Really let down by the announcement today especially with the Pro 2. It's like Microsoft didn't bother to listen to any complaints bout the first Surface and just gave a big FU. While the Surface 2 (RT) is a nice spec upgrade, slightly thinner, upgraded screen, better SoC, much better camera, lower price, it's a dead platform walking. The problem has always been there's NO APPS and developers aren't writing apps because RT Marketplace is different from Phone marketplace is different from x86 marketplace. While the $449 price is better then the original RT it should be $449 WITH cover. The accessories are priced to high, if Microsoft wants to gain market share they need to sacrifice margins in the short term. You can't be charging Apple prices for something nobody wants to buy because there's no marketplace. Android didn't gain it's market share by selling $550 tablets, it wasn't until the cheap $200-$400 tablets showed up before Android started making inroads.
Now onto the Pro 2. It's like Microsoft did nothing, Intel did all the work. Really disappointing, we already knew the battery life was going to be vastly improved with Haswell, so what did Microsoft add over the original Surface Pro? Besides the 2 step stand that also appears on the Surface 2, nothing. The price of $899 for starting configuration hasn't changed, the body and screen is virtually the same. Besides the Haswell CPU it's virtually the same, I mean even the camera's from the original Surface Pro and not the updated cameras that the Surface 2 got. All the original complaints about the original Surface is still there like, it's a bit bulky, has a fan running (maybe both could be solved by using a y-series CPU?), nowhere to store the stylus, and don't even get me started on pricing. The upgrade costs are literally Apple gouging +$900 for an additional 4GB RAM and 448 GB SSD, you can literally buy another Surface Pro 2 for that price. What's even more infuriating is when you look at the internals the SSD is just a standard size mSATA drive not even proprietary or soldered on, and the real kick to the face is it's literally located right near the edge of the tablet, it would of taken zero effort to make a user accessible slot for the mSATA drive so there loyal customers didn't have to pay $900 for an "upgrade". Instead let's try to gouge when what they need the most right now is people to stay on there platform not alienate them over to the fruit side.
Maybe Microsoft can redeem itself and release a Surface Basic for $499, with the exterior of the Surface 2 but running real x86 Windows on a Bay Trail Platform.
Now onto the Pro 2. It's like Microsoft did nothing, Intel did all the work. Really disappointing, we already knew the battery life was going to be vastly improved with Haswell, so what did Microsoft add over the original Surface Pro? Besides the 2 step stand that also appears on the Surface 2, nothing. The price of $899 for starting configuration hasn't changed, the body and screen is virtually the same. Besides the Haswell CPU it's virtually the same, I mean even the camera's from the original Surface Pro and not the updated cameras that the Surface 2 got. All the original complaints about the original Surface is still there like, it's a bit bulky, has a fan running (maybe both could be solved by using a y-series CPU?), nowhere to store the stylus, and don't even get me started on pricing. The upgrade costs are literally Apple gouging +$900 for an additional 4GB RAM and 448 GB SSD, you can literally buy another Surface Pro 2 for that price. What's even more infuriating is when you look at the internals the SSD is just a standard size mSATA drive not even proprietary or soldered on, and the real kick to the face is it's literally located right near the edge of the tablet, it would of taken zero effort to make a user accessible slot for the mSATA drive so there loyal customers didn't have to pay $900 for an "upgrade". Instead let's try to gouge when what they need the most right now is people to stay on there platform not alienate them over to the fruit side.
Maybe Microsoft can redeem itself and release a Surface Basic for $499, with the exterior of the Surface 2 but running real x86 Windows on a Bay Trail Platform.
- Feb 16, 2005
- 3,617
- 2
- 81
well, what I was hoping Surface Pro 2 would be:
1. "retina-like" screen with a high PPI. This current is just "meh".
2. Better Wacom digitizer, that supports 2k+ pressure sensitivities that does tilt sensing as well.
3. All the sensors that the ipad has (I think this one is STILL missing the GPS).
4. Longer battery life with the keyboard, but this is more like a "temp" solution. I'm curious to see real world tests to see what kind of numbers we're going to get.
5. Built in ethernet port and more USB ports. I don't know if the ethernet port is possible maintaining it's low profile, but if it is, why not?
6. wireless AC support
7. If no ethernet, thinner and lighter
8. 16x10. No more 16x9. It's weird holding it in portrait mode.
9. This is the BIGGEST miss for me. No built in Data. Sure we can tether to our phones, but it's MUCH more convenient if we have it built in!
All in all, I'll be passing by this surface pro again. Microsoft (to me, not to troll or anything) just doesn't seem they can get this right... or perhaps they want to pull out all stops on Surface 3 pro.... or just slowly add 1-2 more features..
1. "retina-like" screen with a high PPI. This current is just "meh".
2. Better Wacom digitizer, that supports 2k+ pressure sensitivities that does tilt sensing as well.
3. All the sensors that the ipad has (I think this one is STILL missing the GPS).
4. Longer battery life with the keyboard, but this is more like a "temp" solution. I'm curious to see real world tests to see what kind of numbers we're going to get.
5. Built in ethernet port and more USB ports. I don't know if the ethernet port is possible maintaining it's low profile, but if it is, why not?
6. wireless AC support
7. If no ethernet, thinner and lighter
8. 16x10. No more 16x9. It's weird holding it in portrait mode.
9. This is the BIGGEST miss for me. No built in Data. Sure we can tether to our phones, but it's MUCH more convenient if we have it built in!
All in all, I'll be passing by this surface pro again. Microsoft (to me, not to troll or anything) just doesn't seem they can get this right... or perhaps they want to pull out all stops on Surface 3 pro.... or just slowly add 1-2 more features..
Joe1987
Senior member
- Jul 20, 2013
- 482
- 0
- 0
It generally takes 3 generations for MS to get it right, I think the 1st or second gen post Ballmer will be the one to buy.
The Surface Pro seems decent, I would have like HD 5000 graphics over the HD4400 but it's not a big deal. It's really too bad Microsoft isn't bundling a touch cover with the Surfaces, and an option to upgrade to a different cover.
The surface pro 2 is interesting, but I don't know what they did differently to make it more appealing other than Haswell.
The Pro can run any windows x86 apps. The RT can only run MS Office and no windows phone apps. Kinda stupid. Many one correct me if I'm wrong.
The Pro can run any windows x86 apps. The RT can only run MS Office and no windows phone apps. Kinda stupid. Many one correct me if I'm wrong.
Ns1
No Lifer
- Jun 17, 2001
- 55,420
- 1,600
- 126
They should absolutely bundle the touch cover with the Surface 2. Big mistake not to IMHO. I believe Nokia is introducing their own tablet next month, however, which comes with an integrated keyboard and LTE for $499. Much better value proposition IMHO.
Ns1
No Lifer
- Jun 17, 2001
- 55,420
- 1,600
- 126
Maybe for the Surface, but the Surface Pro has no real competitors in it's specific niche.
Deeko
Lifer
- Jun 16, 2000
- 30,213
- 12
- 81
Considering the Surface Pro 2. I have a Surface RT and an aging 2011 edition MBA. The Pro 2 could do the job of both devices, better than they do it themselves. I already have a type and touch keyboard for the Surface which I'll just use on the new one - backlighting and thinness are cool and all, but not for the extra money. I just wish the price were a tad more reasonable for the 256 GB model - I really want the 8 GB of RAM, but an extra $300 is pricey. I wish they offered the 128 GB model with 8 GB RAM, I could just expand it with an SD card and have all the storage I need...
Deeko
Lifer
- Jun 16, 2000
- 30,213
- 12
- 81
Fully agreed on the keyboard. The majority of their Surface advertising involves the keyboard & productivity, and I can't imagine the touch keyboard actually costs them that much to make. Just bundle it in, it will make your price & package such a better deal.
It sounds like you want a notebook, maybe something like a Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga, but with better specs. I don't think there's any tablet in existence that has what you want, and I don't think any are likely to build an ethernet port into the device unless someone makes an RJ45 mini/micro jack.
For the number of people who would likely need or buy that, there probably isn't enough of a market.
Ns1
No Lifer
- Jun 17, 2001
- 55,420
- 1,600
- 126
SnuggleTheBear
Junior Member
- Sep 7, 2013
- 21
- 0
- 0
I was hoping both would have 802.11ac, but neither one appears to have this. Any thoughts about this?
I know 802.11n works fine, but I was hoping to have this. I wanted to use WiFi direct with a phone and possibly get a new router in the near future with 802.11ac. (The reason for this is that I keep hearing that 802.11ac is so great.)
Edited: Fixed grammatical error
I know 802.11n works fine, but I was hoping to have this. I wanted to use WiFi direct with a phone and possibly get a new router in the near future with 802.11ac. (The reason for this is that I keep hearing that 802.11ac is so great.)
Edited: Fixed grammatical error
Zodiark1593
Platinum Member
- Oct 21, 2012
- 2,230
- 4
- 81
Ns1
No Lifer
- Jun 17, 2001
- 55,420
- 1,600
- 126
Most end users don't have high powered desktop/laptop. See: every mac owner that doesn't own a top of the line latest gen MBP
Last edited:
Probably a bit more certification. Panos did say a LTE version it will be out in 2014 on the AMA.
http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/1mz20e/hi_im_panos_panay_corporate_vp_of_surface_at/ccdxln6
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 21K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter