Microsoft Surface Pro 6 12.3" Windows Tablet: i7 8650U, 16GB, 512GB SSD

Have not bought a laptop in a few years. Need to get a laptop for when I travel, mostly to log in remotely. My work offered to pay $600. I am happy to pay the rest on my own. Was thinking to get the LG Flex 15' for about $1200 on sale.

Dont know much about the Surface, What the major differences of the Surface vs a laptop (like the LG Flex)

Quote from artDecoPC : Have not bought a laptop in a few years. Need to get a laptop for when I travel, mostly to log in remotely. My work offered to pay $600. I am happy to pay the rest on my own. Was thinking to get the LG Flex 15' for about $1200 on sale. Dont know much about the Surface, What the major differences of the Surface vs a laptop (like the LG Flex)

One major difference is this is just a tablet, you will have to get the surface keybard accessory or hook up some other type of external keyboard via usb or bluetooth.

Surfaces are nice compact computers, a bit expensive for what you get I think and you can not open them up to upgrade them or repair them like a traditional laptop, but if lightweight and high build quality is a priority these are very nice.

My understanding is Surface pro is predominantly a windows tablet. Light weight, easy to carry, gorgeous screen, keyboard will get you through mild typing task, good for media consumption. Can run desktop photoshop and lightroom, capture one etc however, will slowdown with graphics intensive applications. Main advantage for me over ipad is that I can run capture one and full photoshop version. Other 2:1 behave like regular laptop with with some touch interface implemented. I had surface pro 6 basic version which fared poorly with capture one and photoshop. I may try surface pro 7 with atleast 16 gb ram.

Quote from artDecoPC : Have not bought a laptop in a few years. Need to get a laptop for when I travel, mostly to log in remotely. My work offered to pay $600. I am happy to pay the rest on my own. Was thinking to get the LG Flex 15' for about $1200 on sale. Dont know much about the Surface, What the major differences of the Surface vs a laptop (like the LG Flex)

Echoing the other person's statements, plus the keyboard attachment is not ideal for using the laptop on your lap. It's not sturdy or comfortable to use in such a position.

This Surface is all about portability. You almost dont notice carrying this around. small screen size but powerful processor. can be used as a tablet but I haven't used this way too much.

Quote from ViciousXUSMC : One major difference is this is just a tablet, you will have to get the surface keybard accessory or hook up some other type of external keyboard via usb or bluetooth. Surfaces are nice compact computers, a bit expensive for what you get I think and you can not open them up to upgrade them or repair them like a traditional laptop, but if lightweight and high build quality is a priority these are very nice.

This is not a tablet in the traditional sense...it is a full blown laptop running windows 10...it is only a tablet in the sense that you can detach it and use it in tablet mode.

The other issue is it will not self support with the keyboard unless you get a tablet cover.

I've had the i5 model for 6 months, really wish this price was available at that time for the i7.

Quote from darkphantom : This is not a tablet in the traditional sense...it is a full blown laptop running windows 10...it is only a tablet in the sense that you can detach it and use it in tablet mode. The other issue is it will not self support with the keyboard unless you get a tablet cover. I've had the i5 model for 6 months, really wish this price was available at that time for the i7.

It is a tablet in the traditional sense, OS is not part of defining a tablet, the formfactor is.
Android, IOS, Linux, Windows, just software not the device. Since OP was directly comparing it to a laptop (Lenovo Flex 15 not LG) I made sure to point out its a Tablet incase he thought this was a deivce like the Surface Book witch is sold as a Laptop that can be converted to a Tablet.

I use the HP EliteBook x360 1030 G2 for work witch is much like the Flex, touch screen folds over, attached keyboard. It's ok but I cant stand the glossy screen.

Tablets to me are consumption devices, and not great for hard work, and since I support these devices I cant tell you how many issues we have with detachable keyboards.


Most enterprise have VDI, Remote Desktop or other ways of using full blown Windows or other corporate enterprise applications no matter what OS you are using. So unless you need to install the application directly to your device the OS really does not matter much.

I am a systems engineer, I prefer windows devices in the enterprise because its easier for us to manage them, but for those who use other devices I just keep them off our network and let them use VDI.

Quote from ViciousXUSMC : It is a tablet in the traditional sense, OS is not part of defining a tablet, the formfactor is. Android, IOS, Linux, Windows, just software not the device. Since OP was directly comparing it to a laptop I made sure to point out its a Tablet incase he thought this was a deivce like the Surface Book witch is sold as a Laptop that can be converted to a Tablet. I personally prefer full laptops as I am a power user and find the tablet attached keyboards not up to par.

I agree with you. I have Surface Pro 5, with pretty decent specs. However I find myself using my XPS ultrabook with similar specs most of the time, as it can be easily popped open and used on the run with using it on my lap easier, around the house and out and about in planes, etc.

The surface pro is sexier, but a traditional laptop form factor is more practical.

Definitely try one at a local Best Buy before committing. I love the idea of the Surface Pro line, but I find that a laptop is a better fit for traditional computer work (office, email, etc).

I would also make sure you get 16gb of ram vs the 8gb

Any bad experience with buy dig? Do they sell cheap quality cameras or any stuff with big brand names?

Quote from logger22 : Echoing the other person's statements, plus the keyboard attachment is not ideal for using the laptop on your lap. It's not sturdy or comfortable to use in such a position.

I second this. They're gorgeous tablets, but not useful for productivity on the go if you need to type on the keyboard while the laptop is resting on your lap.

Quote from ViciousXUSMC : One major difference is this is just a tablet, you will have to get the surface keybard accessory or hook up some other type of external keyboard via usb or bluetooth. Surfaces are nice compact computers, a bit expensive for what you get I think and you can not open them up to upgrade them or repair them like a traditional laptop, but if lightweight and high build quality is a priority these are very nice.

I've heard that the CPU is throttled to compensate for fanless cooling so the speeds quoted aren't according to how the surface models use it.