Windows 8 Surface Pro Reviews

fjtorres · 01-11-2013, 05:00 PM

CNET got actual hands-on time for review of Surface Pro at CES:
http://reviews.cnet.com/microsoft-surface-pro/

Quote:

The original Surface tablet received mixed reviews, largely because of its Windows RT operating system. The Surface Pro is the more significant product, because it makes no computing compromises: it's the dream of a tablet as your PC, while the original Surface felt more like an iPad competitor.

Quote:

The Surface Pro supports pressure-sensitive styli, and Microsoft has its own Surface Pen Pro that magnetically attaches to the power connector to hold it in place on the go. Writing and sketching felt natural, and palm-rejection technology activates the moment the Surface Pro senses the stylus approaching the screen.

Quote:

Can a tablet comfortably be your full PC? So far, when it comes to my limited time with Surface Pro, the answer seems to be yes. And that could, in the long run, be the most impactful development in PCs in years.

Promising, promising...

xendula · 01-11-2013, 08:05 PM

I am going back and forth between that one and the Samsung Ativ 700. All the other ones either seem to have slower processors or a lower screen resolution, and I will need to put Adobe CS6 on it.

fjtorres · 01-11-2013, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xendula

I am going back and forth between that one and the Samsung Ativ 700. All the other ones either seem to have slower processors or a lower screen resolution, and I will need to put Adobe CS6 on it.

It might come down to the bloatware on the Samsung--cause the whole point of the Surface is that it'll be a pristine Win8 experience.

paola · 01-12-2013, 06:07 AM

I am also extremely intrigued: but

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

It might come down to the bloatware on the Samsung--cause the whole point of the Surface is that it'll be a pristine Win8 experience.

if you (well I really

) wanted to use it so replace my laptop, I worry the hard disk hasn't got enough space - has anybody have any direct experience with the Gigabyte slate S1082? So far I've only found what amounts to sales adverts...

HarryT · 01-12-2013, 06:22 AM

I definitely see a Surface Pro in my future. I'm interested to know what the battery life will be - although I'm not personally bothered if it's only comparable to a traditional laptop, since a laptop replacement is what I'll be using it as.

fjtorres · 01-12-2013, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paola

I am also extremely intrigued: but

if you (well I really

) wanted to use it so replace my laptop, I worry the hard disk hasn't got enough space

Yeah, the 64GB sounds a bit tight. But I do remember the days of 20GB HDs (to say nothing of 20MB Hard Drives) and I think it can work fine. But with 128GB for another US$100, I suspect most buyers will just bite the bullet. That really should suffice for anything that doesn't involve massive HD video collections. And external USB3 drives can fill in that gap.

Full USB3 host has its uses.

What caught my eye is the idea that the Surface Pro can drive external displays at higher-than-fullHD resolution.

HarryT · 01-12-2013, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

What caught my eye is the idea that the Surface Pro can drive external displays at higher-than-fullHD resolution.

Yes, as a portable device for giving things like PowerPoint presentations (very important for business use) it should excel (no pun intended

).

wizwor · 01-12-2013, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paola

I am also extremely intrigued: but

if you (well I really

) wanted to use it so replace my laptop, I worry the hard disk hasn't got enough space - has anybody have any direct experience with the Gigabyte slate S1082? So far I've only found what amounts to sales adverts...

It's all about the Cloud, man. Get with the program!

Seriously, I would not worry about space. A pocket full of micro thumb drives will serve you well. Kingston is about to release a 1t drive. How many USB ports does your Pro have?

I have been getting the Kingston 16g thumb drives for around $8. Imagine that? That's StarWars or Harry Potter or 1/4 of my music library. I look at my racks of DVDs and CDs (I got the racks when blockbuster folded) then the thumb drives and just smile.

And I use them just like that -- work, music, movies, taxes, etc. It's actually a really good idea to disconnect sensitive data from your computer when it is not being used. No one can read a thumb drive that's in a desk drawer.

xendula · 01-12-2013, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

It might come down to the bloatware on the Samsung--cause the whole point of the Surface is that it'll be a pristine Win8 experience.

I didn't think it would have any Samsung specific bloatware, but that's a good point. I'll have to read up on that.

xendula · 01-12-2013, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

I definitely see a Surface Pro in my future. I'm interested to know what the battery life will be - although I'm not personally bothered if it's only comparable to a traditional laptop, since a laptop replacement is what I'll be using it as.

I personally could not live with a limited battery life - I've been spoiled for too long (since the iPad 1) to accept 2-3 hours .... could maybe live with 6-7.

wizwor · 01-12-2013, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xendula

I personally could not live with a limited battery life - I've been spoiled for too long (since the iPad 1) to accept 2-3 hours .... could maybe live with 6-7.

Here you go...
(from http://www.legitreviews.com/article/2119/1/)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intel

Battery life is always of concern to everyone, so Intel spoke about "All Day Battery Life" with the new 4th Generation Core CPU (codenamed Haswell). This CPU will offer the largest battery life increase in the history of Intel. This is fantastic news, to help keep you wireless and away from power sources. Intel did show off a reference design that will offer up to 13 hours of battery life as a full system, and 10 hours as a tablet.

paola · 01-12-2013, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

(to say nothing of 20MB Hard Drives)

I do remember those days, still have a laptop with 20MB hard drive

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizwor

It's all about the Cloud, man. Get with the program!

Seriously, I would not worry about space. ...

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjtorres

But with 128GB for another US$100, I suspect most buyers will just bite the bullet. That really should suffice for anything that doesn't involve massive HD video collections. And external USB3 drives can fill in that gap.

Full USB3 host has its uses.

I am not worried about "user files" much, but about programmes - I'd be using it for work, and I have plenty of statistical packages and the like that take up a lot of space with installation - I presume they cannot be installed on an external drive, right? (please don't shoot

)

wizwor · 01-12-2013, 12:32 PM

Generally, I would say they could, but you'd need to check the manuals.

xendula · 01-12-2013, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wizwor

Here you go...
(from http://www.legitreviews.com/article/2119/1/)

Sounds good!! I can definitely live with 10/13 hours!

Spectrum · 01-12-2013, 01:16 PM

I will be getting one when it is released at the end of this month as I am told.

01-11-2013, 08:05 PM	#2
xendula eBookworm Posts: 1,576 Karma: 2692000 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Germany / USA Device: Kindle 4B/K~ iPad3 ~ Nexus 7 ~ Kindle Paperwhite	I am going back and forth between that one and the Samsung Ativ 700. All the other ones either seem to have slower processors or a lower screen resolution, and I will need to put Adobe CS6 on it. __________________ They must have used multicolor LED's and finally realized it. ~ S. attempting to explain the colorful blobs on Kindle Paperwhite screens.

01-12-2013, 06:22 AM	#5
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 54,659 Karma: 26165759 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Touch, PW, Fire HD, iPad 3, iPhone 4, Samsung Tab 2 7 + More	I definitely see a Surface Pro in my future. I'm interested to know what the battery life will be - although I'm not personally bothered if it's only comparable to a traditional laptop, since a laptop replacement is what I'll be using it as. __________________ Harry Currently proofreading The Poison Belt, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

01-12-2013, 12:32 PM	#13
wizwor Guru Posts: 762 Karma: 16199507 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kindle, fire	Generally, I would say they could, but you'd need to check the manuals. __________________ http://thebeersoncomcast.wordpress.com/

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