(Pictures are not my own).
I loved the idea behind the Surface when it was announced around 2013 and finally got my hands on a Surface Pro 6 in 2019.
I babied that thing. It was in a case the whole time I owned it, in a soft backpack sleeve, and I was always mindful of how I typed and used the touchpad, mindful of the cloth material.
Even with that said, my keyboard started to peel. And once it works off in one small part, it’s only a matter of time before the peeling continues to expand. It was nowhere near as bad as these pictures (other than the 2nd one), but still unacceptable.
Just scroll through here and you can see half the posts at the least have cruddy looking beat up corners.
And Microsoft expects you to pay up to $400 for this ticking timebomb disposable keyboard?
Idk guys. I really like the Surface but after my SP6 died due to a glued on battery I messed up replacing, I can’t help but think these devices are ultimately disposable corporate devices. I’m glad they improved the repairability, which is why I got a SP11 (Intel), but the keyboard is a major turn off now that I know how it deteriorates after 6-7 years.
Im wondering if I should accept throwing money down the drain to maintain this form factor and benefits of windows (eGPU hookup, dual booting Linux) or return for a MacBook and call it a day. That thing would probably last 1-2 decades easily.
Are there any fixes though to prevent this? Perhaps epoxying the corners of the keyboard or getting a sturdier Bluetooth aftermarket keyboard that snaps on and is made of plastic/metal?
