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We Like The Surface; We're Waiting For Surface Pro

Microsoft Surface Review, Part 2: Battery Life, Multi-Monitor, And More
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Apple’s original iPad was introduced in April of 2010. Since then, we've only considered one tablet a serious competitor, and that was Google's Nexus 7. In fact, in The Nexus 7 Review: Google's First Tablet Gets Benchmarked, the plucky little seven-incher won the first award we've ever given to a tablet.

Thus far, though, we've generally regarded tablets as toys. Well, perhaps not toys in a literal sense, but we typically use them around our houses for playing mainstream games, browsing the Web, listening to music, and watching video. Those are all very common tasks, but they aren't productivity-oriented.

Tons of me-too products have found their way their way through our lab. The Nexus 7 was the one we liked most. But it remains a pure tablet. Even if it's more comfortable to hold than a big 10"+ model, more affordable than anything Apple could conceive, and part of a mature software ecosystem in Google Play, there are certain things it just doesn't do. 

And then the Surface dropped into our lab, right on the day our pre-order promised it would. 

Suddenly we had many of the luxuries we enjoy on the desktop. Only, we were using a tablet. Wait, whaaat? It immediately became possible to do things and work in ways that simply hadn't been possible previously. And for all of the hate Windows 8 has been receiving in the enthusiast community, we're switching over to it in the lab, and it's actually nice to see a common interface on our most powerful desktops and on the Surface.

Granted, Microsoft's first foray into the tablet space is not without its faults. Hardware-wise, the display is merely adequate, and Windows RT does so much that Android and iOS don't do that it's plenty easy to overwhelm Nvidia's Tegra 3 if you try using the tablet like an enthusiast might be tempted to. On the software front, there's Microsoft's Windows Store to contend with. No legacy Windows software allowed. In fact, only Microsoft's applications will run on the Windows RT Desktop. That's a pretty tough pill to swallow when we've just spent several more pages praising the company's work on the operating system itself.

Surface Multi-tasking: Watching A Movie, Browsing, Word ProcessingSurface Multi-tasking: Watching A Movie, Browsing, Word Processing

With the few things we dislike aside, we continue to be bullish about using Microsoft's Surface as a replacement for the Ultrabooks and MacBook Airs we carry around with us to trade shows and meetings, along with the tablets we use around the house when we get home. Flip the cover up and drag our fingers around the way we'd use a tablet? Sure. Drop the Type Cover down, snap out the kickstand, and bang out some email? Definitely. Hook up a second monitor for some extra workspace in the office? Yes, please! We certainly can't say the same for any iOS- or Android-based device. 

One of the Surface's biggest advantages is its ability to multitask effectively. And yet one of its most glaring weaknesses is the Windows Store, with its limited selection of Windows RT-ready apps. We have to hesitate on a recommendation knowing the Surface Pro is coming soon. We're only afraid of what it's going to cost, given a steep price tag on a Surface with the Type Cover we like so much.

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Top Comments
  • 20 Hide
    tedx , November 14, 2012 7:06 AM
    "Windows Internet Explorer (Not Responding)"

    Its comforting to see that not everything has changed with Windows RT.
  • 17 Hide
    apache_lives , November 14, 2012 7:41 AM
    Already have an ASUS Windows 8 RT tablet for the mrs -- she loves this thing, and from the lounge if my media center decides to play up i can use the tablet to remote desktop in

    The ASUS also claims up to 16 hours battery life for theirs (im thinking less but still amazing if its 12+).

    These things simply WORK
  • 16 Hide
    besterino , November 14, 2012 8:59 AM
    (Even though) being an hardware (PC) enthusiast I have bought the Surface (64GB, touch and type cover) for my wife and both she and I are seriously impressed.

    For her it is simply perfect: she can do with it all she would do with an ipad (she's not much of a gamer though) AND it actually replaces her desktop-PC... she's using office without macros and addins so the RT-Office is "good enough". She just plugs in an extra monitor and USB hub (for full-size keyboard and mouse), and she is all set for productivity. We did not experience any hardware limitation related issues (obviously office doesn't start as fast as it does on a x86 PC with SSD).

    Based on our experience with the Surface RT I will definitely buy a Surface Pro for myself (I need Office with macros and addins for work) and hopefully finally have a PC that works both as a productivity tool as well as entertainment gadget. Yay! And *poof*, there goes the business notebook...

    Too bad I will still need my desktop gaming rig (HD 4000 still not powerful "enough")...
Other Comments
  • 14 Hide
    mayankleoboy1 , November 14, 2012 6:10 AM
    Tegra3 is the biggest weakness in Surface. This SoC is already outdated.
    I wouldnt buy a device today which i know is going to be upgraded in a few months with atleast a better SoC, and probably a better display.
  • 11 Hide
    acku , November 14, 2012 6:54 AM
    mayankleoboy1Y U NO include the iPad4 in the benchmarks ?

    It's on our to do list :) 
  • 20 Hide
    tedx , November 14, 2012 7:06 AM
    "Windows Internet Explorer (Not Responding)"

    Its comforting to see that not everything has changed with Windows RT.
  • 17 Hide
    apache_lives , November 14, 2012 7:41 AM
    Already have an ASUS Windows 8 RT tablet for the mrs -- she loves this thing, and from the lounge if my media center decides to play up i can use the tablet to remote desktop in

    The ASUS also claims up to 16 hours battery life for theirs (im thinking less but still amazing if its 12+).

    These things simply WORK
  • 7 Hide
    kyuuketsuki , November 14, 2012 7:52 AM
    apache_livesThe ASUS also claims up to 16 hours battery life for theirs (im thinking less but still amazing if its 12+).
    I'm assuming that's with the keyboard dock.
  • 6 Hide
    apache_lives , November 14, 2012 8:57 AM
    KyuuketsukiI'm assuming that's with the keyboard dock.


    That is correct, but for documents and on the run its not a bad thing at all.
  • 16 Hide
    besterino , November 14, 2012 8:59 AM
    (Even though) being an hardware (PC) enthusiast I have bought the Surface (64GB, touch and type cover) for my wife and both she and I are seriously impressed.

    For her it is simply perfect: she can do with it all she would do with an ipad (she's not much of a gamer though) AND it actually replaces her desktop-PC... she's using office without macros and addins so the RT-Office is "good enough". She just plugs in an extra monitor and USB hub (for full-size keyboard and mouse), and she is all set for productivity. We did not experience any hardware limitation related issues (obviously office doesn't start as fast as it does on a x86 PC with SSD).

    Based on our experience with the Surface RT I will definitely buy a Surface Pro for myself (I need Office with macros and addins for work) and hopefully finally have a PC that works both as a productivity tool as well as entertainment gadget. Yay! And *poof*, there goes the business notebook...

    Too bad I will still need my desktop gaming rig (HD 4000 still not powerful "enough")...
  • 3 Hide
    monsta , November 14, 2012 9:48 AM
    The Asus Vivo Tab is much better than Microsoft's own version of surface, the display is much brighter, the keyboard dock has a battery, usb and SD card inputs. The battery life is amazing.
  • 5 Hide
    andrewcarr , November 14, 2012 10:14 AM
    I hate when I'm looking at a computer screen and from that trying to see which picture is better of another computer screen. There seems a flaw in this logic.
  • 0 Hide
    tipoo , November 14, 2012 10:33 AM
    Is the "Apple iPad" with no number in the charts the iPad 1 or the iPad 4? Can we just snub Apple to make our lives easier and keep using the numbers? :) 
  • 10 Hide
    killerclick , November 14, 2012 10:41 AM
    Keeping in mind that most of Tom's Hardware writers use Macbooks, iPhones and iPads, so they're immediately in love with any kind of walled garden.
  • 7 Hide
    darkchazz , November 14, 2012 11:04 AM
    mayankleoboy1Tegra3 is the biggest weakness in Surface. This SoC is already outdated.I wouldnt buy a device today which i know is going to be upgraded in a few months with atleast a better SoC, and probably a better display.

    I completely agree. Tegra3 is a complete joke of a chip, but nvidia has managed to fool a LOT of people with marketing (QUAD COAR CPU!!! 12 COAR GPU ZOMG SUPER FASTTT BEAST).

    I'd understand if tegra3 was included in a cheap $200 tablet(e.g. Nexus 7) to cut down the costs, but for a $500+ tablet?! that just sucks
    Ofcourse, UI may be optimized and runs great, but gaming though will suffer from low frame rates. mark my words
  • -4 Hide
    Old_Fogie_Late_Bloomer , November 14, 2012 12:56 PM
    My job has a Surface that we're testing, and I'm struck most by the size of the thing. I like devices that are on the small side...so, 768p at 11.6" and 900p at 14.0" are my preferred screen size/resolution tradeoffs for laptops...but frankly, I feel like the thing is just too small.

    I'm probably in the minority here (and that's fine), but (setting aside my dislike of Windows 8) I think I'd rather have a device in the 13.3"-14.0" range, especially given that 16:9 devices are smaller overall than 16:10 and 4:3 devices at the same diagonal measurement.
  • 15 Hide
    cknobman , November 14, 2012 12:58 PM
    We have a few Windows RT tablets floating around the office and I have to say they are very impressive.

    The only thing holding me back from a purchase right now is Tegra 3. As soon as they upgrade the SOC to something more powerful (or if Surface Pro comes in something less than equal to $800) I will be getting one. I currently have a Asus Transformer android tablet and that thing does not hold a candle to Windows RT.
  • 6 Hide
    tomfreak , November 14, 2012 1:04 PM
    darkchazzI completely agree. Tegra3 is a complete joke of a chip, but nvidia has managed to fool a LOT of people with marketing (QUAD COAR CPU!!! 12 COAR GPU ZOMG SUPER FASTTT BEAST).I'd understand if tegra3 was included in a cheap $200 tablet(e.g. Nexus 7) to cut down the costs, but for a $500+ tablet?! that just sucksOfcourse, UI may be optimized and runs great, but gaming though will suffer from low frame rates. mark my words
    Agree, even tho I dont like Apple, but their approach of sticking on using 2 high performance cores in A6 CPU is simply a better choice than Nvidia crappy quad core CPU. Software are slow on taking on multi-threading, fewer high performance core provide more reliable user experience.
  • 3 Hide
    bllue , November 14, 2012 1:22 PM
    This kinda gives me hope for the Surface Pro and the other manufacturer W8 tablets. For the most part, the most complained about things are performance and hardware - which can be fixed by having better specs (like from OEM tablets), and future patches. There will also be more apps being released. I don't know but I think the next version of the Surface (if there is one) will be highly improved in every way and be able to do everything everyone wants. I'd keep an eye on what's to come from OEMs, Surface Pro and Surface 2.
  • 0 Hide
    jabliese , November 14, 2012 1:38 PM
    Anybody able to get to the battery life analysis? Links seem broken.
  • -4 Hide
    TeraMedia , November 14, 2012 3:10 PM
    if MSFT were really on the ball, they would have done an Android end-run with Windows RT.

    When Windows 7 came out, there was an "XP Mode" feature that allowed you to install Windows XP (and other O/Ses, for that matter) as a VM, with some odd limitations but also some unusual advantages compared to the typical VMware / Virtual Box implementations. Applications installed on the guest O/S could be launched and run just as if they were installed on the host O/S. User files on the host were shared seamlessly with the guest, so that double-clicking e.g. an Excel document could launch an instance of Excel in the guest, and load the file, and the window would look like it was running in the host.

    Apply this to Android running as a guest O/S under Windows RT, and what do you get? All of a sudden, Google Play, Google Apps, etc. become accessible. If the host/guest integration is done in such a way that the GPU is accessible to the guest, then you even get full gaming of all Android games. On your Surface. Seamlessly. MSFT could even go so far as to declare Apple's refusal to license iOS as a separate product to be anti-competitive, and push for the DoJ to force Apple to allow the installation of iOS as a guest OS on Windows RT.

    I mean, why not? Yes, the HW and in particular the CPU and GPU architectures probably need to be modified to support this, but the concepts for how to do that have already been figured out. If MSFT wants to truly own the tablet space, this would seem to be the most profound way to get there.
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