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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

#121

Post by throwaway420 »

bhauer wrote: post #14

As a Surface Pro owner [1], I like: * Surface 2 loses the low-density screen. I enjoy that low-density has been deprecated. * The names are right. Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2. No "Surface with Windows RT 8.1" nonsense. * Haswell, yes please. Longer battery life may assuage some popular criticism. * Backlit type cover. I hope this is compatible with my Surface Pro. * Two-position kick stand. I will be envious of this.…

I think all of the products are surprisingly compelling, but the naming has arguably become an even bigger and more glaring issue.

The original Surface lineup was very compelling. The only real issue with it was the majorly confusing marketing message with having two products with a major qualitative difference sharing essentially the same name.

It kind of pains me that rather than learning from their $900 million mistake, they've essentially doubled down on it and somehow managed to create two products with even more similar sounding names. I think that they're once again going to confuse some people about the respective capabilities of each machine with this naming scheme.

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

#122

Post by IanDrake »

bcoates wrote: post #105
philliphaydon wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I actually think 3g on tablets is rather silly now. With basically all mobile phones having the ability to share internet, why do you need to pay additional money for another mobile plan...

Because I don't want to destroy my phone's battery and light my pants on fire.

You must have an Android phone ;)

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

#123

Post by mikevm »

Livven wrote: post #73
mikevm wrote: post #60

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm a student also, but I've been using the iPad for this. I don't take any notes on the iPad itself because the courses I need to take notes on are mathematical, so I simply write on paper and then when I come back home I scan it and append the scans to an evergrowing PDF file that is synced to my iPad. I'm looking for a replacement for my iPad 2, but I can't settle on anything because all the non-iPad tablets have…

FYI with OneNote and a digitizer stylus as the Surface Pro comes with you can just write your notes on the screen. OneNote will recognize the handwriting and allow you to search through it etc. Sorry if you already know that, from the way your comment is phrased it looks like you don't so I thought I'd throw it out.

I don't think it'd be particularly efficient. I need to be able to write proofs (which include lots of math symbols) and draw diagrams very quickly. I've seen people do it with digitizers, but the results ends up being rather poor. Pen & paper still looks best.

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

#124

Post by phaus »

nbevans wrote: post #118
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?

I write essays for my classes and even code a little bit pretty much everywhere. In the car, lying in bed, on the sofa. The funny thing is, I did most of this on an iPad with a Clamcase Pro.

If someone didn't want to do productive input-oriented work, why would they need a tablet with a Haswell processor?

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

#125

Post by nivla »

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.

That is not a good comparison. That is like asking someone, why do they need a smart phone when they can get a regular phone + a netbook for half the price. Believe it or not there is a niche market for Tablet+PC forms. It was one of the main reason and the best decision I made when purchasing the Surface Pro. For travelling, I no longer need to carry my Laptop + Tablet. I just take the Surface Pro (It is setup to use my dev environments exactly as on the PC) and when I get back, I sync the changes to the laptop. Not only can I get real work done on the plane but can also switch to tablet mode and play some useless games when tired. However, that is my experience but your mileage may vary.

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

#126

Post by rlu »

__abc wrote: post #40

Who's the guying posing in the photo's? He looks miserable.

His name is Panos Panay and he's VP of Surface.

I agree he isn't very photogenic but if you actually watch him present....it's a whole different story. You can probably find his part of the Surface 1 announcement on youtube and I'm sure the one today will be put up later.

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

#127

Post by mahyarm »

mcintyre1994 wrote: post #116
JonFish85 wrote: post #99

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Just like the Macbook Air with it's 128GB SSD has a bunch of it taken up OS X when you get the device? I look at the surface pro as microsoft's macbook air equivalent.

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

#128

Post by nivla »

th0ma5 wrote: post #76

Can one get Debian, SUSE, or CentOS running on either of these yet?

Cross-posting from one of my comments above: 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.

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

#129

Post by mahyarm »

phaus wrote: post #124
nbevans wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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?

I write essays for my classes and even code a little bit pretty much everywhere. In the car, lying in bed, on the sofa. The funny thing is, I did most of this on an iPad with a Clamcase Pro. If someone didn't want to do productive input-oriented work, why would they need a tablet with a Haswell processor?

Couldn't you get something like the clamcase pro then for the surface? This type of cover is for people who want something as minimal as an ipad smart cover.

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

#130

Post by nivla »

barista wrote: post #109
methodin wrote: post #34

Does the Surface cut it as a machine for developers?

the touch cover is not that great but the type cover is awesome for typing. Looks like the second version of it is backlit as well so it does make for a great dev PC

I totally agree with you. The touch cover is useless. I haven't got a chance to try the type cover yet, but I assume it to much tolerable than the touch cover. The only complaint, it doesn't come in colors :(
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