[threefortyduster]

...But...and I have searched high and low to find this out, with no answers. Can you play candy crush saga in IE on Surface RT/Surface 2? I know it sounds terrible, but all my Mom really uses her computer for anymore is internet surfing and playing pointless facebook games. I think she'd like the tablet route, but if it won't do what she does, I can't justify it, and will just get her a Win 8 laptop.

Let me know, thanks.

[Christian Kallevig]

If that's what your mom wants to do on a computer then I honestly can't recommend a Surface 2. Get her a Kindle Fire HDX or a Nexus. They are cheaper and will fill her needs just fine.

And honestly, as much as the physical hardware of Surface is excellent in ways few other devices are, Windows RT itself still has some bugs that would be frustrating for someone not particularly good with computers, and it's not as easy to learn to use as other devices either. Surface 2 is great, but it's not the tablet for your mom based on what you're saying

[Dexter505]

You are better off getting your mom a nexus. Yes you can play candy crush in the browser.

[threefortyduster]

She knows how to work computers and still needs Office (forgot to mention that). I can't in good faith ever buy another android device after the two tablets I currently have that are Android. That is the absolute worst operating system I've ever seen.

Any other recommendations?

[HeyCori]

Need Office? Guess you're going Windows.

Maybe just take your mom to Best Buy and let play with a S2. And if RT isn't enough then she can always go Bay Trail.

[Christian Kallevig]

Well if she needs Office then I'd say that changes everything. Surface 2 is easily the best tablet you can run MS Office on, although you'll need to find out from her weather or not x86 compatibility matters

[threefortyduster]

x86 doesn't matter. Mainly, the question is Surface or Laptop. Taking her to Best Buy to try it out defeats the purpose of a gift haha.

[Laura Knotek]

x86 doesn't matter. Mainly, the question is Surface or Laptop. Taking her to Best Buy to try it out defeats the purpose of a gift haha.

Well, x86 does matter if you say "Surface or Laptop". A laptop would be capable of running x86 programs.

You mentioned Office. Does she already have an Office 2013 subscription? If she does, she can install Office on up to 5 different PCs/Macs.

[Christian Kallevig]

Those are very good points.

I guess it comes down to mobility and battery life versus screen size and power.