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Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

ozar.me

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Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#171

Post by Moto7451 »

CountSessine wrote: post #166
Mythbusters wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> The problem with Windows "apps" is that they are made inefficient and un-optimized by default Very knowledgeable opinion sir. This is indeed true. Us as windows developers are required to add a sleep statement every few lines of code so as it not make it appear responsive.

Very knowledgeable opinion sir. This is indeed true. Us as windows developers are required to add a sleep statement every few lines of code so as it not make it appear responsive. A sleep() statement?! Novice! That won't even busy-wait! I like to loop around for a few thousand times writing nonsense to dummy variables. I earned those time slices - no way am I going to just give them back to the OS scheduler.

Haha, perhaps you've implemented this technique before:

http://thedailywtf.com/Articles/The-Speedup-Loop.aspx

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#172

Post by powertower »

macspoofing wrote: post #168
powertower wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> But from the multiple Surface reviews posted here over the past few days You mean all those negative reviews that get upvoted to the front-page. Thats what happens here, the positive reviews usually get ignored, get flagged, or die quickly. Unless it's an Apple product. "Surface RT" is not "Surface for Windows 8 Pro". Windows RT is a stripped down version of Windows designed for lower power CPUs. It's also designed…

>It's also designed to be 100% Metro based I thought that but you do end up on the (severely restricted) desktop more often than you think. >Surface RT" is a touch-based device for holding in your hands while surfing the net Is this why every single marketing and promotional material shows it sitting on a desk with the connected keyboard? Is this why Microsoft made such a huge deal of the keyboard/screen workflow? (e…

They are showing what it can be (in the minds of potential buyers), not what it is 90% of the time, nor what 90% of the market will use it as.

Do you really think it's going to make you dance?

It's marketing. That's how it works.

Given the specifics on Windows RT, low power ARM based CPUs, etc ... it's not a desktop replacement device, though you can certainly hook up a keyboard to it.

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#173

Post by CountSessine »

powertower wrote: post #104
nextstep wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Recently, HN is quick to yell "fanboy" at anything critical of a direct competitor to an Apple product. But from the multiple Surface reviews posted here over the past few days, it seems like the consensus (even among those that aren't labeled "fanboys") is that the surface has considerable drawbacks while costing more than an iPad.

> But from the multiple Surface reviews posted here over the past few days You mean all those negative reviews that get upvoted to the front-page. Thats what happens here, the positive reviews usually get ignored, get flagged, or die quickly. Unless it's an Apple product. "Surface RT" is not "Surface for Windows 8 Pro". Windows RT is a stripped down version of Windows designed for lower power CPUs. It's also designed…

I'm responding twice because you said so many interesting things here.

"Surface RT" is a touch-based device for holding in your hands while surfing the net and using the typical social apps. The use-case of an attached keyboard and the fully fledged Office app suite is not what this device is primarly for.

I think I'm beginning to understand why there's so much excitement over the Surface. It's because the Windows world doesn't have Ultrabooks.

Or rather, up until recently with the Xenbook and the Carbon, all of the ultrabooks in the Windows world have been really really bad. But I don't think that the market has found the Xenbook and the Carbon yet. And maybe there's a general belief in the Windows world that you don't have to pay for quality - I think all of the Microsoft faithful here are hoping that Microsoft has given them a $500 Ultrabook, which of course they haven't.

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#175

Post by facorreia »

ConstantineXVI wrote: post #28

I've had mine since 10AM yesterday; and I'm actually fairly pleased, at least for effectively being a new platform. Thoughts, in no particular order: - Love the build. Very solid overall. - 16:9 means it's one long tablet. Oddly, it's actually fairly usable in portrait; can't say the same for my old 16:10 Transformer (maybe just better balanced?) - The touch cover is, like most say, surprisingly usable. Desperately n…

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 an airport, doctor's office, etc.) as you would do with a laptop?

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#176

Post by [deleted] »

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…

[deleted]

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#177

Post by Someone »

drivebyacct2 wrote: post #8

I want a video of people using these as lap tops. That's my biggest fear about springing for something like these. Even RT could be tolerable with the right apps as a remote machine with that keyboard, similar to what people do with Android+Transformer. I can program on it, work on remote machines. That having been said, assuming it's somewhat usable on a lap, I'll wait for the Pro too, I have several things that nee…

I haven't used (or even seen in real life) the Surface, but I would expect using the stand would be a challenge. It just feels to risky to put that tine edge close to your knees; the screen would drop on the floor too easily. That means you will have to move the edge of the screen at least, say, 15 cm from your knees. Also, having that 'one, steep, angle' for the stand would mean that looking at the screen would be a problem.

So, I would guess using the stand is out. That leaves placing the screen flat on your upper legs with the keyboard in front of it. In that setup, I am still worried about the keyboard detaching from the screen, and the screen dropping on the floor. The keyboard would have to be attached fairly firmly to the screen for that setup to feel secure. It also would place the screen in an awkward location for reading: too far away, and at an inconvenient angle. So, for that setup, I expect you will want something that wraps both the underside of the keyboard and the back of the screen, and props up the screen by, say, 10 cm. I guess something like that will pop up on Kickstarter soon.

Re: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface RT

#180

Post by rbanffy »

powertower wrote: post #172
macspoofing wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>It's also designed to be 100% Metro based I thought that but you do end up on the (severely restricted) desktop more often than you think. >Surface RT" is a touch-based device for holding in your hands while surfing the net Is this why every single marketing and promotional material shows it sitting on a desk with the connected keyboard? Is this why Microsoft made such a huge deal of the keyboard/screen workflow? (e…

They are showing what it can be (in the minds of potential buyers), not what it is 90% of the time, nor what 90% of the market will use it as. Do you really think it's going to make you dance? It's marketing. That's how it works. Given the specifics on Windows RT, low power ARM based CPUs, etc ... it's not a desktop replacement device, though you can certainly hook up a keyboard to it.

> They are showing what it can be (in the minds of potential buyers), not what it is

If that's true, they are showing what it isn't.

> It's marketing. That's how it works.

I believe the technical term would be "deceptive marketing"

> Given the specifics on Windows RT, low power ARM based CPUs, etc ... it's not a desktop replacement device.

At least not while it's running Windows RT. Too bad it can't run anything else. Let's wait for Windows 9 and hope current devices can be upgraded.

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