The Windows Surface RT I bought a week ago at a large electronics discounter in the 32GB version bundled with the Touch Cover. I rate this the following categories:
1. Hardware (25%) *****
The tablet is with its 700 gr. A very beautiful heavyweight. Everything here is massive: The anwinkelbare fixture, the casing frame including rear front are made of magnesium.. The buttons for volume and on / off are probably made of plastic, but also built very solid and provides good tactile feedback. The screen is flush with the frame. At the processing there is absolutely nothing to criticize. Due to the elongated shape and the display representation and the bottom centrally located start button, the Surface keeping tended to be in landscape mode. With medium-sized hands, this is just so-handed to accomplish. With the weight you have to but over a longer period once arrange. The housing is also very susceptible to fingerprints and visible (fat) spots. Highly commendable is the display, which is very bright and evenly illuminated. Viewing angle stability is not important to me because I, for example on the train anyway not want my seatmate looks every company internals.
2. Connectivity (20%) ****
The tablet has WiFi, Bluetooth 3.0 and a USB port, a proprietary video output (which is a separately available adapter and HDMI-compatible), a connection for an external keyboard and a power supply. In addition, can the memory via a Micro-SD up to 64GB (tested myself) extend. Especially with the 32 GB model is definitely dependent on an SD card, since only about 17 GB on delivery are free from home. The Micro SD is inserted at the back behind the kick-stand. Very successful, I find the magnetic connections for keyboard and power cord. These are outright sucked. The wireless connection worked out great. Bluetooth I have however not been tested. Teethering on my Nokia Lumia also worked flawlessly. Thus, the lack of 3G module is to get over. The USB port has been tested by me so far with a mouse worked perfectly. Likewise, a Canon MX925 printer is Pixxa detected and installed via WLAN. Actually, I would, therefore, be awarded 5 stars in this category. But what struck me in recent days both at home, and in the WLAN of my company, that the wireless speed is unusually slow. A Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 and also various mobile phones were able to build a lot of faster connections, which has allowed readjust from the same websites with downloads from e-mail attachments and / or calls. Actually, an absurdity that can be corrected via software update hopefully.
3. The device (5%) ***
The establishment took place over a short 15 minute course, some entries are required by the user and are run through Geräteinitialsierungen. As part of this you can also already become familiar with the control of the Tablets (which is what?). Then you should, if not already present, urgently a Hotmail or Outlook account incl. Payment options, so that the store can be used in all its possibilities. For users of Windows Phone, this is a matter of course and in most cases already happened. Another 30 minutes, I would schedule for the usual Windows updates. Especially in the area of the contact and calendar management, Microsoft has made significant changes for customers with Google account. For this elsewhere but even more. The Windows Updates can however also be carried out later, however, leads possibly that you generated in the other device at various points error messages (eg when setting up an email account for Google). All in all, I would for the initial start up about 45 minutes (Windows RT operating system, MS-Office updates, and stock apps) plan before it then it goes Apps to download and set up accounts. Not all points during the initial installation are self-explanatory. Here I find a bit more intuitive Android and the setup process is shorter.
4. Software (20%) ***
The tablet comes standard with a special Office RT version for Excel, Word, PowerPoint and note. The end of October will also be added with a firmware upgrade to 8.1, a version of Outlook. In addition, various apps for contacts, email, calendars and multimedia and news are already installed. The store holds also some alternatives ready. The offer is very manageable when compared to Android and even to WP 8. But basically I have found for the essential tasks reasonable Apps (News, banking, music and video, pictures and shopping. These here SPOX (football), mirrors (also suitable for digital subscription), Parcel Tracker (Tracking) and especially MediaMonkey, which you already know as a normal version of Windows. With this you can both different music formats (MP3, WMA, FLAC), as well as play videos. And most of all you can in the library and files read from the memory card (also this more later). For online banking, I can recommend financial view. Very good, however, is also the onsite IE as your browser, as this also flash, but unfortunately not mastered Silverlight. So whoever hopes here on watch ever, max cathedrals or Sky-Go watch can, I have to disappoint you. In addition, this IE browser page content, as fast as the wifi just allows properly represent. Pinch-to-zoom, of course, and the screen redraw this works excellent.
Let us turn to the criticisms: So avoid when setting up my email accounts I failed at the integration of Google Calendar in the floor calendar because Google since the beginning of 2013 does not support Exchange AutoSync you have an alternative app, which then in a separate application displays the different Google calendars. I do not know whether still remedy is possible here by a later Udate. In any case, this is a huge annoyance and certainly not solve the fact that I as proposed by MS for me - all Google calendar entries in Outlook and then import Outlook.com furnish an Account. Funnily enough it create so diverse apps in the store, precisely integrate this Google Calendar in a comparable view. Here I see the buck not to Google, but clearly at Microsoft.
Another point of criticism is the folder libraries in conjunction with an external drive, such as an internal SD card. Thereon photos, music or videos are not automatically imported from the floor applications in the RT libraries or thus of course not appear. Here we need a workaround and which one the SD card via the Disk Management as simulated folder of the C: drive integrates. For instructions, can be found in heaps on the Internet. However, I have that not be updated in the floor applications for photos, music and video continues to be the problem this example to remove a title or delete an image. Either one reads the library from scratch a (very inconvenient) or the tablet is rebooted. However, the aforementioned media player MediaMonkey is perfect for music and videos, as you here about the options (wipe from right) the library with one click re able to read.
5. user handling (30%) ***
If you have to get used to the wiping technique the different sides, the navigation is relatively simple. Wipe Left = previous program appears, wipe = 5 the so-called right. Charms for search, settings, etc. are visible on the right of the screen, wipe up or down displays the options and design possibilities of the current program. The reaction of the screen is mediocre because the Sensitivtät this touchscreens such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 may be better. Many a time there is a command and a wiping gesture only after a delay, the change from one Exchange account to another can sometimes take 3-4 seconds. This is thought to be more likely than are on the processor and memory of the device or allow the number of simultaneously open apps on the touch screen itself. If you change, for example in the email app from a Gmail account on an Exchange account, so it takes stopped 3-4 seconds until the folders are displayed. Overall, the program change will not run as smoothly and with high performance, as with Android tablets.
I must however praise the battery life and the touch cover. Both point out the meaning of such a device. By Akkukappazität enjoy a day of intensive use (emails, 2hr PPT presentation, video during a 3-hour train ride, office use, surfing the Internet) create any problems. And at full screen brightness. The Touch Cover is surprisingly well suited for writing emails and shorter texts. I will still move to the Type Cover, I have to always look searchingly without sound on the display if the desired text has been written tasächlich. I hope to see from the haptic feedback of Type keyboard significantly Verbsserung.
Conclusion:
I'll be in my review in accordance with the scheduled weighting in the individual criteria at 3.7 stars, so rounded up to 4 stars. The Surface RT is in my view a tablet with business claim. While Android tablets are now high-performance, but also playful basically. Office is too limited on the available in PlayStore programs still available, as that one might edit a presentation or Excel spreadsheets with these devices in good conscience, because you never know how they look after on real Office programs. Apple products with their store restrictions, the same office problem and also very high price for a divorce from me also. The Surface RT is just to name of its size still handy and useful through its excellent battery life as a mobile companion. Unfortunately, you have at RT frickeln and tinker to get the deficit with the libraries in the handle. Those who want to get around this, should resort to the 64GB version, with the capacity you can get along basically. For this you will be rewarded with an excellent workmanship and an amazing display. In short: for occasional multimedia and primary mobile office use a top recommendation. Call for sofa surfers and occasional e-mails I would tend towards a Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0.
__________________________________________
UPDATE 18/10/2013:
After the MS-Update on Windows RT 8.1 I want grudge following:
1. Restriction of the folder libraries is history. Now you can set the memory card in the device and also later as the default location for music or pictures. Also in apps for music can complement the SD card folder as access folder for the library.
2. The performance is increased. The Surface reacts much faster than before.
3. The wireless speed is increased. Hardly or no impairment in Down and simultaneous upload.
4. Better Customizing the Start screens with new tile sizes (now also very large possible). The individual blocks can be named.
5. Outlook as RT version is a significant improvement to the apps contacts, calendar and email. Exchange integration with some effort possible. Google I have, however, still not including calendar and contacts can be integrated into Outlook. Schade, a small disappointment.
