First Reviews of Microsoft Surface Pro: Good Display, Full Windows 8, Compromised Experience

[samcraig]

There's a big reason that this device could sell to a specific market. OFFICE.

Yes - you can get a laptop. But if you want a tablet interface AND to have all the functionality of Office (except Outlook I believe) - this is your option. And for some - it's invaluable.

I'm not advocating this is a good/great device. I'm just saying there's a market. I know that no app or alternative to Office allows for the full functionality of Track Changes that Word has. And unless that changes - there are plenty of business users that can/will only use Office. You really can't even argue against that point.

 

[MagnumOP]

That does not have any tablet features nor does it have a wacom digitizer.

There have been a lot of comments about the Wacom digitizer. I understand that this is actually an awesome feature, but only a small number of people actually need it. Most people are not graphic designers etc. That is why the iPad is so successful. The compromises Apple make are aimed at optimizing a product for most people. Microsoft seem to be optimizing the Surface Pro for a very small part of the overall market.

 

[alexgowers]

There is a niche artist market that will go bananas for this but it's not a mainstream product in my opinion.

It's so typical of Microsoft to be reactive rather than lead a market.

They have such a great team of creatives but it's obviously managed by committee as it could have been a beautiful thing.

Windows 8 should have been a desktop/laptop os with no hint of mobile. Phone and tablet should also have been mobile versions of the os with the same user interface or layout only. Apps could have run on both but i thing the consumer would prefer to have only apps designed for screen sizes etc.

I don't know who at microsoft thought a pro version was a good idea but they should be sacked for even thinking it would work. Microsoft need to learn that it doesn't matter what processor you wack in it, you need an easy ecosystem, with content and a device that is light, thin and long lived. Nothing else really even matters, even to a certain degree the design as a tablet is just a shell with as big as possible screen plugged in.

I don't know if microsoft will learn and make us all a proper os next time and a better device that isn't just a laptop replacement.

I have hope for the future but this latest debarcle is going to burn their fingers. I would rather have microsoft than samsung.

 

[rmwebs]

it's ultimately brought down by trying to be both a tablet and laptop at the same time.

To be honest I think anyone in the tech industry could have seen that one coming - theres no way you can do both without compromising the overall product.

You cant really take a ~15 year old keyboard and mouse operating system, add a few touch screen features and expect it to be a decent quality product, whilst still retaining all the old mouse-only stuff.

 

[alexgowers]

There are plenty of business users that can/will only use Office. You really can't even argue against that point.

Yes office on a computer not office on a tablet. There is a huge difference.

I think open office is closer to business requirements these days as MS lost everyone with UI updates that made no sense. Touch screens and all the tasks associated with office don't mix at all, this is not the device to do that on and anyway surely microsoft is working on RT and iOS versions of office if someone did need to go tablet?

 

[HighDesert50]

As a developer, the opportunities provided by such attributes as an OS and hardware that spans the tablet-notebook bridge, pen implementation, and the simplicity of developing for a single well-supported OS to be compelling and fertile ground for the "imaginers."

 

[jclardy]

I like the idea...but the form factor just isn't right yet.

As a tablet it is too large and heavy. As a laptop it is uncomfortable as you can't adjust the screen angle...and you can't use it on your lap.

I think once we can make tablets light enough we could just have a heavier keyboard module so that the combination wouldn't be top heavy.

 

[kemal]

They Just Don't Get It.

I'm testing a Surface RT. I can't find the wireless MAC address in the GUI. ipconfig /all. Really? slui 3 pops open Windows licensing. I'm tempted to enter a valid code just to see what happens. Why is a full version of Windows running on this thing? I though it was a tablet not a really crappy ARM based touch-screen laptop. Looks like the Pro is just a string replace of ARM with intel.

 

[StoneJack]

There's a big reason that this device could sell to a specific market. OFFICE.

Yes - you can get a laptop. But if you want a tablet interface AND to have all the functionality of Office (except Outlook I believe) - this is your option. And for some - it's invaluable.

I'm not advocating this is a good/great device. I'm just saying there's a market. I know that no app or alternative to Office allows for the full functionality of Track Changes that Word has. And unless that changes - there are plenty of business users that can/will only use Office. You really can't even argue against that point.

But office is already available on all types of ultrabooks and notebooks. What's new? Office on a tablet is really not that superior to Office on notebooks, its worse, because the interface is touch while everything in Office is suited for mouse and keyboard. You want mobile Office? Get a netbook or ultra book, netbook can be had for 300 dollars (including keyboard). You want really good notebook? Get MBA, both Windows and Mac OS X are available. If you want pen input, Note 2 is available as well other pen input tablets. For simple notetaking, iPad with Notability is just fine, I use it with stylus and get what I need. Either, you can buy pressure-sensitive stylus for iPad for 100 dollars and have similar to Wacom experience on cheapest iPads as well.

 

[Xiroteus]

There have been a lot of comments about the Wacom digitizer. I understand that this is actually an awesome feature, but only a small number of people actually need it. Most people are not graphic designers etc. That is why the iPad is so successful. The compromises Apple make are aimed at optimizing a product for most people.

True, it is perfect for those who want or need it, which is going to be a much smaller number of people, I imagine quite a few wish that the iPad had some type of pressure sensitivity.

Microsoft seem to be optimizing the Surface Pro for a very small part of the overall market.

At least someone is, otherwise some people have little to no options or require several devices to when one could do. It only helps having it there, if one needs it good, if not no loss.

If this works correctly it could be perfect, wacom, full os, flash! (until the no one uses it on their sites I need and or want it) usb ports etc.. true multi-tasking, well, as much as one can do on a 10" screen.

 

[Rogifan]

Apple doesn't want to do something like this because instead of selling you 1 device they would rather sell you 2

My guess is not many will be using the Surface Pro as a tablet and will probably have a companion device. People complain about the iPad being thick, heavy and hot, well that's what you get with the Surfwce Pro when used as a tablet.

 

[StoneJack]

True, it is perfect for those who want or need it, which is going to be a much smaller number of people, I imagine quite a few wish that the iPad had some type of pressure sensitivity.

pogo connect, pressure sensitive stylus for iPad

" The Pogo Connect, on display at CES, looks to let them draw circles around the competition with hundreds of levels of sensitivity.

The Connect, roughly the size of a Sharpie marker, uses a proprietary pressure sensor in the pen’s nib to measure force and a Bluetooth 4.0 radio to convey the data to the iPad in real time. It’s a simple idea that requires near perfect execution and the Pogo Connect nails it.

In addition to releasing hardware, Ten One Design — the company behind the Pogo Connect, developed an SDK that has been implemented by Procreate, Paper by Fifty Three, Adobe Photoshop Touch, Sketchbook Pro and other app makers giving artists the ability to bring a responsive tool to already powerful apps.

The core feature is the ability to vary brush strokes dynamically in the software and the Connect does it well. With its advanced pressure sensitivity, it easily allows an artist to vary the weight of their stroke."

The Pogo Connect costs $79.95

So, Connect + iPad still costs less that Surface pro. It may have 512 levels of sensitivity (Pro has higher), but artists anyway will use Wacom for real art, not Surface.

Adonit Jot Touch has 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity on iPad, I believe higher than 1024 for Surface

http://www.wired.com/design/2013/01/pogo-connect-stylus/

 

[Krazy Bill]

I don't see where the Surface RT/Pro is better than the iPad in any area.

The Surface is not an iPad and I really don't understand all the comparisons. People on an Apple forum will never understand what "Enterprise" users go through when trying to mix iOS products in a world that butters our bread. A consumer product just doesn't belong there.

As far as MS Office, and their price point is concerned. There are plenty of premium apps in the AppStore that come with a premium price point that seem to be doing pretty well.

They all fall short. I've used them all. You will never be able to use MS-Office on an iPad the way you can on the Surface. It's that simple.

The iPad is no longer considered an "iToy"(Not sure that it ever really was but that's a different story.),

I beg to differ. In the corporate world I've seen the iPad come and go quite regularly. Every year just after Christmas folks lug their new iPads to the office gleefully pecking away doing crap they can just as easily do on their smartphones. By February the iPads begin to thin out and people are back to using their Windows machines.

It's still an MS world in the corporate/academic arena and Apple will never be a major player here with their walled garden mentality and openly admitting they make general consumer products.

 

[Technarchy]

I'd rather have an iPad Mini...

 

[samcraig]

But office is already available on all types of ultrabooks and notebooks. What's new? Office on a tablet is really not that superior to Office on notebooks, its worse, because the interface is touch while everything in Office is suited for mouse and keyboard. You want mobile Office? Get a netbook or ultra book, netbook can be had for 300 dollars (including keyboard). You want really good notebook? Get MBA, both Windows and Mac OS X are available. If you want pen input, Note 2 is available as well other pen input tablets. For simple notetaking, iPad with Notability is just fine, I use it with stylus and get what I need. Either, you can buy pressure-sensitive stylus for iPad for 100 dollars and have similar to Wacom experience on cheapest iPads as well.

Except one thing. This device does all of that. Again - I am not saying this device is great. I'm saying there is a market for it. There are people that, if they are going to spend X on ONE device - they would get this because it allows them to be portable, have Office, have a tablet experience, etc. Are there other individual devices that do various functions better? Sure. But one device gives you all (even if some are better experiences than others)?

On the Mac side - there's no device that can "do it all." An iPad has limitations. A MacBook Air isn't an iPad. A MacBook Pro/iMac/etc is not a MBA or iPad.

I wouldn't buy a surface. And I'm sure you wouldn't either. But that doesn't mean it's a bad device for everyone. But then again - I also know plenty of people who LOVE their netbooks (yes NETBOOKS) despite being slow - they fulfill their need to be able to do work on the train/remotely without carrying a heavier device/spending more on a full laptop.

Different people/different use cases. Just like I see no point in spending the same money on a 128g iPad vs spending the same amount on an entry level MBA. For me - I would buy the MBA WAY before I spent that $ on an iPad. But that doesn't mean the iPad 128g won't sell well at all.

 

[MRU]

pogo connect, pressure sensitive stylus for iPad
Image

" The Pogo Connect, on display at CES, looks to let them draw circles around the competition with hundreds of levels of sensitivity.

The Connect, roughly the size of a Sharpie marker, uses a proprietary pressure sensor in the pen’s nib to measure force and a Bluetooth 4.0 radio to convey the data to the iPad in real time. It’s a simple idea that requires near perfect execution and the Pogo Connect nails it.

In addition to releasing hardware, Ten One Design — the company behind the Pogo Connect, developed an SDK that has been implemented by Procreate, Paper by Fifty Three, Adobe Photoshop Touch, Sketchbook Pro and other app makers giving artists the ability to bring a responsive tool to already powerful apps.

The core feature is the ability to vary brush strokes dynamically in the software and the Connect does it well. With its advanced pressure sensitivity, it easily allows an artist to vary the weight of their stroke."

The Pogo Connect costs $79.95

So, Connect + iPad still costs less that Surface pro. It may have 512 levels of sensitivity (Pro has higher), but artists anyway will use Wacom for real art, not Surface.

Adonit Jot Touch has 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity on iPad, I believe higher than 1024 for Surface

http://www.wired.com/design/2013/01/pogo-connect-stylus/

I have a pogo connect. It's not good. It's nearly impossible to be delicate and wholy precise with it.

Its better than a standard capacitive stylus, but its no where near as good as a wacom pen.

 

[KdParker]

I still don't see the market for this tablet at the current price points.

While there are a few that will want a suped up Surface to work on, most developers will just get a laptop for the same cost.

 

[StoneJack]

It's still an MS world in the corporate/academic arena and Apple will never be a major player here with their walled garden mentality and openly admitting they make general consumer products.

For academic area, Macs are superior simply because it uses industry grade UNIX for which thousands of science and other programs are available. There is not need for Windows with its viruses

 

[Gravity]

Ballmer...

Ballmer LOVES his physical keyboards... so while he isn't willing to trade off a great tablet experience for the loss of a physical keyboard... he IS WILLING to trade off in another way... not having a great laptop OR a great tablet... for the sake of a keyboard.

 

[StoneJack]

I have a pogo connect. It's not good. It's nearly impossible to be delicate and wholy precise with it.

Its better than a standard capacitive stylus, but its no where near as good as a wacom pen.

I use only Belkin simple pens for my iPad note taking, never tried expensive things like that, so I can't really judge. There are seems to be also jot pens and so on. Never tried either. But I wished to buy Wacom long ago when I was interested in graphics. Guess that nothing is as good as Wacom.

 

[The Phazer]

One thing about my mention above that the pen is for OneNote... This does make it absolutely, idiotically, amazingly stupid that OneNote isn't actually included with the Surface Pro.

 

[osofast240sx]

To be honest I tried a surface RT and was impressed.

I think Microsoft is heading in the right direction.

The key board cover with mouse pad is a killer feature that I wish the iPad had.

The office that it ships with is far better than anything on the iPad.

.

What direction is that?

The iPad has this feature over a dozen keyboards to choose from.

Never had a problem with pages.

 

[RoccoFan]

No NO NO

"Of the 64 GB of solid-state storage on the entry-level $899 model, only 30 GB of that is free for the user, according to Microsoft. On the $999 model, 90 GB of the 128 GB total is available for the user."

Uyghur please!!!

 

[KPOM]

Not sure how Apple "missed market signals" with larger phones when the iPhone 5 dominated smartphone sales last quarter, even with the supply constraints and negative press about Maps. I, personally will be looking elsewhere if/when Apple starts making me carry an iPhone Phablet.

When Apple starts taking its queues from MS they'll truly be in trouble.

However, that was the first quarter of a new release. Expect Samsung to reclaim the US sales lead this quarter, and probably next quarter when the S4 comes out. I think it would be helpful if Apple had a second phone product on a different cycle. Enough people seem to like bigger phones that I think it makes sense for them to try it. Like it or not, the Galaxy line is selling well, and is making huge inroads into Apple's traditional territory. I wouldn't buy the large phone myself, but others would and I think it would expand the market.

Apple expanded the iPad line with the Mini. My guess is that we'll eventually see some type of touch or gesture input on the Mac. It likely won't be as prominent as on Windows 8, but I think it will be there in some form within the next few years.

 

[Mainsail]

I don't get it

If I want a great portable laptop, I can buy a MacBook Air 11 with 128 GB on sale at Best Buy a couple of weeks ago for $900. If I want an ultra light tablet, I can buy a base ipad mini for $330. Total $1230

Or, I can buy the Pro for $1000 (128GB) plus $130 Keyboard. Total $1130. It's either a very heavy tablet or a lap-incompatible laptop, with crummy battery life. If this is truly a mobile device, battery life is very important. It was really one of the features that made the ipad so wildly popular.

I get that people want to run full desktop apps on their tablet. I love the idea too. The problem is that the UI is all wrong. Most desktop apps are terrible to use with touch, especially on a small screen.

With cloud syncing of most commonly used data, email, calendar, docs, etc, there isn't much advantage in merging two devices (tablet and laptop) into one.