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-   -   Microsoft Surface Pro trashed by CNN (https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-technology/1435746-microsoft-surface-pro-trashed-cnn.html)

cordelli Feb 12, 2013 10:39 am


Originally Posted by ScottC (Post 20232322)
Consumer marketing brilliance!

Name one powerful feature of the Microsoft Surface tablet: "It goes click".

Actually heard a news person describe it as a "loud distinctive" click the other day.

It's all about the click.

skofarrell Feb 12, 2013 11:21 am


Originally Posted by Ory (Post 20231418)
Wake me up when the iPad gets Office and a removable memory slot.

Until then, a lot of people will be buying these.

And a lot of people are going to be disappointed with viruses, patching, weight, a 4.5 hour battery life, suboptimal portrait orientation, and confusing modern/classic UI experience.

But it does make a satisfying click. Or seems to, based on the commercial.

Jimmie76 Feb 12, 2013 11:36 am


Originally Posted by skofarrell (Post 20232969)
And a lot of people are going to be disappointed with viruses, patching, weight, a 4.5 hour battery life, suboptimal portrait orientation, and confusing modern/classic UI experience.

But it does make a satisfying click. Or seems to, based on the commercial.

At least the GUI is designed for this form factor which it isn't for a desktop, that's a positive for you on that point.

skofarrell Feb 12, 2013 2:44 pm


Originally Posted by Jimmie76 (Post 20233074)
At least the GUI is designed for this form factor which it isn't for a desktop, that's a positive for you on that point.

Yes.

cblaisd Feb 12, 2013 3:35 pm


Originally Posted by Ory (Post 20231418)
Wake me up when the iPad gets Office...

Sort of: http://desktop.onlive.com/

Works surprisingly well.

ScottC Feb 12, 2013 4:35 pm


Originally Posted by skofarrell (Post 20232969)
And a lot of people are going to be disappointed with viruses, patching

Well, with all due respect, "patching" is something all devices have to deal with. Didn't iOS just get another update? Updates for Windows are pretty non intrusive nowadays. Also, viruses really are a thing of the past for any well educated user or a basic user who just turns on the included Windows Defender.




weight, a 4.5 hour battery life, suboptimal portrait orientation, and confusing modern/classic UI experience.

Yes - with those points I'll agree, but they are par for the course if you want a "real" computer on the go. I hope they come out with some kind of keyboard/battery system very soon.

And FWIW; my three units arrived today (amazingly), still find the whole process very poorly managed.

ScottC Feb 12, 2013 7:30 pm

Well, that was fast. After a little over an hour, I'm already fed up with Surface Pro.

Chrome doesn't work in Desktop mode, only in Windows 8 mode, and there is no easy way to access the on-screen keyboard in that mode.

It gets HOT

The screen resolution sounds nice, but it is totally useless for getting actual work done. Apps are all too small, so you scale, which then of course makes the whole high res screen useless. Typical spec over usability.

The pen, while nice, tends to switch between tap and drag mode on its own

On-screen keyboard doesn't pop up on its own in any apps (may just be a setting)

Pre-installed office doesn't like my MSDN keys.

I'm sure I'm still annoyed by the shipping and wasting money on RT, but this still isn't a solid product. I'm happier with my cheap Asus Vivobook - it just works and doesn't pretend to be something it isn't.

$1200 well spent.

skofarrell Feb 12, 2013 9:13 pm


Originally Posted by ScottC (Post 20234947)
Well, with all due respect, "patching" is something all devices have to deal with. Didn't iOS just get another update? Updates for Windows are pretty non intrusive nowadays. Also, viruses really are a thing of the past for any well educated user or a basic user who just turns on the included Windows Defender.

For those smart enough to turn on defender and set autoupdate.

iOS was just patched, one model (the iPhone 4s) and the patch was a 23mb file. a far cry from the hundreds of mb needed to be downloaded on "Patch Tuesday" every month for Windows myriad of issues. Microsoft! START OVER!!! Stop spending money on goofy ads and pay for the top apps to be ported to RT!


Yes - with those points I'll agree, but they are par for the course if you want a "real" computer on the go. I hope they come out with some kind of keyboard/battery system very soon.

And FWIW; my three units arrived today (amazingly), still find the whole process very poorly managed.
Glad they got there.

skofarrell Feb 12, 2013 9:16 pm


Originally Posted by ScottC (Post 20235837)

I'm sure I'm still annoyed by the shipping and wasting money on RT, but this still isn't a solid product. I'm happier with my cheap Asus Vivobook - it just works and doesn't pretend to be something it isn't.

You just summed it up.

I think a PC+ Tablet is a better combo than an 'all in one'. And if you pick the right combo (like a Macbook Air and an iPad or your Vivobook and an KindleHD or Nexus 7/10) you don't have to live with compromise. Pick the right tool for the job.

FlyerTalker68098 Feb 13, 2013 3:31 pm

I wanted one for work - seems almost perfect for travelling. I dock my laptop at my home office so I have a full desktop setup when needed and where I think this would be ideal is in a similar situation.

Will need easy docking options but... Full Desktop, Tablet and Hybrid all in a small portable form factor.

That said... Would not get one as not unhappy with the laptop.

Jimmie76 Feb 13, 2013 6:40 pm


Originally Posted by skofarrell (Post 20236422)
For those smart enough to turn on defender and set autoupdate.

iOS was just patched, one model (the iPhone 4s) and the patch was a 23mb file. a far cry from the hundreds of mb needed to be downloaded on "Patch Tuesday" every month for Windows myriad of issues. Microsoft! START OVER!!! Stop spending money on goofy ads and pay for the top apps to be ported to RT!



Glad they got there.

Oh you mean copy BlackBerry ;)

Jimmie76 Feb 20, 2013 11:03 am


Originally Posted by ScottC (Post 20235837)
Well, that was fast. After a little over an hour, I'm already fed up with Surface Pro.

Chrome doesn't work in Desktop mode, only in Windows 8 mode, and there is no easy way to access the on-screen keyboard in that mode.

It gets HOT

The screen resolution sounds nice, but it is totally useless for getting actual work done. Apps are all too small, so you scale, which then of course makes the whole high res screen useless. Typical spec over usability.

The pen, while nice, tends to switch between tap and drag mode on its own

On-screen keyboard doesn't pop up on its own in any apps (may just be a setting)

Pre-installed office doesn't like my MSDN keys.

I'm sure I'm still annoyed by the shipping and wasting money on RT, but this still isn't a solid product. I'm happier with my cheap Asus Vivobook - it just works and doesn't pretend to be something it isn't.

$1200 well spent.

Well ifixit.com have certainly no love for the inability of the consumer (and professional it would seem) to repair the device. They gave it a score of 1 out of 10 for repairability which is a pretty bad score for as you say a $1200 with that kind of built in obsolescence.

http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Micro...ardown/12842/1

dtsm Feb 21, 2013 4:12 pm


Originally Posted by ScottC (Post 20200145)
That is putting it lightly. He's one of the biggest Apple fans out there.

That wasn't always the case many years back...I remember emailing him to be the exact opposite before the iPod was released!

ScottC Feb 23, 2013 8:25 am

Given up on the Surface Pro - moved on to the Asus Taichi 21 :D

Pretty soon I'll have tried all of these damn things.

skofarrell Feb 23, 2013 8:35 am


Originally Posted by ScottC (Post 20302475)
Given up on the Surface Pro - moved on to the Asus Taichi 21 :D

Pretty soon I'll have tried all of these damn things.

Are you selling the failed kit on eBay, or is there a closet full of stuff at home?


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