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Surface Linux question (lemmy.world)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I've already had lots of concerns about continuing to use windows, but recall and copilot in general send me reeling. I'd like to start migrating to Linux on both my machines, but right now it would be much easier to do so on my laptop than my main PC just yet.

The main concern I have is that I've had rough times with drivers on laptops running Linux, so I want to assess the QoL of Linux on Surface. I've dug around already on reddit and lemmy and seen some mention of the Surface Linux drivers that exist, but I'm hoping to get a personal account of as close a scenario as mine would be.

I'm big on KDE Neon, and I want to run it on my Surface Laptop Studio. Can anybody tell me if you've done the same or similar, and how is it? What's the most trouble you've run into?

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It's been a while (since I dropped my SP7 and picked it up in more pieces than normal) but my recollection is that you need a custom kernel because Microsoft does some funny stuff.

Since then, I've been using an HP Elite x2 G3, which has some weird keyboard scancodes for special keys, but is otherwise a nicer, more open device in every way.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

Yeah, that kernel was what I was seeing. It does look like the feature matrix shows everything is supported for SLS1 which is nice. I've got no money to spend on a new device though, plus I really do like the SLS a lot. SLS and my old SB2 are some of my favorite devices, I just wish they didn't decide to kill everything but the bottom line. My Duo 2 finally gave in recently too.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Had a custom kernel installed back in the days, but the most hardware 'just works' using vanilla Ubuntu 22.04.

I guess the camera doesn't work, but being a SP 4Pro, I use it mainly as a terminal or some coding with Codium and couldn't care less about the camera.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

I'm with you, I'm not too concerned about the camera. Mostly just use mine for coding, modeling, and video editing.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I've been using PopOs on my surface for ages, but I'm not sure how much help I'd be since mine is a Surface Pro 3... I do believe, as the other person said, that you no longer need a custom kennel for things to work

[–] forgedchaos 2 points 5 months ago

Does the pen work as expected? I have a surface pro 3 and am also interested in changing to linux.