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Microsoft’s Hardware, Round 2: Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2

arstechnica.com

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Re: Microsoft’s Hardware, Round 2: Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2

#111

Post by untog »

rbanffy wrote: post #97
CodeCube wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

powershell ... seriously, it's really good. And Cygwin if you really want that unix shell experience :)

Cygwin + MinTTY can make Windows bearable, but, if you have already moved to Mac, why bother? OSX combined to MacPorts makes for a very functional development environment. The only very specific downside is that it won't run Visual Studio. BTW, can the Pro 2 run Linux?

if you have already moved to Mac, why bother?

Because there is no Surface Pro 2 equivalent that will run OSX. And by "run OSX" I mean "made by Apple" because there's no other way to run it.

And I doubt very much that the Pro 2 can do Linux well - can any tablets? I'd be interested to know the state of Linux touch interfaces/drivers.

Re: Microsoft’s Hardware, Round 2: Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2

#112

Post by macavity23 »

criley2 wrote: post #87
enko wrote: post #24

Dear Microsoft: Out of ARM and x86, choose one. Just choose one. For the love of god, choose ONE. Can you imagine Apple, or anyone else, deliberately releasing two different tablets, with the same name, which can not run each others' software? It is inconceivable, and for good reason. MS cannot make decisions. That's what will kill them, long term. Just choose one!!

You've misread the problem. Apple DOES have an X86 ecosystem AND an ARM ecosystem. They do not cross streams and customers are not confused, and Apple can successfully grow application ecosystems across two very different architectures. So what is Microsoft doing wrong? It's very simple, and I cannot believe they haven't already done this. I'm thinking that the naming scheme for their ARM platform is why they're balk…

You're actually agreeing with the parent, who stated the problem as 'two different tablets, with the same name, which can not run each others' software'.

Re: Microsoft’s Hardware, Round 2: Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2

#113

Post by Pxtl »

barista wrote: post #108
sjmulder wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I tried using Windows 8 with a TV and it’s almost there but not quite – if they fix a few things it would be perfect: - At 720p you cannot run Windows Store apps (needs to be 768 minimum) - At 1080p much of the UI is too small. You can increase the font size but that’s not always enough. - Surprisingly, while keyboard navigation is great, it doesn't seem to support the Xbox 360 controller at all for navigating throug…

Actually if you are thinking of connecting your PC to your TV then Windows 7 is still the best bet. It's a well kept secret but a quiet PC connected to TV beats any other media solution out there hands down.

Yes, but that's an expensive option compared to ARM-based devices. I mean, you can get a pretty good Android-based ARM device with a spiffy remote for like $80. You'll be spending 5X that much for a decent X86+Windows solution.

That's why WinRT opens up a new market for them. A WinRT device for light gaming, photos, video-chat, etc. for your TV would be nifty.

Re: Microsoft’s Hardware, Round 2: Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2

#114

Post by joenathan »

sjmulder wrote: post #101
Pxtl wrote: post #35

Big thing missing from the line-up: WinRT HDMI-stick. A Windows-powered answer to the MK808/Ouya/VitaStation and similar products, bundled with a nice wireless keyboard/mouse remote gizmo - something like this: http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/itemdetails/57Y6678/460/4C2830F... WinRT's consistent support for keyboard/mouse sets it apart from touch-oriented Android. Wireless handheld keyboard/mouse is hard to get right, b…

I tried using Windows 8 with a TV and it’s almost there but not quite – if they fix a few things it would be perfect: - At 720p you cannot run Windows Store apps (needs to be 768 minimum) - At 1080p much of the UI is too small. You can increase the font size but that’s not always enough. - Surprisingly, while keyboard navigation is great, it doesn't seem to support the Xbox 360 controller at all for navigating throug…

Your first two issues are addressed in Windows 8.1

Re: Microsoft’s Hardware, Round 2: Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2

#115

Post by teamonkey »

shurcooL wrote: post #51

Why is there a photo of an external monitor with 3840x2160 and nothing is mentioned about it? Is it because it's just a hypothetical display that could be connected via the Mini DisplayPort, had it existed?

3840x2160 is Ultra HD.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4K_resolution#Monitors

Re: Microsoft’s Hardware, Round 2: Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2

#116

Post by mcintyre1994 »

JonFish85 wrote: post #99
codeulike wrote: post #52

As it happens I bought a second hand Surface Pro from ebay and it arrived today. Moving to it from a laptop thats a couple of years old, the Surface Pro is absolutely blowing me away. Faster than my old laptop, also acts as a tablet, using desktop applications via touch actually works, the pen is brilliant. The 128gb will be fine for me, because I've got used to living within about 120Gb.

128GB minus whatever OS overhead there is... I know it's a nitpick, but definitely something to keep in mind.

It's relatively significant for a nitpick, "The 128 GB version has approximately 85 GB free hard disk space." per http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-gb/support/storage-files...

That's probably a combination of OS and the doublespeak/marketing definition of gigabyte though.

Re: Microsoft’s Hardware, Round 2: Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2

#117

Post by nbevans »

eliben wrote: post #106
nbevans wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? Did you even look at the specs? They are far in advance of the capabilities of an iPad. It's a full blown "PC as a Tablet". Even having a DisplayPort output and single USB port on a tablet device immediately makes it worth $200 more than any iPad.

Because you can get a much more powerful laptop for much less, if you need a "real PC". If you need a tablet, you can get one for far less too. Heck, you can get a great laptop + a great tablet for less! This is a delusional move from a company that's so far behind in this area that it's no longer funny.

You do realise there is a massively expanding market for tablets don't you? That tablet PC's are actively cannibalising the laptop market?

Re: Microsoft’s Hardware, Round 2: Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2

#118

Post by nbevans »

phaus wrote: post #75

Still no keyboard that can be used without a table. Most people spend less than $700 on a laptop. Not many people are going to spend more than that on a device that was intentionally rendered less capable so Microsoft could sell gimicky keyboard covers. Microsoft knows how to make nice hardware. All they need to do is create a true hybrid device that sets the example for the industry.

On-screen keyboard for "not on a table" scenarios. Compromise? Yes. But acceptable compromise? Probably; how many people do "productive" input-oriented work that isn't on a table?

Re: Microsoft’s Hardware, Round 2: Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2

#119

Post by RyJones »

davidacoder wrote: post #68

Why, oh why is there no version with 3G/LTE? That is by far the biggest bummer, imho. For people that are on the road a lot that makes such a difference, and pretty much all other tablets offer that option, so it seems really lame to not have that. Also, if I spent $1800 for a Surface Pro in the best configuration, I really would expect it to have the same connectivity as a iPad mini... Other than that, this seems li…

Because a small fraction of people buy it, and a smaller fraction of purchasers turn it on.

I've bought (and given away) four iPads with Verizon LTE. Exactly 0 people activated it.

This is old data, but in line with newer data I've seen WRT iPad activation rates: http://tabletquest.com/2011/02/disappointing-apple-ipad-3g-a...

Re: Microsoft’s Hardware, Round 2: Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2

#120

Post by nivla »

rbanffy wrote: post #97
CodeCube wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

powershell ... seriously, it's really good. And Cygwin if you really want that unix shell experience :)

Cygwin + MinTTY can make Windows bearable, but, if you have already moved to Mac, why bother? OSX combined to MacPorts makes for a very functional development environment. The only very specific downside is that it won't run Visual Studio. BTW, can the Pro 2 run Linux?

>BTW, can the Pro 2 run Linux?

I know you can on the Surface Pro 1. So I don't see why you won't be able to on the Surface Pro 2. Its an x86 machine as per their own requirement, bios have to be unlocked and the ability to disable secure boot must be present.

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