this post was submitted on 23 Oct 2024
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Surface tablets are niche but SO much more useful than the app-restricted alternatives from samsung or apple. Nuke windows and stick your fav distro with a tablet frontend on there and it becomes an incredibly versatile little machine.
I’ve never been into tablets, are Surfaces as easy to install Linux on as a PC? Is there any bootloader unlocking or anything like on a phone, or is it more like secure boot on a PC?
I had installed Linux on an old Chromebook and it would always offer to wipe the hard drive on every boot, so now I’ve assumed that some hardware isn’t as Linux friendly as others. I think a lot has changed since I got my desktop and the last laptop that I installed Linux on.
And are the Linux touch screen interfaces any good? I tried a Fairphone that was running something Linux and the touch interface was lacking. (It was a great tiny laptop for using a terminal though).
And last random thought… I loved the 10” netbook form factor back in 2009 or so. I think tablets are a similar size, but the weight is in the “monitor” part, I preferred the bottom heavy laptop form factor. Are the Surfaces okay for that, or top heavy enough that they can fall over and can’t have the angle adjusted finely like a laptop?
I terms of installation they are actually a PC. Just load your favorite distro on a USB stick and install it as you would on a Desktop. For me Ubuntu is working great on an older Surface Go, including touch. The keyboard cover is highly recommended of course.
Surface are basically a tablet (=all hardware and weight in the monitor). You can get them with a cover that contains a keyboard but it is still top heavy (think of a normal cover for a tablet, but slightly more sturdy because of the keyboard).
There's also a surface book that more or lees is like a laptop - from the looks of it. The bottom part with the keyboard is heavier, but only contains the keyboard, an USB hub and additional batteries. It's till top heavy with it, as you can "detach the screen" and still have a fully functional "PC tablet".
"More useful than the app restricted..."
"Stick your fav distro on there"
Eeeeeh...... So one is bad because you can't install everything that's available on Windows but on the other you should install an OS that doesn't work with everything available on Windows either? Mickey Mouse logic right there!
"Not app restricted" does not mean "Windows software". These devices are completely open. You can install whatever you want. That includes the OS.
By nuking Windows you're trading restrictions for other restrictions is my point, the suggestion of installing Linux doesn't make sense if the point of not getting an Android tablet is to not be limited as Windows is the OS that's compatible with the most programs.
Sure, Windows is more open than iOS. But you still have much more freedom with how it works with Linux.
Reading comprehension, work on it.
The point from the get go was that Android tablets are too app restricted. Not about freedom to do what you want with the OS.
APP
RESTRICTION
And on that front, Linux doesn't beat windows.
Neat, you've never heard of dual booting! I don't do it much because the tools that are relevant to my life are all natively on linux, but: On devices like your PC or surface (and technically some android devices, but it's pretty janky right now) you can have multiple operating systems installed. If you're doing network management, a device that can boot into both windows and linux is a real boon, for example because there's plenty of low-level tools that haven't been ported over to windows / are much easier to use from a dedicated CLI vs. something like powershell (or god forbid, WSL...). Surfaces are great for that, because their small form factor and one hand interface (touch input) mean you can get into some truly stupid places and have your tools right there with you. It's like a netbook, but not as woefully underpowered.
Oh yeah, by "Nuke Windows", clearly what you meant was "Dual boot"
Nnno, I meant "I do not need windows so you can just axe it no problem". You expressed your reluctance to give up the ability to use windows applications, which is an issue that can be trivially resolved on a device like a surface where you can easily implement dual booting. It's... you know, really easy to keep that functionality.
But I guess if you really want to be a jerk about misunderstanding me, go ahead? There's nothing really stopping you, just do yourself a favor and look at the topic you're being a jerk about. Incredibly niche applications for consumer hardware. Seriously, you're better than this.
Just use the language that conveys your intention and people won't argue with you.
... That's what I did.