Linux for Microsoft Surface devices. It is reality!
Linux for Microsoft Surface devices. It is reality!
I would like to share with you a very cool project that develops drivers for correct operation of Microsoft Surface devices on Linux. I myself use Surface Pro 6 with these drivers and everything works like a charm (battery life is good, cameras work, stylus, keyboard, touchscreen, screen). The developers are gods. From myself, I would recommend using Fedora Linux distribution, as I got the best battery life on it and didn't experience any additional bugs. If you don't like GNOME, you can try spins.
Links to project resources:
- Home Page.
- Table of supported features.
- Installation Guide.
- Page with known bugs and their solutions.
- Wiki.
Awesome additional resources:
- User experience from Michael Horn.
- Installation instructions (non-official): Link. Link.
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I applaud Linux on as many laptops as possible. But given Microsoft's history of EEE, bad security practices and multiple and on going privacy violations I would really not recommend using anything Microsoft. If you must use fx Surface I would recommend buying a used one. Or better yet a used Thinkpad or similar enterprise laptop used.
Security? Maybe. Privacy? Too hard and nonsense to implement hardware tracking to spy on 1% of users without Windows.
Agree on privacy. And why bother when Intel/AMD have their Management Engine (ME) and AMD their equivalent.
But why support a company like Microsoft when they have a long history of prioritizing profit over user freedom (FOSS/EEE), security and privacy?
Because there is no such well made 2-in-1 device from System76, Tuxedo or some another good manufacturer.
Perhaps you think the device is good?
By all means use it if it suits your needs 🙂 My point is that there are alternatives, like fx Lenovo Yoga or similar, where you dont support Microsoft and their history of bad behavior.
We all got different priorities and if it isn't something on your radar, that's fine. For me I would rather be without than buy a Surface for the mentioned reasons.
I don't know the current state of Lenovo, but I do remember not so long ago they were shipping some pretty bad software on their laptops... so I find it a tad ironic to mention Microsoft's bad behavior, but then recommend Lenovo 😅
I don't really use laptops, I have an old 2015(?) MacBook that runs Fedora on it for whenever I need something portable on the rare occasion, so I don't know whose good vs bad these days.
I know Lenovo is no angel but still a single piece of sand compared to the vast desert of Microsoft in terms of bad bahaviour.
We deserve System76, Tuxedo, Framework, PineBook etc. And if that doesn't suit the use case a used Thinkpad, Macbook (a sandbox in the analogy) or Dell is OK options. There's IMHO plenty of options that's better than the desert of Microsoft 🙂
That's completely fair on all accounts! I'd love to be able to try the offerings from the better companies some day, but money has been very tight and they're definitely on the pricier side (for good reason of course) at least on my own scale of what I have available - the MacBook was given to me second hand so I didn't find it myself or else I would've definitely spent the money on a really nice System76 laptop!
Same here! Rolling old Thinkpads because of the Linux compatibility, price and reparability is hard to beat. Would like to support the good companies more, but like the tinkering.
Our talk made me think about the ethics of tech companies in general. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a 'Tech Companies Ethics Index' kinda like Phoronix/Toms Hardware Guide is for hardware, but which documents and compare tech on fx the following consumer relevant parameters:
- Privacy
- Security
- Openness / FOSS / EEE
- User friendliness
- Reparability
- Other?
Sources could be: privacyguides, EFF, FSF, iFixit usere own experience and so on.
It could be run by users who also contribute to a git something and site something.
For sure, and to be clear, I do agree with you. Ultimately, we've all got our own priorities, and I can absolutely understand why someone might be reluctant to throw money at Microsoft; I'm certainly one of those people myself (obligatory "I use Arch"). My only point is that some people may simply think the devices are good and don't have any qualms about supporting Microsoft, as is their right too.
It sounds more like they are suggesting that you shouldn't buy a Surface as to not support Microsoft's stake in the market. But hardware level tracking does sound pretty spooky if they were actually able to pull it off and make it worthwhile. I'm with you though, I doubt it
It is not worth the hassle. And very easy to detect (network traffic f.e.)
Surfaces are abysmal for repairs and upgrades, as well. They're literally glued together like a smartphone.
It is weird, I agree. But I don't think there is some another way to do it with so thin case and good performance.
I'd argue it's significantly more preferable to have a laptop that's a little thicker but you can safely open in a couple of minutes with a screwdriver, but your mileage may vary.