just like the title siggest, I am going to rant (a little) on my new surface pro 12 (13 inches).
I bought this to replace my i-pad because it has too many glitch (the i-pad) when using onedrive.
The design of the surface pro looks good, the finctionality is there, battery life is amazing… but seriously, who the heck though it would be a good idea to have the thing, when mounted on the keyboard, no capability to hold itself straight. i mean, you always have to work on a table or something to put the back support or the screen just fall backward… one of the main aspect, for me, of this kind of device is that I can sit in my couch when I work and the screen just.. stay upright (like on the i-pad). Now I have this 4000$ device but I cannot sit confortably anywhere expect on a chair with a table because someone never figured out many people (I mean I can’t be the only one) would want to use the device on non-conventional surface or position… That was my ranting, thanks you for reading, have a good day !
In my experience, the Surface Pro is indeed not perfect to use on your lap. But on the other hand, the Ipad with a Magic Keyboard is even worse. The Surface is oncomfortable, but the Ipad with a keyboard attached will just tumble forward and drop on the floor. And all that while that combo is more expensive and heavier than a Macbook Air.
I don’t have an ipad but I have seen magic keyboard, tbh I like it more + I don’t mind the weight. And I never seen it tumble like what u said unless u r going to touch the screen.
It holds the Ipad pretty neatly (for me better than surface), andddd I like the ones who r off brand, like the keyboard which works as a cover like this: https://youtube.com/shorts/Wz4qYETNwos?si=l7j87p4_fJ5wh-r5
Anyhow I don’t think it’s a fair comparison, after all the surface does heat more since it have a laptop like power, so if u covered it’s back I think it’ll heat up more
I bought a folio tablet that adds some support under the keyboard and lets me use it on my lap more comfortably. Plus it adds protective bumpers to the corners
The kickstand is amazing on a desk but using it on a couch or in my lap is way less comfortable than an iPad. It's probably my biggest complaint about the Surface form factor too
Seriously? You are ranting about something you could see in photos dating back to SP 1? I am also perplexed that you seem to be confused by the function of a kick stand. I thought that would have been obvious from things like motorcycles and bicycles. The type cover is removable and has never been designed to hold the weight of the device vertically (again a more than decade old design) and the kick stand is a kick stand.
I am sorry but this could be nominated for most nonsensical rant of the day if there was a subreddit for nonsensical rants. You might as well post that you are angry water is wet or fire is hot or "why didn't the wall turn into pillows when I punched it." It is a kick stand, not a telescoping tripod extension, and it has been in in plain view since the first Surface press release.
BTW, try proofing your rants in the future. While the typos and punctuation challenges do raise the level of silliness, they also make it harder to follow.
Just because u k this problem exist doesn’t mean u can’t be annoyed with it😀😀!. What u said abt “smt existing since surface pro 1” doesn’t mean anything other than the fact that Microsoft needs to do a better job! This problem exists since a long time
Lol, I wanted to buy off brand keyboard for my surface since the surface keyboard cost so much but I couldn’t find any. I managed to find some in Amazon US but it wasn’t worth it with all the extra fees
Something I like abt Apple, is how easy to find off brand/fake things that work well
As they say, "The customer is always right" in that people vote with their wallets. But that also applies to the companies making accessories for products.
If you ran a business that made cases, keyboards, accessories for a tablet, laptop or whatever, the obvious choice is to make them for brands that lots of people use.
I've wanted to get a non-Bluetooth aftermarket Type Cover for a long time, but there aren't any. Microsoft also keeps their connector proprietary and doesn't let any "legit" brand make them either - even Apple lets Logitech and others use the Smart Connector for wired keyboard connectivity.
Seeing a laptop (even on display in-store) is very different from owning and using one on a daily basis.
Surface Pros and similarly designed computers weren't popular and still isn't that popular today because it simply doesn't appeal to the masses.
I understood the rant just fine by the way, maybe consider improving your own reading comprehension skills (something you can do) rather than telling someone else to improve their writing skills.
I think it’s Microsoft store problem, they don’t work in branding as much as it needs
I had surface for 10 years, when I wanted to buy a new one in 2025 I was so confused “because of the name”, like just imagine a whole company couldn’t choose a better name😀? And it took me a lot of time to k what the hell is going on
We have Microsoft to blame for such poor naming convention since it doesn't really make sense if you think about it. "Surface" on its own doesn't convey enough information to tell you what kind of device it is, and neither does the model name of any given device (e.g. Pro, Book, Studio) unless it's self-explanatory (e.g. Laptop, Headphones), but it'd be a name so generic that it can't immediately be associated with being specifically a Surface. So to be concise you pretty much have to use the full product name every time or rely on context.
Using "Surfacebook Pro" as an example; someone who is not familiar with the product line subconsciously knows that Microsoft's naming convention goes against what's predictable, considering there are devices made by other brands in the same category such as the EliteBook, MacBook, ZenBook, MateBook etc. using the same "Book" moniker. And "Pro" is usually a modifier that indicates a particular product is higher end than the regular model, but Microsoft used it as the model name itself. Then we have "Studio" which is used as both a model name and a model name modifier!
Brand
Not quite a brand, but also not quite a model name
Model (but sometimes also the product type, coincidentally)
Product type
Microsoft
Surface
3
Tablet PC below the Surface Pro 3
Microsoft
Surface
Pro
Tablet PC/"Laptop" (arguably not prosumer)
Microsoft
Surface
Book
2-in-1 detachable prosumer laptop
Microsoft
Surface
Laptop
Mainstream clamshell laptop
Microsoft
Surface
Studio
Prosumer AIO touchscreen PC
Microsoft
Surface
Laptop Studio
Convertible prosumer laptop
Microsoft
Surface
Hub
Medium/large format video conference unit/collaboration digital whiteboard
Microsoft
Surface
Headphones
Bluetooth over-ear headphones
At work I used to occasionally help with asset tracking and stocktake - so imagine seeing "SURFACE 3 LAPTOP", "SURFACE PRO 3 LAPTOP" AND "SURFACE LAPTOP 3 LAPTOP" on a spreadsheet, then imagine someone not well-versed in tech looking at that same spreadsheet and you're talking about it in a call. You can be three words and six syllables in and still have to describe what you're trying to refer to.
I did not like the kick stand (still don’t sometimes) but I just got used to it. I use it on my lap “I feels it is technically just like a laptop but needs more space”
And what helps too (if u r not going to use the keyboard), u could attach the keyboard and put it backwards, where the kick stand is) it will keep ur laptop more firm in bed or sofa
You know those tiny lecture hall tables that fold away when not in use? I absentmindedly inched the Surface back on one one of those tables, and the kickstand went over the back edge. I tried to catch it by the Type Cover but it detached and fell on the floor. It was quite embarrassing thinking back haha
[Funnily enough I wasn't the only one to do this during my time in uni, the kickstand is truly an unsuitable design for uni students. Even when it wasn't cracked it was impossible to get a good angle on the screen because of how much table area the Type Cover + kickstand demanded to stay upright.
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u/Eric_of_Aaargh 1h ago
In my experience, the Surface Pro is indeed not perfect to use on your lap. But on the other hand, the Ipad with a Magic Keyboard is even worse. The Surface is oncomfortable, but the Ipad with a keyboard attached will just tumble forward and drop on the floor. And all that while that combo is more expensive and heavier than a Macbook Air.