14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft launched the Surface Go as the smallest, lightest, and most affordable Surface model to date, positioning the device as the right choice for teachers and students who just want to get their work done.
Running Windows 10 (in S Mode, but with an option to upgrade it and unlock Win32 software support), Microsoft Surface Go is a very appealing product for pretty much everyone, especially given its price.
With a $399 price tag and given the premium image of the Surface brand, there’s no doubt that the Surface Go could be considered by many as a potential purchase, though there are several factors that need to be looked into closely before actually ordering it.
In the last few days, I’ve seen and heard many people saying they’d buy the Surface Go to become their mainly driver, and most of these people expect the device to replace their more powerful laptops or PCs. This is because the Surface Go is extremely portable at just 10 inches, and at first glance and without inspecting the spec sheet, it may indeed be a smart choice.
But there’s one good reason why Microsoft is actually promoting this device as a model for educators: the Surface Go doesn’t come with hardware specs to replace a productivity workhorse, and it’s only a good choice when not running heavy-duty tasks.
In terms of hardware, the Surface Go comes with an Intel 4415Y processor paired with a maximum of 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage. The device features Intel HD Graphics 615.
All these specs are living proof that the Surface Go should by no means be considered a powerful device that can replace even your office monster, but only a light 2-in-1 that can do simple things like browsing the web, sending emails, watching videos, and running apps that don’t require too high system resources.
Surface Go is a device that’s more appropriate for the average Windows 10 user who isn’t interesting in anything too complicated. For these users, an operating system like Windows 10 in S Mode is just the right choice because it includes the essential tools to do things like the ones mentioned above.
“Playing Candy Crush Saga on Windows 10 has never been easier.”
Believe it or not, but there are millions of such users, and Microsoft knows that it can’t ignore them. This is one of the reasons Windows 10 with S Mode came to be, and now one of the reasons for the Surface Go to see daylight.
So to answer the question in the title: is Microsoft’s Surface Go any good for gaming and developing? The answer is yes and yes, but with an emphasis that it all depends on the tasks that you want to launch.
If you want to play Candy Crush Saga, the Surface Go obviously has absolutely no problem to run it, but on the other hand, if you want to play the latest Far Cry, there’s clearly no chance to do it. The same for developers: if your coding involves basic projects like small apps for mobile devices, the Surface Go is up to the task, but on the other hand, anything that’s more demanding would terribly slow it down.
Keep in mind that the Surface Go was designed from the very beginning to fill a gap left by the other Surface models. From the first generation, Surface was developed to be a premium and super-capable device that would only come with the latest in terms of hardware. The Surface Go is a low-cost configuration that retains the premium Surface brand, but brings this hardware down to a level where more customers would afford it.
If you’re looking for a more powerful gaming and coding device from Microsoft, you should consider the Surface Pro. Or the Surface Laptop. Or the Surface Book 2. Or, if you live in a house made of gold, the Surface Studio.
