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Consumer Reports Pulls Microsoft Laptop Recommendation (go.com)

The breakage rate for Microsoft's Surface devices is significantly worse than for other manufacturers' laptops and tablets, Consumer Reports said, adding that it was removing its "recommended" designation for Surface products. From a report: The consumer advocacy group said Thursday that it can no longer recommend Microsoft laptops or tablets because of poor reliability compared to other brands. Microsoft said the findings don't accurately reflect Surface owners' "true experiences." The consumer group says Microsoft machines have performed well in laboratory testing. But a subscriber survey found start-up and freezing problems. The devices losing their "recommended" status are the Surface Laptop (128GB and 256GB versions) and Surface Book (128GB and 512GB versions).

126 comments

  1. It's not "Consumers Reports" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    It's "Consumer Reports"

    1. Re:It's not "Consumers Reports" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      It's "a dildo", never "your dildo".

    2. Re:It's not "Consumers Reports" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's "Consumer Reports"

      and they say "scratch the Surface."

    3. Re:It's not "Consumers Reports" by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      It's "Consumer Reports"

      Where was that sentiment when they were accusing Apple of battery-life issues in the 2016 MacBook Pro?

    4. Re:It's not "Consumers Reports" by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      Huh? They forced Apple to fix the issue, even though it only occurred when you had the cache turned off in Safari. They obviously have some pull.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    5. Re:It's not "Consumers Reports" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well aren't you a fucking ignorant piece of shit.

      You have brain damage from lack of oxygen when you suck Tim Cook off.

    6. Re:It's not "Consumers Reports" by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      Huh? They forced Apple to fix the issue, even though it only occurred when you had the cache turned off in Safari. They obviously have some pull.

      They didn't "Force" Apple to do ANYTHING.

      Your explanation presumes the fact that Apple didn't WANT to find/fix that Safari Bug.

      Gimme a break, HATER!

    7. Re:It's not "Consumers Reports" by MightyYar · · Score: 1

      And with one comment I have a rabid Apple fan calling me a hater and an anti-Apple nutjob suggesting that I suck off Tim Cook. That's awesome.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    8. Re:It's not "Consumers Reports" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't worry about what children say.

    9. Re:It's not "Consumers Reports" by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

      Don't worry about what children say.

      Sez the COWARD.

  2. I didn't know you could do this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm not sure if I care.

  3. Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Noishkel · · Score: 5, Insightful

    One of the first reports I remember reading about the Surface was just how much the NFL hates them. There is many videos of team members loosing their cool and hurling the things across the field.

    But hey, let's all be honest. Microsoft's hardware has NEVER been good. Be it laptops, tablets, or media players. This is just one more example of this trend.

    1. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by ohnocitizen · · Score: 5, Informative

      Their ergonomic keyboard was amazing, back when they still made it.

    2. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Opportunist · · Score: 2

      Well... no. MS actually made pretty good mice. For a while the joke was even that MS must've bought their hardware division because it worked way too well to be an internal product.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    3. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Luthair · · Score: 1

      Actually the Zune as well as keyboards and mice were always great.

      Supposedly the issue for the NFL are mostly due to issues with wireless in the stadiums /shrug

    4. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Noishkel · · Score: 2

      Well fair enough. I never hard one of those, although I did have a Microsoft Sidewinder once, and it did work well for a while before finally dying.

      But even then, it says a lot that only their most basic hardware seems to work instead of their flagship products.

    5. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In this case, I think most of the blame actually lies with Intel's Skylake chips. I got a Surface 4 when they first came out, and after going to the trouble of manually loading the beta Intel video drivers, the majority of the problems went away. As I recall, the mobile Skylake chips are kind of infamous for nasty bugs and forced Intel to push out Kaby Lake early. Since, for... reasons... the Surface required the use of Microsoft issued video drivers, people who don't know how to manually install drivers were left waiting for a couple of months for Microsoft to push out a new version, and I could definitely understand people being upset about that.

      I'm not sure if the recently refreshed models using Kaby Lake chips are any better, but Microsoft is likely catching a lot of flak for what is really the fault of a hardware component manufacturer in this case.

    6. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who really cares if a bunch of roid-rage concussion victims don't like the tablets. Let me know if any COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJORS like them.

    7. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Microsoft keyboards and mice might be decent, but they have never been on par with Logitech.

    8. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by DanJ_UK · · Score: 1

      They still make the natural keyboard.

      --
      - Dan
    9. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by green1 · · Score: 1

      Having used both, I disagree. Microsoft mice are pretty much exactly on par with Logitech (though I find them a bit more ergonomic) they won't compete with a custom high end brand, but they're good solid consumer grade stuff.
      Microsoft's ergonomic keyboards on the other hand were top notch, better than what Logitech puts out.

      (as I sadly type this on a horrible Dell keyboard, but at least I have a Microsoft mouse)

      As a general rule I've found Microsoft to be pretty good at hardware, even if they couldn't code themselves out of a wet paper bag.

    10. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by green1 · · Score: 1

      I agree, I also loved their ergonomic keyboards. As a general rule I find MS to be quite good at hardware. Too bad they pretend to be a software company, because that's obviously not their strong suit.

    11. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by avandesande · · Score: 1

      Nothing beats the ergonomics of the Microsoft mouse though. Most of the other mice are too small and don't support my hand very well.

      --
      love is just extroverted narcissism
    12. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by green1 · · Score: 1

      I may have been less clear than I intended on that point, I meant to make it clear that I find the Microsoft mice more ergonomic than the Logitech mice, but that they are otherwise very similar quality products. I will note however that ergonomics is somewhat subjective, I have a co-worker who swears by her Logitech mouse, whereas I find it too small, of course she's also a full foot shorter than I am, and likely has somewhat smaller hands too, so that may account for the different preference.

    13. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yeah, because those meatheads would know. Great example, fuckwit.

    14. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by David_Hart · · Score: 1

      One of the first reports I remember reading about the Surface was just how much the NFL hates them. There is many videos of team members loosing their cool and hurling the things across the field.

      But hey, let's all be honest. Microsoft's hardware has NEVER been good. Be it laptops, tablets, or media players. This is just one more example of this trend.

      This is more because of how crappy the wireless data and communications systems are at NFL Stadiums than how the Surface performs. The NFL league office runs these things and they can't even get team communications systems right. The device gets the blame when WiFi sucks....

      As for the conclusion of Consumer Reports, don't confuse their reliability reports with actual reliability issues (i.e. poor design or poor hardware). The reason why I say this is because Consumer Reports includes user issues and complaints (vs hardware issues) in their "reliability" reporting. The vast majority of the time it's because the user doesn't know how to do something or did something stupid. If there have been more than average failure rates then I would expect to see many more articles or posts about it online other than Consumer Reports.

      Personally, I have a Surface Pro 4 and have not had any hardware or software issues. The only pervasive complaint that I have seen about it is that the magnet for the stylus should be a bit stronger, which they supposedly fixed in the latest Surface Pro.

    15. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Serge_Tomiko · · Score: 1

      I have a Surface Book, and previously my only experience with Microsoft hardware was joysticks, mice, and keyboards. The latter were all great. No problems.

      The Surface Book is a fantastic idea, but the reliability is poor. I've gone through 2 already, and the one I have now has a line down the middle of the screen with some colors. I'm going to be back to getting a cheapo laptop in the future.

    16. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hell yeah! When I read "Microsoft's hardware has NEVER been good" my old MS keyboard came to mind. Not only did it have a fantastic tactile feel, it was highly durable. Hands down my favorite hardware product from MS.

    17. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What are you talking about? Their hardware has always been solid. The mice/keyboards were the standard in the day.

    18. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      Their mice are okay as well. And the newer keyboards are fine... A bit over-priced for what they are, but decent.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    19. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by NoZart · · Score: 2

      This might be different today. Logitech has now for a few years built their mice with the shoddiest switches possible. I had 3 different logitech mice starting to act up on left click after 3 months and be broken after 6 (and no, i don't play diablo or starcraft)

    20. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by houghi · · Score: 1

      I also remember how the NFLK issues was about the software and network issues more than about the device itself.

      --
      Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
    21. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is "roid-rage" a new term for unhappy Android phone/tablet users? Something to do with the dubious patents that MS collects billions in license fees for?

    22. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Luthair · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I've seen a number of MS fanboys/reports claim Skylake had issues, and yet no other OEM seems to have problems.

    23. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by ohnocitizen · · Score: 1

      It's not the same as the Elite (https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-A11-00337-Natural-Keyboard-Elite/dp/B0000642RX). Now that was a nice keyboard.

    24. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      Some years ago, I had a Microsoft Bluetooth mouse. It felt good to my hand, and it worked rather well, even with my Macs... but it didn't have a power switch.

      Who designs a wireless mouse and doesn't include a bloody on/off switch?

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    25. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by pnutjam · · Score: 1

      http://a.co/b3EpJxt amazon link, no referral

    26. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe Apple will have problems if they every upgrade a mac. Maybe that's the real reason Apple is so many years behind on hardware.

    27. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Um, no. When I built my last desktop, Skylake had just been released. I made the decision to use the previous generation (was it haswell or broadwell, can't remember) because the performance improvements with Skylake were minimal and a lot of people had been reporting problems with them. My system runs Linux, not Windows, not a Microsoft fanboi.

    28. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by MightyYar · · Score: 2

      A lot has changed since you went to prison.

      --
      W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
    29. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Which totally applies to this laptop that's only been on the market for a month or so.

    30. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by iampiti · · Score: 1

      Yep, and the worst thing is they used (use?) the crappy switches even on pretty expensive mice/trackballs where you would expect something better. Freaking ridiculous

    31. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My friends and I believe it is a perfect example of eating your own dog food. They actually use the keyboards and mice all day, so they rock. As a example of not dogfooding, they didn't use Windows Server for quite some time for their services, so it sucked.

    32. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by jellomizer · · Score: 1

      Computer Science Majors would normally sacrifice weight, and thickness for better performance.

      Heck I would like a laptop built like those old hot rods, where the CPU is sticking out of the case, because it has a full workstation/server CPUs on board.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
    33. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by zephvark · · Score: 1

      Their ergonomic keyboard was amazing, back when they still made it.

      Yes... but unreliable as all Hell. I think I owned about ten of them. They'd randomly short-circuit and go completely dead, or start repeating keys endlessly, or enter "p#z" when you typed "t". I like the layout (which was originally an Apple design, but they dropped it for a hideous chiclet-key setup because "think outside of sanity" or something)... but good Lord, the failure rate was 100% over the course of a year or so.

    34. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by xonen · · Score: 1

      But hey, let's all be honest. Microsoft's hardware has NEVER been good. Be it laptops, tablets, or media players.

      I don't agree. Their OEM keyboards and mice were excellent. Too bad they don't make that corded mouse anymore, it's the only one that fit in my (large) hands.

      Most Logitech items with 'moveable' parts (like buttons) are either too small and/or break easy, the only reasonable quality items being the discontinued G15 keyboards and webcams. Most other brands are even worse, or tend to target 'gamers' with a lot of bling and lights, mouse buttons at inconvenient places and plain weird shapes..

      All i ask from a mouse are 2 buttons that don't accidentally click when they hit something on my desk (like a keyboard), a nice rounded shape, a reasonable large size and a scroll wheel that keeps working. MS delivered on that. They don't do that anymore since this wireless hype. But the word 'never' in above statement is false, imho.

      --
      A glitch a day keeps the bugs away.
    35. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Grishnakh · · Score: 1

      Well it didn't take long for someone to bring up the Zune. A failure at every level.

      Was it? It was ugly, at least in the "turd brown" color, but that's not a reflection of hardware quality. The whole 3x3x3 sharing thing was utterly stupid, but again that's not hardware. The overall execution was really bad, and an obvious "me too!" to Apple's ultra-popular iPod. But how was the actual Zune hardware?

    36. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Scoth · · Score: 1

      Love my Microsoft keyboards. I'm still using the Microsoft Natural Keyboard Pro I bought new circa 2001 at work, and a new-in-box one I got at a thrift store a couple years ago at home (replacing an original '95 Microsoft Natural). They fell off the wagon a bit when they released that line that had cursor keys in a + instead of inverted T, but otherwise they've been great.

    37. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer 3.0 was the greatest wired mouse ever invented... naturally, they discontinued it.

    38. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

      I liked their ergonomic keyboards and mice when they came out and used them for a while. Then I just got away from using them and forgot about them altogether. About the thing that they brought out that I tried and actually liked.

    39. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Before they started making everything in China, Microsoft keyboards and mice were of far better quality than comparable product from Logitech, which were of lesser build quality but offered more features.

    40. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I never understood if they hated the surface because of the hardware, or because of the software running on it. Was there ever any distinction made?

      For drawing at least, the Surface 4 added decent specs to run Photoshop or other drawing apps on it's mid range offering, and they really improved the feel of the pen on the screen so it feels less like plastic on glass and more stylus on textured surface. It's not without it's faults though, the Microsoft Pen Experience and Tablet software baked into the OS seriously fucks with using the thing to draw, and you need to take an hour or two doing web searching to track every stupid thing it does and correlate that with whatever option or service is hidden in the settings which you need to turn off.

      For example, pushing on the stylus to draw in photoshop, Windows would interpret that as a long touch which triggers it to pause the cursor while it draws a circle around it (which is meant to act as a timer letting you know how long before the long touch triggers it's associated action, which was right clicking if I remember right). The result was you'd go to draw a stroke and the cursor would lag behind and suddenly jump, leaving you with gaps in what should have been one fluid stroke.
      It's not like Microsoft is unaware that their pen and tablet features heavily interfere with drawing in non Microsoft apps, they just make zero effort to simplify configuring the tablet for drawing on.

      Granted, this has been a standing issue since Vista, whenever you used a tablet or touchscreen using Wacom drivers this would come up.

    41. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by RespekMyAthorati · · Score: 1

      Microsoft's hardware has NEVER been good.

      Their mice and keyboards have always been excellent.
      XBOX isn't bad.

    42. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > But how was the actual Zune hardware?

      I'll let you know when mine dies. Meanwhile, I bought mine when MS stopped making them--the original Zune, that is, and not the Zune HD, so it's even older than that.

      It's been dropped on hardwood and concrete floors more times than I can count (not a crack or scratch), and once in a flower bed (found it half buried in dirt). Never skipped a beat. I been using it *daily* since I bought it to listen to podcasts. It's showing no sign of slowing down. Still on the original battery too.

    43. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Luthair · · Score: 1

      So your anecdote can be summed up with - I didn't use it so I don't know

    44. Re:Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we? by Luthair · · Score: 1

      Who cares about Apple, Lenovo, HP, etc. seemed to have no issues. Certainly not PCs randomly waking up in bags etc.

  4. Planned Obsolescence by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    These pieces of garbage are designed to fail.

  5. What kind of a sap bought a Surface? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Give me a break.

    1. Re: What kind of a sap bought a Surface? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bought 2xPro, 1xwindows rt, 1xpro2, 2xpro3, 1xbook

      I've owned 30 laptops over the past 25 years. Many were MacBooks and Toshiba. All (except the Rt) were superb... except the HP

  6. I agree by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Funny

    It does not adequately reflect owners' experience and is by no means what the owners of the devices would say. But CR refused to include expletives and obscenities in its report.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:I agree by bluefoxlucid · · Score: 2

      Is a Consumer Reports subscription worth it for $35/year? Without expletives and the kind of hard-hitting commentary great minds like those at the The Rolling Stone are willing to lay down, I'm on the fence.

    2. Re:I agree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Is a Consumer Reports subscription worth it for $35/year?

      I vote "no". They have recently become obsessed with graphic design and color commentary while minimizing actual quantitative testing. Like my local Fort Worth newspaper, they have become more and more content free. I won't resubscribe.

    3. Re:I agree by UnknowingFool · · Score: 2

      To be fair to Microsoft, some of the complaints of the NFL was not that the tablets broke down but that they lost network connectivity at crucial points. Now that might be more of a problem with networking and not setting up a robust wireless network with tens of thousands of fan phones creating interference. And yes some teams did say the tablets also broke down too.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    4. Re:I agree by UnknowingFool · · Score: 2

      If you are buying a lot of high priced things in the next year: appliances, electronics, etc. Like if you are about to furnish/buy a home.

      --
      Well, there's spam egg sausage and spam, that's not got much spam in it.
    5. Re:I agree by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Consumer Reports has become worthless. They had a change in mgt. and got rid of the testers with experience. Their only priority is making money, not providing valuable information. The last time I tried to unsubscribe I had to get the credit card company to cancel the transactions because CR wouldn't stop charging me. I use wirecutter.com now.

  7. That's not shocking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    A system that's a band-aid on a a band-aid on a band-aid for 36 years to the the point that it's mostly made of fossilized band-aid carved into the shape of a tablet OS isn't as reliable as a tablet OS originally built around 10 years ago for a tablet-like device? I'm stunned.

    1. Re:That's not shocking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, but then how else can you run those video games from when you were in college and that old copy of Photoshop 6 you have on CD-ROM? Gotta keep backwards compatibility for Teh Gaemz!!!11one Every l33t PC Technician knows this is the most important feature of an OS!

    2. Re:That's not shocking by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How else can you run those video games from when you were in college

      MAME and MESS, mostly.

    3. Re:That's not shocking by HiThere · · Score: 1

      You've got a bit of a point. I keep a virtual copy of Red Hat 5.x specifically to allow me to run a few favorite games. But I run them under virtualization and with no internet connection.

      OTOH, I gave up all my favorite windows games when I switched to Linux around 1995 (plus or minus a few years...the switch was fuzzy because for awhile I dual booted). And Wine *still* won't run those MSWind95 games well.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
  8. Gosh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is there actually anything of real quality that Microsoft produces?

    1. Re:Gosh... by freeze128 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Windows 2000

    2. Re:Gosh... by green1 · · Score: 1

      Keyboards and mice. They're top notch.

    3. Re:Gosh... by arth1 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Windows 2000

      I couldn't get my copy of Microsoft Bob to run on Windows 2000. Has that been fixed now?

    4. Re:Gosh... by nukenerd · · Score: 1

      Is there actually anything of real quality that Microsoft produces?

      Advertising

    5. Re:Gosh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Windows 2000

      I couldn't get my copy of Microsoft Bob to run on Windows 2000. Has that been fixed now?

      Your problem might be trying to run 16 bit software in a 64 bit OS. If you use 32-bit Windows 2000, it might work.
      Run it under Windows 3.1 in VirtualBox, it works great!

    6. Re:Gosh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They make the best FUD.

    7. Re:Gosh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There wasn't a version of W2K running on x64 platform available for general public use anyway.

    8. Re:Gosh... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      oh good, coz there is nothing I want more than to run ms bob on 64 bit win 10

    9. Re:Gosh... by samwichse · · Score: 1
    10. Re:Gosh... by Bacon+Bits · · Score: 1

      Windows 2000 not running Microsoft Bob was the fix. It's not a bug, it's a feature!

      --
      The road to tyranny has always been paved with claims of necessity.
  9. Re: Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Those issues were due to poor WiFi network implementation. It's shocking those meatheads couldn't separate the issues.

  10. Painted themselves in the corner by avandesande · · Score: 1

    But a subscriber survey found start-up and freezing problems

    Can't blame the other vendor for this.

    --
    love is just extroverted narcissism
  11. Cannot be repaired so I will never own one. by dizzy8578 · · Score: 5, Informative
    --
    *"Cogito Ergo Liberalis"*
    1. Re:Cannot be repaired so I will never own one. by David_Hart · · Score: 1, Insightful

      https://www.theverge.com/2017/...

      So, you don't own a smart phone... or a modern flat panel TV... or a.....

      I'm not saying that you are wrong or that I don't respect your stance. I too prefer buying products that can be repaired. But there are very few modern electronics that are repairable today. We are only tricking ourselves with tear-down videos, etc., into thinking that it's worth doing. For the vast majority, it just isn't worth it.

      Practically every time I repair a phone, tablet, laptop, etc. it ends up costing me more in parts and time then it would be to buy a new one, and that's when I am 100% successful the very first time. I accept this, but I do it anyway because I learn something new every time and there is a basic level of satisfaction at having fixed something. My last repair project was replacing the screen on my Nexus 7 2013.

      I respect your position, but the reality is that practically nothing electronic is worth repairing anymore.

    2. Re:Cannot be repaired so I will never own one. by Khashishi · · Score: 4, Informative

      And that's a big problem. Repairability and recycleability are related. If you can't take it apart, you can't recycle it. Sure, for now, we can always just throw it in a landfill and mine more minerals for new ones, but how long is that going to last?

    3. Re:Cannot be repaired so I will never own one. by n329619 · · Score: 1

      So, you don't own a smart phone... or a modern flat panel TV... or a.....

      He might and still fix them. You could also fix your smartphone. It's on ifixit.

      Practically every time I repair a phone, tablet, laptop, etc. it ends up costing me more in parts and time then it would be to buy a new one...

      Umm Every time you repair anything, it should be because the cost of getting parts or repairing is cheaper than buying a new one. (Ex: Phone is $699, camera is $25 -> should repair, laptop is $799, mobo is $500 -> might not be worth repairing)

    4. Re: Cannot be repaired so I will never own one. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What isn't repairable about a flat panel tv? It may not be economical to repair, but that's because manufacturing has gotten so cheap, and repair is still a manual time consuming process.

  12. True Experience? by Zorro · · Score: 0

    Boots it and sees Windows 10 Logo...

    Smashes Screen.

  13. Re: Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we by JoeyRox · · Score: 1

    They made what is still the best mouse ever designed.

  14. They should include the Surface Pro 3 by garryknight · · Score: 5, Interesting

    They have been ignoring Surface Owners' "true experiences" for something like two years now. The Surface Pro 3 came with two different battery types. After a firmware update in September 2015 (I think it was) one type of battery simply stopped working for a large number of owners. Many posts were made on the Microsoft forums about it and some of the MSVPs tried in vain to help. Then posts started being deleted from the forum. The only thing I remember a MS spokesman saying was that it wasn't due to the firmware update. Just a coincidence, apparently. A 'fix' was issued at some point but most of those people affected said it didn't work for them.

    Last year sometime my typecover (the soft keyboard) simply stopped working for no reason. I turned the machine on with the typecover attached and it would no longer respond to anything I did with the keyboard. It wouldn't even light up. I posted about it on the MS forum and was advised to try several 'fixes' that I'd already tried and which hadn't worked. Then others started posting about non-working typecovers, too, and I discovered some that failed before mine did. My typecover is now the most expensive screen protector I've ever owned. And I now have to lug around a mini Bluetooth keyboard as well.

    I still think the tablet part is one of the best 'laptops' around (but only with the BT keyboard) but I wouldn't ever buy another Surface Pro.

    --
    Garry Knight
    1. Re: They should include the Surface Pro 3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The same is true for my iPad Pro Apple keyboard. It's no longer recognized by the iPad. Apple, to their credit, has apparently extended the warranty to three years.

    2. Re:They should include the Surface Pro 3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Indeed, I've had my Surface Pro 3 since it came out, and I've had all (and still have most) of the typical issues - awful battery life, unreliable WiFi and Bluetooth that needs disabling/re-enabling to fix. Type cover that is not recognised, pen stops working mid-use, and it also wakes itself up and then blue-screens all on its own. If I leave any work open when I put it to sleep, it's always a gamble as to whether it'll still be there when it resumes. I did find a workaround to the crazy battery consumption during sleep though - you can hibernate it via the command line (shutdown /h) even thought the GUI option isn't available.

    3. Re:They should include the Surface Pro 3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I had that for a while too, but there was a different sort of reset (can't remember the button combination to hold) that sorted it out.

  15. True experience! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    My true experience is that my surface fell from the couch (the part one sits upon) onto a carpet and this completely fried the touch screen sensor, so now it's basically just a laptop with a strangely velvety keyboard.

          Microsoft actually has a tradition of very high quality hardware, but I think in trying to get the surface super thin, they sacrificed a bit too much in terms of toughness.

  16. the stupid is STRONG in this one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Practically every time I repair a phone, tablet, laptop, etc. it ends up costing me more in parts and time then it would be to buy a new one

    practically nothing electronic is worth repairing anymore.

    stupid fucker buys items without regard for ability to repair and is surprised, makes sweeping generalizations.

    1. Re: the stupid is STRONG in this one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Show me some of the repairable gear you have bought and what you have fixed.

    2. Re: the stupid is STRONG in this one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Show me some of the repairable gear you have bought and what you have fixed.

      2008 Macbook: upgraded RAM, upgraded HDD, replaced battery, replaced trackpad, removed cat fur clog, repaired power supply cable, still going strong today

      M-Audio MIDI keyboard: fixed dead keys, fixed intermittent sustain pedal

      stratocaster: new volume control, new jack

      Acer chromebook: nuked Chrome OS, installed Linux

      Bissel vacuum cleaner: replaced belt, motor

      RCA 5.1 surround sound system: new cooling fan

      bicycle: new tires, new chain, new brake pads, new brake cables, new shift cables, new speedometer

      my car: too many things

    3. Re:the stupid is STRONG in this one by David_Hart · · Score: 1

      Practically every time I repair a phone, tablet, laptop, etc. it ends up costing me more in parts and time then it would be to buy a new one

      practically nothing electronic is worth repairing anymore.

      stupid fucker buys items without regard for ability to repair and is surprised, makes sweeping generalizations.

      I chose the Nexus 7 2013 because it was actually one of the more easier to repair small tablet models. That doesn't mean that it's cost effective to do the repairs. So, your theory that I completely ignore repairability is bull****.

      The fact that you can't distinguish between being able to repair something the whether it is cost effective or not shows that you completely missed my point.

    4. Re: the stupid is STRONG in this one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Now fix a 2016 Mac Book Pro. Or upgrade anything.

    5. Re: the stupid is STRONG in this one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So one piece of electronics manufactured a decade ago, got it.

    6. Re: the stupid is STRONG in this one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seriously this was the worst defence in regards to the challenge I've ever seen. Self troll ?

    7. Re: the stupid is STRONG in this one by Shirley+Marquez · · Score: 1

      Three pieces of electronics. The MIDI keyboard and the surround sound system are also electronics. The Chromebook wasn't a hardware fix so I'm not counting it.

      Bicycles are a throwback in that they are designed to be user repairable and upgradeable. It's possible for a normal bicycle owner to do pretty much everything that needs to be done to a bike. A few jobs do require specialized and expensive tools that the typical bike owner won't have, but there are no obstacles to buying the tools if you want them; all the major component makers will happily sell them to you.

      There are three large makers of quality bike components: Campagnolo, Shimano, and the SRAM group. There are also smaller companies that make various pieces but not complete component groups. To some extent it's possible to mix and match parts from different companies on the same bike, though there are some constraints.

  17. I manage lots of Macs, iPads, ThinkPads... by jpellino · · Score: 1

    Great reliability. I ended up with a Surface 3 at home... Windows 10 on Surface is a great thing, but the unit? It's now been deader than Elvis twice and I'm pretty sure it will be replaced with an iPad.

    --
    "Win treats sysadmins better than users. Mac treats users better than sysadmins. Linux treats everyone like sysadmins."
  18. Found the LUDDITE! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Modern app appers know that the Appsoft Surface Book is the appiest apptop because it has Appdows 10 S, which lets you app apps while apping other apps! Only LUDDITES want LUDDITE operating systems like LUDDITE Windows 10 and LUDDITE Windows 7 and LUDDITE Linux!

    Apps!

  19. Not Surface Laptop by oneneo · · Score: 1

    From the Verge article:

    "Most recently, the company has rolled out the Surface Laptop — the line’s first traditional laptop PC — and an upgraded, more powerful Surface Pro. Neither of those products had yet been released at the end of the Consumer Reports survey period. Instead, Microsoft’s standing was likely hurt by bugs and crashes that affected past devices like the Surface Pro 4 and Surface Book."

  20. There's only one thing to say about this: by TheFakeTimCook · · Score: 1

    ...And no, it's not a Goatse link:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

    1. Re:There's only one thing to say about this: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      so it's a RickRoll? or Meatspin?

  21. Until it suddenly isn't by scubamage · · Score: 1

    I'm sure that a large anonymous donation from Microsoft will make the "do not recommend" turn into a "Recommended A+++++++" just like it did for Apple's Macbook Pro.

  22. This consumer's experience by ThePub2000 · · Score: 1

    ... ack! While I love my Surface Pro 3, it is fragile, broken, and just not even a good hardware experience for the price paid.

    On the other hand I have an iPad w/ Retina Display (iPad v4) that is still working after having been literally thrown into the street and broken. My Surface fell from a 1ft distance and shattered, needing to be replaced!

    I agree with Consumer Reports! Don't buy a Microsoft product. Even the Surface accessories, for their price, are cheaply made and prone to breakage.

    1. Re:This consumer's experience by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

      If it's fragile, broken, and not even a good hardware experience for the price paid why do you say that you love it?

  23. Surface 4 is a POS by cpotoso · · Score: 3, Informative

    Really. It is. New machine, battery lasts barely 3-4 hours doing SIMPLE stuff (windows has the worst power management possible). Even in SLEEP MODE it manages to deplete a battery from 100% to 40% overnight (did I mention that windows has the worst power management possible?). Touch interface and pen randomly stop working (requiring a reboot). To top it off, machine fell from 20 cm to a wooden floor and the screen shattered, costing hundreds of $ to repair. MS had always complained that windows was unreliable because they worked with so many brands and models, but they can't even get their own sh*t to work.

    1. Re:Surface 4 is a POS by David_Hart · · Score: 1

      Really. It is. New machine, battery lasts barely 3-4 hours doing SIMPLE stuff (windows has the worst power management possible). Even in SLEEP MODE it manages to deplete a battery from 100% to 40% overnight (did I mention that windows has the worst power management possible?). Touch interface and pen randomly stop working (requiring a reboot). To top it off, machine fell from 20 cm to a wooden floor and the screen shattered, costing hundreds of $ to repair. MS had always complained that windows was unreliable because they worked with so many brands and models, but they can't even get their own sh*t to work.

      Change the settings so that WiFi and Bluetooth are turned off when it is put to sleep. By default these are left on when in sleep mode and drain battery life. Mine lasts 4 to 6 hours no problem.

      Also, have you updated the drivers?
      https://www.microsoft.com/en-u...

    2. Re:Surface 4 is a POS by cpotoso · · Score: 1

      And at the same time my ipad and my macbook air constantly do wi-fi updates and all and never ever would drain 60% of the battery being sleep overnight. Neither does my iphone, or my android tablet or my android phone. Sorry, it is just MS cr4p. And yes, all drivers are up to date. Nice design (the kickstand is cool) but otherwise horrible machine.

    3. Re:Surface 4 is a POS by n329619 · · Score: 1

      (windows has the worst power management possible)

      Wait. Windows had good power management? When was this?

  24. Surface 4 pro great for reading comics but ... by mikeabbott420 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    But that's all I use it for because the battery life is terrible, especially if any networking is turned on. I use an ancient 'New iPad' for trivial browsing and watching video in bed. That thing can make a charge last.

    When I bought the surface I had visions of using it for note taking in meetings and a variety of other things but the battery issue makes it more trouble than it's worth.

    --
    This program was made possible by a grant from the Ultra-Humanite, and viewers like you.
  25. My company uses SP3 and SP4 they all have issues by Brigadier · · Score: 1

    I work at a small consulting firm, the machines in principle are great, unfortunately all the SP3 and my SP4 have had issues with the USB connectors getting finicky

  26. Microsoft pushing crappy products? by OneHundredAndTen · · Score: 1

    Say it ain't so! Microsoft has never, ever done such a thing.

  27. Well, duh by JohnFen · · Score: 2

    The Surface is clearly not a good purchase. It has Windows 10 on it.

  28. Anecdote incoming! by Euroranger · · Score: 1

    I served on a jury yesterday and one of the fellas in the jury pool was at the same table as me while we all waited in the jury pool room. He was using a Surface and, as I had been looking into them at Best Buy the last time I was there, I asked him how he liked his. In short: he didn't. It was provided by his work and, because he worked on government contract stuff, he was required to use like 3 VPNs and one of those every changing RSA keys to access stuff. He lamented that was constantly having to shut down and power up all the time due to freezes, dropped connections, etc. When I mentioned to him that I wrote software he told me, in no uncertain terms, to pass on the Surface (in his opinion) and go with a Dell (what I'm already using). Anyway, some random guy's learned opinion related to me just 3 days back.

  29. That was my experience by np_bernstein · · Score: 1

    I have a surface book. The one with the gpu in the keyboard. Cost almost $3k. The keyboard stopped detaching about two months after warranty expired. I had to pay $600 to have it fixed. I like the regular surface devices, but would not buy another surface book.

    --
    RandomAndInteresting.comdefending the world from stupidity since 1979
  30. Horacio by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Since their review sank so low, I guess Microsoft's product,
    *puts on glasses*
    Won't resurface soon.

    YEEEEEAAAAAAAHH!!

  31. Re: Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we by Shirley+Marquez · · Score: 1

    A football stadium is a difficult RF environment. There are likely 60,000 or more people present, nearly all of whom are carrying devices that generate RF, and many of them generate WiFi signals (any smartphone that has WiFi turned on). The team itself is using those WiFi tablets as well as wireless microphones for communication with some of their players (those often act up, by the way). The television crews are using wireless links to their reporters and camera people.

    The problems can be solved with sufficient application of effort and money. The TV people make that effort and their stuff just works. But few NFL teams are willing to make the effort because it's a cost for them rather than something they see as mission critical. And somehow, it's often the case that the visiting team has more trouble with the wireless microphones than the home team does. I wonder why...

  32. Re: Well if the NFL can't stand them why should we by KGIII · · Score: 1

    Ask her to put her hands on your penis, then you can compare hand sizes.

    See? I'm helping.

    --
    "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  33. Not many really good PC's by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In my experience over a couple decades of using computers. I could gradually see the failure of PC makers to cross the T and I's in hardware. Sure we get more and more features but they seldom work perfectly, and everything else suffers from cheaper grade hardware. The Surface issues just are the latest in disappointment that even at premium price levels the quality isn't there. You then have to ask, how much money do I have to spend to get a Apple Mac like experience? Shouldn't be too hard if your Microsoft and in control of all of the Surface design and production. Three problems with the Surface line, Windows 10, cheap hardware, and Microsoft.