Since the Microsoft Ignite conference in early November, I have been reviewing the Surface Go device to see how useful it is to someone like me. For this review unit, I opted for the matching surface keyboard and pen. My daily driver laptop is a Lenovo ThinkPad T460 which is rock solid and where I run my work applications. The purpose of using the Surface Go was not for it to be a replacement for my work computer, but rather an in-between device. Something that can handle most of my personal computing needs. There are a few different models available, but I chose a model with an Intel Pentium 4415Y CPU, 128 GB of storage, and 8 GB of RAM. This device comes with Windows 10 Home in S-Mode. For this testing period, I kept Windows in this mode so that I was testing an out-of-the-box experience.
Windows S Mode
If you aren’t familiar with S-Mode, you’re not alone. This is a relatively new mode in Windows Home and Pro which only allows the system to run applications from the Windows Store. This means no downloading and installing applications or games from vendor websites. All applications must come from the Windows Store. This has a few different benefits:
- The store is somewhat curated, so it is less likely that you will download malicious software.
- Running Windows Store applications only means the computer will run more efficiently. This results in very few apps running in the background. On most Windows 10 computers, background applications normally kill battery life, slow the system by taking up compute resources, and slow the boot process (since all these apps need to load when you log in).
With the efficiencies of Windows in S-Mode, the Surface Go boots up very quickly so you can start working quickly. Battery life is also pretty good for such a small battery.
If Windows S-Mode isn’t for you, it can be disabled so you can run whatever Windows applications you’d like. However, given that this device has such low-end specs, it may not be advisable to do so.
Display
Screen size is smaller than the other members of the Microsoft Surface family, but I found it adequate for most tasks. At 1800×1200, the resolution is not bad for a screen this size. The drawback is when you zoom in more than 125%, as your apps don’t fit normally on the screen vertically. I have been keeping my screen zoom at 150%, and deal with the screen real estate loss by hiding ribbon bars and such. I find this zoom level perfect for me so I’m not straining to read text with or without my glasses. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the screen.
Performance
As you may expect, a 1.6 GHz Pentium processor does not provide very much horsepower in this day and age. It is no secret that the Surface Go does not have the power you’d need to run applications like SolidWorks or Photoshop. For example, I ran into issues filtering data on a rather large Excel spreadsheet. Then again, this device isn’t designed to be your daily driver. The performance shortcomings are saved by Windows S-Mode and how it handles applications.
When connected to a USB-C hub with an external monitor, I did notice graphic distortions when the system was being taxed, even if the screen showed nothing other than the Windows desktop.
Surface Type Cover
As with the other Surface tablets, the Surface Go Type cover protects the screen when closed, and has a built-in keyboard. When open, the keyboard can either lay flat on the table or be wedged up against the screen for a more comfortable typing experience. Surprisingly, the biggest hurdle for me was not Windows running in S-mode or the low-end processor installed, but rather the keyboard. The Surface Go’s Type keyboard is smaller than just about any other computer keyboard I’ve ever used. Not only are keys re-arranged to maximize the use of space, but the keys are considerably smaller and the throw is shorter. It took me a couple of days to get to a point where I could type a complete sentence without typos.
The keyboard is also loud. This isn’t noise from the key travel, but the fact that there is a void between the keyboard and the table below it, resulting in a drum-like sound when typing.
Surface Pen
Like previous Surface tablets, the Surface Pen (sold separately) can magnetically attach to the side of the screen. This keeps it handy for whenever you want it. When storing the Surface Go in my bag, the pen would pop off. Storing the device on its side with the pen side up, resolved this problem. Long term, it probably makes more sense to keep the pen in a safe place (like a pen holder slot) in the bag.
Small Footprint
I found the Surface Go’s size was great for meetings. The smaller footprint is less intrusive in a meeting than a laptop. If you’re a person who prefers using the pen, then there are obvious benefits there as well. Even with the keyboard, I found it very easy to store the Surface Go in my bag along with my laptop.
The size and weight (about 1.15 lbs.) of this device make it very portable and relatively easy to hold for long periods. I decided to test this device by running a meeting PowerPoint presentation, and it went better than I expected. I was able to easily connect to the wireless display (Wi-Di) and control my PowerPoint slides by holding the tablet in my hand. It also put my notes right in front of me, making the conversation with the audience more natural. I found this much less distracting and more seamless. This is my new preferred way to control slide decks during meetings.
One issue I ran into while presenting was screen auto-rotate. Whenever I moved the tablet so that It auto rotated from landscape to portrait, the wireless display would refresh resulting in the audience staring at a Windows desktop instead of the presentation. I don’t know if this issue was caused by Windows or PowerPoint, but disabling auto-rotate prevented this from happening.
I read that the Surface pen can also be used to change slides by clicking a button, but I didn’t have time to get that working.
Storage and Communication
The Surface Go comes with either a 64 GB or 128 GB solid-state drive (SSD), depending on the model you choose. The model I am using has the latter. I did not run into any storage issues during my testing, but there is also a Micro SD slot on the back for additional local storage.
I opted for the WiFi-only model, but there is a model available with a 4G radio as well. Since I was using this where I knew there was reliable Wi-Fi or could put my phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot mode, I didn’t feel I needed this. If you re considering the Surface Go as a device always on the go and need to stay connected, then you may want to splurge for the 4G model.
Price
As of the time I’m writing this, all Surface Go models come with an Intel Pentium 4415Y processor.
- 8GB RAM / 64GB Storage / Wi-Fi only – $399
- 16GB RAM / 128GB Storage / Wi-Fi only – $549 (this is the model I tested)
- 16GB RAM / 128GB Storage / Wi-Fi + 4G – $679
The Surface Go keyboard, pen, and mouse are all optional and are available in various colors.
Overall, I found that this is a useful size whether you are presenting, taking notes, or just need a lightweight computer to use around the house. I was expecting to hate this device because of the performance, but I didn’t. The Surface Go is by no means a replacement for a high-end daily driver, but it might meet the needs of those times when you don’t need that heavy computing power.
Acer has recently released an 8.1″ Windows 8 tablet called the