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

 

[Dave76]

Thanks for the info Papa47, nice to hear from someone that has Surface Pro.

Agree, Chev

 

[BillWindows]

I have had the 128g Surface PRO for several days (Feb 9) and I find it very responsive, great display and I like the Bluetooth 4.0 that I use with the MS Wedge for Mouse as well as my simultaneous use of Bluetooth Motorola Headset. USB 3.0 port is super fast and the concerns with useable storage space is easily addressed with my 64 GB micro SDXC card. I believe that standard will eventually include a 2 Tera-byte card? That sure is a tiny card that becomes hidden within the PC. I have not tried the external video/projector connectivity but it should be great.

I find myself detaching the Type Keyboard and using it like an iPAD with all my MS Office Apps available. The virtual keyboard with the optional stylus input of characters is impressive. Files are available via Skydrive and Dropbox. I really like it.

I see the potential demand for this platform in corporate IT environments where techs currently use laptops or iPADS. We shall see.

Its good to hear from an actual owner, what do you think of the Wedge Mouse, I'm thinking of getting one. I signed up for MS Office 365 today and used it with Skydrive, it's definitely the future.
i can't wait till I see the Surface, problem is I'll probably buy it, I'm getting jealous.

 

[jimbo45]

Unfortunately, the video won't play. But how many people would see such a video anyway?

Hi there
For someone who has so much IT experience I can't fathom out why you can't play the video . Pefectly 100% straightforward - and how can you possibly comment on "Such a video" if you haven't seen it and therefore can't possibly know what its content is.

At least LOOK at the wretched thing before making a comment as to its usefulness or not.

OK It's a bit"naff" to start with --the ist 10 mins or so are typical US commercials -- pretty horrible if you come from outside the US - but the video plays just fine in W8 -- even with "Bog standard IE"included with W8.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Ray8]

Unfortunately, the video won't play. But how many people would see such a video anyway?

Hi there
For someone who has so much IT experience I can't fathom out why you can't play the video . Pefectly 100% straightforward - and how can you possibly comment on "Such a video" if you haven't seen it and therefore can't possibly know what its content is.

At least LOOK at the wretched thing before making a comment as to its usefulness or not.

OK It's a bit"naff" to start with --the ist 10 mins or so are typical US commercials -- pretty horrible if you come from outside the US - but the video plays just fine in W8 -- even with "Bog standard IE"included with W8.

Cheers
jimbo

There are often videos from specialist sites in the US that don't play here, they recognise the Australian IP address and won't display. But the thrust of my comment was 'How many people would actually see that video?' I did not comment on the video content; that's a big difference between merely asking how many people would have actually viewed it.

Which begs the question, how did you convert a simple statement about the likely number of viewers of the video, into one about criticising the content of the video? I know my English may sometimes be confusing to some, but in this instance I do believe that it was quite unambiguous.

 

[steveb]

Checked out the video plays perfectly on my iPad

 

[labeeman]

This story says it all.

If The Microsoft Surface Pro Was A Monster Hit, We'd Know It | Technology | Minyanville's Wall Street

 

[Coke Robot]

This story says it all.

If The Microsoft Surface Pro Was A Monster Hit, We'd Know It | Technology | Minyanville's Wall Street

I don't get it, the numbers that Microsoft released about their products were WELL after launch, Windows 8's number a couple months after launch, the Xbox many years after launch, Halo 4 a week or so after launch. The Surface numbers they're not reporting either means they're lower than they expected, or they're not releasing them because they still need to understand the full scope of things as a software company that has released their first consumer PC, this is new ground.

 

[SIW2]

MS will get up to all sorts of tricks to achieve their ends.

I don't think that was one of them.

If it was a deliberate under supply - they made a real mess of it. Far too obvious.

More likely a problem somewhere in the supply chain - or worse, some problem with production.

I would have expected them to shift a few hundred thousand fairly quickly - then it would taper off.

They must surely have thought the same.

Have we have any figures of alleged win 8 sales recently ?

Seems quite a while since the 60m claim.

 

[Coke Robot]

MS will get up to all sorts of tricks to achieve their ends.

I don't think that was one of them.

If it was a deliberate under supply - they made a real mess of it. Far too obvious.

More likely a problem somewhere in the supply chain - or worse, some problem with production.

I would have expected them to shift a few hundred thousand fairly quickly - then it would taper off.

They must surely have thought the same.

Have we have any figures of alleged win 8 sales recently ?

Seems quite a while since the 60m claim.

Didn't the Windows 8 sales number come out last month in part with Microsoft's Q4 2012 results?

 

[SIW2]

Wasn't that the 60m figure?

5 or 6 weeks since they calculated it, I would think.

Has there been one since?

Just curious. I would imagine if they could claim another 25-30m sales, they would be quick to do so.

 

[Coke Robot]

Wasn't that the 60m figure?

5 or 6 weeks since they calculated it, I would think.

Has there been one since?

Just curious. I would imagine if they could claim another 25-30m sales, they would be quick to do so.

I would imagine they'd just report quarter to quarter, bigger numbers sound better like 80 million more sales over 9 or so weeks versus 20 million every couple of weeks.

 

[SIW2]

The smart thing would be to release them asap if they are good.

Strange business with the surface pro.

There might be announcement at some stage.

 

[Coke Robot]

The smart thing would be to release them asap if they are good.

Strange business with the surface pro.

There might be announcement at some stage.

They might not even release the Surface tablet numbers until a year from now....

 

[Rickkins]

Whatever numbers they do eventually release, there will almost certainly be a whole lot of spin, as it is starting to look like the surface is a turkey that the majority will avoid like the plague....

Personally, were I to invest that kind of scratch, I would put it into a laptop. (although my own laptop was in the $500. range). But, keep in mind, that's just me. Your mileage may vary...

 

[SIW2]

They won't be in hurry if the numbers aren't great.

It is a flagship product - not expected to sell hundreds of millions. If they get rid of 1-2m they will have done ok.

RT did about 750,00 - tho MS did buy over 80,00 themselves.

The smart thing would be to release them asap if they are good.

Strange business with the surface pro.

There might be announcement at some stage.

They might not even release the Surface tablet numbers until a year from now....

 

[Dave76]

It's a high end product, more designed for business and those that must have the latest and most powerful.

It won't sell as many as an OEM W8 tablet with a Atom CPU, 2GB RAM and 64GB drive for $500.
The next gen Intel Haswell i3 or atom with similar specs will be enough for the Average non-business user and even the non-intensive business user.
MS may come out with this version, if they are smart.

 

[EMINENT]

Hello everyone!


I was one of the few lucky in Frisco, TX to have got one of the 128 Pro on release day.

As you can see, there was quite a bit of a line there since this seemed to be the only place that had them in the area. There was like 100 in front of me at 10:30 and another 50-75 behind or so until they started telling people they were sold out.

As you can see with my setup, browsing 3 windows and the ability to use my Surface if I wanted to, is pretty freaking amazing! I love it this way so I can just hook it up when in my room, and have my full pc in the living room when I want to go in there or anywhere else. I have a desktop that i'd like to move away from since I really don't use it for anything, but occasional Photoshop and video editing. No gaming, so I don't have a graphics card.
The HD 4000 works impressively fine for my needs.

Today, I messed with the power options and i'm trying to debate on keeping my desktop. The negatives I faced was when using Adobe Flash video as the temps went up. I was able to find the slowest processor speed while keeping the temps down while maintaining smooth enough video. I took care of any wifi issues to my NAS in the living room from the WDTV Live Plus with a USB 3 hub to run my USB 3 desktop hard drive and USB 3 to ethernet adapter to eliminate any network lag so I can pretty much do away with the desktop for good now.

 

[Tepid]

from my understanding, the HD4000 will play Black OPs 2 really well. Or even Serious Sam, so anything from that era or graphics level is supposed to play well on it. Just an FYI.

 

[SIW2]

What are you using for precision input?

Hello everyone!


I was one of the few lucky in Frisco, TX to have got one of the 128 Pro on release day.

As you can see, there was quite a bit of a line there since this seemed to be the only place that had them in the area. There was like 100 in front of me at 10:30 and another 50-75 behind or so until they started telling people they were sold out.

As you can see with my setup, browsing 3 windows and the ability to use my Surface if I wanted to, is pretty freaking amazing! I love it this way so I can just hook it up when in my room, and have my full pc in the living room when I want to go in there or anywhere else. I have a desktop that i'd like to move away from since I really don't use it for anything, but occasional Photoshop and video editing. No gaming, so I don't have a graphics card.
The HD 4000 works impressively fine for my needs.

Today, I messed with the power options and i'm trying to debate on keeping my desktop. The negatives I faced was when using Adobe Flash video as the temps went up. I was able to find the slowest processor speed while keeping the temps down while maintaining smooth enough video. I took care of any wifi issues to my NAS in the living room from the WDTV Live Plus with a USB 3 hub to run my USB 3 desktop hard drive and USB 3 to ethernet adapter to eliminate any network lag so I can pretty much do away with the desktop for good now.

 

[SIW2]

Do you think it would be wise for MS to go into direct competition with the oem's ?

Dave,

It won't sell as many as an OEM Windows 8 tablet with a Atom CPU, 2GB RAM and 64GB drive for $500.
The next gen Intel Haswell i3 or atom with similar specs will be enough for the Average non-business user and even the non-intensive business user.
MS may come out with this version, if they are smart.