Good Surface Pro Alternatives

[OniDirx]

I've been looking for a 2-in-1 detachable laptop, like the Surface Pro, but without the price tag. I just don't know what are good ones to look into.

I would be using it mostly for typing, and web browsing, but would be using it for a little Photoshop work here and there, and even less Video editing. and using Fantasy grounds every now and then as well, but the spec's for that are lower than Photoshop.

I won't be using it for Games.

Features I'm wanting is Stylus and Keyboard cover come with the device (Stylus sold separately might be ok, depending on how much it is).

 

I've looked into HP Spectre x2 (12-c004tu), but not sure if the i5 would be good enough. (Side question on this, does refurbished matter with 2in1s?)

Also been looking at the Samsung Galaxy Book, but have read that the keyboard isn't the sturdiest when not on a flat surface, and the kickstand seems to be a part of the Case, while not a deal breaker, it feels it would annoy me not having a stand without the keyboard.

 

If anyone could point me in the right direction or have used the two I mentioned and have input or suggestions, that would be great

 

EDIT:

Added the bullet points so people can just skim the relevant information

• 2in1 detachable
• Specs like the Surface Pro, but cheaper
• Stylus and Keyboard Cover preferred included

Used for 

• Typing
• Little Photoshop (Digital Drawing)
• minor Video Editing
• Using Fantasy Grounds (Think Roll20 but not)
• NOT FOR GAMING.

[NumLock21]

Get a 2 in 1, laptop none of those tablet style notebooks. HP Spectre x360 13 inch. I think their envy x360 might also have a 13 inch.

[captain_to_fire]

11 minutes ago, OniDirx said:

I've been looking for a 2-in-1 detachable laptop, like the Surface Pro, but without the price tag. I just don't know what are good ones to look into.

The closest thing to a Surface Pro without the expensive price tag is the Eve V. https://eve-tech.com/products/eve-v/

6 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

Get a 2 in 1, laptop none of those tablet style notebooks. HP Spectre x360 13 inch. I think their envy x360 might also have a 13 inch.

At $760 the Envy x360 13" is a good bargain https://store.hp.com/us/en/pdp/hp-envy-x360-13z-touch-laptop-3ec92av-1

[OniDirx]

9 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

Get a 2 in 1, laptop none of those tablet style notebooks. HP Spectre x360 13 inch. I think their envy x360 might also have a 13 inch.

Why a laptop style over a Tablet style?

 

I've been looking at a tablet style so I don't have to worry about the extra weight while reading a comic in bed.

[handymanshandle]

33 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

Get a 2 in 1, laptop none of those tablet style notebooks. HP Spectre x360 13 inch. I think their envy x360 might also have a 13 inch.

man I had a thread a few days ago asking about the macbook pro or the surface book but then I remembered the Spectre and oh damn lol

[NumLock21]

22 minutes ago, OniDirx said:

Why a laptop style over a Tablet style?

 

I've been looking at a tablet style so I don't have to worry about the extra weight while reading a comic in bed.

Because tablet style laptop's upgrade path are non-existent

[handymanshandle]

4 minutes ago, pinksnowbirdie said:

man I had a thread a few days ago asking about the macbook pro or the surface book but then I remembered the Spectre and oh damn lol

Someone in that thread suggest the Spectre but I dunno.

All i'd wanna do on rare occasions would be to play tf2. Which the mbp could do ez pz lol

I really hope the updated 13" gets something like this i7-8705G

for OP, eh what's your budget? Just curious as a baseline.

[captain_to_fire]

25 minutes ago, OniDirx said:

Why a laptop style over a Tablet style?

 

I've been looking at a tablet style so I don't have to worry about the extra weight while reading a comic in bed.

Well you can get the Surface Go (8GB RAM/128GB storage) for $550 but that won't include any stylus or keyboard cover. Personally, I'd get my clamshell laptop to get work done and for media consumption and even light productivity, I'd pick my iPad because imo Windows 10 is not a touch first OS unlike iOS.

[NumLock21]

24 minutes ago, captain_to_fire said:

Well you can get the Surface Go (8GB RAM/128GB storage) for $550 but that won't include any stylus or keyboard cover. Personally, I'd get my clamshell laptop to get work done and for media consumption and even light productivity, I'd pick my iPad because imo Windows 10 is not a touch first OS unlike iOS.

That thing uses a low power Pentium

[OniDirx]

2 hours ago, NumLock21 said:

Because tablet style laptop's upgrade path are non-existent

I'm not that fussed on upgrading. Most of the things I would use it for haven't had their specs increased that much over the years.

2 hours ago, pinksnowbirdie said:

Someone in that thread suggest the Spectre but I dunno.

All i'd wanna do on rare occasions would be to play tf2. Which the mbp could do ez pz lol

I really hope the updated 13" gets something like this i7-8705G

for OP, eh what's your budget? Just curious as a baseline.

My budget is about $1500-$2000, of course, cheaper is better. But that's also AU money, So the $550 Surface Go is $744, But Microsoft is charging $839AU. So Yay for the Aussie Tax.

I don't know if my budget would help.

2 hours ago, captain_to_fire said:

Well you can get the Surface Go (8GB RAM/128GB storage) for $550 but that won't include any stylus or keyboard cover. Personally, I'd get my clamshell laptop to get work done and for media consumption and even light productivity, I'd pick my iPad because imo Windows 10 is not a touch first OS unlike iOS.

For the price, any Surface product doesn't seem worth it. Like for that $550 (or $744AU for me), I could get something more powerful. (for $799 a 2in1 with a AMD A9-9420e Processor 3GHz)

I have a desktop for my main work, I want a 2in1 for my light production and media. and iPad wouldn't work for me either, the MAIN reason for this is to have fantasy grounds going while at the table (Fantasy grounds is a Virtual Tabletop RPG program use for online games, But it works well for in person as well) but I also want to use it for other uses, Like I said in my first post.

Also I really dislike Apple, so I kinda want to stay away from anything iOS related.

[handymanshandle]

12 minutes ago, OniDirx said:

I'm not that fussed on upgrading. Most of the things I would use it for haven't had their specs increased that much over the years.

My budget is about $1500-$2000, of course, cheaper is better. But that's also AU money, So the $550 Surface Go is $744, But Microsoft is charging $839AU. So Yay for the Aussie Tax.

I don't know if my budget would help.

For the price, any Surface product doesn't seem worth it. Like for that $550 (or $744AU for me), I could get something more powerful. (for $799 a 2in1 with a AMD A9-9420e Processor 3GHz)

I have a desktop for my main work, I want a 2in1 for my light production and media. and iPad wouldn't work for me either, the MAIN reason for this is to have fantasy grounds going while at the table (Fantasy grounds is a Virtual Tabletop RPG program use for online games, But it works well for in person as well) but I also want to use it for other uses, Like I said in my first post.

Also I really dislike Apple, so I kinda want to stay away from anything iOS related.

ah alright

also about something more powerful, if you're comparing the Surface Go, I don't recall the exact specs of it. But I imagine a A9 would be better.
but I have a Bristol A10 and it's honestly kinda crap, either because HP suffocates it or it just sucks lol

I think it's a mixture of both lol.

idk how that converts... Too lazy to grab a conversion tool

but damn, condolences lol.

 

Depending on what you're doing this might be a good option.

 

[raspute10]

dont go for the Eve V. I bought one back on November 4th, during their first flash sale. I still haven't recieved it.

Long story short, they bought all of the components to build the computers they had orders for. however they ran out of  cash to pay the factory that was supposed to produce them, when they finished around %65 of their orders. 

during this whole time all us who had put in orders were being told everything was running a little behind schedule. they pushed back my jan-feb estimate to April, then may, and then June. they wouldn't allow us to get refunds. they finally said we could file for refunds after they failed to deliver by June 30th. then they told us that the refunds wouldn't be given until after they secure investment funding and send out the rest of the standing orders. they estimated by the end of September, which seems very firm as you can tell by now. 

TLDR, swedish design good, swedish financing not so much