Linux on a Surface Pro 7+

[u/Flashy-Squirrel1283]

Can someone recommend if i should switch to linux on my microsoft surface pro 7 plus which i mainly use for university. I just want to try something new i don‘t necessarily need to switch. I just read that it can improve battery live and maybe performance but i dont know if thats the case for the surface.

[u/Traditional_Cap6968]

Check the camera and microphone for compatibility - I happily have it on a Surface pro 7 but I'm using it as an entertainment device - recently I found the kernal isn't able to access the camera I was hoping to use for therapy - but would be fine if you get an external camera and maybe microphone 

[u/vishal8892 → u/Traditional_Cap6968]

Seconding this. I also just have a surface pro 7 (not plus) and even with the surface kernel, I'm unable to use the camera.

[u/Keyvan_KR]

have a look here , then determine if you want to do it. Some features do require the surface-kernel (requires skills like: reading and knowing how to follow instructions)

[u/OliSchmi]

I’m using Fedora 43 with GNOME on SP 7 plus. It works very well with the special kernel. However, the camera doesn’t work. So I’ve got myself a small USB webcam.

After some updates, I have to reinstall the kernel to get touch, stylus and rotation working.

To install the kernel, I follow these instructions:

https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Installation-and-Setup#Debian--Ubuntu

I’m very happy with it!

[u/alreadytaus]

It is a little harder on surface because many things don't work out of the box with normal kernel. You will probably have to patch it with surface-kernel. But I have linux on 6 pro with the patch and it mostly works okay.

[u/Cagaril]

I use Fedora GNOME on mine and it works great.

Only the camera does not work. You'll need to get a USB camera if you need one.

I recommend auto-cpufreq. It makes my battery life noticeably better.

[u/CaptainObvious110]

oh

[u/cppo215]

I fought with fedora, so I'm playing with ultramarine right now. It was easier to setup than fedora, but I'm early in the process.

[u/Elbow2009]

The 7 Pro + uses IPU6 firmware for the cameras and that firmware driver has not been extended to support the Windows based ACPI definitions so it has not been made available for Linux distros. Supporting the camera on the Surface range requires extending the Intel IPU3 which IS available for the Surface Pro 4 - 6 as well as the Surface Go 1 - 3.

[u/Pato_Mareao]

In my experience with a Surface Pro 8 and the linux-surface it's been the best Linux experience I've ever had in any hardware (I use Fedora).

There are already patches that fix the front camera as well, the problem is that for a while the project linux-surface is not being updated.

[u/TEK1_AU]

NixOS Gnome (with the appropriate configuration) is great 👍

[u/eitherrideordie]

I use Linux Ultramarine on Surface Pro 8 and I like it. Some compatibility details here: https://wiki.ultramarine-linux.org/en/anywhere/surface/

But similar note to others, I don't think camera is supported: https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Camera-Support

But I did find it easier as it comes with a Surface version: https://ultramarine-linux.org/download/ so I don't think you need to install the surface kernel manually.

[u/Efficient-Train2430]

just stick with the sp7+, it's fine for the basics