Several customers asked about building multi-monitor workstations around the Microsoft Surface Book 2 13.5" and 15" models and especially the Core i7 models with the NVIDIA GTX 1050/1060 GPU. We investigated a few approaches and there are unique trade-offs that are not easy to discern from manufacturer marketing materials. Common issues revolve around: power supplies... Continue Reading →
To follow-up from my last power supply article, I wanted to point out how easy it is to find USB type-C chargers and battery packs lately. A search on Amazon returns more than 10,000 results. But if you have a premium laptop like the Surface Book 2 (Core i7) or MacBook Pro with high current capabilities,... Continue Reading →
Several customers asked about adding landscape functionality to the popular Vertical Surface Dock. Here is a quick build guide for enabling landscape mode with a few additional parts. But before you get started, check out the latest demo video showing what's possible with the improvements: Part 1 - additional support Because the Vertical Surface Dock is designed around... Continue Reading →
As a small business-owner, I wanted a quick way of visualizing where I was selling. I thought of using BingMaps or GoogleMaps and inputting my storefront dataset to build an interactive map. Then I found batchgeo which got me 90% there in seconds: I'm not sure how useful this sort of visualization is in driving... Continue Reading →
[Open source DIY Kindle Fire kickstand on Thingiverse] In the spirit of the Bias-For-Action Amazon leadership principle, I did something cool today. I observed my son using his Kindle Fire 7 tablet. While he propped it up against a flower vase to watch educational shows, he asked why it didn't have a kickstand like my Surface... Continue Reading →
I recently saw an infographic circulating on LinkedIn with a collection of brands from the top US tech companies excluding Microsoft. I'm not sure who authored the graphic since I've seen it re-posted by several people, but in my opinion it was presented with little context and missed a ton of relevant brands. It piqued my... Continue Reading →
Microsoft does not make it easy to understand the differences in pen/stylus support between device generations. The table below summarizes compatibility between different pen generations and Surface device models. Pressure sensitivity, latency, initial activation force, and tilt functionality are detailed using best available information. Following the chart is a list of frequently asked questions regarding... Continue Reading →
I dropped by the University Village Microsoft store in Seattle today to check out the 2017 Surface Pro. The new Pro is a wonderful machine when you feel it. The smooth edges make a difference. The Alcantara keyboard is nice and smooth too. One aspect that surprised me was that the store didn't have the new 4096... Continue Reading →
If you have access to a Windows 10 system and a system running any other version of Windows such as Windows 7 or Windows 8, you can use Remote Desktop combined with the GameDVR feature to capture the whole desktop. You'll need two machines: Machine A - the machine you wish to record Machine B - machine... Continue Reading →
