I've seen a lot of interest for this device, so I thought I'd give my impressions after having one for about a month.
Firstly, don't believe the reviews. I expected this device to be "full of compromises" and/or "a poor tablet and a poor laptop" etc. I can tell you that I this bit of technology exceeded my expectations wildly, and is quite honestly the coolest piece of kit I have ever owned.
Impressions:
Every executive meeting I have gone to, I have taken the Surface Pro with me. I love using it for taking notes with the stylus in OneNote (which also syncs with our SharePoint Online server). Every single executive in those meetings has looked at the Surface Pro and said "I want one". And in fact, a customer of ours, based on seeing my Surface Pro in meetings, has decided to start trials to replace their laptop fleet with Surface Pros (when Windows 8.1 goes RTM).
My Apple friends (Designers, Coders, Photographers) all love it. They wish they had a tablet that they can 'produce' content on elegantly. There is no Android or Apple tablet that is good for content creation, only content consumption. My designer friend loves the idea of doing quick wireframes on the tablet in front of customers.
Usability:
The tech reviewers point out every perceived flaw, and like to call this device full of compromises. I personally have found it to be the closest thing to a no compromise device as I have ever owned. I generally take it to the office in the morning and plug it into an external monitor, using Windows 8 exclusively in the desktop mode. At first, the 125% enlarged resolution looked a bit weird, but I have gotten used to it now.
It boots up extremely quickly, is very snappy, and I run all my power applications (SQL server, Visual Studio, Office) on it without it breaking a sweat. It even works well with some games like Civ 5.
At night when I want to consume (instead of create) content, I just snap off the keyboard and use Windows 8 metro mode, and use it like an iPad. It's a bit bulkier but I don't find that ever bothers me. I find it less annoying than my Google Nexus 7 because I can use the kickstand to prop it on the bench if I am cooking or what have you.
My girlfriend is overseas at the moment visiting family, and she is constantly mucking around with her iPad to get it to sit properly when we Skype, whereas I have no such issues. I just sit it on the table with the kickstand and put my feet up.
The two niggles I have are the following:
1080p desktop mode is too small for me. It's not that usable without a second monitor. I have turned the resolution down a bit, but without a second monitor, it can be fiddly to use. Metro is fine to use no matter what resolution.
Multi-tasking in full metro is a bit annoying, however, Windows 8.1 *dramatically* improves this. And it's still way better than a lot of other tablets on the market in this regard.
Portability
Everyone who has read reviews of the Surface Pro knows about the battery life. When has this ever been a problem for me?
1. When I had a power outage and had no power for 14 hours.
2. Traveling in planes for long flights that do not have power supply available (getting less common).
3. Never.
As long as you charge it every night, and treat it like a laptop in this regard, you won't have problems.
I use the Type cover (which I find vastly superior to the touch cover) and it barely takes up any additional weight, and always gives me a keyboard to use (and a cover) all in one.
With a carry case it's pretty easy to carry around, and I don't find it bulky or gets in the way at all.
I visit a lot of clients, so I am constantly on the go. It will last me all day using it on and off, and sure beats carrying around a laptop.
The compromise?
Price.
If you want a cheap device that is great for content consumption, then stick with your iPad (not a fan of Android after using a Nexus 7). I'd even recommend the iPad over the Surface RT for this purpose.
But, if you want a device that is very close to no compromise, which turns heads at meetings, allows you to create content (documents, code, wireframes, sketches, etc) easily, while ALSO allowing you to consume content just like a tablet, then this is the device for you.
Disclaimer: I run a Software Development (mobile apps focus) & Digital Marketing company. I have a background in development and coding, and I have a wide range of devices from all ecosystems for business purposes. I used a lot of Apple products over the years, and flirted with Android for a short period of time.
Firstly, don't believe the reviews. I expected this device to be "full of compromises" and/or "a poor tablet and a poor laptop" etc. I can tell you that I this bit of technology exceeded my expectations wildly, and is quite honestly the coolest piece of kit I have ever owned.
Impressions:
Every executive meeting I have gone to, I have taken the Surface Pro with me. I love using it for taking notes with the stylus in OneNote (which also syncs with our SharePoint Online server). Every single executive in those meetings has looked at the Surface Pro and said "I want one". And in fact, a customer of ours, based on seeing my Surface Pro in meetings, has decided to start trials to replace their laptop fleet with Surface Pros (when Windows 8.1 goes RTM).
My Apple friends (Designers, Coders, Photographers) all love it. They wish they had a tablet that they can 'produce' content on elegantly. There is no Android or Apple tablet that is good for content creation, only content consumption. My designer friend loves the idea of doing quick wireframes on the tablet in front of customers.
Usability:
The tech reviewers point out every perceived flaw, and like to call this device full of compromises. I personally have found it to be the closest thing to a no compromise device as I have ever owned. I generally take it to the office in the morning and plug it into an external monitor, using Windows 8 exclusively in the desktop mode. At first, the 125% enlarged resolution looked a bit weird, but I have gotten used to it now.
It boots up extremely quickly, is very snappy, and I run all my power applications (SQL server, Visual Studio, Office) on it without it breaking a sweat. It even works well with some games like Civ 5.
At night when I want to consume (instead of create) content, I just snap off the keyboard and use Windows 8 metro mode, and use it like an iPad. It's a bit bulkier but I don't find that ever bothers me. I find it less annoying than my Google Nexus 7 because I can use the kickstand to prop it on the bench if I am cooking or what have you.
My girlfriend is overseas at the moment visiting family, and she is constantly mucking around with her iPad to get it to sit properly when we Skype, whereas I have no such issues. I just sit it on the table with the kickstand and put my feet up.
The two niggles I have are the following:
1080p desktop mode is too small for me. It's not that usable without a second monitor. I have turned the resolution down a bit, but without a second monitor, it can be fiddly to use. Metro is fine to use no matter what resolution.
Multi-tasking in full metro is a bit annoying, however, Windows 8.1 *dramatically* improves this. And it's still way better than a lot of other tablets on the market in this regard.
Portability
Everyone who has read reviews of the Surface Pro knows about the battery life. When has this ever been a problem for me?
1. When I had a power outage and had no power for 14 hours.
2. Traveling in planes for long flights that do not have power supply available (getting less common).
3. Never.
As long as you charge it every night, and treat it like a laptop in this regard, you won't have problems.
I use the Type cover (which I find vastly superior to the touch cover) and it barely takes up any additional weight, and always gives me a keyboard to use (and a cover) all in one.
With a carry case it's pretty easy to carry around, and I don't find it bulky or gets in the way at all.
I visit a lot of clients, so I am constantly on the go. It will last me all day using it on and off, and sure beats carrying around a laptop.
The compromise?
Price.
If you want a cheap device that is great for content consumption, then stick with your iPad (not a fan of Android after using a Nexus 7). I'd even recommend the iPad over the Surface RT for this purpose.
But, if you want a device that is very close to no compromise, which turns heads at meetings, allows you to create content (documents, code, wireframes, sketches, etc) easily, while ALSO allowing you to consume content just like a tablet, then this is the device for you.
Disclaimer: I run a Software Development (mobile apps focus) & Digital Marketing company. I have a background in development and coding, and I have a wide range of devices from all ecosystems for business purposes. I used a lot of Apple products over the years, and flirted with Android for a short period of time.
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