---
title: "Debian Linux on a Surface Go tablet as a daily driver"
language: en
topics: ["Freedom", "apple", "experiment", "iPad", "linux", "pencil", "tablet", "work"]
full_article_url: https://willem.com/en/2021-01-14_abandoning-my-own-tablet-os/
---
# Debian Linux on a Surface Go tablet as a daily driver

*Six months on my own tablet OS taught me what reliability is worth.*

> In 2021 I stopped using my self-built Debian tablet OS after six months as daily driver. Linux on a Surface Go can work, but touch operation and reliability were not good enough for daily professional use.

I built the OS on Debian GNU/Linux running on a Microsoft Surface Go, hardware that is designed for Windows. Most GNU/Linux software assumes a keyboard and mouse, so pure touch operation is nearly impossible: try entering your disk encryption key without a keyboard.
I also ran the newest packages from the Debian unstable repositories and combined software that was never designed to work together. In six months as daily driver the system broke down at least three times at critical moments, usually after waking from hibernation. Once my networking failed exactly when a customer needed urgent support, another time the digitiser stopped responding to the pen.
The lesson: for a daily tool, use supported hardware and common concepts. A conventional PC with mouse and keyboard runs free software fine. When it worked it was magic, and I intend to try again some day.