Surface 2 is Awesome (Other than App Store)

[jacktesterson]

I caved in and bought a Surface 2 32GB on Black Friday locally. It has the Tegra 4 Chipset, 2GB Ram, 1920x1080 Screen. Has a HDMI Port, a USB3 Port and MicroSD port that supports another 128GB

Windows 8.1 RT on a Tablet is awesome. I know this is the Arm version of Windows, but the Tablet version having the Full desktop IE 11 with Full up to date Flash support makes a huge difference. Games that are not available in the app store like Candy Crush, Farmville 2, etc can all be played very easily. My wife loves it for that.

I currently have a Nexus 10, and I will be putting it for sale. I feel my use for a tablet is Media consumption and Web Browsing, and I feel the Surface 2 gives me a better experience. It also feels more capable, especially with the USB, MicroSD and HDMI ports.

Very impressed so far.

 

[tsupersonic]

Yeah it's a nice device. However, the app. store is pathetic. If I was just using it for internet browsing, office and media consumption, it's a perfect device. But, if you want to do any more than that, iOS or Android tablets are much better options.

 

[Carson Dyle]

I've read that Microsoft will be discontinuing Windows RT.

 

[lopri]

Agree that the hardware is very well built. Start page is very responsive and transition animations are very very swift. Perhaps even faster than iOS/Android. (the swipe thing that you do to go back to previous apps)

I'll leave it at that.

 

[jacktesterson]

Yeah it's a nice device. However, the app. store is pathetic. If I was just using it for internet browsing, office and media consumption, it's a perfect device. But, if you want to do any more than that, iOS or Android tablets are much better options.

Yeah

I'd prefer the Surface Pro 2 but can't justify the price tag when the RT will do 95% of what I want

The browsing experience is the best on any tablet IMO.

 

[Carson Dyle]

So, how exactly is one expected to use this when using the keyboard? Instead of a mouse, you reach up and use the touchscreen?

 

[Imaginer]

So, how exactly is one expected to use this when using the keyboard? Instead of a mouse, you reach up and use the touchscreen?

Depends on your deployment.

On a desk, you most likely have the Surface on it's kickstand. Thus a cover keyboard is used. Typical laptop users would use the trackpad. I rest my forearm and elbow on the table for touch screen (to reach most pointing sections), cradling the top of the screen on my fore-fingers, using my thumb to point (mostly top screen areas).

Above is if I am needing a keyboard for extended typing sessions. Browsing and short posts (like this one) I use the tablet (Surface Pro but still applies) in a two hand, thumb manipulating manner, text typing and pointing navigation.

In about half of my cases for table use, I have a wireless USB trackball so pointing is normal for the course. Where I would have ONLY that option is if websites DO NOT ABSOLUTELY code their hidden drop down menus to not stay revealed with a hold of a touch click, but rather needing to stay revealed with a mouse over.

 

[Imaginer]

Despite the second kickstand option more suited for lap work, most of the time I do not rely on it. I use the thing (and keyboard cover) flat on my lap like a physical book and writing implement. The display's viewing angles ensure that this can be done (adequately in my eyes).

 

[Carson Dyle]

I still don't get it.

 

[Imaginer]

Also, while many are hopeful for a Bay Trail version, (Opinion) I am not sure our anti trust friends out there are wanting such, and AMD couldn't muster an SOC version to Microsoft's liking.

 

[Imaginer]

I've read that Microsoft will be discontinuing Windows RT.

If anything, it is merging. Since their program code base is the same as the Windows Phone Platform coupled with very very few desktop instance programs in RT, this makes more sense (and people clamored for a scale up paradigm with phone->tablet UI anyways).

Also, the above is more sensical considering Microsoft is wanting to unify code base development for awhile now.

 

[s44]

AMD couldn't muster an SOC version to Microsoft's liking

AMD has been totally AWOL in the tablet/hybrid space. Wth?

 

[Deeko]

I still don't get it.

What's not to get? The Microsoft keyboard covers have a trackpad, so you could operate it like any other laptop - or, yes, you could use the touch screen if you wanted. it also has a USB port, so if you preferred, you can connect a mouse. It's pretty simple.

 

[bearxor]

Or a Bluetooth mouse and leave the USB port free for something else.

 

[jacktesterson]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG1b0yBJHLM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L80nEEUG_Po


cool

 

[tdawg]

I'm really enjoying mine as well. Hooks up easily to my work email so I can get stuff done there, and I can basically use it as a regular laptop when combined with the touch cover 2. No regrets in choosing the Surface 2. Now I'm just trying to line up a buyer for my Xperia Tablet Z.

 

[IamDavid]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wG1b0yBJHLM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L80nEEUG_Po


cool

Full HD video off an external hard drive WHILE also playing HALO on an external TV! android/Apple can't come close. MS marketing sucks, they allowed others to define the Surface.

 

[Nebor]

Full HD video off an external hard drive WHILE also playing HALO on an external TV! android/Apple can't come close. MS marketing sucks, they allowed others to define the Surface.

That is pretty impressive.

 

[Imaginer]

Full HD video off an external hard drive WHILE also playing HALO on an external TV! android/Apple can't come close. MS marketing sucks, they allowed others to define the Surface.

Expected, since RT isn't any different than 8/8.1 other than ARM. Memory use, storage use, CPU use, GPU use, has come a way since NT/XP/Vista/7. Furthermore, file navigation on desktop mode, natively.

 

[jacktesterson]

Really digging it so far

Was thinking this or the T100 with full blown windows, but the 1366x768 screen was holding me back. (As I'm coming from a Nexus 10)

I've gone full on MS Eco system. Didn't see that coming.

 

[Nebor]

Really digging it so far

Was thinking this or the T100 with full blown windows, but the 1366x768 screen was holding me back. (As I'm coming from a Nexus 10)

I've gone full on MS Eco system. Didn't see that coming.

If only Xbox music weren't such a huge hunk of shit.

I'm a Surface Pro\Nokia 920\Xbox 360\Xbox One\multiple windows 8.1 PC kinda guy, and Xbox music is a disaster across all platforms.

 

[IamDavid]

If only Xbox music weren't such a huge hunk of shit.

I'm a Surface Pro\Nokia 920\Xbox 360\Xbox One\multiple windows 8.1 PC kinda guy, and Xbox music is a disaster across all platforms.

? I love it since the 8.1 upgrade. Phone version hasn't caught up yet but all others are good.

 

[tdawg]

Agreed on xbox music. The app on windows 8.1 on my desktop doesn't see so much of my music. Very frustrating.

 

[Kaido]

Very impressed so far.

I don't like Windows 8 and I don't like Microsoft's foray into tablets all that much, but the Surface 2 is pretty dang awesome. I've gotten to use one twice (R/T model) and was VERY impressed. Microsoft makes dang good hardware! I wasn't crazy about the Surface 2 Pro, but the R/T model had the right thickness & weight. I liked the widescreen.

I would like to see a Bay Trail version next year (like the T100) in the same form factor as the current model.

 

[bearxor]

I think next years Broadwell-based Pro will slim the chassis down to the ARM version size and cut down on some of the weight.

I've also been back on the fence about the Venue 11. If only you could get 4GB of RAM in the Bay Trail version, it would be a slam dunk.