Microsoft - Surface Go - 10" Touch-Screen - Intel Pentium Gold - 8GB Memory - 128GB Storage - Silver

Okay here’s my review. I don’t review much on Best Buy but do sometimes on Amazon. I preordered Surface Go on the BB site mainly because I was going to use the free $50 BB gift card with the purchase towards a Go keyboard. To start off with I pretty much have all of the Surface family devices the studio, pro 4, and Book but I find myself using the Go the most because I move around a lot and all of the other devices are much too inconvenient. The Surface Book detached is actually lighter but the battery life for the tablet portion is not enough. I bought a Stream Deck Mini and have all of my macros programmed and this combo is a beast and fits my needs perfectly. The battery life is great too. I get about 7 hours but I can also charge through the USB C. I can’t review the 64gb version but my 128gb version with 8gb RAM fits my needs perfectly. The premium keyboard came out to $80 with $50 off. I use a surface pen from my other device. Over all, this is my dream device. Small, powerful, and the keyboard doesn’t feel cramped. I don’t like Windows S (sorry Microsoft) but I was able to remove it using the free Microsoft removal on their Store. I feel that the device is crippled with Windows S, so make sure to remove it you plan to install other applications not found on their App Store. Great job on the GO! I hope you keep innovating!

This is my first Surface purchase, and I must say that I am extremely pleased with this tablet. Bought it with a type cover and pen, plus an Office 365 subscription, which definitely will help if you get the model with less storage. The 8GB RAM with 128GB SSD model is more than sufficient for my needs. It even can go the extra mile with fuill virtualization support(Hyper-V), which I was very skeptical about before purchasing. Brought it home, turned of Windows S mode, upgraded Windows 10 home to pro, and this tablet is able to run any virtual machine(I've tried Android 8.1 x64, Ubuntu, a few others..) I have thrown at it. The SSD transfers data to and from the USB-C port super fast. I didn't know the Pentium series CPU was still being manufactured, nor would I have thought that it would be any sort of mobile performance contender, but the Intel®Pentium® Gold Processor 4415Y that this model is equipped with definitely surpassed my expectations(I usually stay working on a workstation with x2 Xeon CPUs with no fewer than 12 cores each, for a total of 48 cores, with HT of course). Great screen quality, decent resolution, touchscreen is super responsive. Excellent battery life. Decent camera quality. DEFINITELY recommend this tablet to anyone who is looking to try out a MS Surface product, or even looking for a laptop/tablet replacement.

Bought this one to pull files from our network for our daily meetings. Connected it to an 82” TV. Awesome response!

So I purchased the Surface Go day one. Everything started off well but about a week after use, problems started. I have been back and forth with what should be tech support to fix my issue with Office on my device. For some reason I cannot activate my Office 365 on my device. Every time I try I continue to get error code 0x43. So I call tech support and I get passed around by 1. people who read a script and knew nothing about Microsoft products 2. None of the support personnel could barely speak English wish was very frustrating 3. My mouse I pre-ordered to my local store has yet to arrive and I have seen it in other stores 4. My problem is still not resolved. So at this point as much as I want to keep the device, which is perfect for OneNote, I plan to return my complete purchase. Customer service is key and at this point Microsoft has failed in this area.

It gets so hot it feels as if it will catch on fire! Other than that it was great but a bit smaller then the surface 2

I have been eyeing the Surface series of tablets for some time now. I have a largely Apple ecosystem and admit after switching to Apple after being a longtime Windows user a few years ago, I have some biases against Windows machines, though I admit the Surface series and their great reviews intrigued me. This experience has proven that MS has vastly improved and has produced an impressive series of devices with Apple-esque qualities in many ways. This Surface Go competes against the iPads in many ways in terms of size, weight and portability, but has the added benefit of providing a full Windows PC experience, whereas the iPad cannot replicate that of a Mac to the same degree. Pairing the Surface Go with the Microsoft portable keyboard cover is a must if you want a tablet that can provide a full laptop experience. It's an extra hundred bucks as of this writing but is an absolutely stellar performer and worth the cost. I have a iPad Pro 10.5" and can compare it in several areas for reference. Things I like about the Go (mine is the 128 GB/8GB RAM version): 1. Small, portable and easy to carry. Thicker than an iPad but about the same weight, and the Microsoft keyboard you can (and should) buy separately is vastly superior to the iPad's, it includes an excellent trackpad, and fits the surface better and is flatter when folded - and provides a true laptop experience that an iPad cannot match. 2. Very snappy performance. I almost got the more expensive & larger Surface Pro 6 because of performance concerns, but this Go with the Pentium processor has shown absolutely no deficiencies. Apps like Excel and Word, Edge, etc open quickly with no lag or delay. 3. Gorgeous screen. I have read some people actually had an issue with 1800 x 1200 resolution, but seriously - remember, this is a 10" screen and the clarity and sharpness are stunning, as good as any Retina screen. On full brightness it's beautiful, but I have to admit on half brightness, it's not as bright as an iPad on half brightness. 4. Stand is integrated into the Surface Go's body. At first I was put off by this, but it's really a better design. It makes the Surface slightly thicker than an iPad, but the compatible keyboard is much larger and more functional than an iPad's since the iPad uses its keyboard as a stand, also. 5. Micro-SD card slot in back behind the stand, so it's completely covered when the Surface is used as a tablet with the stand folded. Easy way to add cheap storage since Micro-SD cars are very cheap right now. You cannot add storage to any iPad. 6. Touchscreen is extremely responsive and has just the right amount of sensitivity. Microsoft combines the traditional Windows interface with tiles so you can click them to open up apps. 7. Flexibility - this thing functions well as a tablet, while you're laying in bed and surfing or watching a movie, and a full-bore laptop if you buy the keyboard designed for it, which I strongly recommend. The keyboard clasps to the Go magnetically and is powered by it. It's also backlit and has a full keyboard just like a standard laptop, and an outstanding integrated touchpad, which an iPad cannot offer. This means you can set this up on a desk and use it as a complete laptop, which makes using apps like Excel, Word and Powerpoint seamless and far less awkward than they are on an iPad. For a traveling tablet that can double as a work computer, this is a far better choice. The iPad is superior in terms of OS ergonomics and snappiness, as well as battery life, as a tablet, but cannot double as a full-bore PC the way the Surface can. Things I am not crazy about: 1. I bought a stylus with this, and pairing was difficult and took several tries. It appears to work but still does not show up as a device in Bluetooth devices. 2. Battery life is mediocre at best. I charged this and my iPad to 100%, and the Surface dropped to 90% overnight with the screen off while the iPad dropped half as much to 95%. The iPad claims 10 hours of use and I cannot see this Surface getting more than 5 or 6 on a good day, with light use and a fairly dim screen. Maybe MS can release a firmware update to improve things, but this is definitely this device's Achilles heel. 3. The Surface ships in S mode and works well in it. I am aware you can migrate the device out of S-mode into standard Windows mode. However, I am reluctant to shift it out of S-mode as it's a one-way move and makes the Surface less secure and worsens battery life, but S mode means you can only use Microsoft-approved apps from the app store, and those apps seem to be really limited. That means no Chrome, no iCloud access, no app for my bank, very few home automation apps, etc. that are all freely available in Apple's "walled garden" for its iPad. Apple allows OneDrive access while MS does not return the favor with iCloud. iTunes, fortunately, is available. Very disappointing and this removes a star from an otherwise excellent device.

To say I am impressed with the Surface Go is a complete understatement. Let me tell you why... I have been looking for a Windows PC to conduct my business on for a long time now. I use a desktop at my office and I purchased a Google Pixelbook (which is amazing by the way) with the hopes that I could convert my Microsoft office functions into gsuite. That didn't work out for me and my productivity away from work was not as high because of it. So I have been looking and looking for a laptop to travel with and plug into my monitor at home with at an affordable price and I couldn't find anything. So I waited until reviews of the Surface Go came out. I decided to take a leap of faith and purchase the high end model for $550 and boy was I glad that I did. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to type on the keyboard (I have medium sized hands) and let me say the typing experience is immaculate. I type just as well on the smaller chick-let keys as I do a full sized keyboard. Another one of my fears was using an Intel Pentium Processor (which I haven't used since Intel created Core processors years ago) and I am floored at how good the processor is. I can run endless tabs, spreadsheets, etc and project onto my monitor with no delay. To put in terms of how good the Pentium processor is let me tell you... The Pentium Processor on the Go is 33% faster then the Surface Pro 3 Core I5 4th generation. Better yet, the Surface Go Pentium Processor is 20% faster then the SP3 Core I7 processor. It really goes to show how far Intel has come in just three years. This computer is absolutely perfect for business as a travel companion or at home laptop (or docked with a monitor and keyboard). I am very impressed and I highly recommend this brilliant product by Microsoft.

Quick Summation:   The Microsoft Surface Go is the smallest in the Surface lineup. It has a beautiful screen, pleasing aesthetics, and a solid feel. While the performance is hampered by its low-powered insides in some instances, the Surface Go (as configured here) is plenty powerful enough to write some essays, browse the web, watch movies, and more. While power users should probably steer clear, the Surface Go is a... "Go" for most users out there (I’ll see myself out).   Yay! · Premium materials and build quality · Beautiful screen · Can truly be a productivity machine with Type Cover keyboard (sold separately) · Type Cover keyboard accessory has great depth, is backlit and has a great trackpad · Decent performance with 8 GB RAM and 128 SSD options · Extremely portable   Nay! · Performance, including the Pentium chip, is not stellar (especially in the systems with 4 GB RAM and 64 GB eMMC) · Graphics are not much better - casual games only · Accessories can add up quickly · Windows 10 is not the best tablet experience that can be had   Meh. · The speakers, while decent, are nothing to write home about · 128 GB SSD fills up fast (storage is expandable through Micro SD card slot on back) · 8 GB RAM is about the sweet spot for a machine like this, and in this price range   Verdict: The Yay’s Have It!   The Surface Go is a surprising little machine. It handles most day-to-day tasks with aplomb. The screen is bright, and colors really do "pop". The Type Cover keyboard attachment, while an additional $99.99 - $129.99, is excellent - with good depth, backlit keys and a large trackpad. It is also a must have accessory. Students and professionals on the go who value portability at the expense of a bigger screen or more powerful machine would do well to check out the Surface Go. One caveat I have, I truly believe the only configuration worth purchasing is the top model, which comes in at $549.00 and was used in this review (the Surface Go with the LTE connection adds another $130.00 to the price tag, coming in at $679.00).     Introduction:   Ever since Steve Ballmer departed Microsoft, I feel as though the company has been on a tear (I think the stock [MSFT] reflects that). They are taking on Amazon Web Services (AWS) with Microsoft Azure and fighting for share in many areas. They have also released a slew of computers over the last few years. While there were some bumps along the way (Surface RT), Microsoft seems to have perfected the 2-in-1 combination. Indeed, Microsoft's Surface line of products have shown themselves to be of the highest quality, often earning praise in the media for their ingenuity and premium materials. With their current line of Surface computers, Microsoft has cemented itself as one of the top computer hardware manufacturers. The fact that their hardware ties in so nicely with their software only confirms this. The configuration used for this review is the Surface Go with 8GB RAM and a 128 GB SSD, without LTE.     Hardware:   While the Surface Go starts at $399.00, it certainly does not skimp on build quality. The Go is a well-built machine, with a Magnesium case that is both very solid feeling and surprisingly light. Of course, as with any tablet, the screen is what dominates, and in this respect the Surface Go does not disappoint. The screen is bright and extremely vivid.       A quick breakdown of the screen per Microsoft’s site:   · Screen: 10" PixelSense™ Display · Resolution: 1800 x 1200 (217 PPI) resolution · Aspect ratio: 3:2 · Contrast ratio: 1500:1 · Touch: 10-point multi-touch · Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3   While a 10-inch screen is going to be too small for many, I found the size to be adequate for what I was doing. One thing I should note about the screen is that it is surrounded by rather thick bezels, especially by today’s standards and designs.   Using the optional Surface Pen on the Surface Go screen is a pleasure. I am not an artist, so I can’t speak to the Surface Pen as an art instrument, though drawing and taking notes on the Surface Go with the Surface Pen felt very natural. There was no perceptible lag when using the Surface Pen. The Surface Pen is a $99 accessory that comes in several colors and can often be had for a lower price on Amazon.   The ports on the Surface Go are limited, but the inclusion of a USB-C port helps alleviate the issue if you use a USB-C hub. It is also nice that you can charge your Surface Go through the USB-C port in addition to Microsoft’s proprietary Surface Connect port. Microsoft offers a hub that connects using the Surface Connect port that offers 4 USB 3.0 ports, 2 Mini DisplayPort ports, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. So, even though ports are limited, with hubs that can be used with either USB-C or the Surface Connect port, the Surface Go is well connected. The microSDXC card reader is tucked behind the kickstand on the back of the machine. I would suggest getting a card to put your personal documents and media on, as the 128 GB of storage goes fast.   The Surface Go has the following ports per Microsoft’s site:   · 1 x USB-C · 3.5 mm headphone jack · 1 x Surface Connect port · Surface Type Cover port4 · microSDXC card reader   The Type Cover keyboard, which must be purchased separately and is a must have if you plan on getting any real work done with the Surface Go, is really quite good. It has backlit keys, good depth, and a large (for its size) trackpad. The Type Cover keyboard attaches effortlessly and is what really makes the Surface Go a portable productivity machine. I should note here that the Type Cover keyboard does not have full-size keys. Some people may have issues with this, but I found that within a few days I could happily type away as usual. The Type Cover keyboard comes in a variety of colors that match the colors offered with the Surface Pen and goes from $99.99 for the plain black to $129.99 for the colored variants. The pricier Type Cover models also come with Microsoft’s Alcantara® surface, which is a fabric-like material that makes using the Type Cover a pleasant experience.   Of course, the kickstand is present on the Surface Go. Just like its big brother, the Surface Pro, the Surface Go has an adjustable kickstand that props the tablet up. The kickstand has a huge range and allows anything from propping the Surface Go up to watch a movie, to lying at a slight angle to allow for better drawing.       There are two cameras on the Surface Go. The front-facing camera is 5-megapixels and the camera on the rear of the device is 8-megpixels. Neither will blow you away, but they suffice.     Performance:   Perhaps the biggest knock on the Surface Go is Microsoft’s choice to go with a Pentium Gold Processor 4415Y. This is a dual-core, 4-thread processor that clocks in at 1.6 GHz. The knock on this processor is that it is not very powerful, and by most objective analysis this holds true. Benchmarks for the Surface Go can be easily found, but I am less concerned with the Surface Go’s raw power and more concerned with its overall execution. In that regard, the Pentium Gold processor in the Surface Go is fine for day-to-day use and light multitasking. I was able to stream, browse with multiple tabs open, and perform a bevy of other tasks without much issue. I used Edge for the most part and found it to have minimal issues when browsing with many tabs open. There are occasions, however, where you will notice the Surface Go chug a little bit during heavy browsing or multitasking. While the Pentium Gold processor in the Surface Go is by no means powerful, it should be sufficient for most light tasks.   The graphics are another area where the Surface Go does not excel. Casual games play fine and are enjoyable, but more demanding games are out of the question here. I enjoy playing more dated games sometimes, and the Surface Go is able to play them easily (such as The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion). While you won’t be able to play more demanding games, the games that the Surface Go is able to play can be pleasant entertainment and a good way to kill a little time.   The battery life on the Surface Go is somewhat disappointing. Microsoft rates the Surface Go as having a battery that lasts for 9 hours on a charge on the Wi-Fi only model. I have yet to achieve this duration while using the Surface Go on battery, but then I keep my screen a little brighter than most and almost always have several applications open. I was averaging around 6 hours with my regular use, as described above. The battery can be charged with the included charger, which uses Microsoft’s proprietary Surface Connect port, or through the USB-C port. The ability to charge through the USB-C port is a big benefit as you will be able to charge you Surface Go from a portable battery pack.   The Surface Go model used for this review has 8 GB RAM and a 128 GB SSD. While the SSD is somewhat speedy, it really is limited by its low 128 GB of storage, although you can expand the storage using the microSDXC card reader. There are other models of the Surface Go that come with a 64 GB eMMC drive that I would highly advise against getting. There are two main reasons I think the 128 GB SSD is necessary. First, 64 GB simply is not enough storage, especially after Windows eats up its share. With Windows Updates now reserving more storage, 128 GB is the effective minimum in my opinion. The second reason is that eMMC drives are slow compared to their SSD brethren. As for the RAM issue, I again strongly urge an upgrade to 8 GB RAM as I feel that is the effective minimum for RAM in modern computers.   User Experience: The first thing to point out about the Surface Go is that it comes with Surface Go Windows 10 Home in S mode. This means that unless you opt for the Surface Go for Business Windows 10 Pro, you will be limited by Windows 10 S. If you don’t know the difference between Windows 10 and Windows 10 S, the most important difference is that you can only run