04-04-2013, 07:51 PM | #346 | |
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I've resetted both, Surface RT and Surface Pro, last night in parallel. I've stressed them both to the limit for about 8 hours: Downloading tons of apps, magazines and books, testing apps back and forth. I'd say, the fan was on maybe 10% to 20% of the time. I didn't recognise any variations in fan noise. It seems rather digital: It's on or off. It gets warm rather quickly on the back panel. Warm, but not hot. I've read somewhere, the fan would recognise the holding position and adjust accordingly so it doesn't exhaust in your face. I haven't checked this out yet, I didn't actually feel any air flow so far. Only hear the slight whisper. On this level I'm perfectly fine. My MacBook Air, especially when moving huge chunks of files, can be way noisier. But of course I haven't been even close to stressing my Surface Pro to a similar level as my (beloved) MacBook Air in day-to-day operations. I couldn't really test the battery so far. I expect about half the battery duration of Surface RT = ca. 5 hours for Surface Pro. So far, this seems realistic, but I can't really tell. I'm a bit torn: On one hand, I love Surface Pro: Stylish, "industrial" and "valuable" design. Sheer endless possibilites due to legacy Windows apps/software. On the other hand, quite frankly, I don't really see the niche yet. If I want to have a mobile "working horse", I can use MacBook Air or similar notebooks/ultrabooks. If I want to have a fun tablet, Kindle Fire HD 8.9" perfectly delivers for 1/3rd of the money. To me, as a collector and gadgeteer, it's a great addition. But I'd never claim my hobby being "necessary" or "reasonable". But for me it will be working great. Surface RT already more or less eliminated my lust for Android tablets. I did prefer them for some time over iOS because of the open (file) system. With Windows tablets, this need is fulfilled perfectly. iOS on the other hand always was a "toy" for me, never a "working horse". Depending on the number, diversity and quality of apps on Windows tablets, I may not need iOS anymore either. Still: I'll most certainly buy all Kindle tablets = Android. And I'd go for an iPad mini with imprved specs anytime... Last edited by mgmueller; 04-04-2013 at 11:29 PM. |
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04-04-2013, 07:59 PM | #347 | |
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Even when perfectly fine with a new gadget: A few months later there will be something new that blows it out of the water. I simply decide, whether I here and now get what I want and "need" for the moment. And as I always say: € 500 or even € 800 may seem a lot at the moment of purchase. But if you break it down to an hourly rate, it's miniscule. Let's say, I use a € 800 tablet for 2 years and on average 3 hours per day: This adds up to about 2.200 hours of usage. That's about 36 €-cent per hour! Even if I add costs for content and accessories, it's still way cheaper than 1 hour in cinema (> € 8 per hour with Popcorn and a softdrink). Not to mention dinner, vacations or just driving your car... |
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04-04-2013, 11:32 PM | #348 | |
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Not because people don't want the cover. But obviously many claimed, they would like to have a different color. So Microsoft offers without cover for ca. € 100 less and you can order the touch cover separately - in the color you'd like. |
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04-05-2013, 12:10 AM | #349 |
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While being able to use Office is the main temptation for a Surface, I assume MS has a RT version in the pipeline, I also use Nuance's Dragon Dictate on my Windows laptop and I don't think they would make a RT version so I guess the Pro is the way to go. That or the Dell.
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04-05-2013, 12:45 AM | #350 | |
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http://michaellinenberger.com/blog/d...on-surface-rt/ If the Surface RT is enough I would recommend the RT over the Pro (cheaper, thinner, lighter, comes with Office, longer battery life). No viruses. Of course, you have to do your research carefully. Once the Surface Pro becomes available in Asia I still might get the Pro and give my RT to my wife --- it would be absolutely perfect for her and I still enjoy having a device that can do everything. The only thing that bothers me on the RT now is the limited VPN functionality (L2TP, PPTP, and SSTP only). If I had full Outlook and OpenVPN on my Surface RT then it really would be the only PC I would ever need. Last edited by HansTWN; 04-05-2013 at 12:58 AM. |
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04-05-2013, 03:48 AM | #351 |
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Why is the VPN capability stymied? Is it processor related? Can it be fixed in future updates?
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04-05-2013, 05:36 AM | #352 |
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Battery on Surface Pro
Windows Mobility Center (probably not very accurate, though) just tells me:
Battery 79%, 4h 6min remaining. |
04-05-2013, 05:53 AM | #353 |
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It has been on since this morning?
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04-05-2013, 06:45 AM | #354 | |
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But I have no choice but to lug a full laptop when I travel to China (several times a year). Perhaps there will also be options on the rooted RT with the hack for installing regular desktop apps? Such a VPN app shouldn't be very resource demanding. |
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04-05-2013, 06:46 AM | #355 |
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On and off yesterday.
Maybe for 1h after charging fully. My best guess for now: Slightly above 5 hours when "power using". Just testing BlueStacks. So far working flawlessly. So far, I'm only missing a single feature: GPS. I absolutely love Navigon and the likes on all of my mobile units. Oh, I'd wish for Swype and other alternative keyboards as well. Last edited by mgmueller; 04-05-2013 at 06:50 AM. |
04-05-2013, 07:27 AM | #356 |
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There are a number of pretty cheap GPS 'pucks' that will connect to a host unit by BlueTooth and add GPS capabilities. I have a love/hate relationship with them, as when they work they are fantastic, but sometimes BlueTooth communication just fails to work, on several different devices.
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04-05-2013, 07:29 AM | #357 | |
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Just curious, why use BlueStacks? What Android apps would you be using? Would be great for RT to fill some of the gaps in the app catalogue, but for the Pro? Last edited by HansTWN; 04-05-2013 at 07:31 AM. |
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04-05-2013, 08:07 AM | #358 | |
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Dell Latitude has GPS and 3G, but no navigation app yet (with the exception of Bing maps). (I've cked out Micorosoft's AutoRoute, but strangely enough it doesn't support the internal GPS, expects an external one). Surface Pro doesn't have GPS, but I'll try to use Navigon within BlueStacks. And: I don't need BlueStacks. But I HAVE to make it work at least once. Last edited by mgmueller; 04-05-2013 at 12:17 PM. |
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04-05-2013, 08:42 AM | #359 | |
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04-05-2013, 12:23 PM | #360 | |
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It's working and those are surprisingly cheap. But I'm not a fan of BlueTooth either and I'm even less a fan of adding external hardware. For each trip, I reflect, whether to take my Microsoft Wedge mouse for example. And I don't quite get it. What would be the costs of adding a GPS chip? € 20? Why not have it per se in mobile units > € 400? I love, sitting in cafe and checking out the POIs in the neighborhood. Or booking my next stay. Or the Saturn or Media Markt next to me. Missing GPS is no disaster, I usually have a smartphone with me anyway (for the moment, my favorite would be Lumia 920 if it's not on repair)... |
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