Samuel is about to graduate and we are wanting to get him a laptop for College.

Rather than a traditional laptop, the Surface Pro seems like a cool concept (laptop and tablet modes running traditional Windows 10). Lightweight, solid state drives, long battery life.
Anyone on here use the Surface Pro? Likes/Dislikes/Pros/Cons?

Also, the Surface 2 is a little more robust laptop but with detachable screen. Any scoop on that?

I bought my wife a Surface pro years ago. I'm not crazy about it- When I use it I usually just opt to use it in the old-school desk top view. As far as the technical side of it, I have no Pro's or Con's.

A fella I work with just bought the new one for his wife. She is going into Cyber-Security. That was her choice, if that counts for anything.

I would wait and get him what he wants, or needs. Don't get something that you think he will need, or would be cool or you may be pissing your $ away. Either have him ask them at school during orientation, or wait and buy him one after the first week or 2 of school.

Some majors may have different requirements than others.

We are going to do just that, but I'm doing my research ahead of time since I'm paying for it.

My daughter graduated two years ago and I also wanted to get her a laptop for college. She was adamant about getting a surface pro but after I read the reviews (lots of 5 and lots of 1 which made me skeptical) we talked with campus computer support and they highly recommended a macbook. Two years later ahe still loves her mac and one of her roommates that has a surface has had a lot of problems with it. The mac was actually a bit less expensive than the surface then, not sure now. Good luck with yiur decision.

I bought an iPad, don't use it. Bought a laptop that has a touch screen, just use the laptop part. They sound cool, but they're just not that practical. If you have a smart phone, you really only need a regular laptop. I recommend Dell. I bought a new one about 8 months ago and it's awesome. Whatever you get, make sure it has a solid state drive.

Careful with a Mac... You may be downloading a bunch of extra programs to get the schools software to run on your computer.

Here is what UF recommends: Obviously needs are different for a elementary ed major vs a computer graphic design major.
https://it.ufl.edu/policies/student-computing-requirements/

I have a Microsoft Surface Pro as my laptop with the external OEM keyboard. I like it for my work needs but doubt I would purchase one, that said I never use the pen or touch screen.

The Macbook is a solid choice and gets my reccomendation unless he absolutely specifically needs a windows computer.

My wife has surface pro 3 and it is POS. Never again Microsoft...

A bunch of us at work either have or had the surface pro 2. We started having problems with them. It would have glitches regularly. Most of us used a docking station with them at our desk and then could take it with us when we left. Mine died one day and our it group steered me to dell Xps. I’ve had it a little over a year and really like it. Now we have moved to the thinkpads for anyone who needs to up grade. Everyone seems to like them I don’t have any experience with them but you might want to check them out.

I love my surface pro. Had it a little over a year. Occasionally hiccups but no more than any other windows machine I’ve had.