4 ms·

Even if the new Snapdragon X Elite were a generation ahead of Apple's M3, I still wouldn't buy a Windows laptop because of shenanigans like this. I bought into

Even if the new Snapdragon X Elite were a generation ahead of Apple's M3, I still wouldn't buy a Windows laptop because of shenanigans like this. I bought into the hype with the original Surface Book (mine is completely unusable due to hardware defects with the hinge).

justinclift 3y ago
Do you have a local electronics shop nearby, or maybe a makerspace with some electronics enthusiast members? Asking because there might be reasonable options for getting it functional again without too much hassle. :)
linsomniac 3y ago
My MIL has one of the Surface Laptops, and recently brought it to me because the battery was bulging. I looked into it, and what a maintenance nightmare. One guy on youtube had a battery fail under warranty and they sent him a whole new one, and told him to just recycle the old one; apparently even Microsoft doesn't want to repair them. They keyboard/trackpad panel is alcantara, and is glued to the bottom cover (or was until the batteries swelled). I had to cut and pry this later off. But even then, the connector for the battery requires you to remove basically all the components (speakers, heatsinks, fans, wifi card, a bunch of RF shielding that is micro-spot welded in place, the display, the motherboard. The battery connector is a pad that the back of the motherboard has contacts that mate to it. I told my in-laws that there was a better than even chance that I'd destroy it while doing the repair, and I'd give it a shot, but they should be prepared to buy a new one. They were ready to go buy one instead of me doing the repair, but I told them I was happy to do it and went ahead and was able to get'r'done. I guess some of that is the price of it being so thin and light. My MIL got it because she's kind of frail and wanted something super light. Which it definitely is. It's a marvel of engineering. But, ultimately, disposable.

justinclift 3y ago

Do you have a local electronics shop nearby, or maybe a makerspace with some electronics enthusiast members? Asking because there might be reasonable options for getting it functional again without too much hassle. :)

linsomniac 3y ago

My MIL has one of the Surface Laptops, and recently brought it to me because the battery was bulging. I looked into it, and what a maintenance nightmare. One guy on youtube had a battery fail under warranty and they sent him a whole new one, and told him to just recycle the old one; apparently even Microsoft doesn't want to repair them. They keyboard/trackpad panel is alcantara, and is glued to the bottom cover (or was until the batteries swelled). I had to cut and pry this later off. But even then, the connector for the battery requires you to remove basically all the components (speakers, heatsinks, fans, wifi card, a bunch of RF shielding that is micro-spot welded in place, the display, the motherboard. The battery connector is a pad that the back of the motherboard has contacts that mate to it. I told my in-laws that there was a better than even chance that I'd destroy it while doing the repair, and I'd give it a shot, but they should be prepared to buy a new one. They were ready to go buy one instead of me doing the repair, but I told them I was happy to do it and went ahead and was able to get'r'done. I guess some of that is the price of it being so thin and light. My MIL got it because she's kind of frail and wanted something super light. Which it definitely is. It's a marvel of engineering. But, ultimately, disposable.