I'm an artist and recently got a Surface Laptop Studio. I bought the stand/ base that you recommended. It's a great product. Very sturdy yet adjusts easily. Your video was very helpful. Thank you!
I’m considering between this studio surface and studio pro 8 to replace an original iPad Pro. My main priority is drawing but I would also use it for school work. I would love if it would run 3d modelling/blender and maybe gaming. I would like to use it as a desk and on my lap. I’ve heard the studio surface is really only for the desktop. Do you have any thoughts on this? I am on a bit of a budget but want to get a good product. Do you have any other recommendations?
Great review Michael. I too have an iPad Pro and it's very uninspiring, so it's ended up as a consuming device as iPad OS is just cripple ware. I ended up plugging a £320 Huion 16 pen display into my MacBook Pro as I don't need another computer and it's a pretty good experience using Photoshop, Illustrator and the lovely free Krita painting app.
The IPad Pro is good. It just lacks easy use for everyday use as a professional illustrator. The SLP is a dream machine. I want the next one for sure. M
Hey there, greetings from Ireland! I just purchased the Surface updating from my old mac book pro combined with wacom pad for illustrative work. Was having difficulty getting used to it. Did a quick search and landed on your channel. This video has REALLY helped me get to grips with what I can do, especially with the use of a quick key pad, which I did not know existed.I am a graphic designer, working mainly in InDesign, but also create illustrations/logos in illustrator, and some artwork in photoshop, more so now with the surface as it is so much more tactile and responsive. I would love to see a tutorial/review of you working in adobe illustrator or any vector programme. Thanks and really enjoying watching you work 😀
hey there! I am also interested on this laptop for the exact same reasons! use illustrator, photoshop, after effects and possibly any other 3D or animation program. I've noticed your comment is dated about 5 months so I want to please check in how are u feeling with it. is it smooth, can it multi-task ( have illustrator and photoshop open for example) work on the big illustrator files etc. and just as u are graphic designer what's ur advice opinion to me, entering now uni for graphics and visual communication? I'd appreciate a lot of you responded I'm trying hard to find a suitable laptop lightweight and easy to move to lectures etc but also be fully effective and efficient but also long lasting. thanks in advance :)
I love the way that you do reviews, I don't need a full production. I want to know the information from a professional. Although the unboxing is helpful, just to make sure that everything is in there that is supposed to be. I use unboxings often just to make sure I have everything, or to try to see if it was sold as refurbished or an open boxed item. This seems like the best portable option for a digital painter and photoshop editor. I want to love the iPad, but it seems like a toy. I just wish these pens supported "barrel rotation" so you could turn the brush.
Your review convinced me to buy my fiancee this laptop for her communications design study class that will beginn end of this month. It'll arrive tomorrow and i'm exited about what she'll think!
You have no idea how much it helped me when you said that drawing is A+ on SLS. I have 1st gen surface book which you mentioned, but it's really slow now and im looking for a replacement. I started uni again and i need to draw this year, i never tried ipad for drawing, but everyone is raving about procreate. Which would you suggest if i could only get one ? SLS, the new surface pro 9 or the new ipad pro 12.9 ? Thank you!
SLS all day. I own an iPad Pro 12.9. Great sketching…bad is for moving files…opening files…general work flow. The SLS runs full programs, great battery, incredible screen and wonderful drawing. I can also plug in my 24” 2k drawing monitor and fly all day. Epic machine. I also own a surface book 1st gen i7 with graphics card. It’s just old. The new SLS is the bomb:) M
@@KiteoHatto I guess. Processor power is good for video people and gamers. You will not notice that much difference in drawing. I still use my Surface pro 2 with an i5. Draws fine. Don’t get hung up on speed prowess. M
Nice video it will be nice if you can answer me 2 question on your personal opinion you think I can use that i5 for animation on csp and is you wish to work on a 22 cintiq do drivers will conflicts with each other
I wish I saw this video earlier. I just bought the i7 and 1tb with 32gb ram because I wasn’t sure if the i5 and 16gb of Ram was enough for photoshop and adobe suite. Oh well. I have it now and I love it. Loving the channel too. Keep up the great work. I aspire to be an illustrator and artist. I just started at 32 years of age.
@@MichaelClaridaArts thank you! As i said since the last big uodate of lightroom i now need 32gb of ram on my desktop.. so I'm worried about a laptop...
I got the laptop studio pro and i love it . i use it for everything and rocks even after 1 year and half but there are some defect i got overtime unluckily and apparently it's not only my device . One of the fan started to be a bit noisy for no reason after a while, give no problems at all but was completely silent when i bought and the rubber on the pen fall off even if i used it with maniacal attention . Other problem i got are that the adhesives of the feet / plastic supports on the bottom of the tablet are really really bad. i don't know if for the heat or something the feet fall off pretty soon . In all this time did you have some of these problems ? From what i heard around they are very common problems . Especially the fan are really cheap and low quality they are faulty most of the time ... i know people that replaced their device more than once but still got the problem after a couple of months . they work as intended they just became noisy without a reason.
@@MichaelClaridaArts thanks for answering was just a curiosity . Other than that the device is just amazing. I would be willing to replace the fan for some extra silence but started to be slightly noisy after the warranty ended and work as intended, no overheat . the replacement part can't be bought easily from my country either . Nice video btw ! also it's great to see professional illustrators to use something different than the usual IPad or Wacom product . keep up the good work 😎
Thank you for this in-depth review. Between this and the Surface Pro 7 you reviewed in late 2020, do you recommend this over the Surface Pro for drawing in Photoshop? I'm trying to decide between the newer Surface Pro 8 and this Surface laptop. Thanks :)
In terms of pure drawing performance, there is no difference between SP8/SP9 and SLS. Because the SP and SLS use the same technology. The difference between SP and SLS is the performance, the screen size and the weight (handiness).
I also have a surface pro 2. It’s still an amazing work horse. I have a high exceptions for the surface products because of it so in 2019 I got a surface book 2. It has not held up as well and they stopped making them so now I am looking into the surface laptop hopefully will have enough saved up to get a surface laptop 2 to serve as a portable “desktop”. I need it for multi use gaming, video editing, art and graphic design. I also have recently gotten an iPad mini for a portable digital sketch book. Thank you for the review. I will say I like the surface slim pen two more then the Apple Pencil.
I am on my third Surface book. My battery expanded and pushed the screen out. After I “repaired” it there is a dead zone on the screen…no touch or pen. My SLS is epic. My favorite Surface of all my Surfaces…I have owned 11 total. M
@MichaelClaridaArts my screen battery is pretty much toast in my SB2, and we had to wipe it and start over because I was having non-stop GPU problems. It was using the ine in the screen as the primary and refused to use the more powerful one in the body even when setting it to force it to. Thank goodness wiping it and installing Windows 11 fixed it. Although it did confirm that the screen battery is pretty much a goner. I believe it died under warranty, and I didn't realize it until it was too late. 😒 My board for my Surface pro 2 just died a fee days ago. It's 10 years old! I had the type back-lit one not that other one that was total garbage.
Awesome video. Think I'm going with this device as my new drawing all in one pc. Really interested in the quick key remote, that looks amazing. Did you connect it straight to the computer or do you have to use the usb? Have you used the surface dial? If so did you like it? Do you have a review?
The remote is a usb dongle connection with a software download where you can program it. I have not tried the Surface dial as it has been expensive and a little gimmicky. I was impressed by the video but in the end I wanted quick keys. I love this device. The Surface studio is great. It is the best Surface yet. I have owned 7 surface devices before this. I still own my Surface pro 2 and my Surface book 1. I no love surface devices because they are a full PC. The SSP has been great. M
The Surface Dial was an extremely good idea from Microsoft. Unfortunately, the issue of software for operation and use was not further developed or maintained. One thing that was not further developed is the option of putting the dial on the display (like Wacom's "screen wheel").
This is the exact review I was looking for. Thanks a lot for the info. I have a question though. What are your thoughts on the hinge in terms of durability?
Seems ok. It is not a tank but rather a precise aircraft of construction. I would not sit on it as it may break. However, the more I use it the more confident I am. Great product overall. Time will be the decider I guess.
Hello and thank you very much for your work, it seems incredible to me, you have tried the concept app for pc and mac, it seems incredible to me for sketches, because it uses vector graphics, but the pencils are incredible, it seems that you are drawing with photoshop, but there is no latency and on the surfaces it's scary, thanks again for everything
I actually just purchased this device for myself and your video helped me make my decision to do so. One question though. What is the swivel base that you said you are using? I like the angle and the added ability to swivel or turn the device when I am drawing would be be beneficial.
i am looking at getting this or the huge PC verson of this for 3d modeling and the huge thing is has to be windows (sadly) and Sub painter. both have 3000 GPUs are great for
Idk man, even on a gen 1 surface book I used Photoshop, blender, illustrator, a browser and 3 monitors and never had noticable lag unless I was using cycles in blender to render. Other than that, I'd say that's a normal use case for an artist. Consider that 3d artists want these machines too.
I had 2 first gen surface books…one i5 8gb of ram and an i7 with 16 gen of ram and a decent video card. The software like photoshop is always changing and getting bloated and taking more resources. These machines are not desktops. They are pretty good…but not perfect. Yea…the SLP is a good machine. I love mine. Sometimes a hiccup when the cloud sync or updater is running. Decent overall. Side note…heat is what killed my Surface books. My i7 eventually popped the screen off from heat and battery swelling. Fingers crossed with this machine. M
@@MichaelClaridaArts amazingly the same exact thing happened to my surface but I thought it was because I left it plugged in 100% of the time with the dock using it like a desktop. The screen eventually just stopped bulging after countless charges and overheating. I never reapplied adhesive or anything. Also amazingly, it still works fine right now. I'm about to buy another on eBay, they are barely $200 in good condition. That's how I came across the review. I know have a dedicated desktop and want another surface book(gave first one to my son) to use as a drawing tablet for concept characters in Photoshop and clip studio paint.
Do you have any issues with the line tapering when drawing? I was watching a review by Teoh on Tech (also an artist) and he seemed to have issues with it. It looked fine when you were drawing though.
Fantastic review. And I wish TH-cam could offer more like this one. With drawing examples and such stuff Judging by your experience which one is better though, Surface pro 8 and Laptop Studio? Some artists gravitate more to Surface Pro 8. I keep wondering why
Great video! At an hour long, I thought it was going to be rambling, but I enjoyed your off the cuff delivery and demonstration from scratch. May I suggest timestamps to split the video up? You cover quite a lot, including comparisons to other devices and old N-trig tech, would be a shame if these were overlooked
Yo! I know this is an old video, but about 22 minutes in you mention you've used Zbrush and that the i7 would be wasted if one chose that iteration. My main source of income is working in Zbrush and was looking to the SLS for ZB work (whether for when I'm traveling or just when I need a change of scenery behind my pc), and wondered how well does it hold up? Is there much input lag, and can it handle about 10mil polys for detailed works without worrying about crashing issues?
Get the fastest machine you can afford. Zbrush relies on ram. It is a great program…but ram determines number of pols. My SLS was great with zbrush…but so was my old Surface pro with 16gb of ram. My new m2 Mac Pro crashes with zbrush sometimes…but it has 16gb of ram that is shared. I still use my SLS all the time…it will serve you well…but it is still not a desktop. Remember…ram is king with zbrush. M
@@MichaelClaridaArts Really appreciate your response, you've made up my mind with use-case! I had a nice setup with my old SP4 before it died this year and perhaps I'll go 9 instead of SLS unless anything stands out between now and then. Thanks for your input!
@@MichaelClaridaArts no need to upgrade when everything's working fine ! I think I'll put off SLS/2 for now, but maybe in a few years I can drop that cash for that premium shininess haha
I have noticed some fan notice with heavy taxation…but not like the old Surface pro 3, 5, 8, or both Surface books. This one is quiet…but I use headphone most of the time. I would say some fan…not obtrusive. I really don’t notice it. Mostly comes on during big updates. M
This video was all I needed to go ahead with the SP8, thank you for the great review. I've got the XP-PEN AC19 coming tomorrow. Could you share some of your go-to settings? It's cool if not, no harm in asking. Cheers!
What??? Ac19? What is that? I know they are doing something on the 16th. I have not heard. I am out but will share my setting when I get home. Send me a picture.
@@MichaelClaridaArts That's weird, I replied but it's not showing up now. I dunno. Maybe because of the Amazon and Imgur links? Anyway, the XP-PEN-AC19 looked like the one in your video, so I ordered it. I should function similarly.
@@MTK426 ah…the pen remote. Yes…that has been one of the best purchases I have ever made. I have used it and used it. Great and simple tech:) I have mirrored my settings from my Mac keyboard. So I can share…but it will probably be a mind twerk as I am using my Mac keys on my pc. I also tweaked my key mapping to match my Mac. Not sure if that will work for you. However, I will send a link when I get back to my studio. M
@@MichaelClaridaArts lol Ok. Sounds a little confusing but I'm game to try and wrap my head around it. I dig how you're pressing something then dragging the pen and it zooms. That looks super helpful. I'm looking forward to digging into this tablet and getting a nice workflow. Gonna be awesome. Thanks again.
I wanted an iPad... Until I realized that they don't run full Adobe CC. I know they are two different companies, but to me Apple without Adobe just seems wrong :'D So now I'm giving the Surface Pro a go!
I watch someone doing art on the go2 and convince me for sketching and even the top model dont did the trick it was a waste of money this why I need your honesty because my surface pro 2 i5 have same issue always crashing and acting funny on csp but now I want to create animation and manga you think that configuration will be enough i understand is not good for 3D but I will be doing 2D
SP2 is old...very old for tech. I own one and I do not use it anymore due to the battery. The Surface laptop Studio is a solid machine. This one had the 11th gen i5? I cannot remember. This review is a little older. The newest Surface laptop studio is a bit better I suppose...athough mine is still going strong(*3 years old). You will not go wrong with a new Surface laptop studio. They are incredible. M
It's great to see you mind budget. Most reviewers always get the maxed out version, but that gives off the wrong impression - since most people will never opt for that super pricy version. Btw Microsoft released their SLS 2, the changes are a 12core i7 processor and 512 GB of storage as the base model, an additional USB-A and microSD reader, plus roughly twice the performance & HDR (they raised the base model price by 400 bucks). Apparently they also made the device fully repairable, easier to open, and now every single port can be replaced individually.
@EddiRauch "Nothing has changed in terms of so-called repairability compared to the SLS" That's not correct. Simply compare the official teardowns of the SLS 1 and SLS 2. I already noted several things: can be opened easier (the outer plastic layer doesnt need to be removed/replaced when opening), also every single port can now be replaced individually instead of heaving to replace the entire motherboard/the port "assembly". Every part of the SLS 2 can be fully replaced by the user, and all parts are available on IFixIt. Some of the parts are hilariously expensive, but they can be repaired now.
@@weltenleser I know both manuals and the videos. Nothing has changed when opening the device. I haven't checked which spare parts are available (where/from which distributor).
Great video and thanks for all the info...My SLS with 32gb of ram fans out even when I close it and it's charging sometimes I have to turn it off so the fan stops going full blast for no reason. Photoshop is not that great on the 32gb RAM version which you'd think it'd be the opposite... I have issues with brushes lagging on a 8.5 x 11 size canvas... weird.
Try a reinstall or change the refresh rate to 60hz. Mess around with the settings in Photoshop(tile size…ram allocation). PSD is a Ram hog and the card in these is not the best.
The battery is unfortunately a small drawback with the SLS/SLS2. Microsoft has somehow made it a little too small for the performance. The 100-200g more for a 65Wh or 75Wh would not have been such a tragedy. Would and would have done the SLS/SLS2 better to work longer without power, instead of around 4 hours.
I do have some niggles with device, not deal breakers though. There is one ntrig issue which makes me annoyed, niche but affects me daily. Ntrig / surface pen hardware automatically sets Adobe illustrators pencil tools preview line to a dark shade of blue. In the past this preview line was determined by the layer colour and still is if selecting or even drawing with the mouse. But using the pen tool, it automakes it the blue colour. Which is almost impossible to see on black 😭😂😭
@@thefloorhasgone mmm…mine does not do that in illustrator. May be user prefs? You could reinstall illustrator and see if it still does it. I have had to reinstall Photoshop twice due to corrupt user prefs.
I've been happily using Clipstudiopaint for a while, drawing on a Kamvas 22, but my laptop just doesnt have the power to handle 'water colour' washes etc. I'm shopping around for a laptop that can handle the artwork and this sounds perfect as both a suitable tablet and as a plugin for my kamvas. I'm a little worried about the lack of ports tho. Will the suface pro studio and the kamvas 22 work together?
Hello! It's been 10 months, but maybe you have some experience with Microsoft Laptop Studio? I am now looking for a similar device, but I am also worried that this laptop does not have ports. Did you make a different choice or somehow solve this problem?
I did end up opting for this laptop and in combination with clipstudio it's been an excellent choice for what I need ( though I can't yet speak for its colour accuracy when sending artwork to print) I got over the lack of ports by buying a neat plug in cube/bar that has all the ports needed
@@MichaelClaridaArts Do you notice the screen flex with pen pressure? I have seen just ONE person mention this. They showed drawing on the studio laptop and compared to the surface pro 8. The 8 had little to no color defect with pen pressure on the screen ( like pushing your finger on an lcd tv can cause weird color issues with pressure and then fades once you remove the pressure ) - in his review the studio did this more. Is this something you have noticed personally?
Impressive review. What is Your opinion of this formidable device today? Did the software updates over time made de experience even better? Would the difference between the software state of Surface Studio Laptop at the time of this review and today be worth a second review of the Surface Laptop Studio? What changes would you love to see in version 2?
Still a great machine and has gotten better with updates. I would like to see additional peripheral ports…but that will not happen. I would also like to see the minimum hd be a terabyte…but that will not happen. The speed is great and the build quality is epic. Screen is great. I am an artist and this machine is as close to perfect as it could be with the current tech and price point. Windows 11 will improve with time. I have loved the machine. I suppose I need to do a update review. Maybe soon:) M
2 small things are not optimal on the SLS and SLS2. The battery size (Wh) and the color accuracy in P3 and Adobe RGB. These two points could have been better on the SLS2 and actually should have been.
Now this is an actual review. It's hard to find reviews that aren't glorified commercials on YT nowadays. Thank you for such an in-depth review.
I'm an artist and recently got a Surface Laptop Studio. I bought the stand/ base that you recommended. It's a great product. Very sturdy yet adjusts easily. Your video was very helpful. Thank you!
Sweet! I still use mine all the time. Great product.
Such a fantastic in depth review. I love the fact that you've actually used a wide range of devices to compare this too.
I'm enjoy watching your job in surface products. please make more.
I’m considering between this studio surface and studio pro 8 to replace an original iPad Pro. My main priority is drawing but I would also use it for school work. I would love if it would run 3d modelling/blender and maybe gaming. I would like to use it as a desk and on my lap. I’ve heard the studio surface is really only for the desktop. Do you have any thoughts on this? I am on a bit of a budget but want to get a good product. Do you have any other recommendations?
Michael I am glad to see your channel growing slowly but surely. Thank you for what you do.
Great review. Actually the only good review of this thing. Nice job, Michael.
Great review Michael. I too have an iPad Pro and it's very uninspiring, so it's ended up as a consuming device as iPad OS is just cripple ware. I ended up plugging a £320 Huion 16 pen display into my MacBook Pro as I don't need another computer and it's a pretty good experience using Photoshop, Illustrator and the lovely free Krita painting app.
The IPad Pro is good. It just lacks easy use for everyday use as a professional illustrator. The SLP is a dream machine. I want the next one for sure.
M
Hey there, greetings from Ireland! I just purchased the Surface updating from my old mac book pro combined with wacom pad for illustrative work. Was having difficulty getting used to it. Did a quick search and landed on your channel. This video has REALLY helped me get to grips with what I can do, especially with the use of a quick key pad, which I did not know existed.I am a graphic designer, working mainly in InDesign, but also create illustrations/logos in illustrator, and some artwork in photoshop, more so now with the surface as it is so much more tactile and responsive. I would love to see a tutorial/review of you working in adobe illustrator or any vector programme. Thanks and really enjoying watching you work 😀
Yep…that will be this month:)
M
@@MichaelClaridaArts thank you! Watching these makes working from home less isolating...much appreciated.
@@clodaghsmyth7221 welcome:)
hey there! I am also interested on this laptop for the exact same reasons! use illustrator, photoshop, after effects and possibly any other 3D or animation program. I've noticed your comment is dated about 5 months so I want to please check in how are u feeling with it. is it smooth, can it multi-task ( have illustrator and photoshop open for example) work on the big illustrator files etc. and just as u are graphic designer what's ur advice opinion to me, entering now uni for graphics and visual communication? I'd appreciate a lot of you responded I'm trying hard to find a suitable laptop lightweight and easy to move to lectures etc but also be fully effective and efficient but also long lasting. thanks in advance :)
@@MichaelClaridaArts Unfortunately I couldn't find a video - tutorial/review of you working in adobe illustrator.
I love the way that you do reviews, I don't need a full production. I want to know the information from a professional. Although the unboxing is helpful, just to make sure that everything is in there that is supposed to be. I use unboxings often just to make sure I have everything, or to try to see if it was sold as refurbished or an open boxed item. This seems like the best portable option for a digital painter and photoshop editor. I want to love the iPad, but it seems like a toy. I just wish these pens supported "barrel rotation" so you could turn the brush.
Your review convinced me to buy my fiancee this laptop for her communications design study class that will beginn end of this month. It'll arrive tomorrow and i'm exited about what she'll think!
You have no idea how much it helped me when you said that drawing is A+ on SLS. I have 1st gen surface book which you mentioned, but it's really slow now and im looking for a replacement. I started uni again and i need to draw this year, i never tried ipad for drawing, but everyone is raving about procreate. Which would you suggest if i could only get one ? SLS, the new surface pro 9 or the new ipad pro 12.9 ? Thank you!
SLS all day. I own an iPad Pro 12.9. Great sketching…bad is for moving files…opening files…general work flow. The SLS runs full programs, great battery, incredible screen and wonderful drawing. I can also plug in my 24” 2k drawing monitor and fly all day. Epic machine. I also own a surface book 1st gen i7 with graphics card. It’s just old. The new SLS is the bomb:)
M
@@MichaelClaridaArts even though SLS has 11th gen cpu and the new surface pro has more efficient 12th now ?
@@KiteoHatto I guess. Processor power is good for video people and gamers. You will not notice that much difference in drawing. I still use my Surface pro 2 with an i5. Draws fine. Don’t get hung up on speed prowess.
M
You saved my life with this video man
Well…that is epic. You are welcome:)
Thanks for the review man, I got a lot out of it (2 years later ;)
Still an epic machine. Mine is still going strong. No issues.
Amazing Review Michael! thanks so much man
I'm getting one, and going to watch every video you did on them... Hope there's more to come. 🙏 Thank you
Thanks
Nice video it will be nice if you can answer me 2 question on your personal opinion you think I can use that i5 for animation on csp and is you wish to work on a 22 cintiq do drivers will conflicts with each other
I wish I saw this video earlier. I just bought the i7 and 1tb with 32gb ram because I wasn’t sure if the i5 and 16gb of Ram was enough for photoshop and adobe suite. Oh well. I have it now and I love it. Loving the channel too. Keep up the great work. I aspire to be an illustrator and artist. I just started at 32 years of age.
Never too late to start:)
Can you run lightroom and photoshop together? With 32gb? Because on my desktop my 30mp photos with photoshop and lightroom open take like 26gb ram
@@Mattiagiglio1993 not sure. I routinely use both these programs on my M1 Mac with no issues. I suppose I could try with this device. I will try
@@MichaelClaridaArts thank you! As i said since the last big uodate of lightroom i now need 32gb of ram on my desktop.. so I'm worried about a laptop...
@@Mattiagiglio1993 how old is the laptop? The new Adobe apps are really geared different. I will open light room and pad and see what happens:)
I got the laptop studio pro and i love it . i use it for everything and rocks even after 1 year and half but there are some defect i got overtime unluckily and apparently it's not only my device .
One of the fan started to be a bit noisy for no reason after a while, give no problems at all but was completely silent when i bought and the rubber on the pen fall off even if i used it with maniacal attention . Other problem i got are that the adhesives of the feet / plastic supports on the bottom of the tablet are really really bad. i don't know if for the heat or something the feet fall off pretty soon . In all this time did you have some of these problems ?
From what i heard around they are very common problems . Especially the fan are really cheap and low quality they are faulty most of the time ... i know people that replaced their device more than once but still got the problem after a couple of months . they work as intended they just became noisy without a reason.
@@thanos8726 I have had none of those issues. Mine works as designed. No defects.
M
@@MichaelClaridaArts thanks for answering was just a curiosity .
Other than that the device is just amazing. I would be willing to replace the fan for some extra silence but started to be slightly noisy after the warranty ended and work as intended, no overheat . the replacement part can't be bought easily from my country either .
Nice video btw ! also it's great to see professional illustrators to use something different than the usual IPad or Wacom product . keep up the good work 😎
Thank you for this in-depth review. Between this and the Surface Pro 7 you reviewed in late 2020, do you recommend this over the Surface Pro for drawing in Photoshop? I'm trying to decide between the newer Surface Pro 8 and this Surface laptop. Thanks :)
For drawing…this is the best Microsoft has ever produced. They redid the pen tech. Very good. You have to get the new pen though:) just FYI:)
@@MichaelClaridaArts Thanks Michael!
In terms of pure drawing performance, there is no difference between SP8/SP9 and SLS.
Because the SP and SLS use the same technology.
The difference between SP and SLS is the performance, the screen size and the weight (handiness).
What drawing apps can you get on this product?
I have just gotten used to using Artflow.
Any drawing app that a full PC can run. Photoshop, Krita, Sketchbook pro, the entire Adobe creative suite, etc.
@@MichaelClaridaArts thanks
I also have a surface pro 2. It’s still an amazing work horse. I have a high exceptions for the surface products because of it so in 2019 I got a surface book 2. It has not held up as well and they stopped making them so now I am looking into the surface laptop hopefully will have enough saved up to get a surface laptop 2 to serve as a portable “desktop”. I need it for multi use gaming, video editing, art and graphic design. I also have recently gotten an iPad mini for a portable digital sketch book. Thank you for the review. I will say I like the surface slim pen two more then the Apple Pencil.
I am on my third Surface book. My battery expanded and pushed the screen out. After I “repaired” it there is a dead zone on the screen…no touch or pen. My SLS is epic. My favorite Surface of all my Surfaces…I have owned 11 total.
M
@MichaelClaridaArts my screen battery is pretty much toast in my SB2, and we had to wipe it and start over because I was having non-stop GPU problems. It was using the ine in the screen as the primary and refused to use the more powerful one in the body even when setting it to force it to. Thank goodness wiping it and installing Windows 11 fixed it. Although it did confirm that the screen battery is pretty much a goner. I believe it died under warranty, and I didn't realize it until it was too late. 😒 My board for my Surface pro 2 just died a fee days ago. It's 10 years old! I had the type back-lit one not that other one that was total garbage.
You did the best video on entire internet! Many thanks. Can you kindly make a video on surface pro?
I have many videos of the Surface pro(SP2, 3,5, and 7 as well as Surface book 1 and Surface Book with i7) . Lots to see:)
M
I am new at all of this, looking for a good touchscreen laptop to run photoshop and your video really cleared some things for me. 🤗🤗
Awesome video. Think I'm going with this device as my new drawing all in one pc. Really interested in the quick key remote, that looks amazing. Did you connect it straight to the computer or do you have to use the usb? Have you used the surface dial? If so did you like it? Do you have a review?
The remote is a usb dongle connection with a software download where you can program it. I have not tried the Surface dial as it has been expensive and a little gimmicky. I was impressed by the video but in the end I wanted quick keys. I love this device. The Surface studio is great. It is the best Surface yet. I have owned 7 surface devices before this. I still own my Surface pro 2 and my Surface book 1. I no love surface devices because they are a full PC. The SSP has been great. M
The Surface Dial was an extremely good idea from Microsoft.
Unfortunately, the issue of software for operation and use was not further developed or maintained.
One thing that was not further developed is the option of putting the dial on the display (like Wacom's "screen wheel").
you should have went with the higher end model. it works perfectly
Yea…I know. This one works pretty good. It is lacking in the video card area. But …overall I am happy:)
This is the exact review I was looking for. Thanks a lot for the info. I have a question though. What are your thoughts on the hinge in terms of durability?
Seems ok. It is not a tank but rather a precise aircraft of construction. I would not sit on it as it may break. However, the more I use it the more confident I am. Great product overall. Time will be the decider I guess.
It looks exactly like the Sony from 2014.
And this one holds and holds without any problems.
So the SLS shouldn't have any problems either.
Hello and thank you very much for your work, it seems incredible to me, you have tried the concept app for pc and mac, it seems incredible to me for sketches, because it uses vector graphics, but the pencils are incredible, it seems that you are drawing with photoshop, but there is no latency and on the surfaces it's scary, thanks again for everything
I actually just purchased this device for myself and your video helped me make my decision to do so. One question though. What is the swivel base that you said you are using? I like the angle and the added ability to swivel or turn the device when I am drawing would be be beneficial.
Here you go:) th-cam.com/video/RJuS0GP-Nvc/w-d-xo.html
@@MichaelClaridaArts YOU ROCK!
i am looking at getting this or the huge PC verson of this for 3d modeling and the huge thing is has to be windows (sadly) and Sub painter. both have 3000 GPUs are great for
Nice detailed review 👍
Idk man, even on a gen 1 surface book I used Photoshop, blender, illustrator, a browser and 3 monitors and never had noticable lag unless I was using cycles in blender to render. Other than that, I'd say that's a normal use case for an artist. Consider that 3d artists want these machines too.
I had 2 first gen surface books…one i5 8gb of ram and an i7 with 16 gen of ram and a decent video card. The software like photoshop is always changing and getting bloated and taking more resources. These machines are not desktops. They are pretty good…but not perfect. Yea…the SLP is a good machine. I love mine. Sometimes a hiccup when the cloud sync or updater is running. Decent overall. Side note…heat is what killed my Surface books. My i7 eventually popped the screen off from heat and battery swelling. Fingers crossed with this machine.
M
@@MichaelClaridaArts amazingly the same exact thing happened to my surface but I thought it was because I left it plugged in 100% of the time with the dock using it like a desktop. The screen eventually just stopped bulging after countless charges and overheating. I never reapplied adhesive or anything. Also amazingly, it still works fine right now. I'm about to buy another on eBay, they are barely $200 in good condition. That's how I came across the review. I know have a dedicated desktop and want another surface book(gave first one to my son) to use as a drawing tablet for concept characters in Photoshop and clip studio paint.
Do you have any issues with the line tapering when drawing? I was watching a review by Teoh on Tech (also an artist) and he seemed to have issues with it. It looked fine when you were drawing though.
No. But everybody draws different. You probably should find a MS store and give it a test drive:)
M
I use vector! I'm looking at buying this computer and would love to see a tutorial on Illustrator if you don't mind.
Will do:)
@@MichaelClaridaArts Too bad, I unfortunately didn't find any tutorial on Illustrator on your channel.
Fantastic review. And I wish TH-cam could offer more like this one. With drawing examples and such stuff
Judging by your experience which one is better though, Surface pro 8 and Laptop Studio?
Some artists gravitate more to Surface Pro 8. I keep wondering why
Love your 'on the level' no BS approach great video🏆
Great video! At an hour long, I thought it was going to be rambling, but I enjoyed your off the cuff delivery and demonstration from scratch. May I suggest timestamps to split the video up? You cover quite a lot, including comparisons to other devices and old N-trig tech, would be a shame if these were overlooked
Can you use it for animation on csp
@@TheBoris178 yes
Yo! I know this is an old video, but about 22 minutes in you mention you've used Zbrush and that the i7 would be wasted if one chose that iteration. My main source of income is working in Zbrush and was looking to the SLS for ZB work (whether for when I'm traveling or just when I need a change of scenery behind my pc), and wondered how well does it hold up? Is there much input lag, and can it handle about 10mil polys for detailed works without worrying about crashing issues?
Get the fastest machine you can afford. Zbrush relies on ram. It is a great program…but ram determines number of pols. My SLS was great with zbrush…but so was my old Surface pro with 16gb of ram. My new m2 Mac Pro crashes with zbrush sometimes…but it has 16gb of ram that is shared. I still use my SLS all the time…it will serve you well…but it is still not a desktop. Remember…ram is king with zbrush.
M
@@MichaelClaridaArts Really appreciate your response, you've made up my mind with use-case! I had a nice setup with my old SP4 before it died this year and perhaps I'll go 9 instead of SLS unless anything stands out between now and then. Thanks for your input!
@@Crappy9922 these are so expensive these days. I was going to upgrade…but have decided to keep my SLS. Still an incredible machine.
@@MichaelClaridaArts no need to upgrade when everything's working fine ! I think I'll put off SLS/2 for now, but maybe in a few years I can drop that cash for that premium shininess haha
The SLS i5/16 GB could be enough.
The SLS i7/32 GB would be better (32 GB recommended according to ZBrush).
The SLS2 can do up to 64GB.
What about the fans?
Do they turn on in Photoshop (or also Lightroom if you have experience with it)?
My device has to be silent :D
I have noticed some fan notice with heavy taxation…but not like the old Surface pro 3, 5, 8, or both Surface books. This one is quiet…but I use headphone most of the time. I would say some fan…not obtrusive. I really don’t notice it. Mostly comes on during big updates.
M
@@MichaelClaridaArts ok, thanks for your answer!
I'm impressed by your drawings ;-)
@@patrick.771 thank you
This video was all I needed to go ahead with the SP8, thank you for the great review. I've got the XP-PEN AC19 coming tomorrow. Could you share some of your go-to settings? It's cool if not, no harm in asking. Cheers!
What??? Ac19? What is that? I know they are doing something on the 16th. I have not heard. I am out but will share my setting when I get home. Send me a picture.
@@MichaelClaridaArts That's weird, I replied but it's not showing up now. I dunno. Maybe because of the Amazon and Imgur links? Anyway, the XP-PEN-AC19 looked like the one in your video, so I ordered it. I should function similarly.
@@MTK426 ah…the pen remote. Yes…that has been one of the best purchases I have ever made. I have used it and used it. Great and simple tech:) I have mirrored my settings from my Mac keyboard. So I can share…but it will probably be a mind twerk as I am using my Mac keys on my pc. I also tweaked my key mapping to match my Mac. Not sure if that will work for you. However, I will send a link when I get back to my studio.
M
@@MichaelClaridaArts lol Ok. Sounds a little confusing but I'm game to try and wrap my head around it. I dig how you're pressing something then dragging the pen and it zooms. That looks super helpful. I'm looking forward to digging into this tablet and getting a nice workflow. Gonna be awesome. Thanks again.
AWESOME review. Thank you!!
I wanted an iPad... Until I realized that they don't run full Adobe CC. I know they are two different companies, but to me Apple without Adobe just seems wrong :'D So now I'm giving the Surface Pro a go!
I watch someone doing art on the go2 and convince me for sketching and even the top model dont did the trick it was a waste of money this why I need your honesty because my surface pro 2 i5 have same issue always crashing and acting funny on csp but now I want to create animation and manga you think that configuration will be enough i understand is not good for 3D but I will be doing 2D
SP2 is old...very old for tech. I own one and I do not use it anymore due to the battery. The Surface laptop Studio is a solid machine. This one had the 11th gen i5? I cannot remember. This review is a little older. The newest Surface laptop studio is a bit better I suppose...athough mine is still going strong(*3 years old). You will not go wrong with a new Surface laptop studio. They are incredible.
M
Do they have a 17" model?
Not at this time.
is this surface pro 5?
No. Surface laptop studio.
It's great to see you mind budget. Most reviewers always get the maxed out version, but that gives off the wrong impression - since most people will never opt for that super pricy version.
Btw Microsoft released their SLS 2, the changes are a 12core i7 processor and 512 GB of storage as the base model, an additional USB-A and microSD reader, plus roughly twice the performance & HDR (they raised the base model price by 400 bucks). Apparently they also made the device fully repairable, easier to open, and now every single port can be replaced individually.
Small note:
It is a 13th generation i7.
Nothing has changed in terms of so-called repairability compared to the SLS.
@EddiRauch "Nothing has changed in terms of so-called repairability compared to the SLS"
That's not correct. Simply compare the official teardowns of the SLS 1 and SLS 2. I already noted several things: can be opened easier (the outer plastic layer doesnt need to be removed/replaced when opening), also every single port can now be replaced individually instead of heaving to replace the entire motherboard/the port "assembly". Every part of the SLS 2 can be fully replaced by the user, and all parts are available on IFixIt.
Some of the parts are hilariously expensive, but they can be repaired now.
@@weltenleser I know both manuals and the videos.
Nothing has changed when opening the device.
I haven't checked which spare parts are available (where/from which distributor).
Great video and thanks for all the info...My SLS with 32gb of ram fans out even when I close it and it's charging sometimes I have to turn it off so the fan stops going full blast for no reason. Photoshop is not that great on the 32gb RAM version which you'd think it'd be the opposite... I have issues with brushes lagging on a 8.5 x 11 size canvas... weird.
Try a reinstall or change the refresh rate to 60hz. Mess around with the settings in Photoshop(tile size…ram allocation). PSD is a Ram hog and the card in these is not the best.
Reinstall the OS:)
There are no problems with Photoshop.
There may be something wrong with your system (Windows) or the settings.
There are no problems at 120Hz either.
I have question...How long Battery life when you use photoshop?
3.5-4 hours when drawing in photoshop.
The battery is unfortunately a small drawback with the SLS/SLS2.
Microsoft has somehow made it a little too small for the performance.
The 100-200g more for a 65Wh or 75Wh would not have been such a tragedy.
Would and would have done the SLS/SLS2 better to work longer without power, instead of around 4 hours.
Watching this on my SLS, 32gb, 2tb version. Excellent tool in my opinion 😊
Indeed…so good:)
I do have some niggles with device, not deal breakers though. There is one ntrig issue which makes me annoyed, niche but affects me daily. Ntrig / surface pen hardware automatically sets Adobe illustrators pencil tools preview line to a dark shade of blue. In the past this preview line was determined by the layer colour and still is if selecting or even drawing with the mouse. But using the pen tool, it automakes it the blue colour. Which is almost impossible to see on black 😭😂😭
@@thefloorhasgone mmm…mine does not do that in illustrator. May be user prefs? You could reinstall illustrator and see if it still does it. I have had to reinstall Photoshop twice due to corrupt user prefs.
Can it runs 3ds blenders etc ?
I've been happily using Clipstudiopaint for a while, drawing on a Kamvas 22, but my laptop just doesnt have the power to handle 'water colour' washes etc. I'm shopping around for a laptop that can handle the artwork and this sounds perfect as both a suitable tablet and as a plugin for my kamvas. I'm a little worried about the lack of ports tho. Will the suface pro studio and the kamvas 22 work together?
Hello!
It's been 10 months, but maybe you have some experience with Microsoft Laptop Studio? I am now looking for a similar device, but I am also worried that this laptop does not have ports. Did you make a different choice or somehow solve this problem?
I did end up opting for this laptop and in combination with clipstudio it's been an excellent choice for what I need ( though I can't yet speak for its colour accuracy when sending artwork to print) I got over the lack of ports by buying a neat plug in cube/bar that has all the ports needed
@@celinekiernan1891 Thanks for the answer!
Amazing independence review. Great guy. Buying
Glad you reviewed the i5
I am planning to get the i5
Yes true, not all illustrators are billionaire 😂
Do you have a cold or are you blasting lines 🤔
Allergies:(
Does this work with corel painter please?
Yes
Where did you download autodesk pro 8.7.1?
I found a link. I googled it and found a link that still had it. I may still have it linked in my history. I will look.
what do you like creating on more, the Surface Laptop Studio, or the Surface Pro 8?
Probably the laptop studio. It has a beautiful large screen. Fast too. Love the pen...it is next level.
@@MichaelClaridaArts Do you notice the screen flex with pen pressure? I have seen just ONE person mention this. They showed drawing on the studio laptop and compared to the surface pro 8. The 8 had little to no color defect with pen pressure on the screen ( like pushing your finger on an lcd tv can cause weird color issues with pressure and then fades once you remove the pressure ) - in his review the studio did this more. Is this something you have noticed personally?
@@SuperDesignguy no…no flex. But I am gentile and only time will tell if the screen design will work:)
Impressive review. What is Your opinion of this formidable device today? Did the software updates over time made de experience even better? Would the difference between the software state of Surface Studio Laptop at the time of this review and today be worth a second review of the Surface Laptop Studio? What changes would you love to see in version 2?
Still a great machine and has gotten better with updates. I would like to see additional peripheral ports…but that will not happen. I would also like to see the minimum hd be a terabyte…but that will not happen. The speed is great and the build quality is epic. Screen is great. I am an artist and this machine is as close to perfect as it could be with the current tech and price point. Windows 11 will improve with time. I have loved the machine. I suppose I need to do a update review. Maybe soon:)
M
2 small things are not optimal on the SLS and SLS2.
The battery size (Wh) and the color accuracy in P3 and Adobe RGB.
These two points could have been better on the SLS2 and actually should have been.
Rubber nib option and TWO side buttons! Otherwise... forget it
You know...the old pen works with the new machine...as well as the Raphael 520. I don't miss the rubber nib. All good.
PLEASE just go to @37:47 to actually see the product in action. This dude *literally rambles for 40 minutes* before you get to see what you came for.
love it
tldr