Surface Woes - Need Alternative

[RLT_Byers]

LTT Community,

 

I'm super frustrated, and would like some guidance. I just bought a Surface with the Snapdragon X Elite. I was running a Alienware 18 from 2013 with a Samsung Galaxy S6 Tablet from 2020 for on-the-go. I wanted a device to replace both of them as the laptop is giving me motherboard issues, and the tablet has issues with connecting to the S Pen (I've replaced the pen so it has to be the device). I don't game heavily anymore, so a serious graphics card isn't necessary, but I enjoy playing some casual games and Genshin Impact. I thought this tablet would work, but my printer, scanner, MIDI devices and music notation software that I use for work just flat do not work. I love how the device itself functions, but I just can't spend this kind of money on something that doesn't work with SO MUCH of my professional life. Any suggestions on any other devices like it out there running x86 architecture that are worth getting or should I just stick with two devices - a laptop and a tablet? Battery life is not a concern for me. 

[Agall]

39 minutes ago, RLT_Byers said:

LTT Community,

 

I'm super frustrated, and would like some guidance. I just bought a Surface with the Snapdragon X Elite. I was running a Alienware 18 from 2013 with a Samsung Galaxy S6 Tablet from 2020 for on-the-go. I wanted a device to replace both of them as the laptop is giving me motherboard issues, and the tablet has issues with connecting to the S Pen (I've replaced the pen so it has to be the device). I don't game heavily anymore, so a serious graphics card isn't necessary, but I enjoy playing some casual games and Genshin Impact. I thought this tablet would work, but my printer, scanner, MIDI devices and music notation software that I use for work just flat do not work. I love how the device itself functions, but I just can't spend this kind of money on something that doesn't work with SO MUCH of my professional life. Any suggestions on any other devices like it out there running x86 architecture that are worth getting or should I just stick with two devices - a laptop and a tablet? Battery life is not a concern for me. 

You're likely just running into the issues with ARM64 and x86 emulation.

 

If you want a similar enough product, look at the Minisforum V3.

 

MINISFORUM V3 Tablet PC with Keyboard, AMD Ryzen 7 8840U(up to 5.1GHz) 14 inch 3 in 1 Tablet Computer, 32GB RAM+1TB SSD, 2.5K@165Hz, 2xUSB4 Port, 5MP Camera/Wi-Fi 6E/Bluetooth Support - Newegg.com

 

Its effectively a Surface but uses far better hardware. It'll even support USB4 eGPU unlike the Snapdragon X Elite.

[RLT_Byers]

I might try that one. I was hoping for a good stylus, though. I'm so used to my Samsung Galaxy I'm worried about something that doesn't come with one in the plan already. I really wish Linus would do more tablet reviews. Thank you for the suggestion.