Microsoft Surface Pro review

It's a compelling proposition: all the power and application compatibility of a laptop running a proper desktop operating system, all the portability and convenience of a tablet, all mixed together in one package. That's the core idea behind Microsoft's Surface tablets but, as we saw with the Surface for Windows RT a few months ago, its ARM-based nature resulted in some substantial drawbacks. Namely: app selection.

Running Windows is all well and good, but when you're running the RT flavor, which strips compatibility with the entire, massive and still-swelling catalog of Windows applications, you're left with a desktop-class operating system completely bereft of any desktop apps. Welcome, then, to the Surface for Windows Pro, which promises all the niceties of the Surface RT -- compelling design, build quality, performance -- with full support for x86 Windows applications. (That is: every single Windows app released before the end of last year.) And, adding a 1080p display to the mix doesn't hurt. So, then, is this perfection in a single 10-inch, $899 device? Let's find out.

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Microsoft Surface Pro review

 

[Coke Robot]

Lines form around the US for the Surface Pro launch - Neowin
And they say no one wants a Surface Pro, posh!

 

[labeeman]

Lines form around the US for the Surface Pro launch - Neowin
And they say no one wants a Surface Pro, posh!

Some long lines for only 12 PROs. Most Best Buys only received one or two.

 

[Ray8]

You do realize that's the HUGEST benefit and feature of the Surface Pro? And, you do realize that the Desktop in 8 is incredibly similar to the one 7, you know, the one that was touch optimized?

What is the 'HUGEST' benefit?

The desktop is only similar when you install third party software to bring back that which wasn't broken.

 

[Coke Robot]

You do realize that's the HUGEST benefit and feature of the Surface Pro? And, you do realize that the Desktop in 8 is incredibly similar to the one 7, you know, the one that was touch optimized?

What is the 'HUGEST' benefit?

The desktop is only similar when you install third party software to bring back that which wasn't broken.

The Desktop doesn't include the start menu, it never has, that's a different piece of code and different UI. The ACTUAL Desktop Desktop is the VERY same as in 7. THAT, is one of many benefits the Pro brings over other tablets.

 

[SIW2]

I don't know what you mean.

Why shouldn't there be a macbook of some type at $699 and also a much better spec. one at twice the price. Nothing starnge about that.

"What would happen if he brought out an affordable macbook - $699 maybe." Then how would you explain a $1000 iPad, an $800 phone or a $1000 MacBook Air, Goodbye business model hello $50 share price.

 

[SIW2]

Nope, the desktop experience is very different without booting straight to it and having a sensible way of navigating around with unified search right there, and accees to important functions in one neat small, obvious, easily accessible place - oh wait - that would be a start menu.

It also looks bloody awful.

I don't know what all digitally authentic chit chat is about - there are some flower wallpapers - aren't they a representation of something real, natural, pleasant and relaxing ? What are they there for then.

No coincidence some of the oem's are shipping their own start menus -an attempt to ameliorate the metro twaddle for their customers. They do want to sell the machines after all.

You do realize that's the HUGEST benefit and feature of the Surface Pro? And, you do realize that the Desktop in 8 is incredibly similar to the one 7, you know, the one that was touch optimized?

What is the 'HUGEST' benefit?

The desktop is only similar when you install third party software to bring back that which wasn't broken.

The Desktop doesn't include the start menu, it never has, that's a different piece of code and different UI. The ACTUAL Desktop Desktop is the VERY same as in 7. THAT, is one of many benefits the Pro brings over other tablets.

 

[Coke Robot]

Nope, the desktop experience is very different without booting straight to it and having a sensible way of navigating around with unified search right there, and accees to important functions in one neat small, obvious, easily accessible place - oh wait - that would be a start menu.

It also looks bloody awful.

I don't know what all digitally authentic chit chat is about - there are some flower wallpapers - aren't they a representation of something real, natural, pleasant and relaxing ? What are they there for then.

No coincidence some of the oem's are shipping their own start menus -an attempt to ameliorate the metro twaddle for their customers. They do want to sell the machines after all.

What is the 'HUGEST' benefit?

The desktop is only similar when you install third party software to bring back that which wasn't broken.

The Desktop doesn't include the start menu, it never has, that's a different piece of code and different UI. The ACTUAL Desktop Desktop is the VERY same as in 7. THAT, is one of many benefits the Pro brings over other tablets.

The only OEM I've heard of that put a start menu in Windows 8 is Samsung, and even then, I don't even think they're on most models.

And yes, the start menu does look bloody awful.

 

[labeeman]

Nope, the desktop experience is very different without booting straight to it and having a sensible way of navigating around with unified search right there, and accees to important functions in one neat small, obvious, easily accessible place - oh wait - that would be a start menu.

It also looks bloody awful.

I don't know what all digitally authentic chit chat is about - there are some flower wallpapers - aren't they a representation of something real, natural, pleasant and relaxing ? What are they there for then.

No coincidence some of the oem's are shipping their own start menus -an attempt to ameliorate the metro twaddle for their customers. They do want to sell the machines after all.

The Desktop doesn't include the start menu, it never has, that's a different piece of code and different UI. The ACTUAL Desktop Desktop is the VERY same as in 7. THAT, is one of many benefits the Pro brings over other tablets.

The only OEM I've heard of that put a start menu in Windows 8 is Samsung, and even then, I don't even think they're on most models.

And yes, the start menu does look bloody awful.

You can add one more Lenovo to that list.

 

[SIW2]

And HP.

 

[Coke Robot]

If they're out there, they're surely not being sold at the fore front where my local best buy or any other PC retailer for that matter. All are either touch screen PCs with no start menu junk or non-touch PCs, again, with no start menu redundancy installed.

 

[Ray8]

It seems that maybe manufacturers (other than Microsoft) are listening to their customers.

 

[Tepid]

Uh,, prove it. Where are the claims, where is the actual info at for such claims?

 

[SIW2]

I am pretty sure they were worried at having to ship things with 8 on them. I get the impression they were not convinced they would sell.

So far, they don't seem to be flying off the shelves.

It seems that maybe manufacturers (other than Microsoft) are listening to their customers.

 

[Ray8]

Uh,, prove it. Where are the claims, where is the actual info at for such claims?

If you're referring to me, why don't you read post 127, 128 and 129 and ask the posters that question. Mine was merely a rhetorical statement based on those posts.

 

[Tepid]

but Ray, why does everything have to be about your posts. Just cause it falls under yours, doesn't mean is about you.

 

[Ray8]

but Ray, why does everything have to be about your posts. Just cause it falls under yours, doesn't mean is about you.

As your post was directly under mine, I was prompted to query whether it was directed at me. Hence the very obtuse (seemingly to you) lead-in: 'If you're referring to me...'. I could have also asked, 'Are you referring to me?', 'Is your post directed at me?' and any number of iterations which effectively would have said the same.

Your post clearly left people hanging, yet you quite obviously wanted specific answers. Who did you expect to respond? But therein lies further evidence of a problem. Inexactitude, or inconsistency, in many of your posts, appears to be a regular occurrence. If you expect to conduct valuable conversation, unless it's just a rhetorical post or a humorous post needing no further input, then you need to be somewhat more precise.

 

[Tepid]

hhahaha, whatever Ray, rock on buddy.

 

[jimbo45]

Lines form around the US for the Surface Pro launch - Neowin
And they say no one wants a Surface Pro, posh!

I'm not (definitely not) a naysayer about the Surface Pro -- but that article about "Lines form around ...".
The old Minister of propaganda in the Nazi Regime during WWII would have been proud of that presentation.

I could do that myself using the "Rentacrowd" or "Rentamob" principal. Just pay a few students something, create a sort of "Flash mobbing incident" - remember that craze a couple of years back -- and get a decent photographer to "doctor a few images" and you've got a perfect commercial.

Even without using "Rentamob" - you provide a FEW devices and notify some people who are interested in this type of technology that the device will be available to view (or even buy) from place ZZZ. -- of course the area will appear to be crowded. - Try going to a well run booth at a popular trade exhibition. Same type of principle applies --get a crowd to hang around your booth even if it's only for Free coffee- -- that's what always impresses the TV / Press.

I have no doubt the tablet will sell just fine -- but it's NOT APPLE so don't expect the same sort of scenes that used to be common when our favourite "Fruit company" was launching innovative products like the first iPods, iPhone and iPads.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[steveb]

There is no benefit to a Windows phone or tablet. What next Kellogg's making cars.

 

[Wenda]

There is no benefit to a Windows phone or tablet. What next Kellogg's making cars.

Well, it's an old joke here in Oz that bad drivers obtained their licences from within a Kellogg's box, so why not cars too?

Wenda.