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Microsoft Surface Pro 2: We Go Hands On

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Check out Microsoft's Surface Pro 2 as it appeared at Microsoft's Surface event today in NYC.

Microsoft today announced a brand new version of the Surface Pro. The laptop is running Windows 8.1 and is launching next month. We were on the scene at Microsoft's New York City event this morning, and we've got hands on for you! Check out our first impressions below and let us know if you'll be pre-ordering in the morning.

The Surface Pro 2 packs a full version of Windows 8.1 Pro, a 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD display, support for microSD, USB 3.0, and mini DisplayPort. Both 64 GB and 128 GB capacities are available with 4 GB of RAM. The 256 and 512 GB capacities will each have 8 GB of RAM. The Surface Pro 2 will start at $899 and will include 200 GB of SkyDrive storage (again, for two years). Pre-orders for both the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 will start tomorrow, September 24, and availability in 21 markets is expected on October 22.

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30 Comments Comment from the forums
  • somebodyspecial 24 September 2013 00:21
    Pointless, I can buy a 17in fully loaded laptop for $1000 with a 650M card with 2GB and two slots for HD's (a SSD for boot and regular for data). HP sells top of the line ones for $900 (add your SSD for $100 when it gets in the door). Comes with 8GB, Burner, etc. These are seriously OVERPRICED. This can't hold a candle to a REAL 17in laptop, or an even more loaded 15.6in or heck a 13in. Anything is better than 10in for $900 with the lowest config of 4GB/64GB config. That is ridiculous. I pronounce this product a failure until they drop to $600 low end. x86 isn't that important, as I will always go to my PC to do any content editing/creation or serious gameplay. I play one of two ways, a good enough android game experience (thus replacing coming consoles) or an AWESOME PC experience. So some crap x86 powered tablet for $1000 won't fit for me. Intel's gpu going to provide a great experience at 1080p on my TV? NOPE. So no real pro app uses, gaming sucks, leaving it basically a REALLY expensive nexus 10r2 (which should be out next month or two).

    Raise your hand if you'd pay $400 extra to run office on your tablet. I see two hands...LOL. A 13in laptop can do the same for $600 and have far more power. I expect a huge writedown again next Q...ROFL. I hope they don't price Surface 2 RT the same way. They get another writedown for that also if they do. RT already hurts that to begin with. A high price of say, anything over $400 will have problems.
    Reply
  • d_kuhn 24 September 2013 00:55
    I had a 13" ultrabook and switched to a Surface Pro... why... because I don't want to lug around an laptop if I don't need to, and the Pro performs as well in a lot less volume (than low end consumer laptops). Yes it costs more but it really depends on what your priorities are. The pro works great for high mobility needs... and I've got an hp workstation for when I need something with more umph.
    Reply
  • robertrobert 24 September 2013 01:16
    11589802 said:
    Pointless, I can buy a 17in fully loaded laptop for $1000 with a 650M card with 2GB and two slots for HD's (a SSD for boot and regular for data).

    Raise your hand if you'd pay $400 extra to run office on your tablet.
    Add $300 for the Wacom graphics tablet for your 17" laptop.
    I'm a photographer and interested in it as a much cheaper Cintiq.
    My 16-bit layered files are rarely larger than 1GB, so the 8GB RAM with 512GB SSD will do me just fine and still be half the price of the Cintiq Companion or the same price as the Cintiq 13" and I get an entire computer instead of just the touch sensitive monitor.
    Reply
  • jimmysmitty 24 September 2013 01:19
    11589802 said:
    Pointless, I can buy a 17in fully loaded laptop for $1000 with a 650M card with 2GB and two slots for HD's (a SSD for boot and regular for data). HP sells top of the line ones for $900 (add your SSD for $100 when it gets in the door). Comes with 8GB, Burner, etc. These are seriously OVERPRICED. This can't hold a candle to a REAL 17in laptop, or an even more loaded 15.6in or heck a 13in. Anything is better than 10in for $900 with the lowest config of 4GB/64GB config. That is ridiculous. I pronounce this product a failure until they drop to $600 low end. x86 isn't that important, as I will always go to my PC to do any content editing/creation or serious gameplay. I play one of two ways, a good enough android game experience (thus replacing coming consoles) or an AWESOME PC experience. So some crap x86 powered tablet for $1000 won't fit for me. Intel's gpu going to provide a great experience at 1080p on my TV? NOPE. So no real pro app uses, gaming sucks, leaving it basically a REALLY expensive nexus 10r2 (which should be out next month or two).

    Raise your hand if you'd pay $400 extra to run office on your tablet. I see two hands...LOL. A 13in laptop can do the same for $600 and have far more power. I expect a huge writedown again next Q...ROFL. I hope they don't price Surface 2 RT the same way. They get another writedown for that also if they do. RT already hurts that to begin with. A high price of say, anything over $400 will have problems.

    Except that said laptop does not transform into a tablet at weighs way more.

    Battery life on that laptop is also not nearly as good as the Surface Pro 2 will have.

    Its a different market. I wouldn't mind one for my work because sometimes a tablet would be better to use than a laptop for the ease of moving it around.
    Reply
  • bebangs 24 September 2013 01:45
    $899... i still fail to see the value.
    Reply
  • joaompp 24 September 2013 01:48
    Hopefully this will bring down the price of other similar spec'd tablets, I'm dying for a reasonably priced Sony VAIO duos with 13" screen.
    Reply
  • godfather666 24 September 2013 02:56
    I like it. I think I'm buying it as a living room PC.
    Reply
  • godfather666 24 September 2013 02:56
    And by that I meant the Surface Pro. I have no use for Windows RT.
    Reply
  • versaapex 24 September 2013 03:23
    I don't know what any of you are talking about, but I can get so much more for this price. Seriously, for that price, I can build a computer with corei5 and GTX 700 series, buy a UPS, and have a 22" screen. Way bigger screen, WAY more games playable.
    Reply
  • ragenalien 24 September 2013 04:05
    I don't think you understand the idea of a portable device versaapex. I can't take a desktop on a plane, to a hotel, or conceivably outside of my house without a huge amount of effort. This is a completely separate market.
    Reply