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Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

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Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#201

Post by mmind »

BrentOzar wrote: post #148
mmind wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The issue is that your post is written with the idea of creating controversy (look at the title). Everybody is entitled to their own opinions, but IMHO one day is not enough to properly judge any piece of complex technology. I am writing this on my RT and I am very surprised with your post, specially when the word preview issues are easily fixed with a simple SW update that is coming soon, as Office is already RTM. A…

Mmind - hmm, no, I didn't write it to create controversy. All of my blog post titles start with why, what, how, etc, and I wanted to explain why I wasn't posting the original in-depth review that I'd promised my readers after I preordered the Surface RT. I actually walked away from the post without thinking twice. When you say "the word preview issues are easily fixed with a simple SW update that is coming soon, as O…

Hi Brent,

I trust the Office team, and they have been very clear to call this a preview (it shows in the top of the document) so I expect some issues. I obviously can not know if your specific problem is already fixed in the RTM version (that released a couple weeks ago) but usually the Office team releases high quality products.

I did not experience your CPU/word problem yet, you asked for a video, and I posted it here:

http://youtu.be/104W1g94tIM

As you can see, I enabled the new task manager, that is really cool and you can see how the Tegra 3 CPU (4 cores) does not even notice the typing, even with tons of spelling mistakes to force a worst case scenario.

It is really a pity you did not have it a bit longer, I have an Ipad 1st gen, a galaxy tab 10.1 1st gen (yes, I had it even before I could install ICS, my lord) and now a 1st gen surface and man, this device is impressing me so far. When I connected my Galaxy nexus to it and it opened the windows explorer so I could use it to transfer my videos to You Tube I realized how huge is having Windows in a Tablet, it is not a PC but boy is powerful, full USB not only client, but server support.

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#202

Post by Locke1689 »

sirclueless wrote: post #194
Locke1689 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Nope. I've tested it (like many other people). My 2011 Macbook air boots 4 seconds faster into Windows 8 than Windows 7.

Fresh installations of each? Because my boot tends to slow down over time, and by considerably more than 4 seconds.

RTM for months.

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#203

Post by BrentOzar »

mmind wrote: post #201
BrentOzar wrote: post #148

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Mmind - hmm, no, I didn't write it to create controversy. All of my blog post titles start with why, what, how, etc, and I wanted to explain why I wasn't posting the original in-depth review that I'd promised my readers after I preordered the Surface RT. I actually walked away from the post without thinking twice. When you say "the word preview issues are easily fixed with a simple SW update that is coming soon, as O…

Hi Brent, I trust the Office team, and they have been very clear to call this a preview (it shows in the top of the document) so I expect some issues. I obviously can not know if your specific problem is already fixed in the RTM version (that released a couple weeks ago) but usually the Office team releases high quality products. I did not experience your CPU/word problem yet, you asked for a video, and I posted it h…

Mmind - thanks for the update, but this doesn't replicate my scenario. Can you have multiple pages of text (at least 2) and then go back up to the first page and start adding text? That's what really nailed mine.

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#204

Post by BindersFOW »

Hi everyone. The author brings up great points and its really important for MSFT to address the kickstand's adjustability or even adjust the camera angle automatically. Regarding the other points of the author, i think he should install the updates after which Office RT becomes a productivity beast. Also, there is one aspect of the surface and windows 8 in general nobody has touched in this whole thread which is smartGlass. Coupled with Xbox, this device becomes a wonderful companion to the vastly improved xbox-kinect bundle and so far, i really don't have any complaints about it except the fact that i can't code on it although someone mentioned csc works on it sans some dlls.

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#205

Post by facorreia »

ConstantineXVI wrote: post #191
facorreia wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm curious about the Surface, I'd appreciate if you can report your experience on some use cases: * Can you comfortably hold it with one hand (e.g. for reading a book)? * Can you comfortably hold it with one hand and type onscreen with the other? * Can you comfortably type onscreen while holding it with both hands? * Can you use the Touch Cover and/or Type Cover with the device on your lap (as if you were sitting in…

If you've used an iPad 3; it feels close to that weight but it's a wider aspect ratio. Can hold it in one hand but not for long; just fine for two-hand use. You can use the cover just fine in your lap, but will probably have better luck with the Type Cover in that scenario.

Thank you. After watching the original conference at which Surface was announced, I realized it was a game changer for the Microsoft ecosystem and it seemed like a great piece of hardware. The potential to replace 2 devices with one seemed very attractive to me.

But after seeing some reviews, it seems this hybrid doesn't function very well as a tablet and neither as a laptop. I'll still have to see someone using it on the lap to understand how the screen is able to stand. Granted it's an edge case but when I'm at airports I tend to do that.

Anyway, you reply just made me more curious to try one.

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#206

Post by grecy »

dangrossman wrote: post #43
jamesjguthrie wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are other tablets out there. The Dell Latitude 10 is an Intel Atom but does run Windows 8 Pro. I want one of them.

The Latitude 10 has an Atom processor, 2GB RAM and a 64GB HD. Given there'll only be ~10-14GB free space on that drive out of the box, that's not enough to even install Office, Photoshop, Visual Studio, etc. let alone run them. It's almost a scam to sell such an unusable hardware configuration. Someone's going to sync their music and buy two movies and find out their new "64GB" tablet is already out of space. That si…

I've been using a Dell mini 9 netbook for 3 years that has only a 16GB SSD.

I've got a full install of OS X 10.5, developer tools Photoshop, Aperture, other random apps and I run it with ~4GB free.

You'd be amazed how far even 16GB will go when you try.

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#207

Post by grecy »

dzhiurgis wrote: post #37

qwerty keyboards were designed to slow down the typists thus preventing typewriter jamming. Perhaps MS should redesign it again to make it even slower, so the Surface would be able to keep up?

> qwerty keyboards were designed to slow down the typists

What were "the typists" typing on before qwerty?

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#208

Post by mmind »

BrentOzar wrote: post #203
mmind wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi Brent, I trust the Office team, and they have been very clear to call this a preview (it shows in the top of the document) so I expect some issues. I obviously can not know if your specific problem is already fixed in the RTM version (that released a couple weeks ago) but usually the Office team releases high quality products. I did not experience your CPU/word problem yet, you asked for a video, and I posted it h…

Mmind - thanks for the update, but this doesn't replicate my scenario. Can you have multiple pages of text (at least 2) and then go back up to the first page and start adding text? That's what really nailed mine.

Hi Brent,

I tried to repro a worst case based on your info:

http://youtu.be/V01zgACyAF4

as you can see, 20 pages full of errors, spell and grammar correction enabled, writing in the first page. It clearly shows more CPU usage than the first test, but always below 40% for every core.

Please, note that I am not trying to say that you did not hit a bug or even a faulty device, just that I have not been able to repro it in my limited testing and so far the device is totally impressing me. I am even thinking to write a cool Hackers News app for it :-).

Cheers.

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#209

Post by mmind »

BrentOzar wrote: post #203
mmind wrote: post #201

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hi Brent, I trust the Office team, and they have been very clear to call this a preview (it shows in the top of the document) so I expect some issues. I obviously can not know if your specific problem is already fixed in the RTM version (that released a couple weeks ago) but usually the Office team releases high quality products. I did not experience your CPU/word problem yet, you asked for a video, and I posted it h…

Mmind - thanks for the update, but this doesn't replicate my scenario. Can you have multiple pages of text (at least 2) and then go back up to the first page and start adding text? That's what really nailed mine.

Hi Brent,

I see that you have updated your post with the update information, that was very honest of you.

Just wanted to let you know that, in fact, I had updated my Surface as soon as I got it just by searching for windows update in settings and clicking it (it was painless in my case), I even did it tethering with my Nexus. So my tests are using an updated device.

BTW, feel free to link to my videos if you think they can complete your post further.

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#210

Post by seanmcdirmid »

Locke1689 wrote: post #202
sirclueless wrote: post #194

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fresh installations of each? Because my boot tends to slow down over time, and by considerably more than 4 seconds.

RTM for months.

My boot on my HP EliteBook (HD, no SSD) got much slower under Windows 8 RTM (~1 minute), but this was the IT version of Win8, which I guess has lots of crud so my boot is not going to be as fast as consumer (had the same problem with Win7).
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