MobileRead Forums - View Single Post

mgmueller · 10-22-2013, 07:09 AM

I've just attached the new Type Cover to my "old" Surface Pro Gen1 128GB.
It's working of course.
But, surprisingly enough, the Microsoft app "Trackpad Setting" doesn't recognise the cover. If I re-attach the old Type Cover, it's still working.
I've checked: No update in the Microsoft store for the app (yet?).
No biggy, I don't really adjust any settings for the keyboard/touchpad.
Still strange, though.
Edit: The "trackpad Setting" app doesn't recognise the new cover on the new Surface Pro either. Obviously, the new covers aren't covered by the app (yet?).

Comparing the covers:
The new Type Cover is slightly thinner.
The touchpad has changed, not plastic anymore but the same material as on the touch covers. I don't mind, but some might say the plastic touchpad was more popular from what I've heard...
The backlight definitely improves usability of the keyboard. You can switch between (as far as I can tell) 3 levels of backlight with the F1 and F2 keys.

I'm unboxing the Surface Pro 2 now.
Same box as for the 1st generation.
Very nice. They carefully seal the box. I'm always puzzled, if I receive a new item from some other manufacturers and they're not in a sealed box. I always ask myself then, whether some user already may have hold it in his hands and maybe returned it...

Same power adapter like for the first one (with the additional USB port for charging), same stylus.

The initial settings menu is slightly different (from what I remember).
I use the US keyboard and English as my main settings, as most apps are in English anyway.
If I remember correctly, the initial setting on my Gen1 (probably due to Windows 8 vs. 8.1) did assume US time zone. Here I freely can choose: US English, but Central European time zone. Not important, but I like such caring for details.

The second setting for the kickstand certainly is helpful.
Setting 1 is the same as with the 1st Gen Surface Pro. Setting 2 sets the kickstand to almost a 90 degree angle. Seems a lot at first glance, but actually makes a lot of sense. I'll probably use this setting more often than the other one. When setting the Surface Pro on the headrest of my sofa, it's kind of "wobbly", so a lower angle of the display (in relation to the headrest) makes it more stable.

For the keyboard, I'm looking forward to this wireless adapter: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/...irelessadapter
Strange enough: You can order it in the US, but I don't find it on the German website yet.
Interesting concept, though.

Display of the Pro 2 has more vivid colors than Pro Gen1, although Gen1 was great already.

I've just redeemed 200GB Skydrive storage for the purchase of my Surface Pro 2.
Plus additional Skype bonuses.
Tomorrow I'll do the same with the vouchers from my Surface 2.

Nice! With 1TB on Googledrive for the purchase of my Chromebook Pixel and about 450GB on Skydrive I shouldn't run into storage problems in the next few months...

I've done some kind of battery comparison tonight.
I've used my new Surface Pro 2 tonight on battery. In parallel, my old Surface Pro has been switched on as well. I've been working/experimenting on the new one, whereas the old one frequently was on standby and only used maybe 25% of the time. At the end of the night, after 8 hours in total, battery status indicates:
Old Surface Pro = 4 to 6 hours of "normal" usage.
New Surface Pro = 8 to 10 hours.
I'd estimate, battery duration roughly has doubled.

10-22-2013, 07:09 AM	#1337
mgmueller Member Retired Posts: 3,308 Karma: 13024950 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Augsburg (near Munich), Germany Device: 26 Readers, 44 Tablets	Surface Pro 2 (128GB) I've just attached the new Type Cover to my "old" Surface Pro Gen1 128GB. It's working of course. But, surprisingly enough, the Microsoft app "Trackpad Setting" doesn't recognise the cover. If I re-attach the old Type Cover, it's still working. I've checked: No update in the Microsoft store for the app (yet?). No biggy, I don't really adjust any settings for the keyboard/touchpad. Still strange, though. Edit: The "trackpad Setting" app doesn't recognise the new cover on the new Surface Pro either. Obviously, the new covers aren't covered by the app (yet?). Comparing the covers: The new Type Cover is slightly thinner. The touchpad has changed, not plastic anymore but the same material as on the touch covers. I don't mind, but some might say the plastic touchpad was more popular from what I've heard... The backlight definitely improves usability of the keyboard. You can switch between (as far as I can tell) 3 levels of backlight with the F1 and F2 keys. I'm unboxing the Surface Pro 2 now. Same box as for the 1st generation. Very nice. They carefully seal the box. I'm always puzzled, if I receive a new item from some other manufacturers and they're not in a sealed box. I always ask myself then, whether some user already may have hold it in his hands and maybe returned it... Same power adapter like for the first one (with the additional USB port for charging), same stylus. The initial settings menu is slightly different (from what I remember). I use the US keyboard and English as my main settings, as most apps are in English anyway. If I remember correctly, the initial setting on my Gen1 (probably due to Windows 8 vs. 8.1) did assume US time zone. Here I freely can choose: US English, but Central European time zone. Not important, but I like such caring for details. The second setting for the kickstand certainly is helpful. Setting 1 is the same as with the 1st Gen Surface Pro. Setting 2 sets the kickstand to almost a 90 degree angle. Seems a lot at first glance, but actually makes a lot of sense. I'll probably use this setting more often than the other one. When setting the Surface Pro on the headrest of my sofa, it's kind of "wobbly", so a lower angle of the display (in relation to the headrest) makes it more stable. For the keyboard, I'm looking forward to this wireless adapter: http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/...irelessadapter Strange enough: You can order it in the US, but I don't find it on the German website yet. Interesting concept, though. Display of the Pro 2 has more vivid colors than Pro Gen1, although Gen1 was great already. I've just redeemed 200GB Skydrive storage for the purchase of my Surface Pro 2. Plus additional Skype bonuses. Tomorrow I'll do the same with the vouchers from my Surface 2. Nice! With 1TB on Googledrive for the purchase of my Chromebook Pixel and about 450GB on Skydrive I shouldn't run into storage problems in the next few months... I've done some kind of battery comparison tonight. I've used my new Surface Pro 2 tonight on battery. In parallel, my old Surface Pro has been switched on as well. I've been working/experimenting on the new one, whereas the old one frequently was on standby and only used maybe 25% of the time. At the end of the night, after 8 hours in total, battery status indicates: Old Surface Pro = 4 to 6 hours of "normal" usage. New Surface Pro = 8 to 10 hours. I'd estimate, battery duration roughly has doubled. Last edited by mgmueller; 10-23-2013 at 07:11 AM.