The Microsoft Surface Tablet thread.

[Crono]

Originally Posted by dagamer34

The Surface was in development before the iPad was announced.

Not to mention Microsoft did tablets well before Apple (not counting the Newton, which was more a PDA).

[Aabel]

Thanks for the feedback on Remote Desktop. I'm an artist and have been dreaming of having a pressure sensitive tablet with all my art applications on it so I can get out and enjoy life and bring my art with me. Remote Desktop seems to be the fulfillment of this dream, the responsiveness is great on my iPad, just the iPad sucks for Remote Desktop pressure sensitivity and mouse support.

I'll probably pick up a windows 8 tablet with an active digitizer soon and see how well I can run zbrush and photoshop remotely. Can always take it back if it doesn't work out!

[nerp]

Yup. Thinking of a stylus myself for taking notes at meetings but not sure if that would be any faster or better than just using the keyboard, which I can fly on like a regular keyboard now.

[hans030390]

Originally Posted by OSULugan

What it's turned into? Another Apple product knock-off.

Hardly. Have you taken the time to sit down and use one? They serve different purposes, though I'd argue the Surface is the better do-it-all device.

Originally Posted by s44

You know you've been able to do all of the above on Android forever...

LOL, same features or not, Android doesn't even compare to Windows 8. I sold my Nexus 7 as soon as I could after trying out Surface.

[Whiskey16]

Originally Posted by hans030390

Hardly. Have you taken the time to sit down and use one? They serve different purposes, though I'd argue the Surface is the better do-it-all device.

LOL, same features or not, Android doesn't even compare to Windows 8.

Exactly, a PC with a full desktop OS such as the Surface Pro does not warrant a de-rated computer discussion into the Consumer Electronics - Gadgets sub-forum.

I've picked up an Acer W510 (thankfully not one from the first production run with the Acer announced hardware defective touchpad in the dock) and if going to start a discussion upon that Windows 8 device, I would certainly choose to place it away from here and in the Hardware & Technology - SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones PCs forum.

[nerp]

Originally Posted by Whiskey16

Exactly, a PC with a full desktop OS such as the Surface Pro does not warrant a de-rated computer discussion into the Consumer Electronics - Gadgets sub-forum.

I've picked up an Acer W510 (thankfully not one from the first production run with the Acer announced hardware defective touchpad in the dock) and if going to start a discussion upon that Windows 8 device, I would certainly choose to place it away from here and in the Hardware & Technology - SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones PCs forum.

Uhh, we're talking about the Surface RT, not the pro. The pro isn't even out yet. Surface RT is not a full desktop OS. It does, however, run RDP because it's available for free in the Surface store. And it most certainly is a "mobile" device and you could argue Surface Pro will be too, despite having a full blown OS on it.

[WelshBloke]

Originally Posted by hans030390

...LOL, same features or not, Android doesn't even compare to Windows 8. I sold my Nexus 7 as soon as I could after trying out Surface.

Well I never thought I'd see someone bigging up Microsoft by saying "never mind the features, look at the shiny! ".

[nerp]

Originally Posted by WelshBloke

Well I never thought I'd see someone bigging up Microsoft by saying "never mind the features, look at the shiny! ".

Times are changing.

[neilm]

I am considering the windows surface pro instead of building myself a new desktop. I figure I can use the tablet as a desktop, but be a lot more mobile (pick up and go). Is there any restrictions to the tablet? For example, would I be able to do everything the desktop can do? Can I connect a monitor/keyboard/mouse to these?

Do people think the price is worthy enough? I must have a look at the battery life is...

[Crono]

Originally Posted by neilm

I am considering the windows surface pro instead of building myself a new desktop. I figure I can use the tablet as a desktop, but be a lot more mobile (pick up and go). Is there any restrictions to the tablet? For example, would I be able to do everything the desktop can do? Can I connect a monitor/keyboard/mouse to these?

Do people think the price is worthy enough? I must have a look at the battery life is...

I've used my Surface RT as a desktop. Mouse, keyboard, HDMI out to monitor (or even DVI or VGA out if you have a micro HDMI adapter). You'll want a USB hub if you are using a bunch of USB cables, though. Pro should be even better as far as applications go, since you can use most regular x86 programs (though graphics-intense programs like the latest games will be a no-go, obviously).

The battery life on the RT is great at ~ 10 hours, but last I heard the Pro is supposed to be more along the lines of a conventional laptop/ultrabook (3-5 hours). Microsoft says battery life "half" that of Surface RT, so 5-6 hours would probably be the upper end. I just sold my RT on ebay since Windows 8 tablets are starting to show up, would love to be able to use old Windows programs. I plan on getting the Surface Pro if the price $899.

For anyone considering either Surface, make sure you get the Type Cover if you can. I don't know if it's a larger problem for other people, but I've had my Touch Cover keys (well, just one key) get worn a bit from light use/contact with tables when in stand mode (didn't think to detach it until later seeing the wear). Still worked, but I can't help thinking they skimped on the endurance testing time of the cover versus the tablet itself. I'm going to get the Type Cover next time around because while I could type okay and reasonably fast on the Touch Cover, even a little bit more tactile feedback would help.

[neilm]

Originally Posted by Crono

I've used my Surface RT as a desktop. Mouse, keyboard, HDMI out to monitor (or even DVI or VGA out if you have a micro HDMI adapter). You'll want a USB hub if you are using a bunch of USB cables, though. Pro should be even better as far as applications go, since you can use most regular x86 programs (though graphics-intense programs like the latest games will be a no-go, obviously).

The battery life on the RT is great at ~ 10 hours, but last I heard the Pro is supposed to be more along the lines of a conventional laptop/ultrabook (3-5 hours). Microsoft says battery life "half" that of Surface RT, so 5-6 hours would probably be the upper end. I just sold my RT since Windows 8 tablets are starting to show up, would love to be able to use old Windows programs. I plan on getting the Surface Pro if the price $899.

Thanks Crono, nice summary. I wouldn't be interested playing games on it, but maybe editing images sometime in the future, hopefully that would hold okay. Also, would you not prefer the $999 version... or would you not need the extra storage space?

[Crono]

Originally Posted by neilm

Thanks Crono, nice summary. I wouldn't be interested playing games on it, but maybe editing images sometime in the future, hopefully that would hold okay. Also, would you not prefer the $999 version... or would you not need the extra storage space?

Yeah, I'm hoping it does image editing okay, too. Full blown Photoshop would be great, but I'd settle for GIMP if it runs close to flawlessly. Ideally, I would love to run Sony Vegas if the Pro can handle it, which I guess it should since it's a Core i5 in there. I wouldn't need my desktop at all anymore.

I'm not sure whether to get the $999/128GB one. With the RT, what's bad about the 32GB version is they kind of lock you into using internal storage for apps and music (at least Xbox Music). There might be some workaround, but I couldn't use my 64GB microSD to store apps, which sucks because just installing 25-30 apps depleted the leftover space (OS uses a large chunk, nearly half).

But since the Pro starts at 64GB, I'm not sure if it's worth paying for another 64GB... but if it's not possible to store Xbox/Zune Music on a microSD, I'll probably go for the 128GB. $100 isn't a huge difference but I hate paying that much when a 64GB microSD cost me half that.

EDIT: Reading a review posted:
http://gearburn.com/2013/01/microsof...nds-on-review/

Looks promising, though battery life wasn't tested.

[lkailburn]

nice info! I'm waiting for the pro to come out and use it as a replacement for my work laptop that i lug around with me everywhere. I imagine that the pro will exceed all of my needs, and then double as a nice sized tablet for home use as well. One thing that it might lose out on is long term. I typically don't replace a laptop until 3 years..think the pro will stand up to 3 years of daily use? who knows

-Luke

[dagamer34]

Originally Posted by Crono

Yeah, I'm hoping it does image editing okay, too. Full blown Photoshop would be great, but I'd settle for GIMP if it runs close to flawlessly. Ideally, I would love to run Sony Vegas if the Pro can handle it, which I guess it should since it's a Core i5 in there. I wouldn't need my desktop at all anymore.

I'm not sure whether to get the $999/128GB one. With the RT, what's bad about the 32GB version is they kind of lock you into using internal storage for apps and music (at least Xbox Music). There might be some workaround, but I couldn't use my 64GB microSD to store apps, which sucks because just installing 25-30 apps depleted the leftover space (OS uses a large chunk, nearly half).

But since the Pro starts at 64GB, I'm not sure if it's worth paying for another 64GB... but if it's not possible to store Xbox/Zune Music on a microSD, I'll probably go for the 128GB. $100 isn't a huge difference but I hate paying that much when a 64GB microSD cost me half that.

EDIT: Reading a review posted:
http://gearburn.com/2013/01/microsof...nds-on-review/

Looks promising, though battery life wasn't tested.

How to store your music, pictures, and video on a microSD : http://winsupersite.com/article/wind...ro-apps-144658

[podspi]

Originally Posted by dagamer34

How to store your music, pictures, and video on a microSD : http://winsupersite.com/article/wind...ro-apps-144658

That seems like a better solution than what I did, which was just to delete the directories the libraries pointed to and replace them with symbolic links on the microSD.