[Microsoft Surface] Linwood.Ferguson:
I have a Pro, thoughts, rambling thoughts and brief review

I've had a CM-running Android phone since they first started.

I had a Nexus 10 tablet for a while, but I got rid of it and just got a Surface Pro, I've had it since Wednesday. Here are some thoughts. Your use of course may vary, since take it for what it's worth.

First, I did and still do have trouble knowing why I need a (regular) tablet. I never got an iPad, and the Nexus was more out of boredom than anything else. I LOVE an Android smart phone (done Blackberry and iPhone in the past), and like a decently large screen, but I want something always with me, in a holster, and not something I have to carry around. If I need quick access to a real browser, email, camera, movies, it's right there on my phone. And because I live the I.T. life, I always have a laptop somewhere in the general vacinity for real work.

Basically the Tablet didn't really solve any problem I had, and it was a playtoy. In the two weeks I had the Nexus I found myself 80% of the time grabbing the phone, and the Tablet got used to watch movies primarily (for which it was OK, but the screen a bit weak due to grey-not-black).

Enter the Surface Pro. First, it runs all (so far ALL) of the Windows software I use on my laptop. I can join my domain at work, use my VPN software (which I can't do on Android, at least never figured out a way for our variant), run a full version of Visual Studio and SQL Server Developer (I think, haven't yet), and run a real Office environment.

Is Windows 8 better, more usable, or more reliable than Android? No (ok, maybe a bit more reliable). But Windows is required for work. It's what I do all day long, good or bad, like it or not. Having something that is completely compatible suddenly opens all sorts of possibilities.

In a meeting, I could quickly do a SQL query with SSMS, query my work archive with Outlook, take notes in One Note (yes I know a limited verison is on Android), run a real excel for spreadsheets including integration with Sharepoint which we use at work. With an Android tablet I'd probably be doing this with RDP or TeamViewer to my desktop/laptop, or have a big clunky laptop (because I LIKE a big laptop for real work) on the table. Now it's easy and convenient, and no bigger than a notepad.

I spent 3 days or so getting used to it, and hated it at first as nothing seemed conveinent. After learning more of the gestures and where to find things, it became almost as easy as the Android to find things. Yes, that's not compliemnt to the Surface or Windows 8 (and I had a desktop already with Windows 8 so I was not unfamiliar), but it does mean that after this learning curve I don't feel very disadvantged, and I get the ability to run real Windows.

For those who don't require Windows I'd say pass.

But if you are going to live in the Windows world on laptops, desktops, development, etc., I'd say this is almost a no brainer as a logical add on to whatever you have. Especially windows developers. Lots of cool possibilities there, using it as a test device, or meeting with customers while carrying all your code around conveniently.

Some thoughts on the device itself:

- The stylus is exceptionally good. The screen has VERY tiny controls in desktop mode, but you can pretty reliably use the stylus without enlarging them.

- Having the stylus be magnetic and clipping to the charger conneciton is very nice, and it sticks more firmly than one would expect, HOWEVER:

This means you need to remove it to charge, and lay it down somewhere that you will lose or forget, and

The darn things cost $30 and I'm sure I will lose a lot of them!
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- While on the subject of cost, the power supply is $80! I always like extra supplies for fixed locations (office, home) but that's a bit steep.

- The charger is good, and charges VERY fast (didn't time it but I'd say about 2 hours for completely dead to full). But of very inconvenient length. The brick has a short tail cord to the outlet, and it's not long enough to reach even up to a desk, so it sits on the floor then the (not very long) cord for charging has to come all the way up to the desk, leaving it inconveniently short.

- The magnetic connector on the charger is terrific, and the keyboard (I have a touch) is even better. You can almost throw the keyboard at it, and have it land firmly in the socket. the charger requires more care but is fairly easy, and goes in either orientation (cord off top or bottom).

- I am disappointed there is no charger FROM a micro USB. I realize it would not charge as fast as running it depleats, but in a pinch (and with it off), it means you could charge with anything that carges your (other than Apple) phone. I wonder if you hacked a cord, since they do say the half-power RT charger will also work, just more slowly?

- USB3!!!! Fast.

- Good screen, good colors, decent (also not great) blacks for photos. Haven't measured color response (colorimeter is not with me), but I'm guessing this would be decent for field editing with Lightroom or Photoshop (and that USB3 very nice for large image uploads, like from my D800).

- Touch keyboard. I'm seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. The Microsoft store guys said "try it a few days". It is very convenient in terms of size and how it connects, as a cover and to move it out of the way, but it is sure hard to type without feedback. The other keyboard with movable keys -- I may just have to switch to that. But I am hopeful, as this one is VERY thin.

- However, I wish it came in a black leather surface instead of grey felt. Who decided felt looks nice anyway? Pay a small fortune for a laptop and cover it in 1960's felt. How about leather (with a fake variant for those who oppose leather).

- Speakers are a bit weak but adequate for listening in a quiet office or hotel.

- Kick stand in back is great. I love that it is integrated. I see where people complain about it lacking a shallow angle, I get it, but so far haven't missed it. The wide base means I can rest it on my chest when in bed, and basically have a 80"-like movie screen to watch. ;)

- On the bad side, It's windows which means all the settings are buried off in control panels like windows, rather than nicely grouped as on Android, EXCEPT when Microsoft rather than continuing that paradigm then took a few new ones and put them on the Metro screens, leaving one completely baffled where to find the control you really need. Did I mention there's a learning curve?

- Gestures -- Took me forever to figure out that to close an app (where the instructions say "swipe down from the top") that you must swipe down A LONG WAYS, like over half way, for it to register. Or just the right gesture to show open apps (swipe in-- not too far, then jerk your finger back). They aren't bad, but I sure miss LMT and controls that are a bit more obvious and intuitive. But I'm getting used to it.

- Frankly the getting started guide should have been IN the box ON PAPER. I can see a lot of people who haven't touched Windows 8, who use Android, throwing it at the wall in frustration trying to figure out how to use it well enough to download the getting started guide. :eek:

- It gets warm, surprisingly so (especially if charging and in use), but not unpleasantly so.

- Very fast, very smooth scrolling, like a modern laptop. Really.

- Wish I could add memory and disk. Wish I could have paid more for more memory or more disk even, I don't need to be able to 'add'.

- And again -- so far, I haven't found one windows program I could not run. I am sure they exist, but so far so good (note all my programs already are known to run on Windows 8, so this is not really too much of a surprise).

Wow, this got long fast, take it for wat it is worth. I'm happy with the switch, as since I live in Windows world this will be MUCH more usable for me than the Nexus, and after the learning curve almost as convenient to use.