My Thoughts on Microsoft Surface Laptop Go

acg21 on 27/08/2021 - 06:15
Last edited 27/08/2021 - 12:19 by 1 other user

Hey folks,

I have been using Surface Laptop 1 as my computer for the past 3 years. I recently gave it to someone because they needed a laptop and they can take it to hospital when they do a surgery. I was thinking I can use an old 2017 Macbook pro which I knew had ghosting screen and to connect to an external monitor. However, the Macbook would randomly turn off and then not turn on so I decided it was a dud.

I spoke with Apple and they said it would cost over $900 to fix the screen and when I checked the trade-in value of the laptop it was only $150 (if the screen was ok then the value would be $780). Frustrated with Apple's expensive pricing to fix their own product that was bought from them (which was also expensive at the time) and frustrating 2 port only device for such expensive machines and I didn't want to pay extra to migrate to Mac OS (MS Office, dongles etc) I decided to stay with what I know and I got a Surface Laptop Go 128gb which was on sale for $800 (down from $1098). Also it is lockdown where I am so I couldn't browse laptops in stores, I could only click and collect.

My use for a computer is only for web browsing, netflix and Ms Office applications, nothing more than that, so I thought that the Surface Laptop Go would be perfect.

I got it yesterday evening and I disappointed with the device. The graphics is not what I am use to on the Surface Laptop 1, I find it to be grainy and not such great quality and to me it really makes a difference and has really made it a regrettable buy. Maybe it is me and my eyesight is not the best but everything is so small on the screen with such bad quality. I did not have any issues on my Surface Laptop 1.

Also folks this computer does not have a backlight keyboard, I thought it wouldn't bother me but it is important and I miss it because it makes a difference if you are in bed at night.

Another negative is that I really hate the fan, the sound is really annoying.

The good thing about this laptop is its form factor, looks great and it feels solid and it is super light. Also the keyboard is really good and I mean really good, definitely the best typing experience (I think Surface Laptops in general have the best keyboard).

Anyway folks these are my thoughts on this device

Cheers

Computing 12.5inch Computer Laptop Microsoft

Comments

  • kerfuffle on 27/08/2021 - 06:26
    +12

    The Surface Laptop Go is an affordable version of the Surface Laptop range, that's why it lacks things like a decent screen and backlit keyboard.

    Sorry, but you should have done some research on what you wanted in your laptop instead of buying it 'cause it was cheap. It took me two years to buy my Surface Laptop 3 because it cost three times the cost of my old laptop, but I knew for sure that I wanted specs equivalent to my old laptop (large storage space, 16GB RAM, backlit keyboard). Yes, you couldn't browse laptops in store, however there's a ton of YouTube videos on laptop reviews.

    • acg21 on 27/08/2021 - 06:44

      hey, the youtube reviews on the Surface Laptop Go were generally very good and I knew that there would be a trade off with the screen, I just didn't realise how bad it would be for me. I am use to Surface Laptop 1 which was released in 2017 and I thought that a laptop released in 2020 would have similar screen quality with more advanced technology. I am thinking that also I was watching the Youtube reviews on my Surface Laptop 1 which was amazing quality…

      I think it is the situation where I should have waited to browse in store to physically see the product and the screen before buying it.

      • kerfuffle on 27/08/2021 - 06:50
        +3

        Companies are still gonna cheap out where they can. That's why there's still laptops being sold in 2021 with 128GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. The Surface Laptop Go is clearly is in a different market range to your SL1, which is more Macbook Pro, but make it Windows

        • ozhunter68 on 29/08/2021 - 06:31

          In defence of the OP I would not call a $1098 laptop ( regular price ) a cheap unit as there are loads of cheaper

          alternatives with either a FHD screen ( some also IPS ), or backlit keyboard, or both.

          • kerfuffle on 29/08/2021 - 07:42

            @ozhunter68: Do you have any examples?

            The OP cheaped out by buying a laptop that is in no way comparable to his old model and felt buyer's remorse.

  • hellousyd on 27/08/2021 - 06:27

    Yeah it’s not really the best device for the price. Probably a significant mark up since it is made by Microsoft. Even an iPad Air would beat it in processing for the same price + offer a better multimedia experience.

    Oh well, good luck with your use cases OP.

    • acg21 on 27/08/2021 - 06:59

      thanks, you are right about the iPad Air, I just need to be grateful and to get use to it, also connect to a monitor and it should be fine

  • dasher86 on 27/08/2021 - 06:36
    +2

    Ask to switch with the person you gave the first laptop to.

    • acg21 on 27/08/2021 - 06:46
      +1

      the person has cancer and I want them to have the best laptop. It is fine, I just posted the comment to give people a perspective if they were thinking to buy the Surface Laptop Go

  • Chandler on 27/08/2021 - 06:46

    cost over $900 to fix the screen

    trade-in value of the laptop only $150 ($780 if the screen was ok)

    What they're trying to say there is that you shouldn't be paying any more than $630 to get the screen fixed, since that's all it is worth to them.

    • acg21 on 27/08/2021 - 07:02

      something like that but I realised with money spent on fixing a screen it can go to buying a new laptop. I would have been happy to use the Macbook with an external monitor but the device randomly shuts down and also doesn't turn on, so it is useless

    • furyou on 02/09/2021 - 16:54

      woulnt you be more pissed off if they said "yeh cool the screen's only worth $50, we can fix it for ya"?
      Expensive crap is made of exp parts which cost exp to fix.

      • Chandler on 03/09/2021 - 08:51

        Well yes. I was just highlighting the difference in trade-in value differed from the cost of repair; which is understandable (at least in part), given that the cost of labour shouldn't increase the equipments' inherent value, just the outcome of said labour.

  • frondono on 27/08/2021 - 07:16
    +1

    ask to return it or if you can change it for another model?

    • frondono on 27/08/2021 - 07:19

      amazon have a 30 day free return window when i asked about occulus.

      • acg21 on 27/08/2021 - 07:22
        +1

        Thanks frondono, not sure that JB hifi does returns / exchanges like that as there is nothing wrong with the laptop but I will try.

        Very impressive with the return policy of Amazon…

        • ihbh on 27/08/2021 - 08:28
          +2

          JB hifi does returns

          unopened

          Put yourself in their shoes - can they sell an opened X for the same price as an unopened one? Are they in the business of selling new or second hand products?

        • bajillionaire on 27/08/2021 - 09:11

          If the Go is in perfect working order and recently bought, have you thought about selling it? You might then be able to use the money to fix the Macbook screen, and who says you need Apple to fix it? Perhaps a 3rd party repair can do it for less. If it's out of warranty anyway it doesn't really matter who fixes it, and a good 3rd party repairer will give a warranty on their own work for a short time.

          • acg21 on 27/08/2021 - 09:34
            +2

            @bajillionaire: I have been using it this morning and I realise that the fan is going ballistic even though I am just running a web browser with only 1 or 2 tabs and no video. This issue hasn’t stopped since I opened the laptop unless I turn off the machine.

            I have contacted JB to return the product because it is faulty.

            • Mechz on 27/08/2021 - 13:20
              +2

              @acg21: Have a look at task manager as it's likely windows update doing all the background fixes. Leave it going overnight and it should be all done depending on your internet connection.

              But really, anything from MS with GO in the name is for kids or oldies who don't know or notice any better.

  • Platinumtelecom on 27/08/2021 - 07:24

    You could try and sell it on Marketplace and see if you can get $700 for it…if you are going to keep it for a few years you may as well get something you enjoy using

  • ShannonN on 27/08/2021 - 07:44
    -1

    You bought a what! :) Trying to be a cheapskate and got caught out with a substandard product no big deal return it as unsuitable if within 7 days?

  • thatonethere on 27/08/2021 - 08:33
    +1

    Surface Go is kinda like the MS answer to thr school Chromebook made to a price point.

    Just sell it or gift it.

  • barbarella on 27/08/2021 - 08:41

    adjust screen resolution

  • cauilfield on 27/08/2021 - 09:22
    +1

    surface go is a basic thing for editing one or two simple word/excel files on the go plus watching occasional youtube videos. that's what I've used it for.

    Biggest thing is portability.

    • acg21 on 27/08/2021 - 09:31

      The portability is very impressive

  • [Deactivated] on 27/08/2021 - 09:33

    Pay peanuts gets monkeys.

  • JimmyF on 27/08/2021 - 12:14

    I got it yesterday evening and I disappointed with the device. The graphics is not what I am use to on the Surface Laptop 1, I find it to be grainy and not such great quality and to me it really makes a difference and has really made it a regrettable buy. Maybe it is me and my eyesight is not the best but everything is so small on the screen with such bad quality. I did not have any issues on my Surface Laptop 1.

    The 'go' is a budget surface, so that means as you have found out, it is not the best in many different ways, from a slow CPU, to low ram, low storage, to lower res screen, no backlight keyboard etc.

    Sounds like a buyers remorse issue to me. You are comparing a 'budget' device to 2 non budget devices at the time.

    • kerfuffle on 27/08/2021 - 12:15

      It is buyer's remorse; for some reason, OP took out those two words in the original title but it's in the revisions

  • The Value on 27/08/2021 - 13:43

    The whole Surface lineup is way overpriced.

    Go Chromebook for casual stuff and gaming laptop for performance.

    Or Mac.

    • beatsntoons on 02/09/2021 - 17:06

      overpriced is relative. I love my Surfaces. The Book 2 is my favourite device of all time. Nothing comes close in function and looks.
      And yes to some of us, aesthetics are very important!

  • sol3x on 30/08/2021 - 10:59

    Can anyone recommend an alternative to MS Surface Laptop Go?
    Similar form factor but has a crisper screen.

    Thanks in advance.

    • fd9 on 08/11/2021 - 14:56

      X1 nano

      • kerfuffle on 08/11/2021 - 14:57

        That costs almost three times as much as the Surface Laptop Go …

        • Gorian4 on 08/11/2021 - 15:05

          Just wait for a viable ARM based product to come out, you'll get much better battery life

        • fd9 on 08/11/2021 - 15:07
          -1

          OzLuxury

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