Hello!
I am a proud owner of a Surface RT. It is a great device and I can really do about 85% of what I need to do on a daily basis for my work as an academic. But - and perhaps with Surface RT there is always a but - there is the inevitable problem of essential programs you need for work and research.
The three culprits are Evernote Desktop, Zotero Stand-Alone, and Calibre, a library management software. I can use Evernote for Windows 8 but I do not find the program as intuitive for managing immense amounts of data - it is perfectly fine for reading. And I find that the Evernote for Web is just slow on the device. I can use Zotero in Internet Explorer but it runs slowly - and is more compatible with Firefox. But Calibre - the one I rely on daily - is unavailable on RT. I can use the files but to actually manage them is a task. I have to use my work computer but I get tired of carrying it back and forth from work to home.
The truth is that I am 1) Fairly happy with the device, 2) Not looking to upgrade to a more expensive device yet, and 3) Just need something for a few basic desktop tasks.
My current plan is to get a companion device for my Surface RT that runs Windows 8.1. I could do one of two things -
A. Purchase another inexpensive Windows tablet like a HP Stream 7 or Dell Venue Pro 8 and then use remote desktop when I need those programs. I like the simplicity of this option but working in India, I will have to order the tablet, have it shipped to my family, and then shipped to me. I estimate it may take 1 to 2 months.
OR
B. Purchase an inexpensive notebook like the Asus X207 or the HP Stream 11 and use that in tandem with the device. This seems like a bit much but I can get the device now in India.
I do see this as a stop-gap measure until I can eventually get a system that combines both - I would love a Surface Pro 3 but can't quite justify the price with a low salary and student loans. And again, I think the Surface RT is perfect for most tasks.
I wanted to ask the forum for any advice or thoughts. Does this sound a bit crazy? Has anyone tried Option A yet? Should I just simply throw in the towel and get a new device? Any advice would be deeply appreciated - thanks!
I am a proud owner of a Surface RT. It is a great device and I can really do about 85% of what I need to do on a daily basis for my work as an academic. But - and perhaps with Surface RT there is always a but - there is the inevitable problem of essential programs you need for work and research.
The three culprits are Evernote Desktop, Zotero Stand-Alone, and Calibre, a library management software. I can use Evernote for Windows 8 but I do not find the program as intuitive for managing immense amounts of data - it is perfectly fine for reading. And I find that the Evernote for Web is just slow on the device. I can use Zotero in Internet Explorer but it runs slowly - and is more compatible with Firefox. But Calibre - the one I rely on daily - is unavailable on RT. I can use the files but to actually manage them is a task. I have to use my work computer but I get tired of carrying it back and forth from work to home.
The truth is that I am 1) Fairly happy with the device, 2) Not looking to upgrade to a more expensive device yet, and 3) Just need something for a few basic desktop tasks.
My current plan is to get a companion device for my Surface RT that runs Windows 8.1. I could do one of two things -
A. Purchase another inexpensive Windows tablet like a HP Stream 7 or Dell Venue Pro 8 and then use remote desktop when I need those programs. I like the simplicity of this option but working in India, I will have to order the tablet, have it shipped to my family, and then shipped to me. I estimate it may take 1 to 2 months.
OR
B. Purchase an inexpensive notebook like the Asus X207 or the HP Stream 11 and use that in tandem with the device. This seems like a bit much but I can get the device now in India.
I do see this as a stop-gap measure until I can eventually get a system that combines both - I would love a Surface Pro 3 but can't quite justify the price with a low salary and student loans. And again, I think the Surface RT is perfect for most tasks.
I wanted to ask the forum for any advice or thoughts. Does this sound a bit crazy? Has anyone tried Option A yet? Should I just simply throw in the towel and get a new device? Any advice would be deeply appreciated - thanks!
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