When asked what should it now be (Ultrabook, tablet, netbook) you should first be clear about what you really want to do because with the device? Because the new device should replace my netbook betagtes it said compile for me, what I've actually done with the equipment everything. That would be:
- Office (summaries, texts, presentations, term papers)
- Internet (browser games, surfing)
- Movies and Music
Is there anything that I want to do with the device beyond?
- Read E-Books / E-Paper
I especially much work with Office and will continue to work for me came quite quickly a Windows Tablet shortlisted. An Ultrabook / Netbook eliminated, as there is not as prickeld reading eBooks. Now I was faced with the choice of whether it must be a "full" Windows, or if it does auhc a RT. The answer gave me my old netbook. After a review of the installed x86 applications, I realized that it was a question of a PDF creator and 3 programs that I needed for my former study. Thus, it is ultimately become the Surface 2.
Housing / processing:
The Surface 2 comes in a silver-gray approx 640g heavy and 8.9mm thick vapor magnesium Gehaäuse. The housing like brushed aluminum feel and is very high quality. I hold the tablet after 3 weeks use into the light, so nevertheless virtually no fingerprints or grease stains can be seen. My netbook was seeing with his brilliant Platikoberfläche from totally smeared after one day. The gaps leave no wishes offen.Die connections are all easily accessible and sharp edges are also looking in vain. Overall, the device creates a "wow factor", although I personally would have rather liked a black device. So, however, carried out a color separation between the RT and Pro devices.
Screen:
The screen, with its 10.6 "display in about the size of my netbook. So to work with this screen size, I am used to. The Full-HD resolution, however, is significantly better than the 1024x600 pixels of its predecessor. The brightness is significantly higher. A setting of 50% is enough for me at present completely out. Movies and photos look very sharp and also the writing on websites is clearly without having to recognize pixels.
Connections:
- Fully-fledged USB 3.0 connection
- Micro / headphone connector
- Micro SD
- Mini DisplayPort
At the terminals, the Surface is virtually unrivaled in my opinion! In addition to a Micro SD card slot with which you can expand the memory up to 64GB, and a Mini DisplayPort, which allows you to connect the surface to an external monitor or TV, it provides a full USB 3.0 port. Thus, you can connect any USB flash drives, external hard drives, keyboards or mice. Printers also are largely possible, but can also be controlled via WLAN. Also the connection of a USB hub is possible to eg. A mouse, keyboard and hard drive to connect at the same time. I call flexible.
Software:
As I said, on the Surface 2 Windows RT is installed. The main criticism here is that no normal Windows programs (eg. Photoshop) can be installed. Installable are only programs from the Windows Store. This sounds at first perhaps by a strong limitation to, but you can on an iPad OS X install applications? Also you can not. The app-number is compared with the competitors Android or Apple significantly lower. While there are about 1,000,000 respectively in these two apps, the Windows Store currently offers about 200,000 apps. However, here are now almost all top 100 apps with it and it stands a very positive development from. Wurd EIM July this year cracked the 100,000 mark, so the app-number has now doubled.
I say this, that I do not play on my tablet! Games and Fun Apps therefore not interest me. Apps that are interested to know more of the categories news, stock market, sports, movies / Multimedia. Here I have found so far as everything I needed. With Zattoo you free TV gets on Tablet. Also MyVideo offers its own app. Those who wish to look Maxdome, Watch Ever, LOVEFiLM, the looks literally in the tube! To this end, no apps currently offered and also in the browser, these things are not available because the Surface 2 does not support Silverlight! Remedy there will be next spring when namely runs of support for Silverlight by MS and the providers are more or less forced to switch to HTML 5, which is supported by Internet Explorer of the Surface 2.
Do not forget, I would like the included MS Office. One erhät Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook for free in the full version. The functionality corresponds to the normal desktop programs. The only known me difference is that you can not use macros and add-ins for Excel. A license with this scale will cost on the open market more than 100, which should be observed.
User interfaces:
The RT has two user interfaces. On the one hand touch-optimized Live Tile view. The great advantage of LiveTiles is for me, that I immediately get the most important information with just a glance at the screen. Missed emails / Skype calls, headline news, football scores, stock quotes ... and for that I have to click anything. The LiveTiles are in my opinion the most optimal for a tablet.
In addition, there are the classic desktop view. Here you can see almost the taskbar and the folder on the desktop. Why all if you can not install x86 programs? In some test was criticized, this view was not really necessary. In this view, only the Office programs aufegrufen and display the folder. In addition, if needed for the Internet Explorer (IE) Open in the classic view. Although seems not very extensive, but offers a significant added value! you can with Office and Internet Explorer are working in this way, as one would expect from a normal PC. In the view LiveTile me of IE is sometimes a bit too confusing, which is why I then switches to Classic View. The desktop view offers the possibility to create folders and thus manage its files and documents as usual. A great thing, everyone should know who has worked with other tablets. The data exchange runs like Win PC easy and simple drag and drop.
Battery:
Now again to the battery. The lasts me the couch surf, write, Youtube, etc. for about 12 hours. A very good value in my opinion, especially since the battery in about 2: 30h reloaded.
Ebooks / E-Paper:
The reading eBooks and Epapern works quite well thanks to the resolution of the display. However, it is not as comfortable as on a 4: 3 Tablet. The aspect ratio of 16: 9 is in movies and in Office certainly a great advantage, but not necessarily when reading. You have to rumzoomen something so that you can read well, but it works quite well.
From the working speed, I can only say that everything opens very quickly and runs. There is no trailer, stuttering or anything !! Benchmarks I have not performed.
Other:
The Surface was the first tablet with a built-in stand (kickstand). This can be divided into two angles set and locks clean. I take the first position mostly for working at the desk, while the second is when I have it on your lap. By the kickstand and the equipment compared to other slightly higher weight in my opinion is negligible, even if the weight of me in any way stört.Die cameras do not care really, because I did not come up with the idea with the thing to photograph.
I think you can guess that I'm pretty satisfied with the device. I bought the unit for about 450 incl. 32GB micro SD card and a Type-2 cover. The Type Cover is a very good complement to the Surface 2 and use by the integrated lighting in quite an all lighting conditions, but usually costs 130 ... that's steep! Whether I would have paid scarce 560 for the Surface Type Cover 2 + 2 I do not know ... is not so much whether it would have been worth to me, because a comparable iPad costs a similar amount, but has, in my view far less, and more about if I had not decided on the bad processed Asus T-100. If not so wertig, but at least with (not illuminated) Tastaturdock, a full Win 8 where LOVEFiLM etc. would be the same usable, and at a much lower price ... eventually I'm glad I to the packet favorable price had shot and has no regrets.
I also still have a normal desktop PC, I can live very well with few cuts. From my circle me but dozens of people falling, which could use the Surface 2 without problems as a desktop replacement. Because most users surf mostly on the Internet, eBay, Facebook, Office ... to virus protection while not always take care of all what not even be needed at RT.
Finally, a short Pros and Cons:
Pro:
- Processing / Material
- Integrated MS Office
- No virus protection necessary because closed system
- Battery life under normal use 12h
- Multitasking
- Short loading time
- USB 3.0 allows you to connect virtually any peripherals (mouse, keyboard, printer, hard disk, USB stick)
- Kickstand: made light up the tablet in two positions (Great for watching movies, work, show pictures)
- Very good file management
- Very good wireless reception
- Connection to external monitor / TV possible -> desktop replacement (?)
- Supports Flash
- Silent (Library without limitations!)
- Will not overly warm
Cons:
- (To see relatively) less than Android Apps / Apple
- Sometimes a bit worse implementation of Apps (less functionality compared to Android / Apple)
- No apps to Watch Ever, LOVEFiLM, max cathedrals etc.
- Price (compared to Apple but OK)
Allen, who want to work with her Tablet something I recommend this unit! It offers a very good balance in all areas. The App Store is growing, and it should become the most important apps also be available for RT.
Who relies on x86 applications, always want to play the latest Tablet games, wants to use the device primarily for reading eBooks, or does not intend to use Office, should look elsewhere. For some others it could be the All-in-One.
Those who want to become familiar with the functionality of the Surface 2, which can look for YT for "Why I love my Surface 2". In addition, the search is recommended for videos, in which the gesture control will be explained.
Update 15/12/2013: A max cathedral app is now available for Windows Phone and RT. Hopefully follow the other services in a timely manner.
