Hey Microsoft!!! Fix your Surface Book before it dies!

[lonewolfe2015]

I've had it off since day one.

 

[AbsoluteZerow]

I've had it off since day one.

Oh, welp.. sounds like another bug, hah. Hopefully a patch fixes it as it could be a simple software fix. Hopefully its not a light sensor issue.

 

[Yonic Boom]

Why haven't you returned your defective product yet?

 

[r4incs]

"You will love it." - Panos Panay

Or not.

 

[TMorss]

The ONLY reason Apple's brand isn't hurt by their myriad of issues is because their public perception is fabricated, and well manicured. Microsoft has been working from a position below EVERY other company out there for a very long time. Mostly their fault, yes, but the point is, Apple's hardware and software issues at the VERY LEAST reach the same level as the issues currently experienced by early adopters with the SB and Windows 10.

Bendgate? Antennagate? Do you remember those? Those were VERY serious hardware issues Apple flat out denied were real issues at first, then FINALLY cave in to customer demand. Antennagate especially took them a very long time to recognize, and they actually have not fixed it on the original iPhone 5 to this date. It was a hardware problem they couldn't fix until the next generation. Yet, their image was undamaged. The biggest difference is their users seem to be used to the issues they have with their Apple products, and don't give the same leeway to any other company, Microsoft or otherwise. Period. And if you argue with this well documented phenomenon you are blind to the realities of the situation.

I still find it absolutely amazing Microsoft has already released a firmware update for some of these problems. And I agree with a previous poster that most of these issues were likely unavoidable because they were testing pre-production products. And why might you ask would they in their right mind do that? Because Apple does, and other companies must follow suit and release products as rapidly as they do, lest the be left behind, at least in the public's mind. Perception is reality, and every other company besides Apple is working from a deficit from the word go. PERIOD.

I have to say that you are wrong on this one. The reason why Apple has the reputation it has is due to quality. They do not brainwash anyone, that is ridiculous. I tried Windows Phone as well as Android and both just don't have the quality that IOS has. I have tried Dell, Surface and Alienware and they don't have the quality that my Mac's have had. I have been using Mac's for over 5 years alongside my windows devices and they had a fraction of the issues software and hardware that my Windows PC's have had. In fact in the last 5 years I have had the the grand total of ONE issue with my Mac Products. I had a iPhone that would reboot randomly after a quick exchange never had an issue since. I have an iMac, MacBook Air and now the Macbook Pro and they have never once given me a Blue Screen, Failed Update or Driver Crash.

The issue is that the Surface Book is beautiful, way more so than the MacBook Pro. But that beauty is only skin deep with a deeply flawed OS. When I returned my Surface Book and purchased the MacBook it felt dated in design. But what I have learned after my experience is that the MacBook is like the Honda Accord of Laptops. It may not be the fastest or the sleekest. It just works.

I have had my Macbook now for a week and it has run flawlessly, sadly it runs Windows better than the SurfaceBook. That is downright embarrassing.

 

[AbsoluteZerow]

I agree 100%. I've been holding on to my Surface Book because it is just soooo damn nice looking. When it works, it does work well. But the amount of small issues it has just keep adding up. I've been holding out on returning it because I'm waiting for software updates to fix ALL the issues within the 30 day return period. I have to go on work travel next week and if I can't get any work done due to random issues its just going to be a frustrating trip. I've built computers for many years and have used all sorts of laptops. MacBook's, Dell's, HP's, Surface Pro 3, etc. The Surface Book has been the most bug ridden device I've ever had. Just this morning my touchpad stopped working entirely and the settings for it disappeared, literally just gone. I had to shut it down twice, one time manually because it froze while booting the first time. Right now I have every patch so its just another bug after the latest round of patches.

People who were looking to get a laptop would ask me what the best Windows laptop was, I always told them that the best Windows laptop was a MacBook Pro with Bootcamp. Sadly, that is still true. Microsoft can't even release a product with a solid track pad and its been three years. Three years and none of the Surface products have a track pad comparable to a MacBook. Surface Books is really close, but its still inferior. When all these little issues add up and you look at the overall cost of the Surface Book, its really hard to stomach the idea of "sticking it out", hoping for updates that may or may not fix the issues.

It's just all very unfortunate. I'll be taking my Surface Book back this weekend for a MacBook Pro and will be boot camping Windows. I'm not OK spending 2k on a computer only to have to wait for patches and updates for it to work as intended. I didn't spend 2k to beta test for Microsoft. I spent 2k to get the " ultimate laptop", but what I really got was a half baked product.

 

[michail71]

I've observed that while apple has problems too on release day they often tend to not be as sever and get a considerable amount of negative press. So much so that at times I've felt it to be unfair. They have issues that are almost expected on the PC side.

MS comes out stumbling all over the place and it's not quite making headlines. If I had a BSOD out the box on a $2K plus purchase I'd be livid. I'd also return it immediately as I wouldn't trust the hardware.

I think it has to do with peoples expectations.

 

[CygnusOrion]

I agree with everything you've written about. The problems with the hardware and software (Office Apps excluded) MS has been putting out for the last 2 years are pervasive. I don't know who is in charge of quality control at Microsoft, but he and his team need to be replaced before they destroy any chance of making a come-back. If you sit back and take a look at the problem history and the mobile output, it almost seems like MS is purposely self destructing.

That's slander and I don't want to hear that on a Microsoft forum.

 

[CygnusOrion]

I have to say that you are wrong on this one. The reason why Apple has the reputation it has is due to quality. They do not brainwash anyone, that is ridiculous. I tried Windows Phone as well as Android and both just don't have the quality that IOS has. I have tried Dell, Surface and Alienware and they don't have the quality that my Mac's have had. I have been using Mac's for over 5 years alongside my windows devices and they had a fraction of the issues software and hardware that my Windows PC's have had. In fact in the last 5 years I have had the the grand total of ONE issue with my Mac Products. I had a iPhone that would reboot randomly after a quick exchange never had an issue since. I have an iMac, MacBook Air and now the Macbook Pro and they have never once given me a Blue Screen, Failed Update or Driver Crash.

The issue is that the Surface Book is beautiful, way more so than the MacBook Pro. But that beauty is only skin deep with a deeply flawed OS. When I returned my Surface Book and purchased the MacBook it felt dated in design. But what I have learned after my experience is that the MacBook is like the Honda Accord of Laptops. It may not be the fastest or the sleekest. It just works.

I have had my Macbook now for a week and it has run flawlessly, sadly it runs Windows better than the SurfaceBook. That is downright embarrassing.

You mean Windows 8.1.

 

[CygnusOrion]

Face is for $1500-$3200 device, this should have been a damn near flawless hardware + software experience from DAY ONE. The fact that is has been PLAGUED with issues is nothing short of a SCANDAL for Microsoft and heads should roll, starting with Panos Panay and Terry Meyerson!

 

[ALpHa.Q.RoUgH]

I returned my Surface Book today. I was kind of sad, but when the representative asked me why I returned it and I gave him a list of issues even him too can understand my frustration. $1800+ for a device and to have many issues, I had to do the trackpad workaround, update drives and batteries, sleep draining bug, it was just too much. As a college student to have my laptop die by 3pm is sad and annoying especiialy when only taking notes and browsing the web.

I will say this is not over, I do wish to return to own a Windows Laptop preferably a Surface Book but maybe on the 3rd iteration.

 

[wardo5757]

Face is for $1500-$3200 device, this should have been a damn near flawless hardware + software experience from DAY ONE. The fact that is has been PLAGUED with issues is nothing short of a SCANDAL for Microsoft and heads should roll, starting with Panos Panay and Terry Meyerson!

Yup! Thing is, MS has a lot of awesome ideas and designs, but the quality control of the finished product isn't there at all, and hasn't gotten ANY better with Panos at the helm. MS needs a change of leadership on the OUTPUT side of things.

 

[CygnusOrion]

I returned my Surface Book today. I was kind of sad, but when the representative asked me why I returned it and I gave him a list of issues even him too can understand my frustration. $1800+ for a device and to have many issues, I had to do the trackpad workaround, update drives and batteries, sleep draining bug, it was just too much. As a college student to have my laptop die by 3pm is sad and annoying especiialy when only taking notes and browsing the web.

I will say this is not over, I do wish to return to own a Windows Laptop preferably a Surface Book but maybe on the 3rd iteration.

Honestly Microsoft does not care about you as a consumer.

 

[AbsoluteZerow]

I returned my Surface Book today. I was kind of sad, but when the representative asked me why I returned it and I gave him a list of issues even him too can understand my frustration. $1800+ for a device and to have many issues, I had to do the trackpad workaround, update drives and batteries, sleep draining bug, it was just too much. As a college student to have my laptop die by 3pm is sad and annoying especiialy when only taking notes and browsing the web.

I will say this is not over, I do wish to return to own a Windows Laptop preferably a Surface Book but maybe on the 3rd iteration.

I took mine back as well. I showed the Microsoft rep a simple issue that is incredibly annoying. I pulled up craigslist and simply typed in Windows Phone to bring up a bunch of results with pictures. Within 5-10 seconds, the display driver crashed. (This was within Edge). Then, I went over to the stores display unit and did the same thing, and again the display driver crashed... and then it continued to crash. He said it was the first time he had ever seen it crash the display driver like that. I'm pretty sure these reps don't really use the display products to get a feel for them. Otherwise they would be aware of all these weird bugs.

I then showed him the bugs with Edge, how it you full screen a video from a news site or Facebook, it will immediately make the screen flicker/flash. Then I showed him how ad ridden sites (like WindowsCentral) causes really poor browser performance. He was very surprised to say the least. I told him that Microsoft needs to be aware of these issues, that their native browser is going to make people hate using this device. Also informed him of this thread and that there are MANY issues with the Book.

I will consider a Surface Book again, maybe during revision two. Until now, there is no way I would spend $1,899+ on this product, it is terrible in its current state. All of these issues are wide spread, it is not just me and a select few having these issues. I'm not going to beta test for Microsoft.

 

[PimpOShea0508]

I am actually a Microsoft Specialist in a Best Buy store and we get extensive training on our products. Even still you can't expect every associated to own a $2000 laptop so there will be things that they won't know, plus we are here to help you find the right computer not to fix the problems with it. Everybody computing experience is different. My surface book had never had these problems and I use mine to demo for customers. Being an early adopter, like you are, there is a certain level of decision making and patients that I would want expect. This is not uncommon for any company like apple or Google (have you ever used a chrome book? They are horrible) to have issues on launch. If you expected anything different then that's something that should be worked on.

 

[JackDiesel14]

I took mine back as well. I showed the Microsoft rep a simple issue that is incredibly annoying. I pulled up craigslist and simply typed in Windows Phone to bring up a bunch of results with pictures. Within 5-10 seconds, the display driver crashed. (This was within Edge). Then, I went over to the stores display unit and did the same thing, and again the display driver crashed... and then it continued to crash. He said it was the first time he had ever seen it crash the display driver like that. I'm pretty sure these reps don't really use the display products to get a feel for them. Otherwise they would be aware of all these weird bugs.

I then showed him the bugs with Edge, how it you full screen a video from a news site or Facebook, it will immediately make the screen flicker/flash. Then I showed him how ad ridden sites (like WindowsCentral) causes really poor browser performance. He was very surprised to say the least. I told him that Microsoft needs to be aware of these issues, that their native browser is going to make people hate using this device. Also informed him of this thread and that there are MANY issues with the Book.

I will consider a Surface Book again, maybe during revision two. Until now, there is no way I would spend $1,899+ on this product, it is terrible in its current state. All of these issues are wide spread, it is not just me and a select few having these issues. I'm not going to beta test for Microsoft.

It sounds like your main problem is with Edge.

 

[enixon]

It sounds like your main problem is with Edge.

That is exactly what it is. Aside from the VERY SMALL amount of issues outside of Edge, there aren't many critical issues with the Surface Book. There is something wrong with the video drivers and how they are scheduled to be used with the Intel HD drivers. I have a friend who has a Surface Pro 4, and his does the same crashing. Our driver versions are different. Intel makes the drivers for Microsoft. If you launch Edge with the GPU, every display crashing incident will go away. Obviously this isn't what you want to do, but it fixes all display crashing incidents by 100% in my experience.

Microsoft is waiting until Threshold 2 to push out updates I am sure, which is most likely in a few days. They issued two firmware updates that fixed the majority of issues. If your device still has issues, bring it to your closest Microsoft Store, they will take care of you. I cannot say the same for Best Buy or other retailers.

 

[Yonic Boom]

Face is for $1500-$3200 device, this should have been a damn near flawless hardware + software experience from DAY ONE. The fact that is has been PLAGUED with issues is nothing short of a SCANDAL for Microsoft and heads should roll, starting with Panos Panay and Terry Meyerson!

haha

 

[michail71]

I took mine back as well. I showed the Microsoft rep a simple issue that is incredibly annoying. I pulled up craigslist and simply typed in Windows Phone to bring up a bunch of results with pictures. Within 5-10 seconds, the display driver crashed. (This was within Edge). Then, I went over to the stores display unit and did the same thing, and again the display driver crashed... and then it continued to crash. He said it was the first time he had ever seen it crash the display driver like that. I'm pretty sure these reps don't really use the display products to get a feel for them. Otherwise they would be aware of all these weird bugs.

I then showed him the bugs with Edge, how it you full screen a video from a news site or Facebook, it will immediately make the screen flicker/flash. Then I showed him how ad ridden sites (like WindowsCentral) causes really poor browser performance. He was very surprised to say the least. I told him that Microsoft needs to be aware of these issues, that their native browser is going to make people hate using this device. Also informed him of this thread and that there are MANY issues with the Book.

I will consider a Surface Book again, maybe during revision two. Until now, there is no way I would spend $1,899+ on this product, it is terrible in its current state. All of these issues are wide spread, it is not just me and a select few having these issues. I'm not going to beta test for Microsoft.

Windows Feedback has a bunch of complaints on Edge with windowscentral.com. I'd encourage everyone to upvote them.

 

[Telex2112]

I have returned my Book/Dock as well. I gave Microsoft/Samsung numerous chances for two weeks to find a way to fix my issues, but neither could not. Can anyone tell me a laptop (docking station if needed) that can actually push dual 4K monitors (Samsung U32D970) at 60hz? I couldn't even get the dock to do a custom 30hz each... sad...