I’ve been covering “flickergate” since last April, and there’s still no resolution from Microsoft — in spite of a recent flare-up in tech blog covera
[See the full post at: Even more problems with Surface Pro 4 batteries and Surface TypeCovers]
![]() |
There are isolated problems with current patches, but they are well-known and documented on this site. |
SIGN IN | Not a member? | REGISTER | PLUS MEMBERSHIP |
-
Even more problems with Surface Pro 4 batteries and Surface TypeCovers
Home » Forums » Newsletter and Homepage topics » Even more problems with Surface Pro 4 batteries and Surface TypeCovers
- This topic has 20 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 10 months ago by
anonymous.
AuthorTopicwoody
ManagerViewing 14 reply threadsAuthorReplies-
MrJimPhelps
AskWoody MVPWe are customers of Microsoft who have invested $1500+ on new Surface Pro devices
I truly feel sorry for all of the people who shelled out big bucks for this disposable piece of junk.
I’ll bet Bill Gates would never have allowed a piece of junk like the Surface Pro to ever see the light of day. Whatever Microsoft would have sold would have been thoroughly tested in-house before even going to the beta testers. And said testing would have included tearing down and reassembling the device.
Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 8.1 running in a VM4 users thanked author for this post.
-
Rick Corbett
AskWoody_MVP -
MrJimPhelps
AskWoody MVPMicrosoft Mouse.
One could say that Windows is market leading, and not stagnant. That is, if you think the new direction that Microsoft is going is “market leading”. I think Microsoft will continue to prosper with large corporations that have deep pockets.
Group "L" (Linux Mint)
with Windows 8.1 running in a VM
-
anonymous
GuestRemember the Surface/Surface Book and Windows 10 release back in October 2015? And the subsequent deluge of owner problems and complaints on Reddit and other forums? Microsoft’s enthusiastic [sic] support for Windows phones? Thought things couldn’t get worse?
Anyone who has a choice, but still buys into MS products and services deserves what they get. Unfortunately, most do not have a viable alternative.
anonymous
GuestRick Corbett
AskWoody_MVPMicrosoft Mouse
“It’s taken three and a half decades, but Microsoft has finally made the ultimate mouse.”? (https://www.cnbc.com/2017/12/01/microsoft-just-made-the-ultimate-mouse.html)
With all its bajillions, if its last successful hardware product is a mouse… then so be it.
-
Ascaris
AskWoody MVPThe switchable warp scroll this mouse has that has the CNBC cooing is a feature my Logitech G500 has had since it was launched in 2009. I use it daily with my Asus laptop of similar vintage.
The USB charging cable that turns it into a wired mouse while charging (or permanently, if you want) was a feature on the G500’s successor, the G700, from 2011. I used mine in wired mode exclusively; I don’t much care for wireless peripherals.
Both of those Logitechs also had or have side buttons that are programmable from within Windows. The G700 boasted onboard memory that could be used to assign macros or keypresses (or strings of them) to any of the buttons from hardware, so the mouse could then be moved to any PC (or Mac) and still retain those functions. You would still need a Windows installation (perhaps in a VM?) to assign the buttons for a Mac or Linux, but at least you can do it somehow.
As for the ability to pair with more than one computer… well, I did a quick search for that, and I see a product called the Logitech Triathlon M720 that has that ability also. The article describing it’s a year old, so the feature’s existed at the very least since then.
The article’s author says that “some” of the mouse’s features have been found in Logitech or Razer mice previously. I’d like to know which ones haven’t been; other than the rest of that statement about how the MS product “just feels right,” it doesn’t seem to offer anything new that I can see. “Just feels right” is highly subjective, and it’s a safe bet that not everyone is going to think this mouse feels better than everything else out there.
It may well be a quality product, but I don’t see any innovation.
Dell XPS 13/9310, i5-1135G7/16GB, KDE Neon
XPG Xenia 15, i7-9750H/16GB & GTX1660ti, KDE Neon
Acer Swift Go 14, i5-1335U/16GB, KDE Neon
anonymous
GuestHi.
I had purchas a surface pro. Even b4 the warranty ended. I was having problem with it. Took back they fix once and change second time around. Last summer after warranty ended my split screen no longer works. In October my computer went dead. I thought it was sleeping because I keep charging hoping it would turn on. Now several months later same problem not turning on. I then realize that the battery is dead. I am so angry. I regret buying this tablet. If you all have any more answers regarding these issues please post
Thanks
Gerre
Jan K.
AskWoody LoungerIn EU we have two years of warranty. Ha-ha! 😀
And EU is underway with legislations against “artificial aging” of products. When the laws become active, even after two years, the manufacturer would have to fix an issue like the dead battery, unsupported software updates etc….
The battery problem should be easy and cheap to fix for Microsoft and customer. Take out the battery, send it in, recieve a replacement. Plug it in, charge and – Voila!
…
Oh… wait…
anonymous
Guest-
woody
Manager
anonymous
GuestIf it were just a matter of replacing faulty parts, Microsoft would have had these Surface problems fixed by now. They have a design problem. The design is being stressed beyond its capabilities.
The executives have to be aware of the issues. It is odd that they have let this fester for this length of time. I can only assume that there has to be a design fault that they can not solve. It is possible that it is proving difficult to maintain the form factor, the unique look and deliver on the specs they desire.
Failure is not an option or eat crow!
woody
ManagerI’ve been raked over the coals for not providing enough supporting evidence for the bad battery claims. It’s true that the Computerworld article “only” pointed to four detailed accounts. But there are many, may more. For example:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/7rxesy/how_to_check_sp4_battery_health_and_behaviours/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Surface/comments/6xretl/surface_pro_4_does_not_charge/
Anybody care to add to the list?
anonymous
GuestI’ve owned a Ms pro4 since July and haven’t had so much as a Dead pixel, I frequently update with Windows Insider, the drivers claim to increase the life of certain hardware. They have a specific Insider Beta specifically for surface devices.
Its I definitely Not passed the warranty date so I can’t conclusively say one way or other on the device.
What I can say is that it’s an amazing piece of hardware. I draw constantly without lag or slowdown of any kind.. as of now I’m extremely happy with my sorry.
anonymous
GuestHow come smartphones and tablets cannot be powered directly from the AC electrical wall outlet? Planned Obsolescence of rechargeable batteries?
Laptops, radios, blood pressure monitors, solar panel powered systems, etc can be powered directly from the AC electrical wall outlets.Remember, M$ Surface Pro devices are tablets that can only be powered directly from the rechargeable batteries. The AC wall outlet is only used to recharge the tablet batteries.
1 user thanked author for this post.
-
anonymous
GuestYou would have a thicker box shaped device or other curiously shaped container; And it would require a power supply that generates enough power or more energy than the built-in lithium ion based can supply. You’d also need detachable power cable or a case with a place to store it inside with the phone.
-
Ascaris
AskWoody MVPIs this really the norm now?
The only rechargeable devices I have that operate as you describe are an electric razor and my cordless phones (that connect to landlines). It’s quite evident in the razor, as when its battery is low, it can be plugged in but still operate too slowly to be of any practical use, exactly the same as if I unplugged it and tried to use it with the nearly depleted battery.
The phone, as you might expect, simply hangs up if it is placed in the charging base, so it is not possible to even try to use it while charging.
My Android tablet, though, can be run from the AC adapter without any problems. If the battery is totally discharged, I can plug the adapter in and instantly turn the tablet on and get full use of the device. Given that this is how laptops and other rechargeable devices have performed since the start, I find it appalling that it would ever not be the case. On an electric razor, I can overlook it, but anything more expensive or more sophisticated should do better. Even my ancient Samsung slider feature phone can be powered from the adapter and used flawlessly with a completely dead battery.
That’s not the same as saying that the AC adapter of the tablet is able to meet the power demands of the unit under all circumstances, which it isn’t. When playing games or otherwise taxing the unit, the unit will sometimes show a net discharge state (a red X through the battery icon), meaning that the unit is drawing more wattage than the adapter is supplying. It’s a transient state, though; as soon as power demand drops, the unit will again enter a charging state, and throughout all of this, it functions flawlessly from the user experience standpoint, unless the battery is discharged to the point that the combination of that battery and the AC adapter can’t meet the power demands of the tablet, in which case it will throttle or shut off.
Dell XPS 13/9310, i5-1135G7/16GB, KDE Neon
XPG Xenia 15, i7-9750H/16GB & GTX1660ti, KDE Neon
Acer Swift Go 14, i5-1335U/16GB, KDE Neon1 user thanked author for this post.
anonymous
GuestI agree with the reports. Although, I’m a fan and surface pro owner,
1. I’m immensely disappointed with MS for poor after sales and customer service . It’s no different than picking up a bootleg copy of something off the street with no guarantee?
**And I live in China where Service standards are already questionable. MS fared poorer than local Chinese vendors.?
2. After buying 2 Type covers for almost a $150 each ($300) ?, Stopped working in less than 2 months without any use. Unbelievable. I’ve been using a $40 Bluetooth mouse and keyboard which seems like a better quality option?
3. Customer Service is completely useless, just for namesake. They never seem to know or understand what’s wrong when it comes to Hardware or software. Every time I call them I feel slightly confused whethet I’ve called the wrong company ?
On multiple occasions, I’ve end up resolving the issue by myself and i’ve let ’em know so they can help some other poor soul like me.
4. My device got bent out of shape while in my bagpack never had this experience with any other device manufacturers.
5. Constant updates make thing worse by causing hardware and driver glitches
ScreenCast ?
wifi ?
6. I think officially the hardware ranking has been downgraded as poor quality issues have become common knowledge.
7. All these complications make it hard to recommend it to anyone especially with the price ?
anonymous
Guest@ Ascaris
AFAIK, you cannot run a smartphone or tablet on AC wall outlet power(or the AC adapter/charger) with its rechargeable battery removed/unplugged. You can do so with a laptop = the user can even opt to not replace a dead laptop rechargeable battery, ie you cannot do so with a smartphone or tablet.
Laptop batteries usually last longer than phablet batteries, especially when the laptops are often powered directly from the AC wall outlet = the laptops use less number of battery recharge cycles.
_
@ anonymous #166141 – It is not true that a phablet has to be thicker in order to accommodate the plug/port direct power from the AC wall outlet.
The electrical power supply(= Wattage and Amperage) from the AC wall outlet is always very much higher that the power supply from the phablet rechargeable batteries. The AC adapter/charger for phablets actually work by reducing greatly(via transformer-rectifiers) the voltage, wattage/amperage and converting to DC power from the AC wall outlet(= 220/110V, 13A).
anonymous
GuestViewing 14 reply threads - This topic has 20 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 10 months ago by
-

Plus Membership
Donations from Plus members keep this site going. You can identify the people who support AskWoody by the Plus badge on their avatars.
AskWoody Plus members not only get access to all of the contents of this site -- including Susan Bradley's frequently updated Patch Watch listing -- they also receive weekly AskWoody Plus Newsletters (formerly Windows Secrets Newsletter) and AskWoody Plus Alerts, emails when there are important breaking developments.
Get Plus!
Welcome to our unique respite from the madness.
It's easy to post questions about Windows 11, Windows 10, Win8.1, Win7, Surface, Office, or browse through our Forums. Post anonymously or register for greater privileges. Keep it civil, please: Decorous Lounge rules strictly enforced. Questions? Contact Customer Support.
Search Newsletters
Search Forums
View the Forum
Search for Topics
Recent Topics
-
Will Incontrol stop Windows 11 22H2 update, if used after update is paused? (Awaiting moderation)
by
sdanr
1 hour, 33 minutes ago -
Restoring a Bitlockered System Image with Macrium Reflect Free (Awaiting moderation)
by
sdanr
4 hours, 12 minutes ago -
Word 2021 – Print View problems
by
WSjrasnic
10 hours, 8 minutes ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview build 25387 released to Canary
by
joep517
10 hours, 54 minutes ago -
Windows 11 Insider Preview build 23475 released to DEV
by
joep517
10 hours, 59 minutes ago -
WordPress added AI – Jetpack
by
Alex5723
9 hours, 39 minutes ago -
PXE Boot and Hyper-V virtual machines and other strange things
by
Simon_Weel
13 hours, 49 minutes ago -
Testing for adding table to post
by
alejr
11 hours, 18 minutes ago -
I honestly can’t tell if this is a scam or not
by
Susan Bradley
5 hours, 49 minutes ago -
New Life For Ten Year Old DIY NAS Hardware
by
bbearren
1 hour, 46 minutes ago -
June 2023 Office non-Security updates have been released
by
PKCano
1 day, 9 hours ago -
Web Apps from Brave Browser
by
Gale
7 hours, 57 minutes ago -
Firefox 114 offering Secure DNS Options – does AT&T ISP Support?
by
Tex265
11 hours, 23 minutes ago -
macOS 14 Sonoma
by
Alex5723
13 hours, 48 minutes ago -
Just a fyi – I think I’ll skip on an Apple Vision Pro hardware section
by
Susan Bradley
1 day, 12 hours ago -
What’s wrong with Windows 11?
by
Ascaris
6 hours, 30 minutes ago -
Streaming an iPad to a standard TV
by
MrJimPhelps
1 day, 4 hours ago -
clone to make backup laptop
by
greenbergman
9 hours, 57 minutes ago -
Problems with sound and USB ports
by
StavRoss
1 day, 18 hours ago -
Can you use WUShowHide on Windows 11 version 21H2?
by
southieguy
2 days, 1 hour ago -
Can we control the changes to our operating systems?
by
Susan Bradley
10 hours, 29 minutes ago -
Watch out for fake ‘Windows Defender’ scare
by
B. Livingston
6 hours, 3 minutes ago -
Diagnostics and testing? Get it all done in a flash.
by
Ben Myers
2 hours, 41 minutes ago -
Dip your toe into Visio Online
by
Peter Deegan
2 days, 11 hours ago -
Updating Win 10 Pro 21H2 to 22H2
by
bsqrd
2 days, 9 hours ago -
Changing mouse pointer options.
by
Artie
2 days, 13 hours ago -
Desktop or Laptop? What’s your choice?
by
Susan Bradley
1 day, 1 hour ago -
Anyone use Auslogics Bitreplica
by
WSjcgc50
3 days, 23 hours ago -
Unleashing the Gaming Revolution: CrossOver Mac’s DirectX 12 Support Update!
by
Alex5723
4 days, 12 hours ago -
Defender’s Offline Scan Fails to Run
by
E Pericoloso Sporgersi
3 days, 18 hours ago
Recent blog posts
- June 2023 Office non-Security updates have been released
- Can we control the changes to our operating systems?
- Watch out for fake ‘Windows Defender’ scare
- Diagnostics and testing? Get it all done in a flash.
- Dip your toe into Visio Online
- Desktop or Laptop? What’s your choice?
- Beware of Google’s .ZIP domain and password-embedded URLs
- Longstanding feature requests, and their status
Key Links
Want to Advertise in the free newsletter? How about a gift subscription in honor of a birthday? Send an email to sb@askwoody.com to ask how.
Mastodon profile for DefConPatch
Mastodon profile for AskWoody
Home • About • FAQ • Posts & Privacy • Forums • My Account
Register • Free Newsletter • Plus Membership • Gift Certificates • MS-DEFCON Alerts
Copyright ©2004-2023 by AskWoody Tech LLC. All Rights Reserved.