Can the Surface 2 replace a laptop?

[Ebuka Allison]

SO, the real question now is, can the surface 2 replace your laptop? What do you guys think?
I only do browsing on internet and office on the computer.

 

[Phillip Deackes]

Yes, absolutely - with one caveat. You also need a desktop machine if you are doing anything server related, but that's still the case if you have a laptop as a secondary device. I run a Plex server and Squeezebox, and often remote desktop into my home machine from work. I sold my MacBook Air and bought a Surface 2 and it's perfect - especially for consuming media. I often watch Netflix in bed and the screen format is excellent for movies and other widescreen sources. I've never missed my laptop since selling it. Tried an iPad but I hate the iOS UI which is so simplistic. What the heck, just app icons. IMO iOS just doesn't scale up very well at all.

 

[Beijendorf]

I'm typing this on a Surface 2, so believe me when I say NO.

It can outperform other tablets, but it is nowhere near as versatile, fast and useful as a decent x86/x64-system. You'll have slower performance, reduced usability in term of programs and browsing abilities, etc.

 

[FAHMI BASSEM]

i'm with you, ios is really stupid.

 

[Ian Too]

I'm typing this on a Surface 2, so believe me when I say NO.

It can outperform other tablets, but it is nowhere near as versatile, fast and useful as a decent x86/x64-system. You'll have slower performance, reudced usability in term of programs and browsing abilities, etc.

It certainly seems like it affects your typing.

I use the original RT and I agree because a lot of the original software just won't run. However, as a secondary device for browsing and watching video as well as working with Office it does a very good job indeed.

Also, I think as universal apps become the norm, Windows RT will gain in parity with Intel based architecture.

 

[hotphil]

Yes, absolutely - with one caveat. You also need a desktop machine if you are doing anything server related

Probably depends what kind of server, but I've found I've always got access to a Remote Desktop, TeamViewer etc. machine running anything I can't do directly in RT. So for me, yes. I don't need a laptop for work any more.

 

[mrzees]

Hey as long as you're not a PC gamer or use lots of legacy software. The surface 2 does the job. I have one and really I do three things with this device.
Stream Videos - Netflix, NBA GameTime,etc. (TICK)
Browse the Web (TICK)
Draft, Publish/Print documents for work and pleasure using word and excel. (TICK)

My home desktop has been collecting dust. I think the people who bash the surface 2 has only 1 reason.
1. It lacks the more popular applications.
Those who complain about Win8 RT not being full windows 8.1., NEWSFLASH ios7 or 8 isn't OS X either. Yet, win 8RT does more.

Gonna be getting the surface pro 3 tho.

 

[Ebuka Allison]

I don't need servers and stuff. I've a WIN 8 machine and I only use it for browsing. I'm sick of the BSOD and think RT is more like WP maintenance wise. I only need office and the apps in the store are fine for me. (free office vs Pro 3) is enough to make me look warily at the pros

 

[Beijendorf]

I think the people who bash the surface 2 has only 1 reason.
1. It lacks the more popular applications.
Those who complain about Win8 RT not being full windows 8.1., NEWSFLASH ios7 or 8 isn't OS X either. Yet, win 8RT does more.

You haven't used the Surface a lot if you haven't had problems yet. Are you on your Surface? Try attaching hyperlinks here in the touch-friendly browser interface. It can't do it. Try going over to a site like Corephotonics and browse around in either interface. It can't do it. Heck, try playing a casual game like Card Hunter for a second. Well, my Surface died. You also need a dedicated mouse(pad) since you can't hover over objects for tool tips.

So it can't even replace an x86-system in browsing. So face the simple fact; the Surface RT/2 is a good tablet, but it cannot and was never intended as a laptop-replacement.

As for "8RT does more", that's kind of goes against the whole "lacks the popular apps" statement. It can do streaming half-decently, its lacking in the browsing-experience and it won't give developers any SDK-access for even things like the battery. On the other hand, iOS has a robust application platform that Microsoft can only hope to rival once they merge RT and WP.

 

[Ebuka Allison]

You haven't used the Surface a lot if you haven't had problems yet. Are you on your Surface? Try attaching hyperlinks here in the touch-friendly browser interface. It can't do it. Try going over to a site like Corephotonics and browse around in either interface. It can't do it. Heck, try playing a casual game like Card Hunter for a second. Well, my Surface died. You also need a dedicated mouse(pad) since you can't hover over objects for tool tips.

So it can't even replace an x86-system in browsing. So face the simple fact; the Surface RT/2 is a good tablet, but it cannot and was never intended as a laptop-replacement.

As for "8RT does more", that's kind of goes against the whole "lacks the popular apps" statement. It can do streaming half-decently, its lacking in the browsing-experience and it won't give developers any SDK-access for even things like the battery. On the other hand, iOS has a robust application platform that Microsoft can only hope to rival once they merge RT and WP.

What surface do you have?

 

[Beijendorf]

What surface do you have?

Surface 2.

I can recommend it as a productivity tablet. Pretending it can replace an actual computer though is nothing short of delusional.

 

[hotphil]

Well I must be delusional then I regularly use my Surface all day instead of a laptop/desktop.

 

[Beijendorf]

Well I must be delusional then I regularly use my Surface all day instead of a laptop/desktop.

As I said, it can be used as a productivity tablet, not an x86/x64-replacement.

I'm using mine right now while traveling. I'm annoyed by all the bugs and quirks Windows RT has, but it's still useful for basic browsing, Office-related work and the occasional film watching.

It's a tablet. It does tablet-stuff.

 

[Ebuka Allison]

Surface 2.

I can recommend it as a productivity tablet. Pretending it can replace an actual computer though is nothing short of delusional.

For casual use and some writing

 

[Phillip Deackes]

I initially bought the Surface Pro - mainly because friends and colleagues kept on about how RT wasn't full Windows and it was somehow brain dead. Do you know, I ended up installing not one single full Windows app. Like mrzees says, iOS is NOT OS X, yet these same people are not complaining that iOS is somehow deficient because of this. I just don't get it. Windows RT is much more productive than an iPad - it has a USB socket, is easy to print from, has a keyboard, has a better screen format, I could go on. There may be more apps for iOS but what are apps all about? On any other computer, including the Mac, you do most stuff in a browser, you don't need a specific app for everything you do. iOS is too disparate.

 

[Beijendorf]

Like mrzees says, iOS is NOT OS X, yet these same people are not complaining that iOS is somehow deficient because of this. I just don't get it. Windows RT is much more productive than an iPad - it has a USB socket, is easy to print from, has a keyboard, has a better screen format, I could go on. There may be more apps for iOS but what are apps all about? On any other computer, including the Mac, you do most stuff in a browser, you don't need a specific app for everything you do. iOS is too disparate.

Unlike RT, iOS has a very robust ecosystem though, in the same way Threshold will make the united mobile ecosystem more robust for Microsoft. So let's not pretend like the application argument isn't true, since RT lacks important things like many/all electronic ID software and similar.

Both the Surface and the iPad are tablets and could never replace a full x86-system. They each have their own advantages and disadvantages.

 

[exkerZ]

There is one thing I really want my surface to do that it can't.. Someone else has complained about this before..

I have.. Clips of videos from shows. And sometimes I would like if I can grab all the clips at that same time, and have them play consecutively: one after another. My laptop can do it, my surface can't

I have the show Red Vs Blue on my surface, and the episodes are in 5 minute segments. It gets annoying choosing a new episode every 5 minutes.

So yes. This is the one thing my surface 2 can't replace my old laptop with. Unless it's a windows 8 thing (and by extension, windows 8 rt), in which, damn...

 

[WillysJeepMan]

I initially bought the Surface Pro - mainly because friends and colleagues kept on about how RT wasn't full Windows and it was somehow brain dead. Do you know, I ended up installing not one single full Windows app. Like mrzees says, iOS is NOT OS X, yet these same people are not complaining that iOS is somehow deficient because of this. I just don't get it. Windows RT is much more productive than an iPad - it has a USB socket, is easy to print from, has a keyboard, has a better screen format, I could go on.

The Surface hardware is top-shelf and second to none, IMO. Absolutely no complaints. The only hardware-related complaint that I have is about the horrific touchpad on the TypeCover2.

The iOS ecosystem contains a large quantity of high quality apps (yes, there are plenty of duds too). Everything that I need to do on a desktop computer, there is an app available for my iPad 4 (Not that I would want to do all those things on the iPad). The software is simply there. Software like Garageband, Boss Jock Studio, MS Office, Notesy, etc. Project management, genealogical research, no matter what the interest I have, there's an iOS app for it.

There may be more apps for iOS but what are apps all about? On any other computer, including the Mac, you do most stuff in a browser, you don't need a specific app for everything you do. iOS is too disparate.

You appear to have a narrow definition of "apps". There is more to apps than simply app-ified versions of websites. That's an understandable misconception because it is the defense of Windows RT that is given the most often. MSIE on Windows RT does not support Java, nor does it support browser plug-ins. And with MSIE being the ONLY browser available for Windows RT, that makes it somewhat limiting.

The chronic lack of quality apps is the one thing that prevents the Surface 2 from being an "iPad killer". I'm a fan of the Surface RT/2... but a frustrated fan.


I don't do most stuff in a browser. If I did, a Surface would be inferior to a Chromebook.

 

[Dre325]

The Surface hardware is top-shelf and second to none, IMO. Absolutely no complaints. The only hardware-related complaint that I have is about the horrific touchpad on the TypeCover2.

The iOS ecosystem contains a large quantity of high quality apps (yes, there are plenty of duds too). Everything that I need to do on a desktop computer, there is an app available for my iPad 4 (Not that I would want to do all those things on the iPad). The software is simply there. Software like Garageband, Boss Jock Studio, MS Office, Notesy, etc. Project management, genealogical research, no matter what the interest I have, there's an iOS app for it.



You appear to have a narrow definition of "apps". There is more to apps than simply app-ified versions of websites. That's an understandable misconception because it is the defense of Windows RT that is given the most often. MSIE on Windows RT does not support Java, nor does it support browser plug-ins. And with MSIE being the ONLY browser available for Windows RT, that makes it somewhat limiting.

The chronic lack of quality apps is the one thing that prevents the Surface 2 from being an "iPad killer". I'm a fan of the Surface RT/2... but a frustrated fan.


I don't do most stuff in a browser. If I did, a Surface would be inferior to a Chromebook.

I agree with this post. I love having the keyboard cover and better flexibility with my surface, but anyone that says the apps don't matter because of the web interface on the surface is not seeing the big picture. Try browsing redfin for a new house on the web on the surface vs the amazing app on the iPad. Try the amazing houzz app on the iPad if you want project ideas or decorating help vs browsing on the web on the surface. I have both tablets and they both have their strongpoints, but iPad makes up for other deficiencies by having solid apps.

 

[podsnap]

Personally I think the Surface can easily replace a laptop for the average user. Of course, like every PC, whether it suits you or not is down to your specific needs. As we've seen from many answers, it doesn't suit everybody.

However, just like you Ebuka, most of my friends only do e-mail, browsing and office. The power of a x86 laptop is completely unnecessary for them.

Yes, there are some specialised sites that don't seem to play well with IE11 (or is it IE11 not playing well with them) but again, for the average user they don't need these sites and I've yet to find a site that I need that doesn't work on the Surface. That said, If you do any online banking then it would be worth checking that your bank's site works on the Surface.

Otherwise, in my opinion, the Surface 2 is an excellent machine for your needs.