My friend needed to do for their old netbook a substitute for odd jobs. The main tasks here are to be found in the field of text processing. Occasionally, a Power Point presentation is sometimes to customize. Of course surfing the internet is essential. So there must be PC not necessarily a "real". Thus, much of the focus increasingly on the Surface tablet Microsoft. However, after the first version of the Surface RT was not yet mature enough, was initially reluctant. The second version, however, cleaned up with many flaws of its predecessor. We decided to purchase and have not regretted it so far (after 8 months).
Housing
The housing of the Surface 2 does just joy. The silver surface with the magnesium material feels just great, and leaves hardly fingerprints - top! That, the unit has one of the few tablets on a full USB port, like. Additional connections include a Micro-HDMI output and a combined port for the headset (microphone and headphones). On the underside of the magnetic connector is for the Type- / or Touch Cover. Top of the unit is to unlock, shut down or the button to turn the device. On the right side of the magnetic charger connector can be found, by the magnetic device, the device is protected against Zugschäden. Below the Kickstands a slot is (unfortunately) Micro-SD cards.
All in all, we can say that the build quality is very good. However, at this point I do not want to mention one thing: We have now received a replacement device, as had the upper right superseded some paint on the chassis. Microsoft has promptly replaced the unit with a new one (?). Here I must say that the Surface or similar protection in any pocket was stored.
Display
This was one of the reasons why we do not have, apart from the purchase of the Surface of the first generation (resolution). In the second generation, the Surface has not only in the Pro version with a Full HD display. Also, the Surface 2 (RT) is now equipped with a display with FHD resolution. And the display is really very good. The colors are very well reproduced and the brightness is more than adequate. The viewing angles are also very good and I have never really understood this evaluation criterion; Clear the color should not change when I look slightly to the side of the display but let's be honest, who does so because in acute angles on the display? Well everyone as he thinks =)
Power
The Surface 2 is driven by an ARM processor to the NVIDIA Tegra 4. This provides tidy performance, so that the surface as well as has no dropouts. We have the equipment now are about 8 months and have very rarely seen that the device had commemorative breaks necessary. Even graphic-intensive games from the store, also I would like to address somewhat more closely later, are no problem. The device on the reverse is indeed noticeably warm, but never uncomfortably hot.
Microsoft Store
This is in my view the biggest weakness of the Surface. Although this has nothing to do with ansich the device, but it affects the usage behavior but enormous. Since this is the Surface 2 (RT) to a model with ARM processor, it is impossible normal programs, which are designed for x86 PCs (normal notebooks and PCs) to install. It is thus dependent on the App offers of Stores. And there lies the problem. Although the range of apps increases noticeably and steadily but the quality of the existing apps is far from satisfactory. Here needs to happen a lot.
Operating system
On the Surface 2 RT Windows 8.1 comes in the RT version to use. This is a visually identical system as the normal Windows 8.1. However, no normal programs can be installed on the tablet. Say, you can not install a * .exe files. It can only apps from the Microsoft Store to be installed. While the new tile interface for operating the computer mouse is less suitable (by the way, this soft in Windows 9 again, on normal PCs), is the tile surface for use by hand, ie touch, super. They meet almost always what you wanted to meet. Also, the Internet Explorer is super. Only I miss here a reasonable opportunity to install a Advertising blocker - well.
Furthermore, you have the normal desktop available as we know it from Windows. Here can be worked normally (eg to create Word files). By a scaling factor of 150% controls are also here good, though not as good as in the tile surface, accessible.
What I would wish for the future is that the device gets Siverlight support so that you can look as well as videos Amazon Prime Instant on your tablet. As this player is a Microsoft itself, should something be possible? That would be really great.
Benefits
In my view, the absolute advantages of tablets that the surface has an absolute pointed build quality, a super display his own calls and beyond, and that's the best, has an almost full-fledged office with included in the price. Thus, the tablet is (!) Into a fully fledged workstation, if a keypad is present. In addition, the Kickstand tablet is awesome. Sure of the Surface Pro 3, which can be adjusted to any position is even better, but the two positions provided the Surface RT 2 are super.
Summary and Conclusion
I want to take this opportunity once again to summarize now the positive and negative aspects that I noticed over time on Surface 2 before I draw my conclusion after.
Positive noticed is me ...
Very high-quality workmanship
Kickstand blocked on two positions
Display now in full HD resolution
Silent thanks to ARM processor
Also suitable for professional work, thanks to Office (including Outlook)
Fully functional USB 3.0 port
Memory expansion via microSD possible
Magnetic Charging Port
Familiar Desktop available (file management optimal)
Long battery life
Video output through Micro HDMI port
The one negative I ...
Type- / Touch Cover prices are relatively high
Pent-up demand in the Microsoft Store (both quality as well as quantity)
Silverlight (eg Amazon Prime Instant) desirable
Thus I come to the following conclusion:
For me, the Surface 2 (RT), a super tablet for those who must also sometimes seriously write texts / want or generally the Microsoft Office programs require (even Outlook is on board). Moreover, obtained with the tablet a very well-made device that excites guaranteed sensation. Pent-up demand, the unit has not per se, but the store. Here it is imperative that there is more and above all, and more importantly, provide high-quality apps in the Store. Then the surface is a perfectly round and offer a real alternative to Android tablets at a reasonable price.
Who the Surface RT 2 correctly, regarded as tablet with extended capabilities, thanks to Office, rather than the PC on which you can install normal programs, which is with the device have his joy. Nevertheless, one should be aware that both the quality as well as the quantity of apps in the store is not yet entirely satisfactory.
