New to an Old Surface Pro7

[SerbJ]

Relatively new to the MS Surface World. I have a hand-me-down Surface Pro 7, in very good shape. It is the i7/256G SDD/16G version, recently updated to W11 Pro. Until recently, was only using it for a FLAC file player. My old HP laptop is slowly dying, so want to "beef up" the SP7 to take its place. I am trying a used Surface Dock 2 for desk set-up and the Travel Hub for a remote location. Both should be here next week.

I have installed a 512G Sandisk Extreme Mini-SD and have on order a 512G Plug/Stay for the USB-A. The added memory should be more than I need. The plan would be to keep OS and programs on the SDD and all the data on the SD card and thumb drive.

My main uses are general computing duties along with music related activities. Ripping CDs to FLAC files and storing on USB drives for use in Raspberry Pi players. Maintaining library, etc. Backing up to external HDD.

For my desktop use, have one external monitor, one ext CD/DVD player, one non-powered portable HDD. The ethernet port will only be used for router/switch and LAN printer config. I do require a mouse, and mabe an external keyboard if it turnsout I can't lie with the SP7 one.

Does reasonable for my uses? Anyother recommendations?

Thank-you.

 

[CHFTech]

Relatively new to the MS Surface World. I have a hand-me-down Surface Pro 7, in very good shape. It is the i7/256G SDD/16G version, recently updated to W11 Pro. Until recently, was only using it for a FLAC file player. My old HP laptop is slowly dying, so want to "beef up" the SP7 to take its place. I am trying a used Surface Dock 2 for desk set-up and the Travel Hub for a remote location. Both should be here next week.

I have installed a 512G Sandisk Extreme Mini-SD and have on order a 512G Plug/Stay for the USB-A. The added memory should be more than I need. The plan would be to keep OS and programs on the SDD and all the data on the SD card and thumb drive.

My main uses are general computing duties along with music related activities. Ripping CDs to FLAC files and storing on USB drives for use in Raspberry Pi players. Maintaining library, etc. Backing up to external HDD.

For my desktop use, have one external monitor, one ext CD/DVD player, one non-powered portable HDD. The ethernet port will only be used for router/switch and LAN printer config. I do require a mouse, and mabe an external keyboard if it turnsout I can't lie with the SP7 one.

Does reasonable for my uses? Anyother recommendations?

Thank-you.

Since the Surface Pro 7 was free, I would try it out and see if you like its performance with the tasks you wish to do. I would say it would do fine for ripping to FLAC files and writing USB drives. My guess is that the spinning CD drive you are ripping from is the slowest part of the system. There are always faster options out there, but if free works, why blow extra $$$?

If you are doing this for your own collection, who cares if it takes a few seconds longer? OTOH, if you are making a living on moving files to FLAC, then a faster PC may be in order, but the limiting factor would still be the CD/DVD drive.

 

[SerbJ]

Since the Surface Pro 7 was free, I would try it out and see if you like its performance with the tasks you wish to do. I would say it would do fine for ripping to FLAC files and writing USB drives. My guess is that the spinning CD drive you are ripping from is the slowest part of the system. There are always faster options out there, but if free works, why blow extra $$$?

If you are doing this for your own collection, who cares if it takes a few seconds longer? OTOH, if you are making a living on moving files to FLAC, then a faster PC may be in order, but the limiting factor would still be the CD/DVD drive.

With most functions, it is noticeably faster than the laptop I was using. Booting and shutdown are extremely fast. As far as the FLAC ripping, about the same. Like you said, the drive speed. It is faster converting FLAC to MP3, which I play on car and boat.

The MS Dock 2 is working well. The connector gets warm, which according to web search, is normal. When I am done with session, after quick shutdown, unplug from the sideconnector. I have been using the wired LAN, which didn't think I would. Same for the MS USB hub at camp.

I shuld have switched over a year ago.