Probably Buying a Surface Pro

Bret86944 · 07-30-2013, 10:31 AM

I've been thinking about it for a while now. I'll be using it for web, itunes, videos, skype, and probably some work stuff. You can't install programs on the RT version, nor can you use itunes, so I'll need the pro. Anyone currently using a surface? What do you think?

Bret86944 · 07-31-2013, 02:02 PM

lol, so apparently no one else has one. Anyways, I went out and bought one yesterday. Pretty sweet. I have one gripe, and it's a pretty big one, the pro DOES NOT come with office. No Excel, no Word, no Powerpoint. WTF??? The $350 RT version has all those, but the $900 pro has none? I guess I'll just use google docs. They shouldn't call both of them the Surface since the only thing in common is the shape.

Other than that, it's fantastic. Screen is awesome, it's fast, you can switch to windows mode and install normal programs. It's very small and light for essentially being a laptop.

I didn't buy the $120 touchpad. I plugged in my old dell keyboard and it worked instantly. Most of the time I just used it with no keypad though. Just put it on my lap and used the pop up keyboard.

I'll mess around with it some more tonight and give you guys an update. If any of you care...lol.

sparky · 07-31-2013, 08:17 PM

You might want to consider Office 365 and use it from the cloud on multiple devices?
I looked at the Surface as well and it's nice but very pricey, $1000 up here in Canadia.

igbad · 08-08-2013, 11:53 AM

i've been considering it for a while now, but have some major gripes about the design.

first, the 64GB is kind of useless because by the time the OS and supporting software is installed, you're left with about half its capacity. so, 128GB it is.

even then, the OS takes up way too much space, namely because MS in its infinite wisdom has the OS image residing on the SSD (takes up like 8GB apparently). on the PC, i immediately delete any OS image and restore points, since you have the option of reinstalling the OS from scratch.

you can do a fresh windows install on the surface but need to jump through all kinds of hoops. it's stupid.

also, swapping out the batter is nearly impossible since you need to heat the adhesive holding the case together, and even then the melted adhesive turns into a nightmare to work with. this is a common problem with tablets (ipad), and is a product of keeping things thin and light, but battery technology sucks and we know they need to be replaced, so make it easier for the consumer to do it on their own.

TL;DR. OS + supporting software takes up too much space, replacing batter nearly impossible unless you want to pay MS an assload.

eastwest2300 · 08-08-2013, 12:42 PM

eBay or amazon... save yourself some money.

DLo · 08-08-2013, 01:01 PM

I'm looking at picking one up as well. It has received many great reviews despite some of its quarks. It is a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. My friend who is a developer has the pro running Office 365 along with his development tools. He says he really likes it and has the ability to develop on the go. Good purchase!

Bret86944 · 08-09-2013, 09:48 AM

I've had it for about a week now and I'm pretty impressed. There is a bigger learning curve than an apple product, but I've found it's because the surface can do A LOT. I bought the HDMI adapter cable and am now using my TV as a monitor when I want to watch videos.

Storage is not a huge issue becuase I don't have tons of files. A lot of my stuff is on google docs. When I run low on space I'll just buy a 64 gig micro SD card.

Also, they just dropped the price $100. So overall it's a pretty slick little machine.

eastwest2300 · 08-09-2013, 11:11 AM

Thats awesome man, congrats.

w0rM · 08-09-2013, 11:17 PM

I just got rid of my Surface. I was hoping for something that could be a laptop at work and a fun tablet at home. It was ok but ultimately (IMO) it wasn't particularly good at either of those things.

07-30-2013, 10:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
Bret86944 Base Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 64 Drives: 2011-base-PW-6mt Rep Power: 12	Probably Buying a Surface Pro I've been thinking about it for a while now. I'll be using it for web, itunes, videos, skype, and probably some work stuff. You can't install programs on the RT version, nor can you use itunes, so I'll need the pro. Anyone currently using a surface? What do you think?

07-31-2013, 08:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
sparky Track Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 642 Drives: 12 370Z GM AT Rep Power: 15	You might want to consider Office 365 and use it from the cloud on multiple devices? I looked at the Surface as well and it's nice but very pricey, $1000 up here in Canadia. __________________ 2012 370Z GM 7AT/JWM LEDs / 3M clear bra / 35% tint / GTR start button / FI CBE SS 18" RES / Momo shift knob / K & N Typhoon / Z1 hood struts / H&R 20mm f/r / illuminated kickplates

08-08-2013, 12:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
eastwest2300 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: South FL Posts: 90,972 Drives: '16QX70/'21 Supra3.0 Rep Power: 2684550	eBay or amazon... save yourself some money. __________________ Infiniti QX70 & Toyota Supra 3.0 Premium

08-08-2013, 01:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
DLo Base Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: SoCal - South Bay Posts: 244 Drives: 2012 370Z NISMO GM Rep Power: 13	I'm looking at picking one up as well. It has received many great reviews despite some of its quarks. It is a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. My friend who is a developer has the pro running Office 365 along with his development tools. He says he really likes it and has the ability to develop on the go. Good purchase! __________________ 2012 NISMO #294 Gunmetal Metallic - Stock

08-09-2013, 11:11 AM	#8 (permalink)
eastwest2300 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: South FL Posts: 90,972 Drives: '16QX70/'21 Supra3.0 Rep Power: 2684550	Thats awesome man, congrats. __________________ Infiniti QX70 & Toyota Supra 3.0 Premium

07-31-2013, 02:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bret86944 Base Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 64 Drives: 2011-base-PW-6mt Rep Power: 12	lol, so apparently no one else has one. Anyways, I went out and bought one yesterday. Pretty sweet. I have one gripe, and it's a pretty big one, the pro DOES NOT come with office. No Excel, no Word, no Powerpoint. WTF??? The $350 RT version has all those, but the $900 pro has none? I guess I'll just use google docs. They shouldn't call both of them the Surface since the only thing in common is the shape. Other than that, it's fantastic. Screen is awesome, it's fast, you can switch to windows mode and install normal programs. It's very small and light for essentially being a laptop. I didn't buy the $120 touchpad. I plugged in my old dell keyboard and it worked instantly. Most of the time I just used it with no keypad though. Just put it on my lap and used the pop up keyboard. I'll mess around with it some more tonight and give you guys an update. If any of you care...lol.

08-08-2013, 11:53 AM	#4 (permalink)
igbad Base Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SoCal Posts: 49 Drives: '12 370Z Base GM 6MT Rep Power: 12	i've been considering it for a while now, but have some major gripes about the design. first, the 64GB is kind of useless because by the time the OS and supporting software is installed, you're left with about half its capacity. so, 128GB it is. even then, the OS takes up way too much space, namely because MS in its infinite wisdom has the OS image residing on the SSD (takes up like 8GB apparently). on the PC, i immediately delete any OS image and restore points, since you have the option of reinstalling the OS from scratch. you can do a fresh windows install on the surface but need to jump through all kinds of hoops. it's stupid. also, swapping out the batter is nearly impossible since you need to heat the adhesive holding the case together, and even then the melted adhesive turns into a nightmare to work with. this is a common problem with tablets (ipad), and is a product of keeping things thin and light, but battery technology sucks and we know they need to be replaced, so make it easier for the consumer to do it on their own. TL;DR. OS + supporting software takes up too much space, replacing batter nearly impossible unless you want to pay MS an assload.

08-09-2013, 09:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
Bret86944 Base Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 64 Drives: 2011-base-PW-6mt Rep Power: 12	I've had it for about a week now and I'm pretty impressed. There is a bigger learning curve than an apple product, but I've found it's because the surface can do A LOT. I bought the HDMI adapter cable and am now using my TV as a monitor when I want to watch videos. Storage is not a huge issue becuase I don't have tons of files. A lot of my stuff is on google docs. When I run low on space I'll just buy a 64 gig micro SD card. Also, they just dropped the price $100. So overall it's a pretty slick little machine.

08-09-2013, 11:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
w0rM A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2012 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,198 Drives: 2015 Corvette Z06 Rep Power: 36	I just got rid of my Surface. I was hoping for something that could be a laptop at work and a fun tablet at home. It was ok but ultimately (IMO) it wasn't particularly good at either of those things. __________________ \| SOLD September 14th, 2013 \| My Build Journal

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