Surface 2 Review: First Week.

I shall start by saying this purchase was not an impulse buy. Few of my gadgetry purchases are particularly impulsive, usually they are researched, reviewed and pondered upon. So it’s fair to say I jumped in with the Surface 2 with a fair idea knowing what to expect.

But why the Surface?

Well that’s the question. The Surface first came to my attention whilst I was doing some research for acquiring tablets for my son’s primary school, was it to be Apple, Android or Microsoft. At that time there was only the Surface RT, it was heavily discounted for schools, colleges and universities ($229AUD without touch cover).
In the end the school chose iPads, I don’t think any one tablet was going to be better choice than the other, but it certainly got me thinking about the RT, and then the Surface 2 was announced.

So what is the Surface 2?

Price: $529AUD, + $139.99AUD for Touch Cover, + $149.99AUD for Type Cover
Screen: 10.6-inches, 10.6-inch ClearType 1920×1080 (207PPI)
Processor: 1.3 GHz Quad Core Tegra 4
Storage: 32 GB, microSDXC expandable
Wi-Fi: 802.11b/g/n
RAM: 2 GB
Connectivity: 1 USB 3.0 port, HD video out, Bluetooth 4.0
Weight: 1.5 Pounds
Dimensions: 10.81 x 6.77 x 0.36 inches

In essence it is Microsoft’s version of an ipad but with a greater emphasis towards being something you can compose on rather than just for consumption.
I have used ipads, android devices, symbian and of course windows platforms. The problem is most tablets seem a little ‘gimmicky’, that is unless you really have a valid reasons of why you want an iOS or android device in a tablet form they are often duplicating already what a good smartphone can do.
Smartphones I get, they are highly pocketable, versatile and powerful. Tablets are not so pocket friendly, so unless you have a good reason to needing a bigger screen then think twice about any tablet.

Reasons I chose the Surface 2;

• 10 inch screen. One of the main functions of the Surface 2 was to actually do some work on it. It order to be productive 1920x1080 (16:9) on a 10 inch screen beats a smartphone screen, or Nexus 7 sized screen, I actually prefer 16:9 aspect ratio over the ipads 4:3. Of course if it’s purely for work there are better options out there, but I also wanted portability also (see below).
• Portable. It’s a device we will take to work, on holidays and of course to the sofa.
• Keyboard/Mice. I was attracted to the idea of having a vast array of options for keyboard interface (and not just the touch/type covers), as well as walking away from those peripherals (leaving them behind on the desk) transforming the device into a more sofa friendly companion. The full sized usb 3 port means lots of choices from reputable keyboard manufactures are available (Logitech, Microsoft etc), tiny discreet nano receivers allow for those peripherals to be permanently assigned to the tablet without the hassle of undocking/unclicking or reattaching, just grab the tablet and leave, simple.
• Multiple accounts. My kids would forever uninstall apps on the ipad (by accident of course), making it a PIA to reinstall/redownload apps that they had messed with or taken off. I’m aware these days Android can do multiple logins, but the fact the Surface 2 has this ability was a welcome addition. I can set a separate account for me, the wife and one for the kids (with parental control) thus avoiding this kind of accidental meddling in future. It also allows for better customisation, I get the tablet working the way I want for me, streamline it for simplicity for the kids and other users can have it orientated to how they want it.
• Networking. Since I have Windows 8 on our main PC I was looking forward to sharing files and folders easily. In the past I even jail broke our ipad in an attempt to access and share content easier, unfortunately it wasn’t worth it, too much effort for little reward. Things just have to work out of the box with minimal tweaking, suffice to say I got file sharing set up very quickly.
• Full working browser. Plenty of educational (and non educational) websites still use flash; I was sick and tired of hitting a (flash) wall with apple and android devices in this regard. It’s fantastic to get this freedom again.
• Office. To have Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint comes with obvious advantages. I have tried apples ‘Office solutions’ and was pretty dissatisfied. Here we get the real thing and it works as you would expect thus making the Surface 2 a proper ‘working’ device.
• Battery life. From reading reviews (haven’t actually done a battery test myself) anywhere 8-9+ hours is realistic, something I consider pretty decent for what you can get around the $500 mark. I don’t think its realistic to expect similar battery life from other Windows 8 devices around the same price. Of course other devices might have not been RT based, but my decision was based around sacrificing the full functionality of Windows 8 in favor of more battery life.
• 200gb Skydrive (free for two years). This might sound gimmicky, normally I’m not swayed by this sort of thing, but I have already bought into skydrive previously, I would normally be paying $50/yr renewal fees to continue using it, so in my mind I was saving $100 off the asking price. I guess for some it’s not that relevant, but for me it added value to the overall purchase.
• Free Skype International (for a year). Again another gimmick, but I actually regularly use Skype to call international landlines, it’s just another saving I’m going to benefit from.

The First Week.

Having already used Windows 8 for awhile I was familiar with some aspects of the OS, but to be honest seeing as my main machine is running a full version of Windows 8 I pretty much skip Metro/Start altogether and use the desktop mode exclusively. Here on the Surface 2 I was forced to get to know Metro a bit more (not necessarily a bad thing) but it did involve a learning curve (that is far from over).

Desktop mode is fine for browsing Network files, using IE11, using Office, but after that it’s more annoying to try and use via touch. The icons/interface are too small for touch, and although you can customise things slightly (change resolution, font size etc) its still best left to a mouse/trackpad and keyboard. In fact I quite like to think of Desktop as ‘Work mode’ (proper keyboard and mice) and Metro/Start as ‘Play mode’ (touch).
I read in some review that one guy felt it silly to have the two distinctions, that the features available in Desktop should just be merged into Metro. Perhaps he’s right, but I haven’t found it a problem to go between the two.

After a week I have not completely got my head around the UI of Win 8. It’s not so much Windows 8 desktop mode - anyone who has used windows can feel more at home here - it's the Metro side of things (I had to google how to exit an app properly for example).
I’m not joking when I say I have conquered Cowon UI quicker than Win 8. I suspect its more complex way of doing things might be down to it being more versatile, I don’t know yet, it could just be plain bad UI. For now the jury is out. But be warned, if you’re someone who has never used windows 8, and has come from iOS/android world you might find yourself getting frustrated quite easily, you will need to have patience to learn something that doesn't feel intuitive at all.


Pleasant surprises.



I love the charging port. For those unaware its magnetic in nature, needs no forcing or pushing in, its unlikely to suffer dust issues, or just abuse from a bad contact/insertion or accidental bend/twist. I wish all ports were like this, it shows good craftsmanship (or at least trying to minimise problems through wear and tear).



The three angles the tablet can be used in (flat is also an angle) seems to suffice for any occasion of use. At no point did I wish I could place it in a 3rd or 4th angle, the extra angle (that the RT did not have) does seem to have gained a lot of positive feedback from other users.

Being able to share the screen with side by side apps was also nice. What’s even nicer is being able to change the ratio of which app gets more screen space, so it doesn’t have to be a strict 50:50, it can be 70:30 etc.



Video Streaming. I wasn’t at all counting on this, but I’ve had some decent success in finding a metro app that can stream 1080p mkv files from my desktop win 8 machine to the Surface 2. Some files have stutter whilst others don’t. The stutter is due (I think) to 1080p being too large for wifi streaming (at least that’s the problem I have encountered in the past on other HD Media players I have tried, they prefer an Ethernet connection generally). Perhaps a better modem on my part will solves this (if anyone knows about this please feel free to comment).
On files that stuttered via streaming, once transferred to usb stick (NTFS formatted) and connected directly to the Surface the stutter was absent. 720p files seem to stream better, so if not for movies then certainly TV shows streaming seems to be a real possibility. And of course that 16:9 1080p screen is glorious to view HD content on.

1080p front facing camera. This now trumps my 720p webcam on the desktop pc, oddly I don’t think the Surface Pro has the same 1080p camera but rather a lesser 720p…
Rear camera is also decent, but not that I will be using it much… I’ve never understood the necessity of a rear camera on a tablet myself, the couple of times I've had this feature (on other tablets I've used) it was to show someone something via camera switching on Skype. But as for taking actual pictures I'm not sure I'd ever bother with it.


Disappointments

Weight of the device. Some users reported that using the tablet in portrait mode is poor experience. I don’t feel the same, when on the sofa it is my preferred way to hold and interact with the tablet. It might look really long, but for websites and forums it saves you constantly having to swipe down to scroll.
Landscape mode feels awkward in my hands, hard to balance and type on, at least in portrait mode I can thumb type. But what I am left with is a feeling of it just being too heavy to be really comfortable. Using my Nexus 7 for reading is way more comfortable (and will continue to be my main ereader/comic reader of choice). What might make me give up on 7 inch tablets completely would be if 10 inch varieties weighed a lot less. So this isn’t a fair criticism of the Surface exactly but rather all 10 inch devices I have held/used.

Metro Store. At this point in time there is a lot less choice in apps than on other popular platforms. I would like to see more apps in the market place so it has to be mentioned as a disappointment.
However, when I purchased the Surface 2 I was unaware there was even an official Metro app for Facebook, my intention was to just use IE11 and ‘pin’ the website to the Start section (as a quick launch/speed dial type of thing). Same for IMDB, in fact the app version of IMDB for android and apple I find less than satisfactory (the forum side of things is left out completely). And it is here we forget the power of a full proper working browser. I think we need to get away from the app mentality and also consider what we can make do with from using the better working internet browser.

It goes without saying then that it is a bit of a tease to see the desktop mode of Windows 8 but be restricted to what you can install. But of course consequently the price is much reduced compared to its full working counterpart the Surface Pro.

My issue with Surface Pro tablets (which are twice-four times the price and run full working Windows 8) is that they are perhaps overkill for most. I can’t imagine really wanting to do high end gaming on a surface style interface, nor use graphically intensive or system hungry programs. Core i5, 8gb ram is probably overkill for most.
It might have been nice to see a full working win 8 Surface with lower specs that allows for the installation of lighter resource programs thus gaining a certain workaround of the metro store. Of course it would receive criticism for being too weak and underpowered... you just can't win sometimes.

Price of Accessories. After I had tinkered with the tablet for a week I went googling to see what accessories I might have the joy of adding. Certainly it would be nice to have an additional charger (one for work, one for home), a display cable (more room to work/enjoy video on larger screen), Ethernet adapter (would this solve the 1080p lag/stutter), even just a nice protective case. I was horrified to discover the prices of the aforementioned products…

Entry level protective case - $39AUD
Charger $50-$100 (depending upon wattage)
Display Adapter (HDMI not included) $50
Ethernet Adapter (connects via usb3 port) $50

Suffice to say its not just the touch/type covers that are seriously over priced, looks like MS have taken a leaf out of Apples tree!

Perhaps cheaper alternatives will pop up elsewhere in future, or specials/price drops will follow, but for now I’ll pass thanks.

Conclusion

All in all I got what I expected, this is the tablet I have been wanting and waiting for for quite sometime. I can see businesses taking advantage of this device more so than it’s competitors iPads and Androids. Sadly all the reviews I have read seem to have been overly focused on the consumption side of things, failing to hype up (or not even mentioning) the proper advantages of IE11 and Office. If you’re like me and want a bit of both I think you will satisfied by the Surface 2 experience.

Thank you Bruce

You're welcome.

Hi there.

Thanks for a VERY WELL written article -- all points covered decently too -- this should almost be REQUIRED reading before anybody jumps in and buys a tablet.

The only question I'd like to put to the OP is that since you've gone for an Ms solution why did you not go instead for a CONVERTIBLE -- price differential would not have been huge and you've got the best of BOTH worlds.

Anyway well written and a god read.

+1 for you.

Cheers
jimbo

I'll try to answer that.

At the time I was looking into the Surface 2 I was also looking into the Surface Pro. I was hearing a similar thing from various reviewers namely that with all this extra power of a full win 8, alot of it was going to waste in tablet form running full programs, it was not something many actually wanted to do on a tablet, it was overkill. Not only over kill but was detrimental to the device in terms of lesser battery life/more heat etc. Many could get by with what they wanted to do on a surface 2 (from a tablet perspective), and those that used a Surface Pro could do more but didn't, and subsequently wasn't using the device to its fullest potential and were left with a device that suffered in terms of battery life.
Now I'm not suggesting that the Surface Pro is naff. What I'm saying is those needing a 512ssd, 8gb ram, full win 8 in tablet form might be a rare breed. I'm abit of a pc gamer, but im not about to game on a 10 inch device when I have my full desktop with a 27 inch screen. Same for photo editing and other more intensive programs.
I'm not saying the Surface 2 ticks all the right boxes, there is a small annoying gap (currently) whereby I can't get it to do everything that I want it to do, but the price and cons of a full win 8 tablet were too much of a price to pay.

I made the comment elsewhere, that if there was a Core i3 Surface tablet priced a little higher than the Surface 2, running full windows 8, I might have gone for that, but there wasn't. It was a case of RT OS for $500 vs Pro for $1000 (twice the price).

Now in terms of going elsewhere other than a Surface Pro I was struggling to find such an equally priced convertible that was...

a) $500-600AUD
b) 10 inch 1920x1080 screen
c) Excellent Battery Life
d) Touch screen.
e) full win 8

... I found hard to find. I knew exactly what I wanted the device to do, and the Surface 2 ticked those boxes. The boxes it couldn't tick were not massive deal breakers for me, and I think that's the lesson here for anyone buying anything. Think carefully about what you want the device to do for you and check to see if it can, otherwise you walk away unsatisfied or paying alot more for stuff u never use (like all those macbook air owners who use it just for facebook lol).

It might also be relevant to mention I am living in oz, whereby we seem to pay a little more for electronics and the choice not as wide as say USA.

Anyway if you have a competitor product to the surface 2 that comes in close to the above I would love to hear about it.

There is one other point I'd like to make tho, and I can't emphasis this enough, it's something I discovered after the fact of buying the Surface 2, not before. I truly love the kickstand and usb port on the Surface 2, it has actually changed my whole way I think about mobile computing.
Laptops have a screen and a keyboard permanently affixed, convertibles usually require to be docked to their keyboard in order to be upright.
Here on the Surface 2 I can use the kickstand to sit the screen at an angle that suits and use any keyboard of my choice that doesn't have to be docked directly to it. I can have the two objects sitting off one another at a slight angle and a few inches apart. Doesn't sound like much but in reality it's really comfortable. Then when you leave the table you just walk away with the screen to the couch without the bulk of a keyboard.

"Ahhhh but Bruce, Laptops have usb ports too!", this is true, but the addition of the keyboard already docked to the laptop screen just gets in the way of the other 'preferred' keyboard of yer choice. Many times I have read reviews of Laptops or convertibles and the reviewer always has something negative to say about the keys, layout, trackpad, a learning curve involved to adjusting to the new board etc, well with the Surface 2 you don't have to concern yerself with any of that, just plug in yer keyboard of choice and off you go.

I certainly won't be buying any touch cover, they are seriously over priced and look inferior to even the K400 I have lying around that I have used with the Surface 2 (which I had picked up previously for $30AUD, not $140 like the touchcovers!)

In short I don't think I'll ever buy a laptop again, I now see the permanent keyboard affixed to the screen as a negative, not a plus. A convertible is somewhat better but not ideal, in the end you still only have the choice of the 1 docking keyboard, it has to be docked directly to the screen, and if yer not using the keyboard how does the screen stay upright (without a kickstand or case with stand).
I love the fact that you can just buy the Surface 2 without being forced to buy the touch covers, certainly I would have reconsidered the whole venture if the starting price was around $620 but came forcibly with a touch cover.

The only thing missing for me was a middle of the ground Surface, something priced around $750, that had full win 8 but was never intended to play games, intensive video editing programs etc, but just something that would help bridge the gap between metro and full programs.
Perhaps MS knew this tho, and they want to help Metro along by not offering such a middle ground machine... who knows.