119
Liberating my Surface with Linux Mint
(mangotek.eu)
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2025
119 points (99.2% liked)
Linux
57274 readers
469 users here now
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).
Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.
Rules
- Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
- No misinformation
- No NSFW content
- No hate speech, bigotry, etc
Related Communities
Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0
founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
My dad has a Surface Pro 7 that their friend is no longer using that I’m excited to migrate over. Glad to hear the experience is smooth.
Just an FYI. I just went through a giant debacle doing this. Surface pro 8 top of the line 32gb ram model. DO NOT expect the touch to be phone or daily driver ready. Text box keyboards do not pop up or if they do its so delayed in typing that you'll give up using it. ZERO 3rd party software closes the gap, onboard or any other keyboard that is virtual won't help. Stick with the Folio or keyboard and mouse and your good. Linux is no quite there for touch support atleast not Mint.
The battery life will be a few hours at best even tweaked to hell for energy savings. It will get hot under any real usage beyond browsing and a handful of tabs. Especially while charging and using.
I tried the new Dell 2 in 1, the Surface pro 8, I ended up back on a laptop its just smoother and easier and the overall hardware is better including battery. I was wanting this to work so bad. The slate concept seems good on paper but not IRL. There's a reason they haven't gained as much traction in the market as you'd expect.
This is all totally fine as I already have a laptop for daily use. I’m primarily interested in the digitizer for things like notes and drawing.
Yeah...I bought the Dell too. It also bothers me that the camera module is still not compatible. Even though they're supposed to be intel-made.
What I did was I bought a new Opal Tadpole and plugged it right in and it is one of the smallest clip on 4k webcams you can buy. If not the true smallest. I used it once. Otherwise new in box if your interested. I'd take 100 for it. It's really small so it stays out of the way. Only reason I'd part with it is because I switched away from the surface pro 8 where I needed it and back to a dell laptop and distro where I no longer need it. Used literally once. New with box.
Lol...I just bought a more generic logitech cam. And I recently tested an insta360 Ace Pro2, and when hooked via USB it can act as a webcam. I use this one when traveling, so I could just put it on a tripod-selfie-stick combo next to the laptop. But good to know that one works too. I'm stuck with a Dell 2 in 1 that I thought wouldn't have this issues...but it still does. As I bought second hand, might be harder to sell.
https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface