pen charge with USB C but intentionally did not do so.