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Surface Reviews Thread
- I think they're likely right. It's not just the weight, it's how you have to carry it. That wider screen means the weight is exerting more leverage against your fingers, so it "feels" heavier than it is. But this subjective feel is likely more truthful for daily use - a device like that will be much more tiring to hold and use than it's weight suggests.
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palandri likes this.10-24-2012 09:42 AMLike 1 - Share
- Because the shortfalls were not obviously there in the first place.
The Surface had not yet been released and reviewed. There was no reason to suspect that a machine 1/4 the weight of my Lenovo and 1/4 the size would nonetheless still suffer from the same handling issues.
WinRT (the OS, not the API) had not yet been released and reviewed. So it was not yet apparent that Microsoft had not included WP7.5/WP8 compatibility on a machine running the same basic ARM CPU as their phones, running on the same basic OS kernel as their phones, thus depriving their splashy new tablet OS the apps it critically needs at this early stage of its existence.
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10-24-2012 09:49 AMLike 3 - Share
- Read ar technica's and engadget's.. The hardware seemed cool to both.. They said the speakers are not that loud which is bad since it has two but having an Xbox will be cool for when I'm home.. They said the keyboards will take some getting used to..
Apps.. Apps.. Apps.. Microsoft will get the surface what it needs.. Might have to be patient.. The Xbox has so much more than the ps3.. So I'm confident..
Can't wait to start publishing eBooks and writing my dissertation on my surface with a cyan keyboard.. Completely replacing my black MacBook..
Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express10-24-2012 09:56 AMLike 0 -
I was one of the ones arguing most vociferously that there were sound economic and technical reasons why WP7.x devices were unlikely to be upgraded, against a chorus of people claiming that there was no way Microsoft would abandon them. This is a different situation, and much more serious. Microsoft is gimping their tablet OS from the start, for no good technical or economic reason that I can discern. If it's true that WP8 can run WP7.5 apps, on the same basic CPU and same basic OS kernel as WinRT, then I fail to see why WinRT couldn't have included that WP7.x/WP8.x subsystem.10-24-2012 10:23 AMLike 0 - Yup. They would have been perfect in that 1/3 snap view. And in landscape they could have unrolled the panorama view to fill more of the screen (so a 2-panel panorama would run in 2/3 snap, and a 3-panel panorama could fill the screen in landscape mode).10-24-2012 10:31 AMLike 0
- I don't think you can run 7.5 apps on 8.0 or vice versa, bit I could be wrong.
**Sent from my Windows Phone using Board Express**10-24-2012 10:39 AMLike 0 -
If the problems with the aspect ratio are as obvious as you say, why didn't Microsoft fix this problem? All the reviewers picked up on this problem right away. Sure 4:3 screens are relatively uncommon nowadays, but Apple and Amazon can get them, and you notice nobody complains about how ungainly their tablets are.10-24-2012 10:44 AMLike 0 - Microsoft has said that "virtually all" WP7.5 apps will work on WP8. If this isn't the case, and WP8 will only run WP8 apps, then it certainly explains why WinRT doesn't either. It also explains all the secrecy about WP8.10-24-2012 10:47 AMLike 0
- Seen a few of the reviews ... and some of the reviews of the reviews.
They all seem to generally like the hardware but hate on the software a bit .. which tbh was probably to be expected.
I'll be heavily countering the arguments that the software is buggy and the app store small, by pointing out that the same was true with the iOS and Android to start with, and Microsoft are already aggressively pushing to get updates out to users as quickly as they can, and with some big name apps already /in/ the app store, I think we can see the landscape change very quickly.
It's up to us Windows users to spread the word! :)10-24-2012 10:50 AMLike 0 - From the ZDNET review: There’s no SkyDrive synchronization. This one surprised me when I first discovered it. If you want to access files stored in your SkyDrive account, you’ll need to do so via a web browser or the built-in Windows 8 app, using a live Internet connection. The Windows desktop app that syncs files between a local drive and SkyDrive isn’t available for Windows RT. (You can open an Office document from SkyDrive, disconnect from the Internet, and continue editing it offline. The Office Upload Center will upload your changes later, when you reconnect.)
Am I missing something as to why you would expect a wi-fi only device to synchronise or access files in SkyDrive when it's not on an active connection?
*edit* just noticed the review refers to the Metro-style app as Windows 8 rather than WinRT10-24-2012 10:55 AMLike 0 -
It's not that it won't automatically synchronize when it's not on an active connection. It's that it won't automatically synchronize even when it is on an active connection. That is a major fail, for something that is supposed to be cloud-connected with no 4G hardware.10-24-2012 10:58 AMLike 0 - By skimming through the reviews, seems to me all the stuff that each review likes or dislikes can be said about any other tablet.
what it comes down to is the app store, we are at pre-release, who knows if MS has a load of apps ready to go at launch. If the app store can get close to the competitors over the next few months, it changes things for the surface for both the RT and Pro.
For the most part, what is driving down the opinions in these reviews on whether to get or not or the final scores, is the lack of apps. If there was a filled app store, i think you would of seen a more positive response to the surface. It is all if, ands, or buts, still i think if the app store can be filled quickly, you got a good investment.
This is windows phone all over again. WP is almost there when it comes to popular apps, Surface is starting at the bottom at this point.
For me, if i see the reviews mention hwo this is not a laptop replacement, i just stop reading, that is not a fair comparison. We all know the RT= tablet PRo=laptop, no need to mention how we can't install programs from win 7 or win preview 8. Review it for what it is supposed to be, a tablet.10-24-2012 11:01 AMLike 0 -
Yep. WP7.x/WP8 app support would have improved the situation immensely.10-24-2012 11:10 AMLike 0 - stmavRetired ModeratorThe aspect ratio has been known for awhile. I've owned a 1.5lb 4:3 tablet that was light and handy, and a 4.5lb 15:9 convertible tablet that is neither light nor handy. Not sure why I should have guessed ahead of time that it was the aspect ratio and not the weight that was the real culprit.
If the problems with the aspect ratio are as obvious as you say, why didn't Microsoft fix this problem? All the reviewers picked up on this problem right away. Sure 4:3 screens are relatively uncommon nowadays, but Apple and Amazon can get them, and you notice nobody complains about how ungainly their tablets are.
You've already got your mind made up so there's no point in debating. Return your surface and enjoy whatever you decide on.10-24-2012 11:13 AMLike 0 - Of course the RT SkyDrive application doesn't automatically synchronize. It has limited hard drive space. Even if it could auto synch, I would turn it off immediately.
And there are 5000+ RT apps, not a couple thousand. Supposedly we will see a huge increase made available on the 26th.- Share
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rOIVAz likes this.10-24-2012 11:15 AMLike 1 - Share
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- @mparker. It seems you're bound and determined to write off the entire ecosystem and not just the RT. I'm saying this without malice at all, but I think Apple is a much better fit for you.
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10-24-2012 11:27 AMLike 2 - Share
- I'm not sure why there is surprise that WP apps dont run on Windows RT, this has always been known and there have already been some devs that have ported their apps from WP and have noted how relatively easy it is but there was never any talk of their apps simply running on the tablet OS without having to be ported.
Frankly I'm surprised at the surprise.- Share
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cckgz4 likes this.10-24-2012 11:41 AMLike 1 - Share
- Of course the RT SkyDrive application doesn't automatically synchronize. It has limited hard drive space. Even if it could auto synch, I would turn it off immediately.
And there are 5000+ RT apps, not a couple thousand. Supposedly we will see a huge increase made available on the 26th.
I agree. Sky drive is cloud storage, syncing files would be beside the point. Although auto sync of some things like contacts and photos.
Win store does not allow paid apps right now and everyone will try to charge money.10-24-2012 11:53 AMLike 0 -
I've owned both Apple and Android, but am not really a fan of either. I've owned apple laptops and an iPad 1, and currently own both the Nexus One and Galaxy Nexus phones (bought the GNex after the Focus died, then got the L900 at launch).
It does allow paid apps - there are quite a few of them in there. Perhaps you're still running Consumer Preview - the store for Consumer Preview only had free apps. There are also a lot of desktop apps and x86-only apps in the store. There aren't nearly as many ARM-compatible apps in the store as Microsoft has been implying.10-24-2012 12:00 PMLike 0 - One consistent thing that is coming from these reviews, besides the lack of apps which we already knew, is performance issues. I really hope MS cleans these up quickly.
I will say, I really wish MS could have knocked this out of the park. As it stands, they obviously didn't.
Have any other reviews run a battery test or is it just finger in the air?10-24-2012 12:09 PMLike 0 -
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