*** The Official Microsoft Surface Thread ***

Surface Pro 2 owners, if you've had them for a little while now (few weeks or more), could I get an idea of your general battery life + usage? The battery indicator seems to show all sorts throughout constant use (obviously drops when playing a movie, etc), but I haven't had time to run a full cycle to empty. At times its equating to 6 hours, others 3, so it's hard to pin down.
 
Surface Pro 2 owners, if you've had them for a little while now (few weeks or more), could I get an idea of your general battery life + usage? The battery indicator seems to show all sorts throughout constant use (obviously drops when playing a movie, etc), but I haven't had time to run a full cycle to empty. At times its equating to 6 hours, others 3, so it's hard to pin down.

Sounds like you have the December firmware update which among other things screwed up battery reporting. Sometimes when my Surface Pro 2 is asleep I start it again, whatever charge is left in the battery is reported is 100%.

If want it to report correctly you have to shutdown the Windows. The hold the volume button and then hold the power button. You will see the Surface logo flash on the screen then a menu and then the tablet will switch off. Then just switch your surface back on as normal the battery indicator will be back to normal. This isn't a permanent fix.

Microsoft should be releasing a firmware update today to resolve this as it is patch Tuesday today.
 
Sounds like you have the December firmware update which among other things screwed up battery reporting. Sometimes when my Surface Pro 2 is asleep I start it again, whatever charge is left in the battery is reported is 100%.

If want it to report correctly you have to shutdown the Windows. The hold the volume button and then hold the power button. You will see the Surface logo flash on the screen then a menu and then the tablet will switch off. Then just switch your surface back on as normal the battery indicator will be back to normal. This isn't a permanent fix.

Microsoft should be releasing a firmware update today to resolve this as it is patch Tuesday today.

Ah forgot the battery thing. Haven't had the sleep issue yet so hadn't even thought to check the firmware.

Do you have an idea what sort of time you get out of it sans indicator?
 
It varies but I usually can get around 6 hours at least during a working day when I am using it more as a laptop with a second screen plugged in and using a Bluetooth mouse. I am usually using RDP sessions, Word and Excel for documentation, Lotus Notes (Ugh), listening to Podcasts.
 
Oh this reminds me, I spoke to an MS rep a few weeks ago and apparently the patch for the sleep issue should be out today...
 
I don't know what all of them where but 5 updates on surface rt today. I know one was fixes for the store. Not sure about the others. And it works, store now opens in a split second, they also had a host of other fixes tweak in that update.
 
Yup updates here as well, seemed to standby when I shut the cover earlier as well, see what else changes..
 
Hi guys, I'm looking at maybe getting a Surface 2, but I don't really know what I'm going to miss out on with Windows RT instead of the full version on, say the Asus T100? The main use for it would be web browsing, watching movies/youtube and a bit of facebook/skype.. Is there any reason to go for one over the other for those uses?
 
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I think Windows RT would be Ok based on your list of requirements.

You would only need Full Fat Windows 8 if you want to install desktop applications.
 
Hi guys, I'm looking at maybe getting a Surface 2, but I don't really know what I'm going to miss out on with Windows RT instead of the full version on, say the Asus T100? The main use for it would be web browsing, watching movies/youtube and a bit of facebook/skype.. Is there any reason to go for one over the other for those uses?

The only thing's I miss on my RT are..

Chrome/Firefox with adblock plus
Winamp lite (or any desktop based music player)
MPC-BE (or any desktop based video player)
 
If you're looking at cheap tablets then yes, RT is better than the current Atom based full fat Win8/8.1 offerings as they are just dog slow...
 
The only thing's I miss on my RT are..

Chrome/Firefox with adblock plus
Winamp lite (or any desktop based music player)
MPC-BE (or any desktop based video player)

For me herbal space program, but I obviously wasn't expecting that.
It does everything else, would really like the extra position in the kickstand and the faster CPU of the surface 2 as maps apps especially bing map preview is very slow to use. But wanted as cheap as possible.

tablet/pcs aside. i always found after the XP operating system, everything slow.

Then you are doing something wrong.
 
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Depends on your machine I guess, fastest machine I've ever built was an P2 with Win3.11 on it simply because it was for special needs students and they were used to Win3.11, they had a new machine with an old OS and it flew lol
 
If you're looking at cheap tablets then yes, RT is better than the current Atom based full fat Win8/8.1 offerings as they are just dog slow...

The Baytrail tablets are far from dog slow!
Their CPU is factually faster than ours on the CPU side.

My brother's C-50 feels no slower than my Tegra 4 at all.
 
Not seen many Baytrails yet, imho the next gen Atoms will be the ones to watch..
Unit I played with was a Toshiba one, was waaaay too slow for anything useful..
 
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