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MS Surface Hands on
- Thread starter TheBama
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About as much chance as apple releasing Xcode for programming directly on the iPad mini....
Des anyone know why the bundled products only come with the black touch cover and if you purchase the 32GB without cover and then purchase a different color it's more expensive? Also why no option to buy the 64GB without touch cover? So if you want a touch cover in a color other than black OR If you prefer the type cover you're out another $120-$130 and then you're stuck with two covers (one you didn't want in the first place). And people complain about Apple ripping you off...
I assume its currently because they are trying to supply initial demand so have kept 'choice' to a minimum. Though by same token it does seem silly and counter intuitive to restrict users choices or force choices on them.
The 64gb should come with choice to have no cover,
Likewise both should come with option to choose any color touch cover, or the type cover.
I'm sure these options will be added after initial release, but it does suck for those early consumers / adopters which companies should really take better care of..
Received my Surface yesterday via mail from MS Store online. Already schedule to return the device. It's disappointing that the video quality is horrible (worse than 1st gen iPad), picture quality is lacking in a major way and I don't feel like having my CC in another universe buying apps that aren't compatible with all of the Apple products I have.
I will say however it is a very cool product, everything Microsoft looks crisp, bright and incredible. Just not my cup of tea, the iPad mini blows this thing away as does the iPad 2.
I will say however it is a very cool product, everything Microsoft looks crisp, bright and incredible. Just not my cup of tea, the iPad mini blows this thing away as does the iPad 2.
Something I still haven't heard is the way the surface and any other Windows 8 tablets will receive updates, and what kind of updates.
Is it like iOS and Android? Do you receive updates directly from Microsoft without delays even on an Asus tablet? Is there going to be Windows 8.1 or 9 next year? Or is it only going to receive service packs and such?
Still don't understand how the updates work on Windows 8 and Windows phone 8.
Is it like iOS and Android? Do you receive updates directly from Microsoft without delays even on an Asus tablet? Is there going to be Windows 8.1 or 9 next year? Or is it only going to receive service packs and such?
Still don't understand how the updates work on Windows 8 and Windows phone 8.
I got a chance to try out the Surface tablets at the mall this weekend. I was actually impressed with it. I tried both keyboards and found both were comfortable to type on. The touch sensitive keyboard does require a bit of pressure before it registers a key press. This means I can rest my fingers on it and feel around to ensure I am about to press the correct key. The only thing is you cannot disable the track pad. I found I accidentally hit it a number of times when typing.
I tried it twice. The first time I was a bit confused as it was so different. The second time I went back the next day and was able to navigate a bit more easily. It is different and will take some getting used to, but that is the case for anything new.
I mostly tried out Word and Excel and it does feel a lot like the PC versions. That is what I find lacking with my current Transformer tablet.
As I currently have purchased my laptop and tablet just last year, I do not plan on getting a Surface tablet or any new Win8 devices in the near future. When it does come time to upgrade my PC/tablet, I do feel I will consider getting a single device instead of both a PC and tablet. My preference would be something like my Transformer tablet in terms of form factor. I much prefer the Transformer tablet and doc more so than the Surface ones I have seen this weekend.
I tried it twice. The first time I was a bit confused as it was so different. The second time I went back the next day and was able to navigate a bit more easily. It is different and will take some getting used to, but that is the case for anything new.
I mostly tried out Word and Excel and it does feel a lot like the PC versions. That is what I find lacking with my current Transformer tablet.
As I currently have purchased my laptop and tablet just last year, I do not plan on getting a Surface tablet or any new Win8 devices in the near future. When it does come time to upgrade my PC/tablet, I do feel I will consider getting a single device instead of both a PC and tablet. My preference would be something like my Transformer tablet in terms of form factor. I much prefer the Transformer tablet and doc more so than the Surface ones I have seen this weekend.
I got mine on Saturday. Works great and I enjoy it a lot. I have been using it almost exclusively since. Comparing it to the iPad in terms of battery life for example, I found that in similar usage, the Surface gets roughly 90% the battery time of the iPad 3. The screen itself is very good in every situation, but the retina display on the iPad is definitely better when viewing images that can take advantage of it.
Regarding apps, there is a small selection of apps compared to the iTunes app store. Facebook app not being there is no problem for me since I use the browser anyway, but some games and a few "niche" apps that I'm used to having are not there and this somehow lessens my experience. This is very subjective of course.
The look and feel to it are excellent, and comparing it to the iPad depends on each person, for me they both feel great.
I got both the touch cover (came with Surface) and bought the type cover. Touch cover is amazing and really after almost 2 days with it I'm already typing at full speed. Type cover though is more natural coming from the keyboard side of things, both definitely faster than typing on the iPad and also allow for the screen not to be using up space on displaying a keyboard.
Cameras are not extraordinary but both work great for Skype which, for me at least, is the only use I have for both cameras on my current iPad.
Overall, great computer/tablet. My real testing will begin tomorrow when I take it to work and use it for my daily tasks. I will definitely keep it and maybe put off buying and iPad 4 and iPad mini for after next year's event in the Spring (if rumors of new versions come out).
Finally, I can't believe that Microsoft got the hardware so right and had a few misses on the software. While Windows RT flows and is never slow, the fact that the Desktop still feels awkward to touch and you really have to do some precise touching when dealing with some windows is distracting, more so when the tile interface is so easy to touch and even natural in some way.
Regarding apps, there is a small selection of apps compared to the iTunes app store. Facebook app not being there is no problem for me since I use the browser anyway, but some games and a few "niche" apps that I'm used to having are not there and this somehow lessens my experience. This is very subjective of course.
The look and feel to it are excellent, and comparing it to the iPad depends on each person, for me they both feel great.
I got both the touch cover (came with Surface) and bought the type cover. Touch cover is amazing and really after almost 2 days with it I'm already typing at full speed. Type cover though is more natural coming from the keyboard side of things, both definitely faster than typing on the iPad and also allow for the screen not to be using up space on displaying a keyboard.
Cameras are not extraordinary but both work great for Skype which, for me at least, is the only use I have for both cameras on my current iPad.
Overall, great computer/tablet. My real testing will begin tomorrow when I take it to work and use it for my daily tasks. I will definitely keep it and maybe put off buying and iPad 4 and iPad mini for after next year's event in the Spring (if rumors of new versions come out).
Finally, I can't believe that Microsoft got the hardware so right and had a few misses on the software. While Windows RT flows and is never slow, the fact that the Desktop still feels awkward to touch and you really have to do some precise touching when dealing with some windows is distracting, more so when the tile interface is so easy to touch and even natural in some way.
The only reason you've got a desktop in the RT version is because MS couldn't break Office completely away from it in enough time. I'd say by the time Windows 9 comes out, the touch rev probably won't have it in there at all.
...which kinda worries me about the actual desktop/laptop rev of Win9. MS has said its a legacy feature these days, which means they'll likely be moving away from it if RT takes off. Makes me wonder what Metro style thing they'll be replacing it with, and if it's gonna be just as good at multitasking and moving files around as the oldschool desktop is. There's a reason why windowed environments haven't changed all that much in the last 25 odd years...
And yet try to explain that to the folks that think Office really is coming to the iPad still...
Hey, it might be. After all this time, I bet they've gotten to the point where you can now add paragraphs.
It was a big milestone for them. They celebrated with coke and hookers.
It was a big milestone for them. They celebrated with coke and hookers.
Is there some advantage of the Surface over using a bluetooth keyboard with an iPad? I'd particularity value the opinion of somebody who has tried both.
Before the flaming starts, I need to get a tablet mostly for work purposes. I had been thinking of getting an iPad because Android doesn't really appeal to me (and my employer is concerned about security problems with Android). However, the Surface seems like an interesting concept to me.
Before the flaming starts, I need to get a tablet mostly for work purposes. I had been thinking of getting an iPad because Android doesn't really appeal to me (and my employer is concerned about security problems with Android). However, the Surface seems like an interesting concept to me.
I haven't used the Surface yet, but I do use my iPad with the Apple bluetooth keyboard quite a bit.
For me, I think the biggest advantage would be portability. The thing is basically a smartcover you can type on. If you need it, you just unfold it, and it's always there. This is opposed to the iPad, where if I want to use the keyboard while I'm out and about, I have to carry it out alongside.
It's not a huge, huge, huge deal, but the keyboard cover does make for a slightly sleeker, more comfortable package.
Thank you - but I thought Keyboard covers were also available for the iPad (e.g., Logitech, Crux, Brydge). Admittedly, most of the ones I've seen lack a track pad, and they appear to be bulky, so perhaps they are not as useful as the ones available for the Surface. In any case, I wish somebody would do a side-by-side review....
On the Surface it is just like Windows. You use Windows Update and get the software directly from them. Already got the full version of Office 2013
The available keyboards for the iPad are much bulkier than the touch cover. As said above, it's basically a smart cover you can type on. It also folds flat against the back when not in use, whereas at least the Logitech keyboard does not.
Other benefits are that it communicates and is powered directly by the Surface, rather than having to have a separate battery and bluetooth connection.