Ask Paul: May 24 (Premium)

Happy Friday from Miami! We’re on the cusp of a long weekend here in the U.S.---for Memorial Day---and this is the last Ask Paul for May.
Small Windows tablet
ReformedCtrlZ asks:

I'm looking for a small tablet that I can use for basic browsing and occasional light productivity tasks. As much as I've tried to get used to iPad's, I just can't stand using them. With that in mind I was considering picking up a Surface Go (8gb WiFi version) as I've heard good things from Brad and the community about the device given it's limitations.

My only concern being it's starting to get a little longer into the Go's life cycle so I'm just wondering if you think this is a safe buy or if you're aware that MSFT might be refreshing or upgrading the Go any time soon? The obvious improvement for the line is battery improvements, possibly switching to new ARM processors like the 8CX, and possibly Microsofts Lite OS which seems to be set for at least next year. Thoughts?

I cannot recommend Surface Go. The performance and battery life are terrible. (And as a computer, the keyboard isn’t full-sized so an ergonomic disaster that’s too small for comfortable typing.)

You’ll hear some dissenting opinions on that one: People who have been pining for a good, small Windows tablet seem to be oblivious to its shortcomings. I’m not sure what your issues with Apple are, but any iPad is absolutely the better choice.

Regarding the future, Microsoft actually intended to use a Snapdragon processor for the Surface Go, but those plans were scuttled by the platform’s compatibility issues and even worse performance. But I do believe that a future Surface Go---and a future Surface Pro, too---will utilize Snapdragon processors. And the 8cx is the obvious starting point for that. Microsoft will have a Surface hardware event in October, not coincidentally. So that’s the time frame, at the earliest. (Not for Lite OS, however. I don’t think Lite OS will be ready then.)
Windows 10 on ARM
brisonharvey asks:

Where does Windows 10 on ARM stand currently? And how do you think Microsoft will position it within the market? My fear is that it will be seen as a premium choice that will compete with Intel at the high end, leaving the middle and low end with few alternatives. The current placement of the SD 850 devices in the $600-900 range is just about right, but I have to think the new SD 8cx processor will bump up the price.

Qualcomm is working to bring the performance of its ARM chipsets up to “Core i5” levels, which I take to mean dual-core (previous-gen) Core i5. But that’s fine, and doing so would erase one of the two major issues with that platform. The other being compatibility.

Right now, I think Windows 10 is in a bit of a holding pattern waiting for the 8cx release. We should learn about the first 8cx PCs at IFA in September. (And as noted above, the first Snapdragon-based Surface could be announced as soon as October.)

But regarding p...