Surface Go Gift - Help Me Decide

CrankyCarrot on 24/12/2018 - 15:01

Having trouble deciding on this…

Mum needs a replacement for her eeepad, a 2011 2-in-1 Android tablet - (This thing: https://www.gsmarena.com/asus_transformer_tf101-3936.php)

She just wants to browse, stream, pay bills and do spreadsheet stuff on it. I had a look at one in JB and really like the magnetic detachable keyboard that for some reason isn't included, I guess to make the basic price seem more attractive (it's $148 extra). Product reviews showed consumers raving about how great it is but pro reviewers such as Cnet put me off pointing out that the CPU is a bit cruddy (not an i3/i5 etc series).

JB's best offer was $866.50 for the 8gb ram/256gb SSD version with the keyboard. It really doesn't seem that cheap for a budget machine once you count in the (arguably essential) keyboard. Looking to be convinced otherwise.

Or are their similar machines in the same price range $600-$900 that have a great CPU I should consider?

Is it worth waiting 'til post xmas for something like this? I see eBay has 20% off tech from boxing day…

OzBargainers, please help me pull the trigger on this or something else.

Computing Microsoft Tablet

Comments

  • scrimshaw on 24/12/2018 - 15:12
    +3

    If you plan on keeping the keyboard permanently attached to the device, you might as well be buying a thin and light notebook, such as a ASUS Zenbook, Lenovo Yoga or a Acer Spin series.

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/422975

    Acer Spin even includes a active stylus, which for Surface is a optional $129 dollar accessory.

    • CrankyCarrot on 24/12/2018 - 15:14
      +1

      Hey, no I think she wants to be able to remove the keyboard for watching stuff in bed or on the lounge etc, but have the ability to type at a desk - so detachable is def what I'm shooting for.

  • shrek4 on 24/12/2018 - 16:20

    Don’t think you can go wrong with the surface go. Great reviews.

    • CrankyCarrot on 24/12/2018 - 16:26

      Yeah, seems that way. Now to hone in on the best price. Seems like they're set at $758/$148 approx for the base model/keyboard, which is $906 total. The JB offer or $866.50 all in stands as the best so far, unless there's likely to be a tech sale worth hanging out for that beats that.

      Just spoke to Harvey and he would do nothing to drop the price below $906.

  • CrankyCarrot on 24/12/2018 - 21:06

    Well, took a punt on it. $857 at JB with the black keyboard.

  • N1NJ4W4RR10R on 24/12/2018 - 21:17

    It's apparently a great device. CPU shouldn't really matter for someone treating it like a bigger phone/basic PC (would absolutely flog the previous one).

    $800 makes my soul hurt, but these things love being expensive. Couldn't do much better for the tablet iteelf, though I'd be curious as to whether 3rd party keyboards would work with it (and whether they'd be worth spending less)… alternatively whether an actual keyboard would.

    Regardless, appears the keyboard isn't to terrible for typing so if you've already bought it meh.

    • CrankyCarrot on 25/12/2018 - 13:52
      +1

      You can, in theory, get the cheap 64gb/4gb ram version with the hdd that's 10% as fast and then not buy a keyboard or any other peripherals. That's circa $500 from memory. But then I can't imagine anyone buys these and then doesn't want a keyboard. Also pretty much every review denounces the base version and recommends one with 128gb hdd and 8gb ram with the better hard drive.

      Hopefully I get what I paid for and it's worth the 850 bucks. Have yet to give it/see it in action.

  • uccoffee on 24/12/2018 - 22:40
    +1

    How about the Lenovo M10?
    Get from Microsoft website, they have free return til end of January if you don't like it.
    I am still thinking should I return it and get the m10

    • CrankyCarrot on 25/12/2018 - 13:49
      +1

      Lemme take a look at that…

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