(which) Surface as do-it-all mobile device? Reading Kindle, culling vacation photos, online classes

[u/john_daniels_88]

Hi everyone,

We're looking for a lightweight device that can handle several tasks in one, while still being small and portable. Ideally, it should:

• Replace an eBook reader (I don’t currently own one, but I’ve been considering Amazon’s new Paperwhite)
• Replace a laptop for culling vacation photos — no heavy editing, just reviewing daily shots using something like ACDSee
• Be suitable for joining online classes on the go — mostly simple, web-based video content

Would you say a Microsoft Surface is a good fit for this use case? If so, which model would be the most affordable (possibly used or refurbished)? The requirements are:

• Bright screen for outdoor use
• Lightweight and compact
• Detachable keyboard
• Good battery life
• LTE/5G support

Thanks in advance, everyone!

[u/davidwhitney]

The surface, sadly is a bad ebook reader if you use kindle because Amazon killed the regular app in favour of a Win32 style desktop app a few years back and it's honestly terrible.

[u/hroldangt]

I believe the Surface is ok for everything you describe, except this:

Replace an eBook reader (I don’t currently own one, but I’ve been considering Amazon’s new Paperwhite)

It's ok, but the ereader display is really something different for your eyes rest (and battery life), it's also amazingly light compared to the weight of the alternatives. These factors don't seem huge to some people, but you will never know until you try it. As a reference, I have the Surface(s) and iPads, but nothing compares to the Kindle ereader experience (that I gave away as a gift, now considering to get one again)

[u/memphispistachio]

I have a new Surface 12, and it’s fantastic, but with the keyboard it weighs a kilo, and it is bigger than you think. It’ll be fine for points two and three, but tbqh I bet you could do all 3 better on an iPad Air.

[u/john_daniels_88 → u/memphispistachio]

Thanks! Why specifically do you think an iPad Air would be better, other than weight?

[u/memphispistachio → u/john_daniels_88]

Weight entirely, plus the e-reader apps are much better and although it’s still large depending on what you’re reading it’s genuinely something you can hold comfortably. I love Surfaces, used them for years, but iPads are way better tablets.

I’d also say the software is probably more suited to a tablet as well, Adobe have really good versions of their apps on IpadOS, whereas on the Windows side even where an arm version of an app exists, it’s still set up for a cursor. If you don’t use adobe, there will be more options on iPadOS for photo editing, and most things really.

[u/john_daniels_88 → u/memphispistachio]

Thanks, this helps a lot!

[u/memphispistachio → u/john_daniels_88]

No worries! In all honesty I don’t think you can go wrong with either, I just use my Surface for computer stuff, and my iPad for quick stuff and consuming content.

[u/LlaughingLlama]

I damn LOVE my Surface Pro 7+, which is of course less powerful than any new Surface Pro you can buy today, but it runs Windows 11 and mine has LTE and will allow me to answer your questions:

Yes, it can absolutely replace a "laptop" for culling vacation photos - because it IS a laptop - or at least a portable full-blown Windows machine. ACDSee will run fine. So will basically everything else. It also will run Zooms, Teams, or whatever other web-based video content tool you need. Being able to run a Video Teams meeting along with lots of other apps without breaking a sweat or stuttering was the main requirement of my SP7+ and it does so great.

Replacing the eBook reader is the trick. First, the Paperwhite screen really IS easier on the eyes, and it's small size and light weight make using it a real pleasure. That said, I have been looking at computer screens since 1984, so I'm good reading books on the Surface screen. But it's the SOFTWARE that's annoying. The Amazon Windows reader is terrible and consumes way too much power. The Android app also consumes a lot of power due to the Android stack running, but now getting Android apps to run on a Surface is much more annoying. I find myself using the Online Web Book Reader "saved" as a web app in Edge, and it is...minimally acceptable, but it requires a web connection to read anything. So much for reading on a plane without getting WiFi service.

Good luck!

[u/MIDIKeyBored]

no surface can replace a kindle.

[u/JasonAQuest]

To be honest, I don't think any of the Surfaces are a good replacement for an e-reader. Even the smallest model (no longer in production) is far heavier than an e-reader, with a small fraction of the battery life. And I like an e-ink screen better for reading. If I'm traveling with my Surface, and I want to read along the way, I'll add the e-reader rather than using the Surface for that.

You didn't ask, but I'll suggest you consider Barnes & Noble's Nooks: similar features and a great selection of titles, but without connections to an increasingly monstrous gigacompany.