this post was submitted on 13 Apr 2026
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[–] Willoughby@piefed.world 64 points 3 days ago (6 children)

The slightly older ones make great Linux tablets. I use mine for comics.

[–] thesohoriots@lemmy.world 15 points 3 days ago

Heck, my surface pro 3 makes a great Linux machine. Still tweaking it but the touchscreen works just fine with Mint, so even an old one could probably do just fine.

[–] Doug@piefed.social 12 points 3 days ago

I remember when the first Surface released and Gabe from Penny Arcade was like "wtf this is better than iPad for drawing. why aren't they advertising this aspect of it?"

I don't know if that's still true, but I always tucked it in the back of my mind when I was looking for drawing tablets.

[–] iturnedintoanewt@lemmy.world 11 points 3 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

As long as you don't mind the webcam not working, which except for the oldest models seemed to be a constant with the Surface tablets.

Edit: i mean in Linux, as these camera modules are near impossible to support.

[–] HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Saves me the trouble of putting a piece of tape over the camera

[–] iturnedintoanewt@lemmy.world 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[–] HuudaHarkiten@piefed.social 1 points 2 days ago

Because I'm paranoid.

[–] yogurtwrong@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I got a new surface pro 9 last year to run Linux on it

works great

[–] FUCKING_CUNO@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 days ago

My Go 3 with fedora runs like a charm

[–] reddig33@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Which Surface Pro version do you recommend? Are you using Ubuntu Touch?

[–] Willoughby@piefed.world 11 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I use a Surface Pro 6, I know of a guy with an 8 on Fedora. Mine's on Cachy with Gnome.

There is a custom kernel you may need to get, https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface

[–] saltesc@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Gnome kind of makes sense for touch.

I just threw Cachy onto an old Inspiron for a computer to have near me while recording instruments, but a Surface Pro would actually be much better.

How's battery and did MS fix those shit house chargersthey had back when I had a Surface Pro 2?

[–] Willoughby@piefed.world 1 points 3 days ago

Mine's okay, the two little contact idea they had is finicky but a little jiggle and it's good, I do keep the contacts clean, little rubbing alcohol.