Please can I ask the Fedi hivemind for some computer advice? I own a Surface Go 3. It is showing its age. I've eked some extra life and performance out of it with Linux, but it really just doesn't handle heavy modern websites well and even with the Windows bloat taken away it struggles.

Thing is, I really like the form factor. So, is there a machine like the Surface Go 3 but more powerful? I don't really want an Android tablet or iPad; I prefer a "proper" desktop OS.

Suggestions welcome!

@hedders

As in, you'd like a tablet with a detachable keyboard?

If I were to buy any small computing machine right now, it would probably be a Chuwi MiniBook X, but it is not a tablet etc. (And I have not bought one, because I think it would annoy me.)

@neil Yes, specifically a relatively small tablet or computer with a detachable (or foldable away) keyboard and a stand.

I've not heard of Chuwi but they look interesting. I'd like to know why it would annoy you though, if you wouldn't mind sharing?

@hedders

> a relatively small tablet or computer with a detachable (or foldable away) keyboard and a stand.

You could also look at:

https://starlabs.systems/pages/starlite

But £££!

> I'd like to know why it would annoy you

What I really want is a tiny ThinkPad. But no such machine exists.

I've got quite a few "small" machines, and none really do it for me.

@hedders Would something like a ThinkPad Yoga work for you? The keyboard doesn't detach, but it folds all the way back instead.

@hugh it would, I think, if small enough? I’ll take a look. Thanks!

@hedders @hugh

I use the X1 Yoga machines as my work laptops, and they are much bigger (14", I think) than the Surface Go range.

@neil yes, that is a bit toppy! I’m intrigued by your first suggestion, and it’s cheap enough that it’s almost in impulse purchase territory. I’m going to dig in a bit further. Ta!

@neil @hugh yes, the Go is 11”.

@hedders @neil Ah right, yes. That would be a big jump.

Maybe a 12" Surface Pro is the right sort of thing? (https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/surface/devices/surface-pro)

I know from family members they were very happy with previous generations, but I have no personal experience. Beats an Android tablet, though!

@hugh @hedders I have a Surface Pro 4, and it runs Linux wonderfully, but it is still quite bulky compared with the Go.

Lovely machines, albeit unnecessarily hard to repair :(

@neil @hedders A friend had a Surface-something running Arch at uni; worked pretty well by all accounts. Some driver issues I can't really remember, but probably better these days.

Agreed on the repairability, but somewhat comes with the territory in this form factor 👍