Surface RT is a Hit With Best Buy Customers
Customer reviews of the Surface RT tablet sold at Best Buy are extremely positive.
As promised, Microsoft has introduced the ARM-based Surface RT tablet (Surface with Windows RT) to retailers other than Microsoft's own stores. This move will undoubtedly help boost sales numbers before the year closes, as consumers can now walk right into their favorite electronics store and have special one-on-one time with the tablet before purchase.
Despite what seems to be a cloud of negativity hovering over Windows 8 and especially the Surface RT tablet, reviews and ratings of Microsoft''s tablet on Best Buy, the $599.99 Surface RT unit sporting 32 GB of storage and a black Touch Cover, tell a different story. In fact, it seems that customers who bought the pricey gadget actually like it. A lot.
According to the ratings, the Windows RT tablet sports a 4.7 out of 5 thanks to twenty-eight customer reviews. Twenty-four customers gave it a five star review, and three gave it four stars. Out of the batch, there's only one unhappy customer who said Surface RT wasn't what he/she expected.
"This product is way overpriced. You are paying a premium just because it is from Microsoft, and it comes with 'Windows', but then again it doesn't even run any software written for Windows. How confusing is that?" the disgruntled customer wrote. "Microsoft's app store is desperately lacking applications, when compared to Apple's (iOS) and Google's (Android) app stores. What good is a tablet without any apps?"
This Miami, Florida-based customer also accused the other twenty-seven reviews to be written by Microsoft employees, or Microsoft enthusiasts. Whatever.
So what's so great about the Surface RT given that it can't run Windows applications written for x86-based CPUs from Intel and AMD? One customer really loved the new OS itself.
"The Live Tiles on windows devices really is a big deal for me," he said. "Again back to being productive its so nice to look at the start menu and immediately see a tile that tells me up-to-date weather, stock price, emails, status updates, etc. without needing to actually go into the apps."
Another satisfied Surface RT owner said the device was better than expected. "I gave away my Android tablet after using this for a while. The keyboard and touchpad are unobtrusive but there when you need them and the keyboard has cursor keys!" the customer said. "The GUI is actually very well thought out for a touchpad once you get used to it. Performance is just fine and battery life is about a day of use."
Some of the issues these customers have had with Surface RT despite their 5-star reviews include volume output, a "primitive" e-mail app, problematic support with Flash in the Modern UI version of IE10, the price itself, a lack of big name apps and more. Positive comments include a great build quality, excellent support for USB devices, portability, the addition of Office 2013, great photo capture quality and more.
As previously stated, Microsoft's 4Q12 numbers regarding the Surface RT were low probably because the device was limited to Microsoft's online and brick-and-mortar stores. Amazon, Apple and Google can get away with direct distribution because they have experience. Plus all the negativity hovering over Windows 8's new interface likely hasn't helped push Microsoft's hardware either.
It's actually good to see these positive reviews stockpiling on Best Buy. Unfortunately, Microsoft's Surface Pro (Surface with Windows 8 Pro) will be a lot more expensive, so we'll have to wait and see if those reviews will be just as positive.

No, I think you may be confused with apple customers. For what it is, the Surface is actually a really good device. My mom has wanted a tablet for quite a while but the Android tablets just could do the basic stuff she wanted to do and do it well. Microsoft FINALLY has something that has similar form factor. Great usability, and a good solid build/feel. My mom loves that she can finally take her office documents from her home or work pc and edit them in their native format on her tablet, and then take them back or even print directly from the tablet. Some people try to see tablets as replacements for PCs... They aren't, they are extensions, and the surface finally brings a really good extension to the windows environment.
It is human nature that disgruntled customers are more likely to leave a review than satisfied ones. It's how human psyche works. Even so, there only one negative review for this unit, so all in all not a bad start.
Really..
BUT, good for Microsoft.
I personally would be quite annoyed with buying a "Windows" tablet that cannot run regular Windows stuff while costing $200 more than a low-end (but still quite capable) laptop that can run whatever I want.
Lets see what happens after the launch and hype dust settle.
Hey now, I miss my pet rock...... lost it somewhere in my old hometown of Endicott, NY. On that note kudos to MS. Still Ballmer should go.
and pro was about 599-699
i think MSFT would have a winner
they could just do like xbox and make the money back on accesories
It is human nature that disgruntled customers are more likely to leave a review than satisfied ones. It's how human psyche works. Even so, there only one negative review for this unit, so all in all not a bad start.
No, I think you may be confused with apple customers. For what it is, the Surface is actually a really good device. My mom has wanted a tablet for quite a while but the Android tablets just could do the basic stuff she wanted to do and do it well. Microsoft FINALLY has something that has similar form factor. Great usability, and a good solid build/feel. My mom loves that she can finally take her office documents from her home or work pc and edit them in their native format on her tablet, and then take them back or even print directly from the tablet. Some people try to see tablets as replacements for PCs... They aren't, they are extensions, and the surface finally brings a really good extension to the windows environment.
Much like I see with Samsung on Macrumors and Apple elsewhere.
Son I am proud.
Most people don't write reviews. Look at Newegg products. It takes a long time before they get many reviews on anything, and the Surface has only been at Best Buy a few days. Generally only very unhappy or very happy people write reviews anyways.
If it wasn't for Office being included, I might agree its over priced, but it is included. That said, I won't be buying one because I can't afford one right now and don't really have a need.
That is assuming Best Buy doesn't moderate the reviews, they would never do that would they. Everyone who does this tactic knows you leave a couple bad reviews to give it credibility and leave all the good ones to make the product look good. I'm not saying they did this but the data seems skewed enough to say they likely did.
Ah.. You mean like iPad purchasers!
The number of reviews is surprising only in that so many chose to post reviews so soon. But this isn't a scientific effort, so you can only take it with a grain of salt. And the people who gave it a five despite some complaints, well that just means the complaints were so small relative to everything else it didn't detract enough from the overall rating. That's why you have to read the actual review, not just look at the headline rating.