3 ms·

I bought a Surface 7+ a few months ago and really like it. I think of it as a “laptop replacement”. My serious work is done on a desktop with 3 large monitors a

I bought a Surface 7+ a few months ago and really like it. I think of it as a “laptop replacement”. My serious work is done on a desktop with 3 large monitors at home, and a laptop with two large monitors at work. So I only needed a small-ish laptop to handle the in-between. Plus I can read books or watch videos, take notes, etc, in tablet mode. > building apps that fit the UX paradigms of Surface tablets I kinda don’t want this. A major selling point was that I have a full OS with the same applications on my desktop and laptop (ie, PyCharm, other python-related stuff, Firefox, custom python, bash, powershell scripts). No need to have completely different apps because the tablet maker hobbles the OS, making using a tablet in laptop mode useless. It can be awkward for sure in tablet mode, but it does kinda work.

majkinetor 4y ago
This is also my finding - I need regular apps even while reading books or watch videos. Windows 10 in non tablet mode is totally great for that. I use winget/chocolatey to install stuff I use on work and home and no need for different OS/apps. I can run anything work related on Surface - I have docker installed, Visual Studio, Sql Server, PostgreSql, nodejs, dotnet etc - I rarely use them but its good to know everything just works if I needed it. Most of the time I use it for reading HN and friends, watch some videos/podcasts, read ebooks. Besides that, I have it with me on each meeting. I save any work in git repository so having all that working the same as on my Desktop computer is a big win. Regarding that use case, the only thing I don't like about Surface 7 Pro is its screen which is very much reflective. Other then that, its totally awesome.
least 4y ago
I think the Surface line serves the "I only want one portable device" crowd well enough, even though I think it could be better. Applications being able to adapt based on the way you're interfacing with them would be the most work required from developers but also probably the best of both worlds... just that'd require Microsoft investing in 3rd party developer support in a way they haven't before. I personally use both a laptop and an iPad regularly enough in their own contexts that I find it worthwhile to have both.

majkinetor 4y ago

This is also my finding - I need regular apps even while reading books or watch videos. Windows 10 in non tablet mode is totally great for that. I use winget/chocolatey to install stuff I use on work and home and no need for different OS/apps. I can run anything work related on Surface - I have docker installed, Visual Studio, Sql Server, PostgreSql, nodejs, dotnet etc - I rarely use them but its good to know everything just works if I needed it. Most of the time I use it for reading HN and friends, watch some videos/podcasts, read ebooks. Besides that, I have it with me on each meeting. I save any work in git repository so having all that working the same as on my Desktop computer is a big win. Regarding that use case, the only thing I don't like about Surface 7 Pro is its screen which is very much reflective. Other then that, its totally awesome.

least 4y ago

I think the Surface line serves the "I only want one portable device" crowd well enough, even though I think it could be better. Applications being able to adapt based on the way you're interfacing with them would be the most work required from developers but also probably the best of both worlds... just that'd require Microsoft investing in 3rd party developer support in a way they haven't before. I personally use both a laptop and an iPad regularly enough in their own contexts that I find it worthwhile to have both.