Owner wants a Surface Book per recommendations of other Owners in the business... I was all well and set to buy him one and move on, until I started reading reviews on the SB. There are quite a few unfavorable reviews out there!
Taking all thoughts and recommendations!
He's looking for small form factor, bigger than a tablet, but not as big as a laptop. With a keyboard. Primarily for email, web, and pdf review. Is the Surface our only option?
Doesn't Lenovo has an option? Is the Yoga still around?
If that's all he's doing sure sounds ready-made for iPad or iPad Pro. Just my $0.02.
I have a Lenovo X1 Yoga and it is as you describe but I use it as a laptop. I would think it may be to much a laptop for him. It also may blow out the budget.
I'd send hm to the store to play with a Surface. The pros/cons may balance themselves out.
We standardized on the Surface Pro for management and sales staff and got one Surface Book for a new employee who wanted a more traditional laptop formfactor (but for hotdesking purposes, is still compatible with the Surface dock). Would have gotten a Surface Laptop if that were more readily available at the time. You might want to consider the Surface Laptop instead of the Surface Book as it's much slimmer (but lacks the ability to convert/detach into a tablet).
Just realized the original post said Surface "Book". I thought those things did not take off that well. I was referring to the Surface Pro.