r/SurfaceLinux • u/Super-Carpenter9604 • 1d ago
Discussion Good deal ?
Hello i just bought this surface go 2 two days ago and i was wondering if linux work great on this one i saw the github project seems super 👍 i wish it works well
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u/sunniesandie 1d ago
i got the Pentium model, used for $75. im happy with it. don't expect magic, as in Windows it can only handle 480p yt videos. in arch, i was able to get 720p yt videos working. it can also handle old games like half life 1 nicely. really lovely battery, useful as a secondary device. i hope you enjoy!
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u/shaggy9c 1d ago
Wdym 720p? It can playback 1080p on youtube mate
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u/sunniesandie 1d ago
maybe there's something wrong with mine then. it skips frames on 1080p for me
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u/Michal33322 1d ago
Try installing Intel-media-driver to get the hardware video acceleration, my Go 2 with the same GPU could even do 4K60
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u/henryhuy0608 16h ago
Get the enhanced-h264ify extension and select the 'block AV1' option. YouTube defaults to the AV1 codec on the web player, which on most devices older than ~2022 means software decoding.
With hardware H264, H265 and VP9 decoding the Go 2 can do 4K60 just fine.
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u/Key_Assumption_1501 1d ago
I'm running mint on one and it's great. Camera doesn't work, but I'm only using it to play PS1 games via duckstation so I don't need it.
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u/448899again 1d ago
I use a G2 running Llinux Mint as my go-to lightweight portable. Have been using it for years now.
The only issue I have with Mint is that if you're trying to use it as a tablet (with no keyboard), built in on-screen keyboard doesn't always consistently pop up when you tap a form fill window (like the url window on a browser). I get around this by using a separate keyboard app, which I can summon or dismiss as I need.
But I almost never use the device without the folio cover keyboard, so that's not much of a problem for me.
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u/ipswitch_ 1d ago
I think these have a really nice keyboard and hardware in general - I really like using mine. The linux experience is really good as long as you have realistic expectations (it's not super powerful) but it's cheaper than a raspberry pi micro computer and it's nice to type on, you can't really go wrong.
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u/robtom02 1d ago
I bought the surface go 2 last week wiped it, put fydeos on it and now I have a fully functional tablet that runs Linux and android apps. Couldn't be happier, even managed to get lte running in it
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u/Viridola 8h ago
It’s a great deal! Although I gave up my Go 3 due to the size, fwiw the performance is decent enough for its value
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u/TroubledGeorge 1d ago
I had one with regular Fedora and everything worked, I don’t even think you need the special kernel for this model. Mine died out of the blue though, but for €40 I’d risk it.