• All clear to buy a Surface Pro 4?

    Posted on November 2, 2015 at 10:35 CST by • Comment in the Forums

    An excellent question from a long-time friend in the Netherlands:

    Hi Woody,

    I read your 28-Oct piece on InfoWorld, about the issues with the new Surface hardware. Here in the Netherlands the Pro4 is expected around 19-Nov, no dates known for the Book. I will be in the US next week and I was hoping to score a new Pro4 (or even a Book if available). Hardware is still cheaper over there and VAT is also much lower. Normally reliability is good, so I don’t worry about warranty. Not so in this case, as you will understand.

    I have been following the discussion (on InfoWorld and elsewhere) to get an idea what the problems are and if there is a solution in sight. Do you have any idea how widespread these issues are? Can they be fixed with driver updates? If I do decide to go ahead with a purchase, I will definitely want to see it working before I hand over my credit card. Perhaps I should avoid any risk and buy with local warranty this time. 

    Keep up the good work!

    I don’t know how many people are having problems with Surface Pro 4’s. Microsoft, of course, is mum.

    What worries me is how closely this parallels the connectivity problems with the original Surface Pro 3. Microsoft released firmware updates by the bushel, and only lately seems to have conquered the problems. 

    The very best solution to the Surface Pro 4 problems, at this point, is to take it back to a Microsoft Store and demand a replacement. If you can get one. Reports from people who traded in old units for new ones has been surprisingly positive. They didn’t go through the usual channels, via tech support, trying to get a patch, or even an RMA. They simply took the unit back and said, “Give me a new one or give me my money back.”

    In your particular case, I’d recommend a half-way measure. Pick up one of the new SP4 Type Cover for your SP3. That’ll give you many of the benefits of the SP4 (including Hello login) without exposing you to the problems. Then, the next time you’re in the US — or if the prices seems reasonable in the Netherlands – you can get a new SP4 without a cover.

    Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but I think that’s a compromise worth considering.

    Other
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