A Microsoft surface tablet running windows RT landed on my desk today, so I thought Id give it test drive using B&B. its difficult not to compare it to an ipad but that does give a frame of reference. right now im using the key board cover to type with and its quite difficult to use. you may notice that it doesn't correct capitalization at the start of a new sentence which is something I take for granted on the ipad. Ok, keyboard cover is now off, and I'm typing with one hand and supporting the device with the other. With the on screen keyboard, capitalization seems to work. There are two web browsers, one on the metro menu and one over in the desktop interface. None of them will let me hit enter to start a new paragraph below this one. This must have something to do with how the browser understands the text field I'm writing in.
testing a microsoft surface tablet with windows RT
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Build quality seems to be high. It has a good weight, but it really needs a folding cover to tilt the screen at a 40-45 degree angle. Without the keyboard cover, the kick stand is pretty useless. The charger is a black clone of Apple chargers. Very nice, but an obvious copy. Also, the connection to the device is another Apple rip off using a magnetic connector. Still can't press enter to start on a new paragraph. It also makes word and spelling suggestions as you type, but this seems a little counter intuitive. For example, when I write parag, it correctly suggests paragraph, but you have to move from the keyboard to the screen and select the suggestion. Simply pressing space replaces the text with Paraguay.
i've been waiting for a non-magazine or website review of this. Do you think they will issue software updates like Apple does periodically? That might fix the issues you are describing. I'm likely not going to get one as I am an Apple guy, but I still am somewhat of a tech junkie.
Does it run more like a tablet than say a laptop? for instance how do you load programs and what kind can you load? via an "app store"?
Does it run more like a tablet than say a laptop? for instance how do you load programs and what kind can you load? via an "app store"?
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In the desktop version of IE, the keyboard does not pop up when you activate a text field. Now I'm going to try hand writing recognition for the input. Ok that didn't go well at all, so I'm back at the onscreen keyboard. It didn't recognise anything I wrote, but that could be my fault, as I've never tried before. Its starting to p#ss me off now that I can't press enter to start a new paragraph. I also noticed that trying to hit the X to close the keyboard window usually results in hitting backspace. You have to be very deliberate in your actions.
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I'm an Apple guy too, but I'm determined to be fair. With the keyboard cover attached, it's like a really weird laptop. Withou it, it's a perfectly normal tablet. The kick stand holds it at a bad angle, so I'd much rather have a simple folding cover and use the on screen keyboard. Can't blame Microsoft for that. My iPad did not come with a cover, I bought a cover my self. The MS app store says there are updates ready for some of the built in apps. I installed a couple of apps today after creating a Microsoft account, and that went very well. Easy to do and no problems encountered. Looks like they've done a very good job on the app store experience.
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I'm back in the metro web browser now, because you get a lot more screen area to work in. This browser seems a lot better suited for writing in forums and such. The keyboard pops up and down when it should, and the browser buttons are easier to hit accurately if you have stubby fingers. I uploaded pictures to B&B from this tablet earlier today. That worked flawlessly too, although downloading images from Google web Picassa was a bit hit and miss. I have a lot of albums on Google and while the thumbnails were loading, IE kept panicking and popping up messages about a script taking too long to complete. A bit annoying, but that could also be the network I'm on.
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I've decided to use this tablet, when ever possible, at home for the rest of the week, and see if I can live without my ipad2. It's still really bugging me that the Enter key won't insert a new line in a browser based text field. Any substantial text will be more difficult to read. When I get home this evening, I'll be able to test several things, including: joining my home WiFi network, attaching to a NAS box and streaming films, and this supported media types. I'll try the native mail app as well, or, considering I use yahoo mail, maybe there's a yahoo mail app?
I messed around with one at Best Buy for an hour, while everyone else was screwing around with the IPads and Galaxy Tablets. I'm an Apple guy through and through, I've got an Ipad 3, Ipad mini, Iphone 5, IMac desktop, Mac Book Pro, iPod Click Wheel, and Apple TV. I just can't see ever abandoning that ecosystem because everyone works so well together. But the Surface was cool, my biggest fear would be a completely underdeveloped App Store. Walt Mossberg had it right when he said "it's about the Apps stupid" without those you've got a $500 and up web browser.
Max.
Max.
I have an interest in exploring the Surface Pro because it seems like it would be a nice lighter weight alternative to my laptop ( i.e. could use Office on it ) for travel - but I've read where the screen resolution isn't on a par with the iPad and so I'll probably wait a bit and see if Microsoft enhances that aspect ; and I agree that having a comparable (to the Apple) abundance of apps is another concern .
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Back at home now, connecting to my home network was really easy. Writing has gotten easier too, because I'm lying back on the sofa and its resting on my legs so I can type with two hands on the screen keyboard. At home I have popcorn hour media player connected to my tv. That has a NAS function and a 2TB disk with plenty of movies, music and tv series on it. Mapping a network drive to the popcorn was also very easy. If you've done this on a windows pc, you'll know what to do. Right click on Computer, select map network drive etc. I'm still not using the keyboard cover. Its very bad and forces a lot of errors. However, the cover I have is the thin cheap one. To get a right click using your finger on the screen, you just select an item and keep your finger down, the right click context menu then pops up. So far on the popcorn I've been able to play .mp4 files, Apple .mov files and Apple .m4v files. When I tried to play .mkv files windows RT said it needed to look for an app to handle this file type. More on that later. When typing, there is a not unpleasant sound as I press the keys, but I've noticed that this occasionally cuts out and then comes back on its own a little later.
Once you've spent good money on iPad apps, it's hard to break away.
I have a Windows Phone running OS7 and it's nice, but the app store is lame.
There just isn't enough in there.
As a phone OS it's great. I like it a lot.
Not quite the same as RT I know, but very similar.
I have a Windows Phone running OS7 and it's nice, but the app store is lame.
There just isn't enough in there.
As a phone OS it's great. I like it a lot.
Not quite the same as RT I know, but very similar.
You might want to check out Techo Buffalo. They do really honest, on the money tech reviews and they're not affiliated with any big tech companies.
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You're right Max, Apple are way ahead of the race when it comes to apps, and a few other things. But when I tried to play an .mkv file over the network, the surface said it could not play it, but it would connect to the app store to find something that could. It came back with about 9 apps, most cost money but I'll try to find a freebie. There are quite a few apps available now, but I don't have the stats at hand.
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Very true. I have an iPad, iPhone and a mac book pro. I have my music on all three device. Notes I create on any of them, are automatically synced around and apps and books and other purchases turn up where I need them. It would take a lot to drag me away from Apple now, and having two tablets is not something I'm interested in, although having a surface tablet at work might not be so bad. I don't use an iPad at work, but I do use a Mac. We are a windows based organisation, but there's not much I can't do with my mac.
I played with one at the Microsoft store and generally liked it. There was a bit of lag but the build quality is pretty good and the screen was pretty nice. The fact that you can't load regular MS software on it may be a dealbreaker for some, but I guess you can do it on the Surface pro. Also I've read that the OS takes a big chunk of the memory so be prepared to buy an SD card. Plus the optional keyboard is in the neighborhood of $100.00.
I think the jury is still out on it. The reviews have been pretty mixed, but it really depends if developers get behind it so there is a nice app selection to attrach would be Ipad or Android buyers. I could definitely see this more appealing in the enterprise market because of the MS office suite that's built in. But for the average customer I think they have a ways to go before it topples the Ipad.
I think the jury is still out on it. The reviews have been pretty mixed, but it really depends if developers get behind it so there is a nice app selection to attrach would be Ipad or Android buyers. I could definitely see this more appealing in the enterprise market because of the MS office suite that's built in. But for the average customer I think they have a ways to go before it topples the Ipad.
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I've just updated all the built in apps that need updating. Everything went smoothly without problems. I find when I'm in metro, its quiet a good tablet. When I have to jump over to Desktop mode and the regular windows 8 look and feel, the trouble starts. The windows ui is not designed for touch screen. Especially on a small screen. Its quiet difficult to hit the menu items and buttons with any precision. If I want to open files on a network drive I have to jump through the hoops a little. The metro apps look for local content to open, so I have to bring the metro start menu up, choose desktop, then from there open explorer to browse to the net drive then select a file to open and get bounced back to the metro app that can open it. I'm also discovering more problems with the web browsers and the B&B forum. Sometimes, buttons are not pressed, but selected as if I wanted to copy the text on the button, and it can take several attempts to activate a text field for editing, even though the screen keyboard pops up when it should in the metro web browser.
Yeah if were to buy one, I'd puchase the optional keyboard. I'm sure most of the obvious bugs will be corrected when the first service pack is released. MS is notorious for releasing their new OS's half baked.
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There are 2 keyboards. The one that came with this one sucks big time. Its the cheapo version. It has no tactile feedback, its like typing on door mat and I'm forever hitting the row of letters just above the space bar. I'll post more about it as I use it. I've got it for about a week. I'm not gonna use my iPad while I have.
I have never used an Ipad so I don't know how it would compare. I have one of the first Surfaces out running windows 8. Since early fall I guess? I have more issues with the way it displays certain things on webpages that the mechanical aspects, but not transitioning from a smart phone or other tablet may make my impressions moot. I think the keyboard/cover is good for what it is, you get no feedback from a touchpad either right? I do wish the "prop" at the back was adjustable for varying seating angles. Big disapointment is that Windows 8 is not suuported by Citrex yet.
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General Impressions after first day:
Pros:
- Excellent build quality
- Nice weight
- Windows RT running on an ARM processor is very snappy.
- Batteri life seems good. I charged it yesterday afternoon, and have used it for about 4 hours so far. I will continue until it's drained.
- Plays .mp4, .mov, .avi (divx/xvid),mv4, mp3 - all without extra software or decoders.
- App Store works very well, great user experience
- Tried Yahoo Mail app. Again, excellent user experience.
- no extra apps needed for networking
- lots more apps available now.
- once you get used to the gestures, it's easy to find your way around.
- both the RT and the Pro models should run all Metro apps
- on screen keyboards have a good, well thought out layout.
Cons:
- not so great in desktop mode
- Keyboard cover is not for me. (especially the one that shipped with this model).
- regular windows controls are difficult in a touch based interface
- wide screen format makes for a very narrow content view in landscape mode.
- web page handling by both browsers (full IE 10 in desktop and Metro version) is a bit flakey. Forums are especially tricky.
- navigation between content files and metro apps is a bit clunky.
- kick stand is not very usefull if you don't use a keyboard cover
- only the Pro model with an Intel processor will run regular windows apps. (but this is a tablet, and regular windows apps are not made for tablets)
I need a better cover. Perhaps a simple folding cover with no keyboard.
If I have the time this evening, I will try using Remote Desktop to connect to and take over a server running Windows Server. I'll also try a VPN from home to work. Other than that, more apps to test, and learn more about customising the Metro interface to suit my personal needs.
On the whole, (disregarding price and the price of the competition) quite impressed. I won't be giving up my Apple gear, I still think my iPad beats it in the user experience department, but it's still early days yet.
Pros:
- Excellent build quality
- Nice weight
- Windows RT running on an ARM processor is very snappy.
- Batteri life seems good. I charged it yesterday afternoon, and have used it for about 4 hours so far. I will continue until it's drained.
- Plays .mp4, .mov, .avi (divx/xvid),mv4, mp3 - all without extra software or decoders.
- App Store works very well, great user experience
- Tried Yahoo Mail app. Again, excellent user experience.
- no extra apps needed for networking
- lots more apps available now.
- once you get used to the gestures, it's easy to find your way around.
- both the RT and the Pro models should run all Metro apps
- on screen keyboards have a good, well thought out layout.
Cons:
- not so great in desktop mode
- Keyboard cover is not for me. (especially the one that shipped with this model).
- regular windows controls are difficult in a touch based interface
- wide screen format makes for a very narrow content view in landscape mode.
- web page handling by both browsers (full IE 10 in desktop and Metro version) is a bit flakey. Forums are especially tricky.
- navigation between content files and metro apps is a bit clunky.
- kick stand is not very usefull if you don't use a keyboard cover
- only the Pro model with an Intel processor will run regular windows apps. (but this is a tablet, and regular windows apps are not made for tablets)
I need a better cover. Perhaps a simple folding cover with no keyboard.
If I have the time this evening, I will try using Remote Desktop to connect to and take over a server running Windows Server. I'll also try a VPN from home to work. Other than that, more apps to test, and learn more about customising the Metro interface to suit my personal needs.
On the whole, (disregarding price and the price of the competition) quite impressed. I won't be giving up my Apple gear, I still think my iPad beats it in the user experience department, but it's still early days yet.
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