No thank you. The whole point in having a 2-in-1 is to NOT have to have two machines. Having a desktop requires me to have two copies of applications and to keep data in sync between, and before anyone tells me that the cloud solves that problems, please remember not all of us have access to incredibly zippy net connections that make such things transparent.

Also, to the mods on my original post: you're modding me down for pointing out a genuine shortcoming with a product I was sincerely interested in purchasing. I don't get it. I can understand why you might not consider it "insightful" but a one? Really? Doesn't really encourage participation in conversation.

I love my original Surface Book. I was eagerly awaiting the Surface Book 3, but without Thunderbolt 3 it doesn't have the external expansion capabilities I need when using it as a desktop. I'll be skipping this one.

This will probably come in a little higher cost than you'd like, but consider getting a Synology NAS box (http://www.synology.com/us/index.php), and a pair of notebook drives. I've had a home server of one sort or another for years. Back in the day I had top of the line multiprocessor Compaq server with a full RAID array. These days I live completely off-grid. The power draw of that beast would crush me.

Seeking a better solution I picked up a 207+, and then modified the brackets to take a pair of notebook drives. I measured it at 12 watts. It doesn't have much processing power, but I run fetchmail, dovecot, slimserver, and of course file sharing services on it. It would easily run a web server, though I host my website externally. I have mine configured with cron to shut down in the at night. Newer versions have automatic support for starting up and shutting down based on the time. If you're not hosting a web site, you can save more energy and money.

For me, running a server without RAID or mirroring isn't an option. That's one of the reasons I chose this solution. I use a USB harddisk for occassional backups. I've never hooked a USB CD-ROM to it, though I don't see any reason you couldn't. It's running Linux under the covers, and it's relatively easy to cross-compile software for it, or simply use optware (http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/Optware/Packages?from=Unslung.Packages) to get what you need.

Oddly enough I read the FCC filing on this gadget for work earlier this week. It uses the 2.4 Ghz spectrum, but sends an analog signal -- not digital, which is what 2.4 is reserved for. Because it conflicts with the usage plan for 2.4 Ghz the only way the FCC would let them sell it was to specifically restrict it to law enforcement -- not merely government agencies. Personally, I wonder what will happen when these things are obsolete and sold at government surplus auctions, but at least for the next few years the only way you'll get one is if you have a badge.

Among other things, it'll stomp on your 2.4 Ghz WiFi lan. However, because it is designed for use in life and death situations, the FCC figures the police will have cleared the area, and you won't be hanging out surfing Slashdot.