Welp, there goes another $1200.

"phenotyp" (phenotyp)
06/07/2015 at 01:36 • Filed to: Computer BS, Surface, Surface Pro

So, just two weeks after a nail in my tire meant that I might as well replace all four, this happens.

I’ve treated this thing like an heirloom. First thing that went on it was a screen protector. Always in a rigid, padded case when not in use. I wanted it to last at least as long as the Motion had. Loved everything about it except the pen nib, which went to shit in a couple weeks. Last time I’d used it was Thursday (04 June) night, and the pen nib was so degraded that I gave up, put it in the case, and decided to head to the MS store on Saturday (today) to get a replacement nib.

Got the replacement tip, no problem at all. Then I thought that I should just give it a quick try and make sure that it worked satisfactorily. So I took the tablet out of the case, tried to boot it up, and it didn’t want to get past the SURFACE screen. Odd. So I did a few soft resets. Finally got to the home screen, which froze. Clicked the pen’s One Note button, One Note came up, and the text box was just repeating the apostrphe keystroke, and there was no way to stop it. I saw a line on the screen protector, and thought maybe it was just a leftover from drawing... nope.

Tore off the screen protector (aaarrrrgh, that thing only took 4 tries to get on there right), and lo: a hairline crack from around the middle of the bottom edge to the upper mic cutout on the right side of the screen. Digitizer functions ruined. No touch, no pen input. It’s now a six-week-old, 1200-dollar paperweight. It’s only been babied, never dropped, not a scratch, everyting pristine. I’d put it away, in its case, and, 32-ish hours later, took it out, and it’s cracked, and done for.

This has been my Surface Pro 3 experience, thus far.

DISCUSSION (13)

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > phenotyp
06/07/2015 at 01:46

Damn thats terrible! Hopefully if you contact MS they may be able to do something only because that is not at all a typical fracture or issue

phenotyp > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/07/2015 at 01:53

After searching forums and support this afternoon, it’s pretty evident that I’m not alone, but MS handles it like any other drop/damage. $320 will get me a replacement on Monday (which I will then have to spend another 10-ish hours setting up to work right). Amazon customer support just gave me a “one time” refund, so I can send it back for refund and order another. Not sure what I’m gonna do yet, but, damn. I can’t believe this happened. Even my ipad, without a case, has fallen on concrete and not cracked. The surface was just sitting in its case.

Rico > phenotyp
06/07/2015 at 02:50

How did it crack?

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > phenotyp
06/07/2015 at 06:00

I had this with my sat nav. Left it in a heavily padded case in my glovebox (It was the only thing in there) and got it out after the journey. Crack across the entire screen, digitiser fucked so no touch function.

Vimto > phenotyp
06/07/2015 at 08:10

My Dad does maintenance for Comcast and their laptops were recently replaced with Surfaces 3s. They’re getting widespread complaints because they’re fragile, finicky, and the software is unstable. Honestly, I haven’t really heard one good thing about the SP3.

phenotyp > Rico
06/07/2015 at 08:54

That's the thing. No clue.

deekster_caddy > phenotyp
06/07/2015 at 10:18

First thing that happened with my ipad2 years ago - kids grabbed it, dropped it, big crack across the whole thing diagonally. Put it in a case, many years of use later, still works 100%.

Sorry to hear your experience has been bad. Hopefully they take care of it. I know a lot of people who buy the Surface and are very not pleased with them.

phenotyp > deekster_caddy
06/07/2015 at 10:38

That's the thing that gets me— that there's no overt cause of this. MS will replace it to the tune of $320, but the fact that this sort of thing seems so widespread makes me pretty angry.

phenotyp > deekster_caddy
06/08/2015 at 00:27

I talked to Amazon last night (bought through them). They were willing to RMA it, so I’m sending it back tomorrow AM, and ordered a new one. Digging through forums, it would seem that the mystery cracking happens waaaaay more frequently than any product should. Surely there’s some amount of BS (lying about dropping, etc), but in my situation, I was caught completely off-guard at the MS store when I went in for a new pen tip. I took it out of the case it had been in since I’d put it away (fine) on Thursday night, and... WTF. Wouldn’t boot. Found the crack under the screen protector. It had been sitting, in a case, for about 30 hours, in my house, no pets, no other people. Just: put it away fine, took it out broken.

The pens they use are pieces of shit, I just never expected the depth of flawed engineering in the tablet itself.

phenotyp > Vimto
06/08/2015 at 00:31

I started to love it right up until I discovered the mystery crack and broken digitizer, which happened while it was in a case, fully protected, and untouched by anyone. It ran photoshop like a champ, which is what I need in a tablet.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > phenotyp
06/08/2015 at 14:57

Ugh.

phenotyp > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
06/08/2015 at 14:58

Indeed. We’ll see if #2 lasts longer...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > phenotyp
06/08/2015 at 15:01

I sure hope so.