I’m not sure what was happening with his MD file extension, but I don’t think it could be what he thought it was. Windows 8 has only one unified set of file type associations – there’s no concept of desktop versus “Metro” there. Probably the app just didn’t register for that extension?
That's a fair point. I know 7Zip has this same problem; no matter which computer I'm using, I have to manually tell Windows that 7Zip is the program to use to open a .7z file.
It's possible for a program to not register file extensions.
Essentially, yes. I convinced work to buy me a Pro after around a decade of being Windows free... and I'm underwhelmed. I like the hardware. But having two entirely separate interfaces is really terrible. Like he pointed out, it's no longer intuitive how to interact with the device, you have to constantly switch between input modes which is extremely annoying.
A big part of the Metro nightmare is that the built in apps (other than the core shell) suck. For instance, Metro lacks a file chooser where you can easily find files anywhere in your system. If the Metro interface had a good file chooser, you wouldn't have to drop out to use the file desktop chooser to find a file on any filesystem. If Windows 8.1 adds a good file chooser and if Microsoft addresses a few specific pr…
Step one for me was uninstalling all the default apps. Some of them have good replacements in the Market, others I just do without. The lack of quality is a serious issue. I'm not sure how they are going to fix that considering Microsoft themselves can't seem to make anything terribly impressive.
I switched to the Surface Pro as my primary development box. Surprised that I could get VS2012, SQL Express 2012 and IIS working with decent performance. If you are using an SDXC card to supplement your storage and don't intend to eject it on a whim, you can get better performance by going to the device manager and changing the removal policy and the write caching. Options for 256gb or 512gb SSD would have made this…
Wow, glutten for punishment.
My primary development box is a fully loaded 17" laptop. Tablets are too small screen wise and performance wise when doing real work either in the OSS or Redmond realm. (I deal with tons of Data and run a few VMs as well.)
> The MBA 11" is 19.2mm thick No, it’s not: “Height: 0.11-0.68 inch (0.3-1.7 cm)” http://www.apple.com/macbookair/specs.html The body has a wedge shape, on average 10mm thick: http://imgur.com/Ung7IQ3 > It gets the same run time per charge. No, it doesn’t. The Surface Pro gets 3,75 hours of battery life. http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/05/microsoft-surface-pro-rev...
For what conceivable purpose would you want to compare average thickness? I own an SP; it does not get 3.75 hours of battery life no matter what I do with it, and I could pull out a dozen review links to say that as well. Why are you trying so hard to make it look worse than it is?
“For what conceivable purpose would you want to compare average thickness?”
Along with length, width and depth, that’s what determines the volume of the object (=portability). The Surface Pro has 60% more volume as a MacBook Air 11". And yet, it gets hot, has loud fans, and has less battery life. That’s just bad engineering. As a replacement for a notebook and a tablet, it really should have at least as much battery life as an iPad. Given its volume, that would’ve been possible.
Surface Pro: 10.81 x 6.81 x 0.76" = 55.95 cubic inches
MacBook Air 11": 11.8 x 7.56 x 0.39" = 34.79 cubic inches
EDIT: in an earlier version I mistakenly wrote 'mass' where I meant 'volume'.
Essentially, yes. I convinced work to buy me a Pro after around a decade of being Windows free... and I'm underwhelmed. I like the hardware. But having two entirely separate interfaces is really terrible. Like he pointed out, it's no longer intuitive how to interact with the device, you have to constantly switch between input modes which is extremely annoying.
A big part of the Metro nightmare is that the built in apps (other than the core shell) suck. For instance, Metro lacks a file chooser where you can easily find files anywhere in your system. If the Metro interface had a good file chooser, you wouldn't have to drop out to use the file desktop chooser to find a file on any filesystem. If Windows 8.1 adds a good file chooser and if Microsoft addresses a few specific pr…
Why are you trying to work with files in the metro interface?
I'm having trouble coming up with a use case where I'd need the file chooser to do any of the things you'd want to do in the touch interface.
I can't speak to the music file thing because I haven't dealt with music files in years, it's always been an annoying and tedious experience for me (as is working with any large number of files with wonky metadata), so I switched to streaming and haven't looked back.
EDIT:
That said, videos on my NAS just show up in the metro "Videos" app and I can watch them without issue. I haven't tried it with music but I can't imagine why that would be any different.
The moment I need to bring the power cord and adaptor with me, portability goes to "desktop replacement" levels. People who work on the go need their 8h+ battery life, the more the merrier.
>The moment I need to bring the power cord and adaptor with me, portability goes to "desktop replacement" levels. Surely you don't just carry a tablet in your hand when walking to the office? Once something's too big for pockets I resort to a messenger bag over my shoulder, in which it's just as easy to include the power. Given that tablets don't seem to come with cases, how else would one transport it?
Working in the office is not working on the go. Working on the go is finish up stuff and send it before boarding a plane, or work on that same plane, or during your train commute.
If you're going from home to the office and back, I don't see the point in carrying anything other than your smartphone. Talking about the general case, obviously, there are justifications for bringing a medium-sized laptop.
The author needs a laptop, possibly augmented with a Wacom tablet to draw during presentations. With the myriad of amazing laptop/netbooks available in the windows ecosystem a tablet would be my absolute last choice for his use case. The other angle is to consider that Surface is but one choice. Other manufacturers make excellent tablet/hybrid Windows 8 devices. They are probably a far better choice for general busin…
If you are trying to build spreadsheets on a touch device, you have an identity crisis, unless that touch device has a 42-inch screen. I would also throw demo-ing SQL server projects on a tablet in that category too.
Touch devices were not meant to replace laptops or desktops. In most cases, they were meant to fill a space that wasn't already filled.
Essentially, yes. I convinced work to buy me a Pro after around a decade of being Windows free... and I'm underwhelmed. I like the hardware. But having two entirely separate interfaces is really terrible. Like he pointed out, it's no longer intuitive how to interact with the device, you have to constantly switch between input modes which is extremely annoying.
>you have to constantly switch between input modes which is extremely annoying. I never switch modes unless I am switching tasks. Desktop tasks (writing code, workign with office apps) all mouse/keyboard/trackpad Consumption tasks (news, video) all use touch with keyboard folded out of the way Drawing and taking notes I use the stylus. I see this as having the right input mode available for each of my tasks, not some…
You're right. Honestly. The problem is, I've had this device since day one and switching between input modes still gets in the way. It is not a fluid experience. That's all I was saying. I am an "artist", writer, coder, consumer, and gamer. I carry the pen in my pocket and use it regularly. I have the cool little bluetooth touch mouse and enjoy it when gaming/coding. The on-screen keyboard is actually pretty awesome and I can touch type on it with surprising accuracy. BUT... I still have to consciously determine which input method I want to use for which app. If I'm on the desktop, and my Twitter app goes off, I switch back to Modern. I can continue using the mouse somewhat clumsily, or I can switch to touch input which works great. Then, I switch back to desktop and every darn time I'm still trying to use touch. Maybe I'm dense. Maybe I'm just hoping that one day the transition will be seamless... but, for me, it's not, and that is annoying (even if only mildly.)
For what conceivable purpose would you want to compare average thickness? I own an SP; it does not get 3.75 hours of battery life no matter what I do with it, and I could pull out a dozen review links to say that as well. Why are you trying so hard to make it look worse than it is?
“For what conceivable purpose would you want to compare average thickness?” Along with length, width and depth, that’s what determines the volume of the object (=portability). The Surface Pro has 60% more volume as a MacBook Air 11". And yet, it gets hot, has loud fans, and has less battery life. That’s just bad engineering. As a replacement for a notebook and a tablet, it really should have at least as much battery…
Weight and size are what determine portability for everyone else, not how much water it could hold if it were doubling as a canteen. That's not mass, it's volume, by the way. The MBA is longer, wider, taller and heavier -- yet you've contrived a way to label that as "more portable"... ridiculous on its face.
I'm not going to make this valueless discussion thread any longer, so to your reply: those numbers are made up. Larger screens make things less portable, not more.
"On the regional jet I’m on now, even first class doesn’t have a tray big enough for the Surface." "In comparison, when I take my MacBook Pro or my iPad [...]"