Surface Pro review and questions

spinstorm

spinstorm

spinstorm

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I have had a Surface Windows 8 Pro for just over a week here in the UK.

I purchased it via an online source and thought a review would be good.

I will eventually get to that but if anyone has any questions about the Pro fire away!

BATTERY LIFE

The Pro WILL last a whole day with moderate use. I have unplugged it at 8am and then used it from 4pm until 9pm straight and it still has some battery left. I would estimate about 5-6 hours with moderate use and not 3-4 hours as reviewers have said. Whilst this isn't quite as long as the iPad or nexus 7 it will comfortably last the day and a good charge will have it ready for the following morning. In real world usage this feels like the first Windows tablet that can compare to Apple with tablet battery life and I certainly don't feel concerned about running out of charge which I was on my air.

WEIGHT

Whilst this is heavier than the RT, it is less than 99% of laptops. It feels about the same weight as the 11-inch MacBook Air but with more functionality.

NOISE

The fan is never audible unless you put your ear to the vent when under heavy usage. In other words it is more silent than the Air which gets very noisy when the fans kick in.

HEAT

The feeling of warmth under heavy usage is about the same as the retina iPad. It actual feels more evenly spread and comfortable to hold when it gets warm than an iPad.
 
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J1nxy said:
What do you mean by the more functionality comment?
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It runs Windows 8 Pro, rather than OSX which I have found to be a bit rubbish. So there is a whole plether of x86 applications it can run. My main OS on my rMBP is W8 now.
 
[RXP]Andy;23823122 said:
It runs Windows 8 Pro, rather than OSX which I have found to be a bit rubbish. So there is a whole plether of x86 applications it can run. My main OS on my rMBP is W8 now.
Click to expand...

So it has no other functionality other than it runs a Different OS ? So a truly pointless statement then...
 
J1nxy said:
So it has no other functionality other than it runs a Different OS ? So a truly pointless statement then...
Click to expand...

No, it's not. It's a fully functional laptop but in a tablet form, which is brilliant in my option. Plus it's also has a greater support for existing peripherals.
 
J1nxy said:
So it has no other functionality other than it runs a Different OS ? So a truly pointless statement then...
Click to expand...

Hardware wise it has a higher resolution display with multi-touch, a micro sd card slot and an active digitizer.
 
ng93 said:
Hardware wise it has a higher resolution display with multi-touch, a micro sd card slot and an active digitizer.
Click to expand...

Don't forget tablet and laptop form factors, which increases functionality as well.

And different OS can massively increase or decrease functionality.
 
I don't know I think it should be reserved as a personal opinion. Although I would never use OSX and I don't really like it I would find it a difficult claim to make that W8 on a tablet has more functionality than OSX on a laptop.
 
For a start app store on osx is tiny and stagnated.
Secondly osx also isn't available on a tablet.
Gaming, windows clearly leads in compatability there.
iOS is extremely restrictive, not just in terms of what you can run, but basic things like file management and it bugs the hell out of me.

Yes it very much depends what you want to do, but windows has more functionality and compatability than any other os. If you use or need any of that is down to the actuall user.
 
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What I meant by more functionality is that it is also a tablet with a touchscreen and has an Wacom digitiser which the air and other ultra books don't have.

My only qualm is that with the typecover attached it was slightly thicker and heavier than an air but again it isn't a like for like comparison as it does much more than an air.

Now before I get anyone telling me I'm an apple hater I want to be clear I have a retina MacBook Pro and a 2013 super slim 27" iMac. I love apple hardware and OSX does everything you could need but Microsoft have in my eyes really upped the game with windows 8 and WP8. They have added functionality on top of existing windows and made it more compelling and easier to use.

The power connector is more likely to stay on than with the RT version but I wouldn't say it is any easier to attach, the odd angle of the side of surface still makes it tricky to attach without really concentrating on that task in hand but that's down to design if you ask me.

Two minor complaints I do have is the the included pen does scratch the display. I have a couple of tiny hairlines scratches which is very annoying and the tablet back itself seems more prone to standard scratching. I didn't have either concerns with the RT. Thats not to say it wouldn't get scratched but I never got one scratch on it in two months or so and I treated it less carefully than the Pro.

I got a couple of cheap protectors off eBay to protect the screen. I will certainly try to get the unit replaced under warranty when it is released in the UK due to those scratches caused by the pen but clearly I have no idea if the warranty will be valid in the UK, but I now have protection at least!

I'll take some photos later.
 
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Sounds like the power connector is just as fiddly.

What's your impression of the screen? Does it look significantly better than the RT or is it just sharper when you look more closely? Does text look any better on web pages?

Do the built in speakers sound better? I guess a larger body could help in that regard.

I guess the OS is a bit zippier than the RT, although to be fair whatever they did in the last firmware upgrade made a subtle but noticeable difference.
 
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