SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
I have been looking to replace my 5 year old 13.3" Zenbook. But unfortunately it seemed like the manufacturers had really just stopped trying, what I discovered was that the best replacement for my Zenbook was my Zenbook. Basically the only difference between my Zenbook and the latest offering was a gen 5 i7 vs my current gen 3 i7, which really isn't much of an upgrade.
Then Microsoft goes and releases (in my opinion) the coolest peice of computer hardware in the last 5 years. The Surface book looks f'n awesome.
I have two issues:
1) it is mega expensive; for the 16GB/256GB/i7model it is $3300NZD; while I can afford it; it seems extravagant even with the potential of future upgrades to the keyboard module. Although an equivalent MacBook Pro 16GB/256GB/i7 is around $3500.
2) I'm a Linux guy and have been for years; I know eventually Linux will install on the Surface book but it wont happen tomorrow. So half of my tools that I commonly use will be annoying to get running or maybe not available.
I use Win7 at work and have just made my first foray into powershell scripting to get some automated tasks done...not bad. But the privacy implications of returning to windows really turn me off. My partner has a Surface pro 3 which all in all I think is a great device.
So what do the hordes of SN think of the Surface book?
(Score: 5, Insightful) by K_benzoate on Thursday November 05 2015, @05:55PM
After what MS has done with Windows 10 I won't even consider hardware that can only run Windows, or only has full hardware support with Windows. The Surface Book hardware looks interesting and innovative but now you're double dipping into MS's untrustworthiness. Who knows what kind of nasty hardware they've put in that machine. What kind of chips and radios might be in there doing work for MS and not for the user? We know that capability is built into most Intel CPUs now and only has to be turned on. It's clear that MS doesn't consider Windows to be "your" operating system and now that they're selling hardware do you think they'll extend any more ownership to their customers? I am doubtful. They see your computer as "their" computer to use as they see fit.
I'd pass. Get something like the new Dell XPS which will more easily run Linux or another operating system which you can control.
Climate change is real and primarily caused by human activity.