Microsoft’s Surface Pro scores 0 out of 10 on reparability test
Jun 19, 2017
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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Microsoft’s Surface Pro laptop definitely has some good sides, but what can you expect when it breaks? Unfortunately, on the repairability test by iFixit, this stylish laptop scores far from impressive: zero. Seems that it would be pretty difficult (or even impossible) to open and repair it, and the guys from iFixit tear it down and demonstrate all the possible difficulties you may encounter if you want to repair this laptop.
First of all, it’s nearly impossible to remove the fabric keyboard cover without damaging it. The team needed to use a Jimmy knife and a heat gun to remove it, and it resulted in tearing the fabric and melting the keys.
When they finally opened the laptop, they encountered a ton of other issues, and this is their conclusion:
- This laptop is not meant to be opened or repaired. It’s impossible to get inside without producing a lot of damage to other components.
- The CMU, RAM and onboard storage are soldered to the motherboard. This means that upgrades are a no-go.
- The headphone jack is modular and it can only be accessed by removing the heat sink, fan, display, and motherboard.
- It’s dangerous and difficult to remove the battery.
Now, I know everything today is designed to be replaced by a newer model every couple of years. Subjectively speaking, I can’t afford to buy new pricey gadgets every year or so just because a new model has appeared. I use stuff as long as their work and satisfy my needs. But of course, it’s a personal preference and habit. Although, if you are like me, you may find it a bit of a problem if your still perfectly usable Surface Pro breaks and it can’t be fixed.
Now, objectively speaking – things break. Even if you tend to replace the electronic gadgets with new models regularly, they will sometimes break while still in the warranty period. I assume people would want their Surface Pro fixed if something happens to it while it’s still practically new. And I’m pretty curious what happens then, and how a repair person is supposed to deal with it.
For me personally, this would be quite a problem because of my habits when it comes to gadgets. What about you? Do you find this a problem, or you don’t care at all?
[Microsoft Surface Laptop Teardown! via FStoppers]
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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12 responses to “Microsoft’s Surface Pro scores 0 out of 10 on reparability test”
My Surface Pro 3 broke last year while still under warranty. The battery had a known (as least to Microsoft) problem of suddenly not being able to hold a charge. My warranty said the computer would be replaced within 24 hours anywhere in the world. Yeah, well, 2 months later I got my computer back after sending it to Microsoft repair center in NJ. For a week and a half they sent me emails saying it had been shipped when in fact it hadn’t left the repair center. It was suppose to be overnight shipping – They sent it at 5:58pm on Friday and I got it back on Wed. But it has worked flawlessly since.
The Surface Pros are suppose to be solid state which means they can’t be taken apart and fixed. They have to be replaced. Not sure what part of mine was replaced or if it was the whole screen or whatever. The back cover still had the tape residue from the little tab that held my pen which fell off a few days before it crashed. It’s been working well and if I were to buy another laptop it would be a Microsoft Surface Pro 4 or whatever model is new at the time. I love it and other than the length of time it took to get mine repaired, I am very happy with it.
I guess I don’t care as I would never buy one.
Another reason to buy a Macbook Pro.
…which has a rating of 1, which is really so much better.
My mind is set on Razer core pro (https://www.razerzone.com/gaming-systems/razer-blade-pro)
I don’t give a crap… You don’t buy the surface to modify or repair it. Lol
Don’t care at all because I have a real computer.
The government of the usa decided not to care about the planet and microsoft joined them with products that are as unsustainable as it can get.
Huh, in an age where more phones are replaced on a yearly basis, then all PCs sold. I think the problem is much more wide spread then the US and Microsoft.
It is. But there is the known bad guys using lots of glue and not caring (apple, … and now also microsoft,…) and the others like lenovo business machines, where you can replace every screw or piece yourself even after 20 years (if you find the correct replacement).
How about mbp?
couldn’t care less.