Welcome to my new series.

When Windows Closes, Linux Opens: Converting a Surface Pro 4

Part 1: Planned Obsolescence, Corporate Greed: Why I’m Making the Switch

Let’s cut to the chase. Microsoft thinks me and millions of other Surface owners should just chuck our older devices on the e-waste garbage pile and shell out for new machines. Windows 11 has some pretty strict hardware requirements–requirements far beyond the capabilities of the top of the line Surface devices made less than 6 years ago–and they’re ending support for Windows 10 this October way sooner than many of us would have expected (XP got 7 extra years after its successor came out, Vista got 8 years, 7 got 11 years, 8.1 got 8 years, but 11 came out just 3 years ago), leaving us in a pickle.

My Surface Pro 4 is a little over 6 years old, but it’s about to become a brick. But I refuse to throw this away. I’m also becoming increasingly interested in taking back my digital life from algorithmic surveillance capitalism and proprietary subscription regimes–and have been Linux-curious for some time now–so this disappointing turn from MS is also an opportunity for me.

This is going to be a challenge, though, because this isn’t a Linux install on a desktop, or even on a laptop. This is installing Linux on a Tablet made bespoke for Microsoft. But I’m also not a pioneer on the frontier. Lucky for me, there is a project on GitHub where many folks, much smarter than and more experienced than I have already set out on this journey, and made all the mistakes for me already.

While, since announcing this project, I have received tons of recommendations for folks’ favorite Linux distros, from my research, I have gathered that people who have performed this particular conversion have had the most success with Fedora and Ubuntu. Specifically, with the GNOME desktop environment active, as it plays nicely with touchscreens.

From what I gathered, with enough time, tolerance for frustration, and acceptance of loss of features, any Linux distro should be able to work here. But since the vast majority of well documented examples of successfully doing this conversion that I have found just focus on either Ubuntu or Fedora, so shall I.

I will likely try to go through the process first with Ubuntu, and if I have insurmountable issues, I’ll start over with Fedora. If neither work, I’ll go back to the drawing board.

This surface has long ago ceased serving as my main computer. I have no files or applications on it that I don’t have on my other machines, so I’ll be skipping backing it up. There isn’t anything really I’m worried about losing on here.

What happens if I’m successful? Well, I have an even bigger project in mind that this is just the prologue to. Eventually, I want to replace these proprietary OSs on my primary Dell laptop, my 5 year old Chromebook, and maybe even my Android phone. I have already made some massive modifications to all of these in an attempt to try my best to thwart surveillance capitalism, but I’m looking to take it further. So this series may get extended even further if I am successful. We shall see!

For starters, my needs are a fully functional and secure computer that allows me to safely and privately browse the web, serve as an e-reader, work with documents and various graphic and media files, and bonus, will run all my various dj applications. Not too complex, for sure!

Electronic waste and garbage for recycling

This journey isn’t just about breathing new life into old hardware – it’s about taking a stand against the throwaway culture that’s become all too common in tech. While Microsoft may see my Surface Pro 4 as obsolete, I see it as an opportunity to join a community of users who believe in digital freedom and sustainable computing.

Yes, there will be challenges. Yes, some features might not work perfectly. But the potential reward – a device that runs on my terms, free from forced obsolescence and corporate surveillance – makes it worth the effort. This Surface’s transformation from a soon-to-be brick into a Linux-powered tablet isn’t just a technical project; it’s a small act of rebellion against the status quo of modern computing.

So here’s to the beginning of what promises to be an interesting adventure. Whether you’re a fellow Surface owner facing the Windows 10 deadline, someone curious about Linux, or just tired of being told when to replace your perfectly functional hardware, I invite you to follow along. Sometimes the best way forward is to forge your own path.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll document my preparations to bring Ubuntu to this Surface Pro 4. It should be… interesting.