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MS Surface Hands on

TheBama

TheBama

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jun 20, 2010
383
46
Birmingham, AL
I like the packaging. Heavy box. All the seals have pull tabs for damage free opening and removal of the product. Tablet itself is completely covered in plastic.

The keyboard magnets are strong, and "snapped" the cover into place without me having to fiddle to get the contacts right. The keyboard is wonderful. Much easier to use than a virtual keyboard. Set-up is identical to Windows 8.

After set-up my Start page had all my settings from my 8 install, including my Facebook updates and desktop settings.

67d1351261068-surface-rt-unboxing-thoughts-pics-dscn0440.jpg


65d1351260814-surface-rt-unboxing-thoughts-pics-dscn0436.jpg
 
SilentPanda

SilentPanda

Moderator emeritus
Oct 8, 2002
9,992
31
The Bamboo Forest
Nice! That keyboard cover seems very cool! I don't have need for another tablet but glad to see some more competition in the marketplace. Let us know what you think after a week or so of use.
 
Sensamic

Sensamic

macrumors 68040
Mar 26, 2010
3,006
642
I'm sooooooo jealous! :D:D:D

I was thinking of buying one, but some reviews threw me back, mainly that's it's more heavy and bulky than the iPad (which was obvious from the beginning, I know), the awkward screen aspect ratio when in portrait and some early software bugs.

I think it's more of a pc than a tablet. Maybe I'll look at Asus if they are thinner and lighter.

Tell us everything you can about your new machines! I want to know everything :D:D
 
Night Spring

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,614
7,793
TheBama said:
After set-up my Start page had all my settings from my 8 install, including my Facebook updates and desktop settings.
Click to expand...

What do you do if you DON'T want to replicate your desktop settings on your tablet? Or you want some things synced, but not others? For instance, I might want my Facebook settings to be the same on my desktop and tablet, but want a different home screen layout for each.
 
D

DingleButt

macrumors regular
Dec 14, 2011
124
0
Night Spring said:
What do you do if you DON'T want to replicate your desktop settings on your tablet? Or you want some things synced, but not others? For instance, I might want my Facebook settings to be the same on my desktop and tablet, but want a different home screen layout for each.
Click to expand...

In settings you choose what to sync
 
Stuntman06

Stuntman06

macrumors 6502a
Sep 19, 2011
961
5
Metro Vancouver, B.C, Canada
I would still prefer a tactile feel to the keyboard when I depress the keys. The review that I saw for this device indicate that the keyboard feels like a touch screen keyboard without the screen. I hate touch screen keyboards.
 
B

beyondthepale35

macrumors regular
Oct 26, 2012
101
4
Stuntman06 said:
I would still prefer a tactile feel to the keyboard when I depress the keys. The review that I saw for this device indicate that the keyboard feels like a touch screen keyboard without the screen. I hate touch screen keyboards.
Click to expand...

I got to play around for a little bit in the store today, its definitely an improvement over a touch screen keyboard. The touch cover is quite responsive and I have no doubt after a week i could type close to my normal typing speed on it. And if you prefer tactile, the type cover is always an option.
 
pesos

pesos

macrumors 6502a
Mar 30, 2006
684
190
Nice! Still waiting for mine to arrive. Will be doing a short more enterprise-oriented review focusing on ActiveSync, Office, RDP/Citrix, etc...
 
P

PhoneI

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2008
1,629
619
Got mine today too. I like the device, but I dont love it. The screen resolution is a major problem. I will not be using the Win8 Kindle app a lot because the lower resolution really bothers my eyes. It also doesn't help that I HATE the Windows 8 font.

Other than that, Windows 8 seems to be pretty fun. I dont know if its because its new or what, but I like it.

One last thing, who was the genius at MS that came up with the idea to refuse to sell the 64GB version without the touch cover. I wanted to buy the Type cover and I couldn't.

----------
Sensamic said:
I'm sooooooo jealous! :D:D:D

I was thinking of buying one, but some reviews threw me back, mainly that's it's more heavy and bulky than the iPad (which was obvious from the beginning, I know), the awkward screen aspect ratio when in portrait and some early software bugs.

I think it's more of a pc than a tablet. Maybe I'll look at Asus if they are thinner and lighter.

Tell us everything you can about your new machines! I want to know everything :D:D
Click to expand...

While it might not be, it feels far heavier than the iPad3 in your hand. Portrait is also useless. I will say that the Asus Win8 RT tablet is extremely light.
 
Last edited:
P

PhoneI

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2008
1,629
619
Renzatic said:
From what I've heard, it weighs just as much, and is about 1mm thinner than the iPad at its thickest point. The reason it looks fatter is because it doesn't have as extreme a taper towards the edge.
Click to expand...

It is about the same weight, but it feels a lot heavier in hand. Probably has something to do with the weight distribution.
 
M

mcman77

macrumors 6502a
Dec 22, 2011
522
1
very nice! Is that windows RT guys?

I'm really looking forward to UK pricing on a core i3.
 
B

beyondthepale35

macrumors regular
Oct 26, 2012
101
4
mcman77 said:
thanks, is there a list anywhere so I can find out what program (apps) can run on which OS version?
Click to expand...

RT only runs pre-approved Windows apps through the Microsoft store. It has no capability to run legacy apps from previous Windows versions. Pro will be able to run any Windows program from previous generations in theory.
 
D

DingleButt

macrumors regular
Dec 14, 2011
124
0
beyondthepale35 said:
RT only runs pre-approved Windows apps through the Microsoft store. It has no capability to run legacy apps from previous Windows versions. Pro will be able to run any Windows program from previous generations in theory.
Click to expand...

Just to clarify it runs legacy apps that were built for ARM by Microsoft such as Notepad, Office RT, calc and such, but NOT 3rd party desktop apps.

Btw to the guy that was asking, heres the sync part of options
 

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mcman77

macrumors 6502a
Dec 22, 2011
522
1
DingleButt said:
Just to clarify it runs legacy apps that were built for ARM by Microsoft such as Notepad, Office RT, calc and such, but NOT 3rd party desktop apps.

Btw to the guy that was asking, heres the sync part of options
Click to expand...

beyondthepale35 said:
RT only runs pre-approved Windows apps through the Microsoft store. It has no capability to run legacy apps from previous Windows versions. Pro will be able to run any Windows program from previous generations in theory.
Click to expand...


Thanks guys :)
 
Night Spring

Night Spring

macrumors G5
Jul 17, 2008
14,614
7,793
PhoneI said:
One last thing, who was the genius at MS that came up with the idea to refuse to sell the 64GB version without the touch cover. I wanted to buy the Type cover and I couldn't.
Click to expand...

That was my thought too. I suppose you could buy the Type Cover in addition to the 64Gb+touch cover bundle, but then you'd be left with a cover you aren't using.

Fortunately, there's a Microsoft popup store near me, so I'll be dropping by to try the covers before buying one. If I buy a Surface at all, that is. It's an intriguing idea, but I'm far from convinced that it's actually usable.

DingleButt said:
Btw to the guy that was asking, heres the sync part of options
Click to expand...

Thank you, good to see it's very customizable.
 
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