First Impressions

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TrueMetalGeek

Member
Nov 19, 2009
12
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When I first saw the commercials for the Surface RT I was curious.
But then I watched some youtube reviews that were picking it apart and my friend dogged it as well, saying they had all sorts of problems, etc.

So then I got me a 10" Lenovo with Android. Used it for a month or so but was still FRUSTRATED by the handicapped Android system that after 4 or so years still does not truly multi task or split screen, etc.
Much of what I do is facebook and watch/listen to some shows on youtube.
It sucked that you couldn't tab back to facebook or whatever and keep youtube alive. (My Samsung S4 has the Samsung work around, but still).

Anyway I took another look at the surface. Watched some more videos and I noticed that when I read the comments for these reviews, including the one on Forbes that bashed the Surface RT, the people were calling out the people giving the reviews for being extremely biased and not even demonstrating what the Surface RT was even capable of.

So I went and bought one and that was when Microsoft dropped the price to $349

I gotta say, I use this thing all the time. Even at home I find myself sitting on the couch with it instead of going to my high end PC more most of my everyday needs.

And on the RT, aside from not being able to run Intel processor based applications the layout is the same and I love that.
Also if you dig into it you can find lots of the desktop settings and whatnot.
I made shortcuts on my desktop screen that goes to the C drive, SDCARD, and other areas I frequent rather than using the shortcuts in the start screen.

Remote desktop is sweet. I can log into my Win7 PC from work and run access files, programs, etc away from home.

And even the RT supports the XBOX controller and plays some decent games too.

There are less APPS but many of the apps NEEDED for an android or iPad are not needed in the Surface RT when it has a full browser.

Android is like Windows 3.1 compared to the RT. It's just that much better. :)


Oh yeah. When I tried to show my Android fan boy friend that I got one, that he was a liar about the device, he wont even look a the device! LOL! He's that disgruntled about me getting one and informing him how refreshing it is after being stuck with a handicapped Android. (I have many Android devices, but they are more limited).
 
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be_man36

Senior Member
Jan 30, 2008
138
88
^^ gawd I hate when people are too closed minded and stubborn to see what this device is really capable of doing...you should also watch youtube vid called "why I love my surface RT" then he will really be jealous lol the guy in the vid really shows what this device is capable of doing!
 
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Batfink33

Senior Member
Apr 8, 2013
4,206
1,291
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Just got a Surface RT yesterday. In two minds about it. On the one hand, it looks great , performs great and I love the way the apps and OS looks, much better than Android. In the other hand, lack of support for standard programmes is awful. I use XBMC a lot and would love it on the surface but you just can't. All in all a really great device with a major flaw that it can't run standard progs.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
 
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bdesm

New member
Mar 22, 2014
2
0
TrueMetalGeek said:
When I first saw the commercials for the Surface RT I was curious.
But then I watched some youtube reviews that were picking it apart and my friend dogged it as well, saying they had all sorts of problems, etc.

So then I got me a 10" Lenovo with Android. Used it for a month or so but was still FRUSTRATED by the handicapped Android system that after 4 or so years still does not truly multi task or split screen, etc.
Much of what I do is facebook and watch/listen to some shows on youtube.
It sucked that you couldn't tab back to facebook or whatever and keep youtube alive. (My Samsung S4 has the Samsung work around, but still).

Anyway I took another look at the surface. Watched some more videos and I noticed that when I read the comments for these reviews, including the one on Forbes that bashed the Surface RT, the people were calling out the people giving the reviews for being extremely biased and not even demonstrating what the Surface RT was even capable of.

So I went and bought one and that was when Microsoft dropped the price to $349

I gotta say, I use this thing all the time. Even at home I find myself sitting on the couch with it instead of going to my high end PC more most of my everyday needs.

And on the RT, aside from not being able to run Intel processor based applications the layout is the same and I love that.
Also if you dig into it you can find lots of the desktop settings and whatnot.
I made shortcuts on my desktop screen that goes to the C drive, SDCARD, and other areas I frequent rather than using the shortcuts in the start screen.

Remote desktop is sweet. I can log into my Win7 PC from work and run access files, programs, etc away from home.

And even the RT supports the XBOX controller and plays some decent games too.

There are less APPS but many of the apps NEEDED for an android or iPad are not needed in the Surface RT when it has a full browser.

Android is like Windows 3.1 compared to the RT. It's just that much better. :)


Oh yeah. When I tried to show my Android fan boy friend that I got one, that he was a liar about the device, he wont even look a the device! LOL! He's that disgruntled about me getting one and informing him how refreshing it is after being stuck with a handicapped Android. (I have many Android devices, but they are more limited).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Agree.. This is a fantastic device. But now that I have my Dell Venue Pro 8 I don't know if I will still use it. I guess I will, but I really like the fact I can install any desktop app I want (so far: Ccleaner, Spotify, VPN client). I like the full-screen browser, which is much better than some android apps crashing all the time haha (I have also a Nexus 7 2013).
 
Hmong_Xiong

Hmong_Xiong

Senior Member
Mar 17, 2011
339
28
303
Got my SP3 the other day and it's also my first Windows tablet. Especially when it's a "hybrid", i truly think this is the best hybrid. Also, it reminds me of when I had the Asus TF300T years ago.
 
W

wcomhelp

Senior Member
May 1, 2012
107
16
Calgary
Thank you So much!

TrueMetalGeek said:
When I first saw the commercials for the Surface RT I was curious.
But then I watched some youtube reviews that were picking it apart and my friend dogged it as well, saying they had all sorts of problems, etc.

So then I got me a 10" Lenovo with Android. Used it for a month or so but was still FRUSTRATED by the handicapped Android system that after 4 or so years still does not truly multi task or split screen, etc.
Much of what I do is facebook and watch/listen to some shows on youtube.
It sucked that you couldn't tab back to facebook or whatever and keep youtube alive. (My Samsung S4 has the Samsung work around, but still).

Anyway I took another look at the surface. Watched some more videos and I noticed that when I read the comments for these reviews, including the one on Forbes that bashed the Surface RT, the people were calling out the people giving the reviews for being extremely biased and not even demonstrating what the Surface RT was even capable of.

So I went and bought one and that was when Microsoft dropped the price to $349

I gotta say, I use this thing all the time. Even at home I find myself sitting on the couch with it instead of going to my high end PC more most of my everyday needs.

And on the RT, aside from not being able to run Intel processor based applications the layout is the same and I love that.
Also if you dig into it you can find lots of the desktop settings and whatnot.
I made shortcuts on my desktop screen that goes to the C drive, SDCARD, and other areas I frequent rather than using the shortcuts in the start screen.

Remote desktop is sweet. I can log into my Win7 PC from work and run access files, programs, etc away from home.

And even the RT supports the XBOX controller and plays some decent games too.

There are less APPS but many of the apps NEEDED for an android or iPad are not needed in the Surface RT when it has a full browser.

Android is like Windows 3.1 compared to the RT. It's just that much better. :)


Oh yeah. When I tried to show my Android fan boy friend that I got one, that he was a liar about the device, he wont even look a the device! LOL! He's that disgruntled about me getting one and informing him how refreshing it is after being stuck with a handicapped Android. (I have many Android devices, but they are more limited).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Ditto
 
ilikenwf

ilikenwf

Senior Member
Oct 30, 2009
193
61
I bought an SP3 refurb on Amazon along with some accessories and ended up spending about $1000 total, which to be honest makes me a little queasy. Great price for the hardware considering how it's been scaled into a tablet with detachable keyboard, I suppose, since none of the android tabs out there have anything better than ARM chips or Atoms. I lespecially love the retina screen, and the Metro apps and some of the desktop apps look great on it, but Microsoft didn't even adding options to by default disable the scaling on the others, so the fonts are blurry. That said, on my normal machines now I feel like everything is huge and pixelated by comparison.


I use multiple OSes but my previous tablet was an HP touchpad with Android. So far I'm disappointed with Windows 8 because of the lack of functioning apps for touchscreens, making me miss Android. Even then amazon kindle app - it doesn't freaking support magazines.

I've already gotten Linux installed and dual booting, and mostly working (more to do there later), but for "Tablet mode," I'm still looking to find the best way to run android, preferably on bare metal with eventual full hardware support, as Windows 8 seems to just be a polished turd at this point.

I've contemplated just virtualizing android and linux but I know I'll have a better experience if full hardware support is achieved. I plan to help with that as possible, since I'm a linux guy, but at the same time am disappointed more people aren't messing with this device.
 
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S

savannahluv

Member
Feb 24, 2015
39
3
Surface 3 is nice, sleek and handy..It's something that can do when I'm out of town or something. But speed wise, I'd still prefer the surface pro 3.
 
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    jimlivingston
    Hated but now Loved

    Full disclosure, I was a Tech with Microsoft before, during, and after the Windows 8 and Surface releases. As such, my Surface RT was free to me. Even so, I hated it. I hated Windows 8. Still do, the latter. But, I found a new love for my RT. Not too long ago I left Microsoft for a better position. This new job requires a fair amount of world travel. Recently I was sent overseas for over a week. I decided to update and bring the RT with me. I ended up using it each and every day; primarily to Skype back home and see my wife and children. I took it with me everywhere. Folding it out and being able to chat by typing while sitting at a bistro table was really nice. Even in the hotel lounge, most business travelers were using iPads, and many of them kept looking over at meas I typed away. A few of them even approached me and had a look of envy on them. Along with Skype I was able to work of project reports and send critical emails. Perhaps my hatred for it stemmed from the fact I had no real use for it. But now I do. Oh yea, one of the better features was on the airplane. Instead of throwing my laptop bag under the seat in front of me (for easy access to my company laptop), which cut out needed leg room, I tossed it in an overhead bin and just kept my RT with me, like a book. I watched 3 feature length films back-to-back-to-back while in the air and still had almost 50% of my battery life left. That gave me plenty of juice to catch up some Walking Dead Comics.

    So yea, the RT has found a loving home in the same home it was originally despised. Looking forward to the Surface 2!
    View
    4
    T
    TrueMetalGeek
    When I first saw the commercials for the Surface RT I was curious.
    But then I watched some youtube reviews that were picking it apart and my friend dogged it as well, saying they had all sorts of problems, etc.

    So then I got me a 10" Lenovo with Android. Used it for a month or so but was still FRUSTRATED by the handicapped Android system that after 4 or so years still does not truly multi task or split screen, etc.
    Much of what I do is facebook and watch/listen to some shows on youtube.
    It sucked that you couldn't tab back to facebook or whatever and keep youtube alive. (My Samsung S4 has the Samsung work around, but still).

    Anyway I took another look at the surface. Watched some more videos and I noticed that when I read the comments for these reviews, including the one on Forbes that bashed the Surface RT, the people were calling out the people giving the reviews for being extremely biased and not even demonstrating what the Surface RT was even capable of.

    So I went and bought one and that was when Microsoft dropped the price to $349

    I gotta say, I use this thing all the time. Even at home I find myself sitting on the couch with it instead of going to my high end PC more most of my everyday needs.

    And on the RT, aside from not being able to run Intel processor based applications the layout is the same and I love that.
    Also if you dig into it you can find lots of the desktop settings and whatnot.
    I made shortcuts on my desktop screen that goes to the C drive, SDCARD, and other areas I frequent rather than using the shortcuts in the start screen.

    Remote desktop is sweet. I can log into my Win7 PC from work and run access files, programs, etc away from home.

    And even the RT supports the XBOX controller and plays some decent games too.

    There are less APPS but many of the apps NEEDED for an android or iPad are not needed in the Surface RT when it has a full browser.

    Android is like Windows 3.1 compared to the RT. It's just that much better. :)


    Oh yeah. When I tried to show my Android fan boy friend that I got one, that he was a liar about the device, he wont even look a the device! LOL! He's that disgruntled about me getting one and informing him how refreshing it is after being stuck with a handicapped Android. (I have many Android devices, but they are more limited).
    View
    1
    Cuppeerr
    Cuppeerr
    I got my surface a little less than a week ago and I LOVE it. it's taken me a couple days to get used to the touch keyboard and the no full desktop thing but man this is a nice device. Also the battery life is KILLER. and I love the multitasking on it. I wanna see what the surface 2 is like but I primarily got this one because I knew the battery life was amazing. Idk how good the battery life in the surface 2 will be considering it might have a 1080p screen. But plain and simple I love this device.
    View
    1
    O
    Osprey00
    Trig0r said:
    Not sure about the annoucement re the battery though, they say "Battery: 75 percent more than Surface Pro." not up to, so does that include the Touch Power cover, life or what, its rather vague...
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse

    Just on its own (with no Power Cover), the Surface Pro 2's battery life is 75% longer than the Surface Pro's. Most of that seems to be from Haswell, but I'm also reading of a supposedly bigger battery. With the Power Cover, the battery life on the Pro 2 is 2.5x that of the Pro (on its own, though it seems that you can use the Power Cover with it, too). 2.5x is 150% longer battery life (I'm not sure why MS is mixing their language), so the Power Cover seems to provide about as much extra battery life as the improvements in the Pro 2 do. For example, if you got 4 hours on the Pro, you'd get 7 hours on the Pro 2 and 10 hours on the Pro 2 with the Power Cover.
    View
    1
    Trig0r
    Trig0r
    Osprey00 said:
    Haswell chips, alone, offer up to 50% longer battery life, so that's most of the difference right there. The other little improvements that Microsoft did, all combined, probably account for "only" a 25-35% improvement. I guess that that's still a lot, but my point is just that that's not where most of the 75% improvement comes from.
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse

    As long as it runs cooler and quieter i'm not that bothered about battery tbh, I sit here in bed now, chargers next to me if I need it, when I use it at work its plugged in, its more the ram and storage that I'm after as the extra ram means I can run my vm's and the storage means being able to store those vm's and ISO's etc.

    I'm still not convinced by 75%, maybe with the type power cover then yeah I could believe that, but on its own, with the same battery, it just doesn't add up, they couldn't of cut that many corners...
    Checkout the CPU's directly from Intel site, i5-3317u vs i5-4200u...
    http://ark.intel.com/compare/75459,65707

    Figures dont add up...
    View

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