My Surface for Windows RT Review

[Martini1991]

I'd buy RT again for a tablet, but for a hybrid like the Surface it's too limited IMO.

Hopefully the new lineup goes:

Surface Mini - 8" with Snapdragon 800 and Windows RT, a pure tablet device.

Surface - Current Surface RT form factor but with Baytrail, a better screen and USB 3.

Surface Pro - As it is currently but with Haswell and Thunderbolt.

That's pretty much how I'd like the line up too.
As long as it's got the stellar build quality and feel as it has now, then that'd be brilliant.

No reason why they can't do that, chances of it happening are probably slim like.

 

[Rilot]

I took my Surface Pro back for a refund at the weekend. I was finding that the RT was still my go to device for quick document editing and web browsing. The Pro was rapidly becoming a very expensive coffee table ornament.

At the new prices, I think the RT is a steal considering you get Office with it.

 

[unwashed potato!]

why is pro so expensive? am i right in thinking RT can't run programs that win8 can e.g. xampp and only pro can?

 

[theheyes]

The simplest way to put it is RT can only run software from the Windows Store, with the exception of the pre installed Office suite.

 

[theheyes]

I took my Surface Pro back for a refund at the weekend. I was finding that the RT was still my go to device for quick document editing and web browsing.

I find that sort of comment interesting from somebody who has used both. It kind of flies in the face of the general consensus on the performance issue.

Between the full fat Core powered Surface Pro and the pedestrian Tegra3 Surface RT, the RT ended up being your go-to machine.

 

[Trig]

Surface Pro - As it is currently but with Haswell and Thunderbolt.

Skylake by the time we get it in the UK
Moar rams!!!

 

[matthab]

Just ordered my Surface rt from John Lewis. The misses has and rt and I really get on with it. Love how I can natively remote into my servers and how fluid it feels. The lack of apps isn't an issue as I don't use a large amount.

Time to put the ipad 2 on the members market.

 

[ralv585]

I'm really tempted by the new prices, I've just got a few questions for those that have used and own one.

99% of the time i will use it mainly for web browsing and watching videos, how does it fair when watching hd movies?

I've converted some movies into mp4, so it could play on my android tablet, just wondering if it plays it natively.

How does the resolution hold up also, I'd to look at photos and browse the web, i wouldn't say i'm a pixel peeper, but i would like a nice crisp screen.

And one more thing, can i use it as an external screen for my laptop for example?

Thanks

 

[POB]

How does the resolution hold up also, I'd to look at photos and browse the web, i wouldn't say i'm a pixel peeper, but i would like a nice crisp screen.

MS put in a very nice screen, despite the resolution. It looks much nicer then it should.

 

[theheyes]

The screen is great, its just not high resolution. Absolutely fine for reading and photos look very nice. High resolution for viewing photos isn't as big a deal as you'd think.

 

[DiCe!]

Interested to see if they release a small form factor, after using win 8 at home I am now really interested in it as a touch screen and on a phone, although I like Android too much to convert the phone.

 

[theheyes]

I think an 8 inch portrait orientation Surface is a given, it's just "when". I'd be surprised if it was soon.

 

[DeathStorm]

I find that sort of comment interesting from somebody who has used both. It kind of flies in the face of the general consensus on the performance issue.

Part of the problem lies in the improvements that have been made to the Surface, after the firmware updates and especially with 8.1 installed the performance is actually pretty solid but Surface RT is stuck with a terrible reputation I don't see it getting away from unless the next version is utterly amazing (there's plenty of people who still worry about Office performance even though that was fixed before launch).

Between the full fat Core powered Surface Pro and the pedestrian Tegra3 Surface RT, the RT ended up being your go-to machine.

Makes sense to me, for most tasks RT will do fine and it's lighter with twice the battery life...

 

[Rilot]

I find that sort of comment interesting from somebody who has used both. It kind of flies in the face of the general consensus on the performance issue.

Between the full fat Core powered Surface Pro and the pedestrian Tegra3 Surface RT, the RT ended up being your go-to machine.

It was mainly because the RT would wake up instantly, whereas if the Pro had hibernated, it would take a few seconds to be ready.
The RT feels nicer in the hands too. The Pro is just a teeny bit too heavy and thick.

The next Pro I'm sure will be killer though.

 

[Trig]

If they actually bother to make one, I dont think the next one will be "right" either, it'll be a pretty simple refresh with Haswell and a 256Gb SSD, probably little more, if it has Haswell, 256Gb and 8Gb RAM I'll be all over it though, lighter would be nice and its bout time MS actually brought out some bloody accessories for this so called "Accessory spine" that they keep teasing with...

 

[kevpuk]

I will also keep an eye on the next-gen iterations. For me, the RT was a little too restrictive, and the Pro a bit thick/pricy/perhaps even overkill - for me, that is.

I have a desktop for more demanding things, an Ultrabook (well, in name at least) for mobile productivity etc. and then picked up a Latitude 10 for everything else - Win 8 Pro, 64GB & 3G all wrapped up with solid case and IPS screen - for a whisker over £300.

Seems to me that the RT is a lovely piece of kit, but has been hamstrung by pricing in comparison to Android tabs etc. Had it been positioned a little cheaper, uptake would likely have been better.....then the Pro, whilst lovely from my limited time playing with one, is a great piece of kit but needs the Haswell architecture to slim and last longer perhaps.

 

[Glaucus]

The next Pro I'm sure will be killer though.

But only if needed.
If new games where made available on RT I wouldn't need pro. RT has office, even things like family tree software are starting to come to iOS.

What wil be interesting is ARM Vs Atom, much to my surprise, it looks like the new atom will kick even the snapdragon 800(the top arm chip), comparable size, weight and battery life with the added bonus of x86 compatability.

I still see the RT as being vital for MS as that's what non tech savy people will look for as direct competition for ipad/android.

Few years for intel too establish themself as energy efficient might chnage that, but I bet nearly everyone thinks intel+ normal windows = flat battery, even if atom devices are the same battery life as arm.

 

[unwashed potato!]

how easy is it to develop apps for win8 RT? i want something for work, i know how to use xampp, php etc and figured pro would be better because i can do everything i do on my pc now. what languages do you need to know to make an app?

 

[theheyes]

As interesting as refreshes and 8 inch versions might be, what I'd really love to see is an answer to the MacBook Air.

13" Surface ultrabook with a great trackpad, great backlit keyboard, great touch screen and 10+ hours battery in a vapourmag case. Yes please.

 

[theheyes]

how easy is it to develop apps for win8 RT? i want something for work, i know how to use xampp, php etc and figured pro would be better because i can do everything i do on my pc now. what languages do you need to know to make an app?

http://www.windowsstore.com/ might be a good place to start. There are lots of tutorial videos on Channel 9, too.