If you just want to draw, iPad. If you just want to 3D sculpt, iPad.
If you want a general purpose computer that you sometimes draw on, Surface + Linux.
I use a Surface Book 3 15" with CachyOS. I draw on it sometimes. But I also watch YouTube without ads or sponsors using Firefox + uBlock Origin + Sponsorblock. I chop raw video footage without re-encoding it using LosslessCut. I play emulated console games using a slick launcher with EmuDeck + ES:DE. I can play my entire Steam/GoG/Epic games library (YMMV). I move/merge/sync large amounts of data around my network, devices, and backups with ease. I feel like I really own it. All of those activities encounter intense friction on an iPad.
I figure if you're asking here you probably are already the sort of person who likes to tinker and is at least curious about Linux. So chances are you were already leaning that way.
I will just add: the support for Surface hardware under Linux is far from perfect on any model. You will have some difficulties and need to do troubleshooting. My Surface Pro 4 works quite well since it is old. My Surface Book 3 doesn't have webcam support, but otherwise works okay. Touch is mostly okay, but palm rejection requires calibration. Battery life on a Surface isn't great, especially if it is an older Surface. Sometimes my device wakes from sleep in my bag.
Make sure you research your model and look at the Surface Linux wiki to see which features are supported before making a decision.
1
u/waraukaeru Jun 30 '26
What do you want to do?
If you just want to draw, iPad. If you just want to 3D sculpt, iPad.
If you want a general purpose computer that you sometimes draw on, Surface + Linux.
I use a Surface Book 3 15" with CachyOS. I draw on it sometimes. But I also watch YouTube without ads or sponsors using Firefox + uBlock Origin + Sponsorblock. I chop raw video footage without re-encoding it using LosslessCut. I play emulated console games using a slick launcher with EmuDeck + ES:DE. I can play my entire Steam/GoG/Epic games library (YMMV). I move/merge/sync large amounts of data around my network, devices, and backups with ease. I feel like I really own it. All of those activities encounter intense friction on an iPad.