Microsoft Surface Pro
The Microsoft Surface Pro is a x86 tablet. Optionally are a cover with keyboard and a digitizer/stylus. The good thing about the surface is that is as handy and mobile as a tablet but has the performance (cpu, ram, ssd) and software of a x86 notebook. And you get FullHD display resolution on 27 cm.
operating systems
The cpu is amd64, the UEFI is 64 bit, UEFI does not have CSM (legacy mode) support. To boot Linux/BSD with Secure Boot enter UEFI setup menu and select "delete all secure boot keys". This way Linux/BSD can boot and during install add keys to Secure Boot.
| operating system | Version / File | Installer booting? |
|---|---|---|
| debian | debian-9.0.0-amd64-netinst.iso | true |
| devuan | devuan_jessie_1.0.0_amd64_NETINST.iso | false |
| FreeBSD | FreeBSD-11.0-RELEASE-amd64-mini-memstick.img | true |
| gentoo | install-amd64-minimal-20170629.iso | false |
| gentoo | livedvd-amd64-multilib-20160704.iso | true |
| gnewsense | gnewsense-live-4.0-amd64-gnome.iso | false |
| guixSD | guixsd-usb-install-0.13.0.x86_64-linux.xz | true |
| OpenWrt | lede-17.01.2-x86-64-combined-squashfs.img | false |
| NetBSD | 7.1 amd64 install.img | false |
| OpenBSD | 6.1 amd64 install.fs | true |
| ReactOS | 0.4.5 i386 | false |
Hardware problems
- The WiFi chip is connected via USB.
- There is only one USB connector.
- There is no Ethernet connector.
- It's hard to put it on your belly.
Tricks
UEFI
Hold volume up button while pressing the power button.
The UEFI provides only two options. En-/Disabling trusted platform module and En-/Disable SecureBoot.
USB Boot
Hold volume down button while pressing the power button.
Bookmarks / Advertisments
- Surface at Wikipedia
- Microsoft update history tells that the last update was in February 2016