- Jun 16, 2007
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I've been looking for a relatively cheap 2-in-1 tablet for light duty tasks like web surfing, typing, email and Office apps. And I bought both the Surface 2 and Venue 11 Pro to compare since they are similarly priced.
Microsoft Surface 2 (32GB): $450
Type Touch 2 Cover: $130
total price: $580
10.6 inch 1920x1080 display
1.7GHz quad core Tegra 4 (A15 ARM)
2GB RAM, 32GB eMMC
1.49 pound tablet, 2 pounds total
kickstand in tablet
backlit keyboard
10 hours battery
Dell Venue 11 Pro (64GB): $458 (Amazon sale, retails for $500)
Dell Venue 11 Pro Mobility Keyboard: $145 (retails for $160)
total price: $603 (YMMV)
10.8 inch 1920x1080 display
2.4GHz quad core Atom (Intel Baytrail)
2GB RAM, 64GB eMMC
1.57 pound tablet, 3 pounds total
secondary battery in keyboard
removable battery in tablet
12-15 hours battery with keyboard (I think Dell's website is vague on this).
First Day Impressions:
For my first impressions I'm going to avoid talking about the software or performance because I'm having a hell of a time getting drivers updated on the Dell, so I'll save that until I figure out what is going on. This will mostly be about the hardware.
Feel In Hand.
Both tablets feel pretty good in the hand. The Dell does have a little more heft to it that's noticeable. And it's physically a little thicker, wider, and taller, but not by much. The Dell feels really nice because of it's soft touch plastic and more rounded edges. There are a couple docking holes on the bottom edge, but they are not felt while holding it (large holes on tablets can be noticed when held).
The Surface feels lighter and slimmer. The magnesium metal body feels premium and very solid, but cold to the touch too, which I think feels less inviting that a soft touch material. There is a plastic strip on the top edge that wraps from the back over to the edge of the glass. And if you are particularly OCD you'll notice the plastic and metal seems are not quite even. But the unevenness isn't enough to feel while holding.
Both tablets feel good in the hand. But the Surface wins slightly here because of the light weight. The Dell does feel much better than I thought it would this was closer than expected.
Windows Button.
I had some Clover Trail tablets last year with capacitive buttons and any slight brush near the button would send me back to the home screen. When I got the Surface 2 I was really impressed with how much they've improved the capacitive button. It seems much better at distinguishing the differences between real pushes and accidental touches. I can run my finger over the button and not trigger it. The base of my thumb and grip the tablet it next to the button and not trigger it. And when I do tap on it intentionally it works. And I was impressed that the Dell Venue 11 Pro seems to be employing the same kind of button. Both behave exactly identically. So this is a draw.
Speakers.
The Surface 2 speakers just suck. Maybe it's a defective tablet, not sure. They are not very loud, which I have read is normal. My speakers also seems to hiss and pop quite a bit at higher volumes, but I need the higher volumes to hear anything.
The Dell is a complete 180. These are loud speakers and they sound good for a tablet. I didn't hear any weird hissing or popping at max volume. And it completely drowns out the Surface 2 when I have both playing at once. Love the Dell speakers.
Dell the clear winner here. Though a chance my Surface 2 might have defective speakers.
Laptop Viewing Angles.
The Surface has a kickstand with two fixed viewing angles. The first angle is okay-ish when it's on the desk, but the second angle goes back further making it great on the desktop and especially great on the lap where I need to look down more.
The Dell's keyboard dock has a variable angle hinge. However it only tilts back as far as the first angle on the Surface. They are exactly the same. Unfortunately the Dell won't tilt back any further, so not as comfortable a viewing experience as the Surface.
Surface 2 wins at viewing angles.
Lap Test.
I like a screen that tilts back so I can see the screen better on my lap. However I thought I'd also mention how these two devices rest on my lap. Both have issues regular laptops don't.
If my lap is relatively level the Dell rest there just fine, though awkward to see the screen at that angle. But the Dell is a little more top heavy and if my lap is reclined a bit the tablet starts to fall back. Keeping my hands on the keyboard or tilting the screen forward when I take my hands counters this issue.
The Surface's issue it requires more surface space on my lap to rest upon, because it needs room for the keyboard laying out infront of the tablet and the kickstand sticking out behind it. The Dell requires 7 inches of lap space from front to back of keyboard. The Surface requires 11.5 inches of lap space from front of keyboard to the second position of the kick stand (10 inches using the first angle). So the kickstand rests right on my knee cap if I have my feet on the floor, just barely fits my lap.
I'm calling this a draw. The Dell can often be wobbly on the lap and the Surface just barely fits the lap.
Keyboard.
While the Surface 2 is physically smaller than the Venue 11 Pro, it's keyboard is actually bigger. And it has a stiff bottom, so I can type with it while on my lap without any problems. The keys are backlit, so easy to see at night. However I don't like the lack of spacing between keys. I type by feel and when my fingers move from their home row position to find a key, I sometimes get lots because there is little distinction between the keys. Also there is very little travel. However I'd so far as small and thin as the keyboard is, it's pretty amazing and I can still type pretty good on it. I'd like to see more spacing between the keys though.
The Dell keyboard is a little smaller, but it feels more comfortable to type on. It feels like the keys have about twice as much travel space (it's a much thicker keyboard of course) and the gap between the keys make them each feel distinct and easy to find while touch typing. I wish it was backlit, but otherwise is a very impressive keyboard. And I've had a hard time finding impressive keyboards on Atom based tablets.
Dell wins this.
Display Quality.
Both displays are quite right. Not sure, but side by side the brightness looks about the same indoors (haven't tried these outside yet). I went to http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/ to do some eyeball tests of the two displays and the Dell won in every possible way, surprised me.
Contrast looked better on the Dell. Both seemed the same on the Gamma calibration test, which was quite off according to the test, black level and white saturation the Dell did better. On the gradient test the Dell also did better, gradient looked even while the Surface has distinct banding. I also noticed that the colors on the Surface look more washed out, the Dell has better looking saturated colors.
Not running this test, I feel the Surface 2 display looks just fine. So I wouldn't be too worried about the Surface 2 display. But the Dell definitely won this test.
Software, Touch sensitivity, Pen, etc.
Hopefully I can get these driver and software issues sorted out with the Dell tomorrow. I'm noticing some performance problem, some touch sensitivity issues, and such with the Dell, I'm really hoping once everything is updated, these issues will be sorted out.
But one thing is certain, the Surface 2 was a much easier system to setup and update. Something that attracts me to the Surface is this is kinda like Microsoft's version of Nexus tablet. Microsoft seems to be doing a great job updating it and making sure it's very easy to update.
Sorry, I'll have to re-read this tomorrow to check for typos and errors, I'm too sleepy to proof read.
Edit: Forgot to add my opinion on the keyboard, just added it.
Microsoft Surface 2 (32GB): $450
Type Touch 2 Cover: $130
total price: $580
10.6 inch 1920x1080 display
1.7GHz quad core Tegra 4 (A15 ARM)
2GB RAM, 32GB eMMC
1.49 pound tablet, 2 pounds total
kickstand in tablet
backlit keyboard
10 hours battery
Dell Venue 11 Pro (64GB): $458 (Amazon sale, retails for $500)
Dell Venue 11 Pro Mobility Keyboard: $145 (retails for $160)
total price: $603 (YMMV)
10.8 inch 1920x1080 display
2.4GHz quad core Atom (Intel Baytrail)
2GB RAM, 64GB eMMC
1.57 pound tablet, 3 pounds total
secondary battery in keyboard
removable battery in tablet
12-15 hours battery with keyboard (I think Dell's website is vague on this).
First Day Impressions:
For my first impressions I'm going to avoid talking about the software or performance because I'm having a hell of a time getting drivers updated on the Dell, so I'll save that until I figure out what is going on. This will mostly be about the hardware.
Feel In Hand.
Both tablets feel pretty good in the hand. The Dell does have a little more heft to it that's noticeable. And it's physically a little thicker, wider, and taller, but not by much. The Dell feels really nice because of it's soft touch plastic and more rounded edges. There are a couple docking holes on the bottom edge, but they are not felt while holding it (large holes on tablets can be noticed when held).
The Surface feels lighter and slimmer. The magnesium metal body feels premium and very solid, but cold to the touch too, which I think feels less inviting that a soft touch material. There is a plastic strip on the top edge that wraps from the back over to the edge of the glass. And if you are particularly OCD you'll notice the plastic and metal seems are not quite even. But the unevenness isn't enough to feel while holding.
Both tablets feel good in the hand. But the Surface wins slightly here because of the light weight. The Dell does feel much better than I thought it would this was closer than expected.
Windows Button.
I had some Clover Trail tablets last year with capacitive buttons and any slight brush near the button would send me back to the home screen. When I got the Surface 2 I was really impressed with how much they've improved the capacitive button. It seems much better at distinguishing the differences between real pushes and accidental touches. I can run my finger over the button and not trigger it. The base of my thumb and grip the tablet it next to the button and not trigger it. And when I do tap on it intentionally it works. And I was impressed that the Dell Venue 11 Pro seems to be employing the same kind of button. Both behave exactly identically. So this is a draw.
Speakers.
The Surface 2 speakers just suck. Maybe it's a defective tablet, not sure. They are not very loud, which I have read is normal. My speakers also seems to hiss and pop quite a bit at higher volumes, but I need the higher volumes to hear anything.
The Dell is a complete 180. These are loud speakers and they sound good for a tablet. I didn't hear any weird hissing or popping at max volume. And it completely drowns out the Surface 2 when I have both playing at once. Love the Dell speakers.
Dell the clear winner here. Though a chance my Surface 2 might have defective speakers.
Laptop Viewing Angles.
The Surface has a kickstand with two fixed viewing angles. The first angle is okay-ish when it's on the desk, but the second angle goes back further making it great on the desktop and especially great on the lap where I need to look down more.
The Dell's keyboard dock has a variable angle hinge. However it only tilts back as far as the first angle on the Surface. They are exactly the same. Unfortunately the Dell won't tilt back any further, so not as comfortable a viewing experience as the Surface.
Surface 2 wins at viewing angles.
Lap Test.
I like a screen that tilts back so I can see the screen better on my lap. However I thought I'd also mention how these two devices rest on my lap. Both have issues regular laptops don't.
If my lap is relatively level the Dell rest there just fine, though awkward to see the screen at that angle. But the Dell is a little more top heavy and if my lap is reclined a bit the tablet starts to fall back. Keeping my hands on the keyboard or tilting the screen forward when I take my hands counters this issue.
The Surface's issue it requires more surface space on my lap to rest upon, because it needs room for the keyboard laying out infront of the tablet and the kickstand sticking out behind it. The Dell requires 7 inches of lap space from front to back of keyboard. The Surface requires 11.5 inches of lap space from front of keyboard to the second position of the kick stand (10 inches using the first angle). So the kickstand rests right on my knee cap if I have my feet on the floor, just barely fits my lap.
I'm calling this a draw. The Dell can often be wobbly on the lap and the Surface just barely fits the lap.
Keyboard.
While the Surface 2 is physically smaller than the Venue 11 Pro, it's keyboard is actually bigger. And it has a stiff bottom, so I can type with it while on my lap without any problems. The keys are backlit, so easy to see at night. However I don't like the lack of spacing between keys. I type by feel and when my fingers move from their home row position to find a key, I sometimes get lots because there is little distinction between the keys. Also there is very little travel. However I'd so far as small and thin as the keyboard is, it's pretty amazing and I can still type pretty good on it. I'd like to see more spacing between the keys though.
The Dell keyboard is a little smaller, but it feels more comfortable to type on. It feels like the keys have about twice as much travel space (it's a much thicker keyboard of course) and the gap between the keys make them each feel distinct and easy to find while touch typing. I wish it was backlit, but otherwise is a very impressive keyboard. And I've had a hard time finding impressive keyboards on Atom based tablets.
Dell wins this.
Display Quality.
Both displays are quite right. Not sure, but side by side the brightness looks about the same indoors (haven't tried these outside yet). I went to http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/ to do some eyeball tests of the two displays and the Dell won in every possible way, surprised me.
Contrast looked better on the Dell. Both seemed the same on the Gamma calibration test, which was quite off according to the test, black level and white saturation the Dell did better. On the gradient test the Dell also did better, gradient looked even while the Surface has distinct banding. I also noticed that the colors on the Surface look more washed out, the Dell has better looking saturated colors.
Not running this test, I feel the Surface 2 display looks just fine. So I wouldn't be too worried about the Surface 2 display. But the Dell definitely won this test.
Software, Touch sensitivity, Pen, etc.
Hopefully I can get these driver and software issues sorted out with the Dell tomorrow. I'm noticing some performance problem, some touch sensitivity issues, and such with the Dell, I'm really hoping once everything is updated, these issues will be sorted out.
But one thing is certain, the Surface 2 was a much easier system to setup and update. Something that attracts me to the Surface is this is kinda like Microsoft's version of Nexus tablet. Microsoft seems to be doing a great job updating it and making sure it's very easy to update.
Sorry, I'll have to re-read this tomorrow to check for typos and errors, I'm too sleepy to proof read.
Edit: Forgot to add my opinion on the keyboard, just added it.
Last edited:
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