[Microsoft Surface] Argenist:
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This is my first post here on the Surface Pro forums. I'm usually in the Nexus 4 forums so just a little out of place, haha.

Pretty much there's a lot of mixed reviews from tech journalists and the business world in regards to this tablet/laptop. If any of you haven't seen the review done on Penny Arcade, then I suggest you go there first if you want a full review of this product.

This thread is mainly to tell you guys about my experience as an artist working on this tablet.

My setup is as follows:

1. 128GB Microsoft Surface Pro

2. Logitech K360 Keyboard (wireless)

3. Logitech M510 Mouse (wireless)

4. Uspeed USB 3.0 4 Port Compact Hub

5. Autodesk Sketchbook Pro 6

I chose this setup to be as versatile as possible. The surface keyboard option was $130 dollars, and honestly, I think that's a load of crap. The keyboard was 40 dollars at best, and even if it attaches to the Surface Pro and acts as a protective cover, I still don't get that price point. Maybe if it was more like a dock (more USB ports) and possibly a bigger battery source, then I'd be more inclined. The wireless allows me to completely detach from the keyboard and mouse by simply taking the Surface Pro from my desk and immediately start using my pen. When I put the tablet back in the wireless keyboard/mouse range, it automatically detects it again and this is pretty much seamless, no syncing, no bluetooth pairing crap, it's awesome.

The 4 port hub is optional and rarely do I have it hooked up. It's for when I need to hook up a USB memory stick or a device such as a scanner or printer (which I have yet to use). It is powered so if I need to put in a hefty device, then it won't kill the surface pro. It is also very light and compact, barely bigger than a credit card. The cord on it is a little longer than I'd like, but it's not bad.

I've had it for about a week and I can tell you that this is probably the best drawing tablet on the market right now (minus the professional desktop grade tablets such as the Intuos and the Cintiqs). I've tried the iPad, Asus Transformer, Nexus 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab. The Tab comes the closest with their pen option, however with Android, I don't get the same options I do where Windows 8.

For drawing I mainly have just the tablet and pen in hand. In fact 80% of the time, this is fine. Sketchbook Pro 6 is well designed for very minimal keyboard hotkeys and so I am able to navigate most of the interface with just the pen and finger gestures. I can't comment on Photoshop yet because WinTab has yet to be released at the time I'm posting, and so pressure sensitivity is still up in the air. However Sketchbook Pro 6 registers pressure sensitivity very well.

PROS

Screen lag is virtually non-existent, response is very good. I say virtually because, it will start showing up when the brush size is super super large and you have, say the airbrush tool selected. However this is an inherent problem with even my main rig, which has an i7 2600k and 16GB of ram. Most of the time, I use this tablet to get my roughs, and even touchups done, but if I'm going to work on a 50+ layer 300DPI/PPI image, then I'm switching back onto my main machine to do that kind of work. With that said, I would not recommend this tablet/laptop for any graphic designer wanting to only have just this to work on. This is a purely supplemental tool to an artist, in my opinion.

Multi-tasking is a breeze when I'm using it in tablet mode. I can draw sitting on my couch or outside, I can have my music playing in Spotify and I can quickly go in and out of my file browser, network as well as any USB devices I have very very quickly. If I need to FTP anything up to my websites, I can do so fairly easily as well. This is the true power of having Windows 8 rather than a tablet OS. You just can't beat the sheer amount of applications built for productivity on Windows and so it's highly evident when using this tablet.

CONS:

My biggest gripe with this tablet is that what makes it powerful.. Windows.. is also it's weakpoint. What do I mean by that? Well in essence, Windows is a desktop platform, and so interacting with buttons is very precision based (mouse) or in this case a pen. While practice will essentially get rid of this, it's still somewhat of a pain in the butt having to try and click a tiny button during installation or even minimizing or maximizing a screen.

Font size is the second problem. Even with large fonts enabled, there's still a lot of programs that don't take advantage of this. When I'm working in 3DSMax or Maya, the interface still looks very very small. Now someone may say, wtf are you doing working on a 3d program on a mobile device? Well honestly, when I'm traveling, I can model an object without rendering it. I don't need to be rendering out a high quality pass with V-Ray or Mental Ray activated and Final Gather on, lol. I'm simply saying that working in the interface, even though I'm used to most of them, I still have to squint a lot to enter values or read off values. There's probably mods out there or applications I can get to increase this, but with just a base stock install it is a pain.

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If you all have any questions on this tablet please feel free to post up.

WISHLIST

Some things I'd like to see in terms of accessories..

Adjustable cover... I find that when I'm drawing, I either have to lay it down on the table or go into "picture frame" style mode which isn't really usable for drawing. I will often just have it on my lap or laying on top of a three ring binder to get that angle that I'm looking for.

Grippier pen.. I have an Intuos 5 at work and Intuos 4 at home and the pen is much more comfortable and ergonomic to work with. Now the Surface Pen is by no means a slouch and I can definitely work with it.. but if they had different style pens for artists available, I'd definitely buy one.