Repairable Microsoft Surface alternative with LTE?

[fuzzybabybunny]

My Surface 3 LTE just broke. It was dropped by someone handling my bag for me. There's a crack in the glass only along the bezel, but the top third of the screen no longer responds to any touch input. It still responds to the Wacom Bamboo pen just fine though.

The ifixit repairability score of all the Surfaces is 1/10 and the cost of repair of the LCD + top glass + digitizer, which are bonded together, is the same cost of a used tablet.

Does anyone have recommendations for a Microsoft Surface alternative that:

- can be easily opened and repaired
- supports Wacom active pens
- has a built in LTE modem

 

[darkswordsman17]

I think you're going to be seriously disappointed, as I can't imagine any modern touch device (that isn't an iPhone or iPad) has an easy to source replacement display that is going to be reasonably priced. Add in the desire for Wacom digitizer, and I don't know of any that would fit that aspect alone (I admit I'm far from an expert though, so perhaps there are or it wouldn't be that hard to get a hold of and not to too difficult to repair/replace). Add in the LTE and its even more rare.

There are options that have some of what you want though. HP has some Surface like stuff and some have SIM/LTE options. Lenovo does as well. Not sure about Dell (know they had some Surface like models, but not sure if they added LTE options). Samsung might (not sure about their Windows ones, guessing you're not looking for their Android based Note/Note Pro models?). Oh, not sure which digitizer each uses.

Actually, I think Wacom themselves makes some Windows 10 tablets, but they're pretty pricey.

Quick Google provided this which should help.
http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/thr...0-tablets-and-convertibles-with-stylus.67533/

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Best that I could come up with are the HP X2 G1 and G2. They are both highly repairable and include and active stylus. Thoughts?

 

[Raduque]

I loved my Spectre X2 but it developed a showstopping issue: Would power itself off randomly, even at full charge or while plugged in.

On a side note, it's very easy to get into the machine. Just two screws and some clips.

 

[bearxor]

Just for clarification in the thread, starting with the Surface 3 releases (both Pro and regular) Microsoft shifted from Wacom digitizer used in the Surface Pro 1/2 to a N-trig digitizer (Microsoft purchased N-trig in 2015).

The best thing to do would be to visit the Wacom compatibility section and check out what's compatible with the Ink.

https://www.wacom.com/en-us/comp

Honestly, I'd just suck it up and buy a new one. 200-300 bucks or so used. I'd offer you mine because I don't use it but it's not the LTE version.

There just isn't a lot out there that's as good with LTE support on Windows.

 

[Raduque]

The LTE Surface 3 models seem to go for around 500+, not 200-300.

 

[bearxor]

He doesn’t specify if it’s the 64GB/2GB model or the 128GB/4GB model.

Because there’s plenty of the 64/2 models for under $300.

If it is a 128/4 model, then just have Microsoft fix it. They charge $310 and I’m guessing they just send you a refurbished unit for a screen crack.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

He doesn’t specify if it’s the 64GB/2GB model or the 128GB/4GB model.

Because there’s plenty of the 64/2 models for under $300.

If it is a 128/4 model, then just have Microsoft fix it. They charge $310 and I’m guessing they just send you a refurbished unit for a screen crack.

It's the 128/4 model. 2GB RAM would just gimp the tablet, but it's still really slow even with 4GB due to the CPU.

I'm just going to save that $300 and put it towards a more serviceable detachable 2-in-1 that can replace both my laptop and my tablet. The Surface 3 is stupidly-slow anyway and if it breaks *again* that'll basically be $600+ towards a dog-slow Windows tablet that you can't even install Linux on.

I'm thinking of the Acer Switch 7 Black Edition. Doesn't have LTE, but I'll just buy a hotspot. I'm hoping that the Acer Switch just uses clips to hold the back on it, like their other tablets.

 

[Raduque]

It's the 128/4 model. 2GB RAM would just gimp the tablet, but it's still really slow even with 4GB due to the CPU.

It's actually slow due to having eMMC storage. The CPU is generally fine for basic "email/web/office/photos" tasks. I used to run Photoshop and Lightroom for postprocessing on mine just fine. Didn't really notice a difference between my Surface3 with the x8700 and HP x2 with the m3 CPU for LR posting.

I really miss having a full-fat Windows tablet. My Surface 2 RT just isn't cutting it.

 

[drbrock]

Sorry to hear about the screen. I am on my second surface book. That set me back 1800. Keep in my mind my computer mostly sits at the office attached to the surface dock. Only take it out for client appointments.

Just opened it up recently and noticed a crack in the screen. Would be sending it back for a repair but all they do is basically send you a new computer. I don't want to have to redownload all my programs/setup computer every time something breaks on the surface book. Which seems to be often according to the internet.

Next time it will be a dell xps 15 and an ipad pro.

 

[paperfist]

Have you tried looking on eBay for one that is damaged in another way that you can use for the screen?

 

[bearxor]

Yeah that eMMC in the Surface 3 kills it.

I get why they probably went that, for the space and power savings internall but even a basic msata SSD would have been amazing.

It's the 128/4 model. 2GB RAM would just gimp the tablet, but it's still really slow even with 4GB due to the CPU.

I'm just going to save that $300 and put it towards a more serviceable detachable 2-in-1 that can replace both my laptop and my tablet. The Surface 3 is stupidly-slow anyway and if it breaks *again* that'll basically be $600+ towards a dog-slow Windows tablet that you can't even install Linux on.

I'm thinking of the Acer Switch 7 Black Edition. Doesn't have LTE, but I'll just buy a hotspot. I'm hoping that the Acer Switch just uses clips to hold the back on it, like their other tablets.

Yeah, if you're willing to forgo the built-in LTE then your choices are opened up massively. You could hold on until Microsoft gets the LTE version of the Surface Pro out as well.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Have you tried looking on eBay for one that is damaged in another way that you can use for the screen?

The entire problem is that the entire Surface line is non-repairable. IFixIt consistently gives the Surface line a 1/10 for repairability. Everything is glued together and you can easily destroy the screen when opening the unit, so I'd probably destroy the screen on any unit I'm trying to salvage the screen from...

Basically the only "fix" is just to never buy a Surface device. Completely unsustainable, shit for the environment, shit for your wallet, just shit all around.

Yeah, if you're willing to forgo the built-in LTE then your choices are opened up massively. You could hold on until Microsoft gets the LTE version of the Surface Pro out as well.

I'm going to have to give up on built-in LTE. There simply aren't enough models of detachable 2-in-1's that have it, which IMO is just dumb. The new Surface Pro has an LTE option, but it's basically a money pit waiting to happen since it has zero repairability. My Surface 3 breakage wasn't even my own fault - someone else took my backpack and threw it on the floor somewhere when I was away getting coffee for everyone.

I was originally set on the HP X2 G2 since that has an LTE option, but the lack of a discrete graphics card means it wouldn't be able to replace both my tablet AND primary laptop for work. It has awesome repairability though.

So now I'm looking at the yet-to-be-release Acer Switch 7 Black Edition. It has a discrete MX150 video card and past models have utilized clips for opening the chassis.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Yeah unfortunately things are bit of a disappointment. Its funny, there's lots of really good, even great 2-in-1s and tablets, but none that are "perfect". I'm hoping that maybe external GPU setups will become more common. A decent APU, and then have a nicely made external GPU box (maybe one that can be clipped into the back of a monitor to hide it). And sadly yeah lots of stuff that isn't easy to fix/work on.

 

[Raduque]

If it were me, I'd make that idiot replace my tablet.

Funny thing, I've broken more tablets than I have phones (Surface 3, TF101, HP Spectre x2). Never once considered repairing them.

But I've repaired like 4 phones (Note 2 x2, HTC G2, "Nexus 4")