I have simultaneously acquired the Type Cover keyboard, and therefore always be evaluated in the following combination: sureface with Type Cover.
For device (hardware) itself:
For this enough has been written, but it's just to emphasize that this device is absolutely high quality. No plastic junk and example for miles * from a Kindle Fire. In my view, does not even come with the iPad. But it is at least the same league.
Why I bought the Surface?
I find it very important to think about what I want to do with a tablet. And that one should answer as honest to himself. Important for me: it should be an instrument which primarily in professional life is my way and otherwise help. There is extremely important to me: mail / calendar / contacts (integration over corporate server) and the unavoidable MS Office.
Important: I really want to unleash no religious dispute here. If anyone thinks for their ranges Office XYZ so be it. For me at work every alternative to MS Office's first overtime, which I avoid like.
Why not Ultrabook? I have also asked me. Answer: a) curiosity (is something for me goes into the "megatrend" Tablet) b) Ultrabooks play again in a different price league c) battery life, weight, and above all: size. I do not want Ultrabook with 10 inches, as I find the tablet but acceptable.
Much else is secondary for me: games, Facebook Booken, etc. Internet browsing - yes, but really all rather secondary for me.
Result:
In connection with the Type Cover keyboard, the Surface is really surprisingly good and inspires me really. Also just around compared with the iPads to micht. One notices simply that the surface is more likely to apply as a mini-notebook, the iPad (or other Android tablets) have their strengths in other areas.
Strengths:
+ Touchscreen: at the beginning I was skeptical - now I find myself from time to time in how I want to rummage from even with my work laptop and on the screen.
+ USB port: to connect essential even a mouse for PowerPoint and Excel in my view.
+ Keyboard: By connecting the keyboard to your tablet, you can work extremely effectively. Details are solved nice: If you fold for example, the keyboard toward the back (eg short video look at the lap, etc.), then it is considered to be: No keyboard and you have access to the on-screen keyboard.
+ Folding stand: very well integrated seamlessly into the device
+ Included Office 2013: Office 2013 pre-installed and ready for immediate use (including Outllook!).
+ Runtime: I take it with the morning, use it then felt the whole working day and night, I still battery (about 20%) - perfect!
What is to be considered?
It's Windows RT, not Windows! That must be an absolutely clear and you have the consequences in mind have: drivers for printers, etc. are not installable. You can install any "normal" Windows programs. Although the App Store has a lot, but it's a) significantly less than for example in Apple and b) it is a lot less than there otherwise in Windows programs.
If you want another who is better off with a Ultrabook (eg the Surface Pro if you want to have the same size) operated.
However, it is therefore not a complete replacement for the working notebook!
Macros in Office 2013 are not working. In my corporate environment, this means that I can not edit some files. I had quite a lot of respect, but must now say that yet 99% of daily sent as Excel's all come without macros and I hardly feel restrictions prior to this point.
It is Windows 8.1 Update 1. For me now very easy to operate - but it's just not as consistent as eg iOS on the iPad. What I mean is this: there is the desktop (for office). And here quite a lot of programs are available, on the one branch is made when performing certain actions. For example, you end up with certain configuration settings fast times in the "normal" Windows dialog boxes. The seeming simplicity strange. You get used to it - but really standard tablet is no longer then.
Games: From my perspective, and after Diksussion with my kids, It is (still) nothing! All current "trendy" items are available for iPad / iPod / iPhone and for various Androids - just really very rare for Windows RT.
Apps (other): the key is there, but what quality and quantity terms - well, no comparison with the iPad - this must be a simple clear. It is rather so that one is sometimes surprised if there is an app for the Surface ... (example: there is no DB Navigator, no Amazon Cloud Player app, ...). You have here more often resort to the Web - not really nice, but also not very real catastrophe.
Conclusion:
The Surface is for me, despite the restrictions * the * Office Tablet and met here my expectations fully. I look sometimes a film (then via XBox Movie), play a few little game and, of course, I use the really nice, existing apps or surf the web times.
But essentially it is for me the "productive-Tablet"
