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OMG windows 8 table/laptop/pc base coming 2012

i wonder if this could run on Gtablet.. Lol. D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p92QfWOw88I&feature=player_embedded
amazing UI..
but i'm still loyal to android.. D its an OS WAR on 2012 ,
iOS 5, Google Icecream Android, Windows 8..

That looks like a hell of a lot of processing power for a mobile device.

well tegra 3 is on the way...

boltgd said:
well tegra 3 is on the way...
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But it's not compatible with windows.

Eh. Its a Mickeysoft product. Overpromise, Overhype, and Underwhelm. There are promised features from Vista that have yet to be developed and introduced. So I am not gonna hold my breath.

yeah they have a lot of work to do.. since the release is way too far ahead, 2012.. i guess ICEcream won't give up easily with this kind of UI..
Impress us GOOGLE.. your'e still my bet.. LOL

juntunen said:
Eh. Its a Mickeysoft product. Overpromise, Overhype, and Underwhelm. There are promised features from Vista that have yet to be developed and introduced. So I am not gonna hold my breath.
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What features, exactly, are you referencing? I only ask because I have been Alpha and Beta testing MS operating systems for almost 20 years.
And why on earth would they work to introduce features on an OS that was replaced by a better one only about a year after release (thank god)?
Kind of like saying "when is Android 1.6 going to support HTML5?" Not going to happen because Android 2 added that support.
Maybe you should hold your breath.

That actually looks pretty amazing, Google has some work to do, they are the modern day version of the old Microsoft with the bugs and such, seems the new Microsoft has figured out that making it work is more important, so now google ditch the Linux kernel and find your own way. I am an Android fan and a GTab owner, but I have to say I hate tinkering with this thing and would rather it wake up and do what I want it to do, and do it consistently. I don't even mess with my GTab anymore, I hate to say it but I have reverted back to my iPad, simply it works consistently. Just my 2 cents.

goodintentions said:
But it's not compatible with windows.
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Win 8 will be compatible with ARM processors.*
*Not official, but one of the demos of Win8 a few weeks ago was running on an ARM. Before you ask, the Tegra2 (and Tegra3) is an ARM processor.

scrantsj said:
Win 8 will be compatible with ARM processors.*
*Not official, but one of the demos of Win8 a few weeks ago was running on an ARM. Before you ask, the Tegra2 (and Tegra3) is an ARM processor.
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That could change everything then.

Android better get way better, way faster.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MnEndww2YQ&feature=player_embedded#t=0s
I am going to try to hold on to my G-Tablet until the Tegra 3 tablets are out. Should be able to put Win8 on it, maybe even dual boot Android.
I also saw a video somewhere of a Xoom running build 7955, and it ran really well. 1 ghz processor with 1 gb ram should be the system requirements for ARM and Tegra 2 chips. IOS is dead.

Honestly that ui looks like a windows phone to cartoony for me and childish. They really need to do something more innovative take ie9 for example just a down right copy of chrome ms is just worried about market share. Not to mention everything here lately from them has nothing but bloated kernels and fail coding.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA App

Quote
I am going to try to hold on to my G-Tablet until the Tegra 3 tablets are out. Should be able to put Win8 on it, maybe even dual boot Android.
I also saw a video somewhere of a Xoom running build 7955, and it ran really well. 1 ghz processor with 1 gb ram should be the system requirements for ARM and Tegra 2 chips. IOS is dead.
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speaking of dead... I saw a picture of Steve Jobs.. I didn't know he was gay.. I saw a pic of his 'man' having to hold him up as they took a picture of him... he looks like death.. so thin, looks so old... poor guy... well I guess Apple wasn't good to him after all...
IOS/SJ RIP together?

that could be possible that win 8 will run anywhere... the OS core is going to be cloud base, and while most devices run a java, or specialized VB, a simple modification to be able to get market share, why not? MS wants you... With the way WP7Mobile is, and how bad of a phone it is, MS has a bigger picture in mind... and they are a lion in waiting.... and with all ur data on a server that you may have to pay 4.95 (beginning charges on MS) Money is about to come back rolling in... and since cloud based... illegal apps are going to be difficult to run... just as they can turn off your development key in MS, they will be able to turn off your system from processing as they hold all the cards... so be ready... Apple is doing same for 2012. lets hope Android won't follow, although MS has a big stake in it... we shall see.

cmiuc said:
Quote
speaking of dead... I saw a picture of Steve Jobs.. I didn't know he was gay.. I saw a pic of his 'man' having to hold him up as they took a picture of him... he looks like death.. so thin, looks so old... poor guy... well I guess Apple wasn't good to him after all...
IOS/SJ RIP together?
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I give him two months - not a slant on the man, but when you step down as the CEO of the most profitable company in the world, there's a reason behind it. And given how he looked in June, I suspect that the cancer is back and he's terminal. I feel very bad for him, and for his family.
juntunen said:
Eh. Its a Mickeysoft product. Overpromise, Overhype, and Underwhelm. There are promised features from Vista that have yet to be developed and introduced. So I am not gonna hold my breath.
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Click to collapse
O O and U -- sounds like Android, to me.
I am looking forward to Windows 8, as I think both Google and Apple need a shot in the arm. My only concern is that MS has never done well in the mobile space. But they have surprised me with Windows 7 so maybe they can work their magic again.

Windows 8 Tablet Reach Developers Soon
Windows 8 tablet builds are rumored to be coming to developers as soon as this fall, so within the next 2-3 months, maybe even sooner. This means that a Windows 8 build is close to finish and Microsoft can expect to make a Windows 8 shipment sometime next summer in 2012. There is also a Microsoft Build event on September 13-16. The Anaheim California conference is focused on Windows hardware and software developers. Supposedly, it is expected to be Microsoft’s Windows 8 coming out party to get partners and OEM’s started on developing devices and apps for Windows 8.
Having said that, the issue for the tablet is not just performance but design. Apple junkies love the design, the apps, and the uniqueness of the product. It stands apart. While Microsoft may be able to make a competent and reliable product, can they make one that consumers will fall in love with?
The question comes up is what is the Quad Core processor that is supposed to run on tablets? That isn’t clear and running the tablet with a laptop processor wouldn’t be a good move since the battery life would be limited. Note, however, earlier this year three developers NVIDIA, Qualcomm, and Texas Instruments each announced quad-core mobile chips and announced that they’d arrive before the end of 2011. Nvidia is supposed to make an announcement soon about the state of a quad-core table. Nvidia, by the way, is an ARM chipmaker, which is the preferred Windows 8 OS chip of choice, (although x86 based chips will still be used).

Windows vs Android
cotangent05 said:
i wonder if this could run on Gtablet.. Lol. D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p92QfWOw88I&feature=player_embedded
amazing UI..
but i'm still loyal to android.. D its an OS WAR on 2012 ,
iOS 5, Google Icecream Android, Windows 8..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I love my gTablet (and other tablets) and Android is really slick, but Android is to Windows like a toasteroven to a double oven with range and griddle. Android is made for a few functions and to be really small and compact. Again I love my tablet but it doesn't really do what my netbook does with ease. On the other hand, my netbook isn't as convenient or as much fun as my tablet.
That said, if you put my netbook with a slick, capacitive touch screen and it could do all the things my netbook can do - then wow! That would be very nice.
---------- Post added at 08:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:41 PM ----------
Gilpinreid said:
Windows 8 tablet builds are rumored to be coming to developers as soon as this fall, so within the next 2-3 months, maybe even sooner. This means that a Windows 8 build is close to finish and Microsoft can expect to make a Windows 8 shipment sometime next summer in 2012. There is also a Microsoft Build event on September 13-16. The Anaheim California conference is focused on Windows hardware and software developers. Supposedly, it is expected to be Microsoft’s Windows 8 coming out party to get partners and OEM’s started on developing devices and apps for Windows 8.
Having said that, the issue for the tablet is not just performance but design. Apple junkies love the design, the apps, and the uniqueness of the product. It stands apart. While Microsoft may be able to make a competent and reliable product, can they make one that consumers will fall in love with?
The question comes up is what is the Quad Core processor that is supposed to run on tablets? That isn’t clear and running the tablet with a laptop processor wouldn’t be a good move since the battery life would be limited. Note, however, earlier this year three developers NVIDIA, Qualcomm, and Texas Instruments each announced quad-core mobile chips and announced that they’d arrive before the end of 2011. Nvidia is supposed to make an announcement soon about the state of a quad-core table. Nvidia, by the way, is an ARM chipmaker, which is the preferred Windows 8 OS chip of choice, (although x86 based chips will still be used).
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As far as power, I have to say my 160 GB netbook runs for over 6 hours on wifi and with pretty heavy use on a charge. The processor will/can be improved, I;m sure, but the biggest (and maybe only) issue is getting windows capabilities with a capacitive touch screen. The Atom at 1.6 is about the same capability as our Tegra2 at 1 - although I'm not sure about the video side of things.
If I were designing the new system I'd make it about the same size as the current netbooks with a keyboard that folds all the way behind kind of like the Pocket Edge, whenever you only wanted to use touch but could fold around like a netbook when you wanted to rest it on a counter or use the keyboard/trackstick.

Windows and mobile
I am looking forward to Windows 8, as I think both Google and Apple need a shot in the arm. My only concern is that MS has never done well in the mobile space. But they have surprised me with Windows 7 so maybe they can work their magic again.[/QUOTE]
I sure wouldn't want to counter anything you said as you're the king of the tablets as far as I can tell, but I think you're comment about MS (which is an opinion shared by many) is heavily influenced by very recent history I think. Up until the full blown development of the capacitive touch screen in the Apple phone Microsoft's Mobile OS was the preferred choice. I had an Axim 5 which did most everything we're talking about with tablets but with a lot less elegance and functionality. Microsoft was the first major manufacturer to advance touch screens in portable devices. I had a Fuji "tablet" computer years ago and it was pretty slick BUT it used a resistive touch screen which made touch features less than elegant.
What microsoft (and others) missed was the capacitive touch screen and how it changed the world. Apple had an early in to this technology since they first adopted it for their iPod controller wheel and that led to their incorporating it into the main display. Capacitive touch screens had been around a long time but they couldn't be controlled precisely until recently (can't remember the company who did it first but it was Apple's key supplier to iPod wheels). So in the blink of an eye the slickest Blackberry or windows smart phone looked crippled compared to the slick interface the multi-touch capacitive touch screen apple produced. Since then resistive screens have actually gotten pretty good, but the technology of choice is multi-touch capacitive.
I don't know if MS will do the Windows 8 with a trimmed down tablet version or not, or even if they do it, will they do it well. But, I do know they have many more engineers than Apple and a base kernel in Windows which is fabulous to build on. Heck if they just gave me that interface on my current netbook I would be thrilled.
Why Microsoft was so late to the mp3 player and why they let Mobile Windows falter is a mystery. I did have one MS engineer (proj mgr on Office at the time) told me they took their eye off the ball on mobile as they kind of looked to the entertainment (xBox) div to push that stuff and they just never got beyond game systems.
Microsoft also missed on the spreadsheet for many years and had a couple attempts which didn't cut it (multiplan was nifty but too hard to use) but when they came out with Excel they conquered. Same with Word. Same with console game boxes, and even to some extent with keyboards and mice and web cams.
You'd think I "liked" MS. I don't really. I much prefer Linux and the whole GPL scheme of things, but I give the devil her due. I use microsoft products every day and I have to say they do a terrific job. No other tech company I know of could match them on taking care of their past customers. That legacy in many ways has been a blessing and a curse. That said, I wouldn't count them out by any means and they will do very well in mobile/tablets when they embrace the touch interface. I'm not sure about phones. I've never really seen the vision of a phone-size computing device. To me a phone size is all about sync and media (photo, music, and light video media), and of course, phone. Tablet is your GPS, planner and organizer, newspaper and email, heavier duty mobile media consumption and phone (skype). Laptop is the primary working device to actually earn an income from, and the desktop is simply a legacy for all that stuff you still want to interface with and stream on your local network.
I think MS's mobile image was damaged quite a bit by them virtually abandoning Windows mobile, the low takeup of the Zune and the piling on of the apple community. That caused MS to go after a phone which was a disaster. In a nutshell there wasn't a failure of note until the iPhone in the middle of 2007 which has led (largely) to a remake of the MS image in this arena. They certainly deserve their lumps, but like you pointed out Win 7 was great and if they do get that interface they are showing on Win 8, watch they roar back in the mobile space.
I do wonder about another competing "app" development framework. It would have been nice to see that part of the interface somehow stick with the Android model. I'm sure MS will produce a free dev kit of some kind but that doesn't replace all the work for good developers to get up to speed.

sold out, but how many?

I see Microsoft reported on version of the surface sold out of pre order. initial estimates were 2-5 million units (including all the models) were on hand for pre order.
I'm curious if anyone has seen links to estimated numbers of sales of the sold out units. a million,100000, 10000?
haven't seen a big grinning "I told you so" mug from balmer yet... hmmm
post whatchafind here.

I'm sure that the stock they have made available online is nowhere near the number of units that they have actually produced for availability. The online stock was probably a small quantity. Of course, I'm sure we won't know much about numbers till after launch.
Don't forget they need to have units available to ship to other retailers and they need to have units to ship to their own stores. I think at this point, pre-ordering at a Microsoft Store is your best bet.

The number would be really small maybe even not an amount but a clever marketing person going after x amount of time we will display the cheapest version as out of stock! This then creates a panic in the wait and see crowd who then jump in and pre order the higher models. Basically I wouldn't believe anything you see till they produce numbers as this is the typical rubbish people pull. I mean isn't it amazing how EVERY xmas the current games consoles go out of stock only to all of a sudden have loads in the last couple of weeks??? They know that loads of people would want to wait and see but if they do then you don't get high first sales and you stall but if you make people think they might miss out its amazing how many people will jump at it.
That said I hope they have sold loads and cant wait to get mine, after an initial worry on pricing I have decided its worth it, after all you can run bluestacks for apps so that's now not a problem

lumpaywk said:
The number would be really small maybe even not an amount but a clever marketing person going after x amount of time we will display the cheapest version as out of stock! This then creates a panic in the wait and see crowd who then jump in and pre order the higher models. Basically I wouldn't believe anything you see till they produce numbers as this is the typical rubbish people pull. I mean isn't it amazing how EVERY xmas the current games consoles go out of stock only to all of a sudden have loads in the last couple of weeks??? They know that loads of people would want to wait and see but if they do then you don't get high first sales and you stall but if you make people think they might miss out its amazing how many people will jump at it.
That said I hope they have sold loads and cant wait to get mine, after an initial worry on pricing I have decided its worth it, after all you can run bluestacks for apps so that's now not a problem
Click to expand...
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BlueStacks is a regular desktop application - RT does not run desktop applications, unfortunately.

Valerianus said:
BlueStacks is a regular desktop application - RT does not run desktop applications, unfortunately.
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Please check this link http://bluestacks.com/technology/ You will see that there will be an ARM bluestacks for windows 8 launch (maybe a small wait).
"•Android on Windows (for ARM):
Run Android on Windows on ARM architectures starting with the Windows 8 release"

lumpaywk said:
The number would be really small maybe even not an amount but a clever marketing person going after x amount of time we will display the cheapest version as out of stock! This then creates a panic in the wait and see crowd who then jump in and pre order the higher models.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The trouble is that the higher models of the Surface are now on backorder too. Some people may not bother preordering, anymore.

Looks like the last week of October will be a fun week. All three of the Big Boys (APL, MSFT, GOOG) will be releasing new toys: iPad Mini, Surface RT, and rumored Nexus 10 by Samsung.
The Samsung Nexus 10 if true should be a beast. 2560x1600, likely Exynos 5 Dual (5250) based on Cortex-A15. Base pricing should be same as iPad. If so, we'd be looking at three 10"-ish tabs from the three platforms at the same $499 price.
Out of the three, Nexus 10 would win on hardware, iPad on software (apps). Doesn't look good for Surface RT, no matter how MS spins the "low-res is just as good as hi-res".

e.mote said:
Looks like the last week of October will be a fun week. All three of the Big Boys (APL, MSFT, GOOG) will be releasing new toys: iPad Mini, Surface RT, and rumored Nexus 10 by Samsung.
The Samsung Nexus 10 if true should be a beast. 2560x1600, likely Exynos 5 Dual (5250) based on Cortex-A15. Base pricing should be same as iPad. If so, we'd be looking at three 10"-ish tabs from the three platforms at the same $499 price.
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Meh... It's still just Android, only on a bigger, high-res screen, running smartphone apps... Double meh for iPad Mini and the same boring UI on a 7" screen...
Although, I do agree on the screen resolution. I don't understand why MS didn't specify at least a 1080 screen on the RT especially with Office pre-installed. Windows Phone 8 on a 4"-5" screen, Windows 8 RT on a 10" tablet, Windows 8 Pro on a 27" desktop, Xbox w/ kinect on a 50" TV and SmartGlass to connect them all... what more do you need?

>I don't understand why MS didn't specify at least a 1080 screen on the RT
I think it's because of a long development cycle. The Surface specs were probably finalized some time last year, when 1280x800 tablets (and the $499 price) were still the norm. The low-priced KFs and N7s didn't exist then.
BTW, here's a good read on Steven Sinofsky, the exec in charge of the whole Windows initiatives, including Surface. His rigid management style, as depicted in the piece, may be the underlying reason for Surface's current state.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57536905-75/steven-sinofsky-microsofts-controversial-mr-windows-8/

e.mote said:
>I don't understand why MS didn't specify at least a 1080 screen on the RT
I think it's because of a long development cycle. The Surface specs were probably finalized some time last year, when 1280x800 tablets (and the $499 price) were still the norm. The low-priced KFs and N7s didn't exist then.
BTW, here's a good read on Steven Sinofsky, the exec in charge of the whole Windows initiatives, including Surface. His rigid management style, as depicted in the piece, may be the underlying reason for Surface's current state.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57536905-75/steven-sinofsky-microsofts-controversial-mr-windows-8/
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I think also going with a higher res screen has its tradeoffs - requires more battery consumption(screen is the main factor in battery life) and smoothness of the OS. Isn't this an issue wit hthe Ipda3 vs the Iad 2 - I head battery was worse. My wife has a Nexus 7, and the great thing about it is the OS is snappy, partially because its only a 7 inch screen but running a quad core to drive it.
I know the screen display has become a big issue with Apple - But the Surface is at least better than the Ipad 2 (maybe not the Ipad 3) but again, aren't we all getting caught up in specs without knowing implementation and real world use. Its funny how Apple is focusing on how their screen is better, but they are still running a dual core processor, and fall short in so many other areas including usb, micro SD. But one thing I am curious about is implementation of USB devices on RT - how compatible will it be considering there may not be drivers for everything.
I do agree with MS that resolution alone isn't everything - Contrast has a lot to do with it. I am still running a 2005 50" Panasonic plasma at home that is only 720p but I have to tell you it looks just as good as some cheap 1080ps I have seen lately. There's the same argument when it comes to megapixel counts on camers with cheap CMOS (More is not always better).
We have to remember we are also just talking about a 10" screen.
I have my 64gb Surface with touch cover on orderand will have on or before 26th (Ordered it before the backorder came on). I Am curious what the return policy is for Microsoft Online store if this thing turns out to be a dud after all.

>I know the screen display has become a big issue with Apple - But the Surface is at least better than the Ipad 2 (maybe not the Ipad 3)
This is PR spin coming out of MS. Nobody knows how Surface RT fares in a head-to-head match against iPad 2/3, because MS still hasn't let anyone review it. May be the spin is right, and may be not, but I'd rather hear it from a less biased source.
Anyway, the spin falls apart when one considers that MS is pricing the RT against iPad 3 (actually higher than the 3), not the 2.
>aren't we all getting caught up in specs without knowing implementation and real world use
Sure, geeks tend to obsess with specs. Regular Joes care about other things, like screen image, size/weight/style, brand, price, and apps. RT loses in most if not all these categories.
>Its funny how Apple is focusing on how their screen is better, but they are still running a dual core processor, and fall short in so many other areas including usb, micro SD.
I thought we weren't going to talk about specs. About that, you do realize that the Teg3 used in Surface RT is a year-old design that's now used in the $200 Nexus 7, right? You also realize that the Exynos 5 dual blows away the Teg3 quad, right?
>I do agree with MS that resolution alone isn't everything - Contrast has a lot to do with it.
Here's a counterpoint: If low-res is just as good as high-res, then why not put the same low-res on Surface Pro?
Yes, the PPI thing is partly a marketing thing, just as was the megahertz war of yore. Part of it confers real benefits, part of it is hype. But understand that MS is pooh-pooh'ing high-res display because its own product use dated components. Surface RT has 2011 parts, and MS simply didn't keep up with the fast pace of advancing technology.
>I Am curious what the return policy is for Microsoft Online store if this thing turns out to be a dud after all.
http://google.com/search?q=microsoft+store+return+policy

e.mote said:
>I know the screen display has become a big issue with Apple - But the Surface is at least better than the Ipad 2 (maybe not the Ipad 3)
This is PR spin coming out of MS. Nobody knows how Surface RT fares in a head-to-head match against iPad 2/3, because MS still hasn't let anyone review it. May be the spin is right, and may be not, but I'd rather hear it from a less biased source.
Anyway, the spin falls apart when one considers that MS is pricing the RT against iPad 3 (actually higher than the 3), not the 2.
>aren't we all getting caught up in specs without knowing implementation and real world use
Sure, geeks tend to obsess with specs. Regular Joes care about other things, like screen image, size/weight/style, brand, price, and apps. RT loses in most if not all these categories.
>Its funny how Apple is focusing on how their screen is better, but they are still running a dual core processor, and fall short in so many other areas including usb, micro SD.
I thought we weren't going to talk about specs. About that, you do realize that the Teg3 used in Surface RT is a year-old design that's now used in the $200 Nexus 7, right? You also realize that the Exynos 5 dual blows away the Teg3 quad, right?
>I do agree with MS that resolution alone isn't everything - Contrast has a lot to do with it.
Here's a counterpoint: If low-res is just as good as high-res, then why not put the same low-res on Surface Pro?
Yes, the PPI thing is partly a marketing thing, just as was the megahertz war of yore. Part of it confers real benefits, part of it is hype. But understand that MS is pooh-pooh'ing high-res display because its own product use dated components. Surface RT has 2011 parts, and MS simply didn't keep up with the fast pace of advancing technology.
>I Am curious what the return policy is for Microsoft Online store if this thing turns out to be a dud after all.
http://google.com/search?q=microsoft+store+return+policy
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Click to collapse
Regarding return policy - I guess I was looking for a more real world understanding from someone. Had previously read the official, and it basically says that if its a computer, which it is, and it has been opened, then they won't take it back. So basically we are all screwed if we don't like this thing after opening it and bought it from Microsoft online.
not a very good return policy.

Nobody really knows about MS return policy, because this is the first time MS is selling a whole computer (as opposed to just peripherals). I think your best bet is to phone or go to a MS store and get the low-down on Oct 26.
Really, if you're unsure, just don't get RT on launch day. Wait for reviews, and to see what other choices are there. There'll be lots. Personally, I think once Clovertrail tabs show up at $499, that'll be the best option for Win users who want regular Windows on a tablet.
BTW, news peeps who went to the MS Surface "Hardware R Us" shindig have all gotten a Surface RT unit for review, and NDA should be lifted today (Tues Oct 23), so we should have a better idea of what Win RT is shortly.

e.mote said:
Really, if you're unsure, just don't get RT on launch day. Wait for reviews, and to see what other choices are there. There'll be lots. Personally, I think once Clovertrail tabs show up at $499, that'll be the best option for Win users who want regular Windows on a tablet.
.
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Or AMD-Z60 as it should be cheaper has more graphics ability (run call of duty at 30fps) and has better support for bluestacks. That said it uses more power gets hotter and needs more airflow.

Now that NDA is lifted, looks like the first Surface RT review is up. Unsurprising verdict: Still too many unknowns.
http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/23/microsoft-surface-rt-review/

Galaxy note 10.1 or Asus Vivotab Smart

They are different operating systems i know and cant be compared. but I'm hesitant for any of these tablets. I love android and this would be my third tablet (actually only keep one, earlier donated it to my family). But my problem is android tablet-specific applications, many of which are stretched versions of the phone or simply lack of design. Applications for Windows 8 RT are few but all are focused on tablet but there are 50% decent that look great and really tablet friendly. Android for me was the customization and power to get ROMS but lately I see that IOS or Windows already have apps that do the same, maybe not at the same level but they do. And customization is getting really stall because every os is adding stuff that ROMs have. I know that many reviewers wont recommend Windows RT but the vivotab comes with windows 8 +RT and cost the same as the galaxy note 10.1 also it has 5 touch point and the s-pen ( i think every windows tablet comes with the s-pen) . I just want to know if anyone with the note 10.1 like the windows 8 tablet or find it more productive . Im not starting a fight about OS but i want to know how people feel about both tablets for work related aplication.Sorry about my english feel free to correct me. thank you

I start by saying that this is just me and my opinion only obviously. Windows is for "windows people" which is to say they want to turn it on,have it work and fancy it up with the options Windows gives them. It can only be customized so far. Now that's not to say it's less productive by any means. I've checked out their foray into tablets and it only reminds me of everything else they do, which I don't like. I stopped using Windows as a main OS long ago. If I do use it, it's a VB and even that is extremely limited.
As far as a comparison goes, most tablets are useful for your basic needs and even limited professional needs. I just happen to prefer open source stuff.
I hate Samsung phones, hate them. I actually debated for a long time before I bought this tablet because of my "Samsung bias" and almost went with a Windows unit. In the end I felt this tablet suited my needs more and was more "me" if that Mae's any sense.
The best advice I can give is test them both out and then test them again, and then again. I did and I don't regret my purchase for one second. Maybe this helps you,maybe not but either way best of luck with your decision.

insanecrane said:
The best advice I can give is test them both out and then test them again, and then again. I did and I don't regret my purchase for one second. Maybe this helps you,maybe not but either way best of luck with your decision.
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I love android tablet too and agree that maybe tablets will not replace a desktop PC for productivity, but i find myself in time to upgrade
i bought the motorola xoom on day one and it was 7 months of hell using honeycomb (im sure windows RT users will know that by now but im more interested in a windows 8 tablet which is the vivotab smart and apps that work for windows 8 will work here.
im not trying in anyway to change peoples mind about galaxy note 10.1 but i would like to hear someone who have touched a windows 8 tab and tell me if its a good buy or will it not replace android any day. I have not seen any windows 8 review that is honest and not try to compare android/IOS/windows

First and foremost, you are right. Windows RT and Android are different.
Also, both form factors are different as well.
I usually recommend the Note 10.1 over its performance and S-Pen, but only for people who would actually use it. If you take lots of notes, or need to make a quick sketch, or if you are a student, even if you work woth a lot of papers and you need an all-in-one productivity tool, note taking board and Internet device, with all the extras that a powerful configuration has to offer, the Note 10.1 is the one to go for.
If what you need is a fast, Internet surfing machine, basic stuff like searching e-mail, social feeds, playing a game or two and use all that in a simple, modern, clean interface, go for the Vivotab. You also get Office suite, which is good for some in some cases.
I have used a Note 10.1 and a Samsung ATIV SmartPC Pro, and I must say, even though both tablets have S-Pen, (and God that Ativ hybrid is gorgeous), I still prefer the Note. It's up to you and your personal choice. I bought the Note anyways because it was that "finally-device" for my first true Android tablet. Even if some reviews were messed up (drunk reviewers? Jokes).
At the end of the day, I always knew I wanted this tablet as soon as it was announced. It's great for me as a student and as a worker as well. It's a great, efficient and powerful companion that never lets me down. But if you prefer keyboard+simple usage+office, go for the vivotab.
Sent from my GT-N8000 using Tapatalk HD

I love windows. I'm a windows guy. I can take apart, put together, overclock, underclock, bypass, or anything on earth I want to do with any windows based machine. That said windows RT is not my favorite. Surface with windows pro will be out soon so if your going windows on a tablet id wait for that one. Full pc capabilities. Your not gonna be flash restricted in a year and then there's silverlight as well.
BUT, on a tablet you may also want to consider windows tablets have much less battery life, are ram restrictive, in the growing stage so apps are limited, weigh a lot more, are not as community supported as android, the new one's scheduled for release this year with full windows are running i5 which is awesome but comes at a price. Noise. Lots of noise. Those cpu get hot so must be fan cooled, noise noise noise. Android? Blessed silence. Heat. Anyone whos ever held a laptop knows about the hot spots. If you have a fan there will be a hot spot and the back is likely to get warm as well.
Overall, though im admittedly a windows lover, I choose android on a tablet. And I wont speak about apple as I hate their business model with a purple passion.

Well, i am an Android guy, but thats about phones. On a tablet, I think Asus Vivotab Smart is a good choice. Mine will be shipped tomorrow. It is a Cloverfield tablet, so it runs full blown W8. Apps are no problem here. Battery life is ok due to the low power 2760 cpu, which outperforms tegra 3 and Kraits. And it is affordable. I got mine for less than 500 Euro. So it might worth take a look.

jerses said:
They are different operating systems i know and cant be compared. but I'm hesitant for any of these tablets. I love android and this would be my third tablet (actually only keep one, earlier donated it to my family). But my problem is android tablet-specific applications, many of which are stretched versions of the phone or simply lack of design. Applications for Windows 8 RT are few but all are focused on tablet but there are 50% decent that look great and really tablet friendly. Android for me was the customization and power to get ROMS but lately I see that IOS or Windows already have apps that do the same, maybe not at the same level but they do. And customization is getting really stall because every os is adding stuff that ROMs have. I know that many reviewers wont recommend Windows RT but the vivotab comes with windows 8 +RT and cost the same as the galaxy note 10.1 also it has 5 touch point and the s-pen ( i think every windows tablet comes with the s-pen) . I just want to know if anyone with the note 10.1 like the windows 8 tablet or find it more productive . Im not starting a fight about OS but i want to know how people feel about both tablets for work related aplication.Sorry about my english feel free to correct me. thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Jerses,
I've had the Asus VivoTab Smart for about a week now, and so far it's been great. I've loaded Office 2010 Pro onto the device and haven't noticed any lag in load times etc. Having a full version of Word, Excel and OneNote are a must for me, and this tablet fits the bill nicely (it's also the cheapest over here in NZ). I did think I'd need Outlook as well, but I'm finding the built in Mail app works fine - it's nice and fast for reading email on the go, displays HTML email fine, and needs nearly all my needs. I do refer to Outlook for some of the heavy lifting (scheduling meetings etc).
I mainly use for work, so haven't used video or music much.
this table doesn't have a stylus (as noted before) - but you can use one of those 'generic' stylus (like the ones for the iPad) which work fine. I personally think Windows tablet developers are missing a trick here, the Windows handwriting recoginition is out of this world - it reads my scrawl better than I do.
Overall, for an easy to use, not much customisation needed, tablet - I'd highly reccomend this one.
KD.

I leaned a lot for the Galaxy Note stylus 10.01 but there are not many applications for android that support this pen ... I imagine that in the future things may change but by then it will be time to update my tablet back.
I did some research on the stylus you say and there are very good choices, from typical sausage tip, a fine-point stylus (Adonith jot) to one that emulates an S-PEN, same functions to nullify the palm (jot Touch) and pressure sensitive. The latter is ipad but no doubt that technology pass android or windows 8.
I feel bad for leaving behind android, I actually really like the OS but I feel still very green to the world of tablets and that some apps feel more like they where made for a 7" tablet. Also im kind of scared of this seen how bad apps (Phone/Tablet) look on the nexus 10... i think that proves that having one app fits all is not going to work in near future.
So I think I opt for the smart vivotab think android will live in me .... maybe as BlueStacks or dualboot lol

I really prefer android over apple for both phones and tablets (own apple and android in both). I can't speak intelligently about windows 8. I can say this as a first time android Note 10.1 tablet owner - I bought 2 of these for my 6th & 4th grade kids since they wanted apps (games mostly) and I wanted them to be able to do their homework for school (light use of "word and excel"). Overall the notes are a great single quiver solution and we are all extremely happy with them. But, I have to say if my kids were in High school or college I think the challenges we have in some instances with printing and converting polaris office files to word and excel I would absolutely take a hard look at a Windows pro tablet or even laptop. Maybe it isn't fair since we've only had our Notes for 4 weeks but printing anything not portrait is a chore and coming from a strong Word and Excel background leaves me wishing Polaris Office had a lot more capability.

i'd actually love to get a win 8 tab (not rt). no rooting, no waiting on updates from mfg's and running any windows program. what i do hate is the 16:9 screen ratio. it's just too elongated for me.

I was really keen on getting a Surface, but in the end I decided on the Note. It actually came down to one main point, I can't type on the Surface in portrait mode. I loved the integrated keyboard and cover of the Surface and lamented that something similar wasn't available for the Note. I bought a BT keyboard with a stand so I can have the Note in either landscape or portrait depending on my needs, as soon as I can find one that integrates with the Note as a cover I will buy that.
Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk HD

Just for some clarification, the VivoTab Smart seems to run full Windows 8, not RT (it has an Intel Atom (x86) processor). Won't be nearly as locked down as RT, and might be decent if you rely on some Windows apps.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=38329609&postcount=11

Don't forget you can run android on x86 machine. You can dual boot android and windows 8 on the asus vivatab smart.
Nothing beat having a standard keyboard on the screen with all the copy/paste ctrl alt characters and shortcut up/down/left/right buttons etc you have on a standard windows. windows 8 has everything you need for a tablet and more more more more. the asus at 499$ worth any peny believe me. maj-left or right to select ... the end of the tablet copy/paste nightmare on phones and tablets.

I'm in the market for a new tablet as well. I have a Motorola Xoom and while it served it's purpose, it didn't quite cut it as a tablet for me. Why? Well first of all, the performance just isn't very good. I've installed several roms on it and it just gets very laggy and unresponsive after a while. The second thing is the weight. I can't comfortably use it as an e-book reader in bed, which is a big want for me.
I went to Best Buy and played around with a few tablets and was really impressed by the Asus Vivo Tab. It was light, very responsive, and after watching a few HD videos on it and playing with it a while, it never got warm. My bit drawbacks for it are first and foremost, it's running Windows 8, which is good and bad. The good is that it'll run native x86 apps, the bad is that it's Windows 8. Will I need to instal Antivirus on it? Can I anticipate BSOD? Not that you can't get lock ups on Android, I've had plenty on my Xoom. Finally, I've read it's useless for all but the most basic gaming (think Angry Birds). I don't game on my tablet at all but my son does.. but then again, he has my old iphone to game on so gaming's not a big deal.
I'm wondering how Bluestacks runs on it though. Anyone tried running Bluestacks on one of these?

Help me decide which tablet
Hi guys
Please help me to decide which tablet to buy. I have been looking at both the Asus VivoTab and the Samsung Galaxy Note. I am not at all tech savvy so must of what you talk about goes right over my head. I want a tablet to take overseas with me. I want to watch movies, surf the net, catch up on my emails, read a book and play the occasional game.
Just give me a really quick idea of which one will suit my needs.
Thanks

They both suit your needs, you only have to ask yourself if you prefer to work with pen or keyboard.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk HD

Kumabjorn said:
They both suit your needs, you only have to ask yourself if you prefer to work with pen or keyboard.
Sent from my GT-N8010 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that really the only diference? I have been going mad looking at all the specs etc.. Is one easier to use than the other? All help gratefully accepted.
Thanks

Other differences won't really make a dent in your intended usage. Ease of use will be more important than any technical discrepancies.
Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk HD

Kumabjorn said:
Other differences won't really make a dent in your intended usage. Ease of use will be more important than any technical discrepancies.
Sent from my GT-P3113 using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My husband and I went out this morning to have a good look at both units and at this stage I am pretty sure that we are going to go with the Samsung.
Thanks for all the input.

Buying advice: Surface RT

Hi,
I'm in the market for a new tablet and I am thinking to buy a Microsoft Surface RT (the 1st gen). My biggest concern regarding this tablet is the problem with the lag that I've heard people complaining about. I've tried to find if this problem has been fixed with the update to Windows RT 8.1, but without much success. Do you guys have any feedback?
My budget is around 300 euros and I've been looking at Surface tablets and the Google Nexus 10, which is currently on discount. I think I would like the Surface more, but the potential issues with the lag have made me reconsider a bit.
What I plan to use the tablet for:
- Web browsing
- Reading
- Movies (is the surface able to handle 1080p? i might connect it to a tv)
- Some light document editing (this is where the Surface would be really handy)
I'm not interested too much in the app ecosystem (Android vs MS Store), so I wouldn't see that as a disadvantage when compared to the Nexus.
Thanks!
PS: Sorry if I've posted this in the wrong place.

dark_master said:
Hi,
I'm in the market for a new tablet and I am thinking to buy a Microsoft Surface RT (the 1st gen). My biggest concern regarding this tablet is the problem with the lag that I've heard people complaining about. I've tried to find if this problem has been fixed with the update to Windows RT 8.1, but without much success. Do you guys have any feedback?
My budget is around 300 euros and I've been looking at Surface tablets and the Google Nexus 10, which is currently on discount. I think I would like the Surface more, but the potential issues with the lag have made me reconsider a bit.
What I plan to use the tablet for:
- Web browsing
- Reading
- Movies (is the surface able to handle 1080p? i might connect it to a tv)
- Some light document editing (this is where the Surface would be really handy)
I'm not interested too much in the app ecosystem (Android vs MS Store), so I wouldn't see that as a disadvantage when compared to the Nexus.
Thanks!
PS: Sorry if I've posted this in the wrong place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try and save up to buy the Pro 2 Version because you will get let down buy the RT 2, it is sooooo limited
You will fall in love with it but be disappointed, like a beautiful woman who can only cook one sort of food.. Lamb and Smash are a while you will want the full meal..
I love the Surface but hate the way I got robbed by their MS Surface RT 2.
I want more..

dark_master said:
Hi,
What I plan to use the tablet for:
- Web browsing
- Reading
- Movies (is the surface able to handle 1080p? i might connect it to a tv)
- Some light document editing (this is where the Surface would be really handy)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The RT will be more than able to handle this work, and then some. IE 10 (or IE 11 with Windows 8.1) are nicely-capable and standards-compliant browsers. The only lag that I ever notice here is when I visit a web site that is thick with awful Flash crap (usually ads). I found that this problem was significantly reduced after I turned on ad blocking as described in the Tricks and Tips thread.
As far as reading goes, there is a Kindle app that works nicely for any Kindle books that you own. The built-in Reader app will give you access to document formats like PDF; although, for my money it is limited. The App Store has some more capable alternatives. I find that I really enjoy using the Surface in Portrait mode for reading, as I can see a lot of text at one time.
Movies-wise, there is an excellent Netflix app and Hulu Plus. If you are wanting to watch DVD rips, you'll find that the built-in video app does have a frustratingly-limited selection of formats that it supports. If this is a major concern for you, take some of the media that you want to play on a microSD card to a store that sells RTs and try them out first.
The Surface comes with Office 2013 Home and Student edition, so that will take care of your Word, Excel, PowerPoint editing needs. There are also several free apps that provide excellent choices for general text-editing.

I have a Surface RT, I also have a Surface Pro, the Surface Pro has replaced my Desktop, but I still use my RT for many things and for your money you cannot go wrong, I have/had a Samsung 10.1 tablet, the wife has it now, I just could not go back to it after I got the RT, go for it, you will not be sorry, lag ?, what lag.

I have a Surface RT 32GB which I bought for £160. This thing has replaced my Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 ed. and feels much faster. It feels faster than my old Asus Transformer which used the same chipset. I use this more than my laptop which is I5 with 4GB RAM (HP Envy Spectre). But it won't replace my desktop. So yeah there is no lag. And all the apps you ever need are all on the Windows store like VLC and so on. Definitely a good purchase would recommend. Mine is 32GB (14GB User Available) so would recommend a 64 as I have to use a USB for my movies
Sent from my HTC One using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Thanks for your replies. If you google surface reviews, in many many of them you see people complaining that the tablet is sluggish. In addition, I've seen videos of 1080p movies having quite a bit of lag, which is why I was concerned.
Would it be better to try and get a Surface 2? From my point of view it doesn't make sense since you get almost the same experience. It's still Windows RT, you just get better performance and a better screen. I'm not sure that's worth an extra 150-200 euros. I'm not really interested in the Surface pro because it's too expensive. The 1st gen might be cheaper, but the battery life is quite bad and I don't want to carry around a charger all the time.
For those of you who upgraded from RT 8 to RT 8.1, was it a noticeable improvement in terms of performance?

dark_master said:
Thanks for your replies. If you google surface reviews, in many many of them you see people complaining that the tablet is sluggish. In addition, I've seen videos of 1080p movies having quite a bit of lag, which is why I was concerned.
Would it be better to try and get a Surface 2? From my point of view it doesn't make sense since you get almost the same experience. It's still Windows RT, you just get better performance and a better screen. I'm not sure that's worth an extra 150-200 euros. I'm not really interested in the Surface pro because it's too expensive. The 1st gen might be cheaper, but the battery life is quite bad and I don't want to carry around a charger all the time.
For those of you who upgraded from RT 8 to RT 8.1, was it a noticeable improvement in terms of performance?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The list of improvements with the 8.1 update that I have noticed in my surface rt
1. better performance and frame rate in the modern UI
2. Easier navigation for the modern UI
3. New apps became compatible
4. Office feels more fluid
5. Bugs with WiFi performance has gone
6. Better battery life about 8–9 hrs
7. Faster start up
8. Windows store delay bug vanished .
The only con is that no jail break yet for 8
After i got my surface rt, my laptop is collecting dust , along with my android tablets
I'm a teacher and I use office heavily... this thing is enough' for me , and I have the piece of mind I was missing with conventional windows , regarding malware and such...

dark_master said:
Thanks for your replies. If you google surface reviews, in many many of them you see people complaining that the tablet is sluggish. In addition, I've seen videos of 1080p movies having quite a bit of lag, which is why I was concerned.
Would it be better to try and get a Surface 2? From my point of view it doesn't make sense since you get almost the same experience. It's still Windows RT, you just get better performance and a better screen. I'm not sure that's worth an extra 150-200 euros. I'm not really interested in the Surface pro because it's too expensive. The 1st gen might be cheaper, but the battery life is quite bad and I don't want to carry around a charger all the time.
For those of you who upgraded from RT 8 to RT 8.1, was it a noticeable improvement in terms of performance?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well firstly Surface RT isn't 1080 so that could be the problem. I am watching 720p videos and it plays them perfectly. No stutter at all.
The battery life is amazing on this. I'm an Android fanboy so I'd love to slate Microsoft but the battery life on this is very good, lasts for ages. I charge it once every two days, because after one day usage it still has juice and I'm watching movies, heavy internet browsing and so on
Sent from my HTC One using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

bottom line
Buying advice ..bottom line
Don't believe reviews on the net .. this tablet is good
Surface 2 has the advantages in gaming and dual position kick stand ,, as a teacher I don't care about that
Touch cover is terrific
First gen surface rt became stable and good for the money just go for it ...
Who told you that battery life is bad ,, or there is lag ? This is not true man .. just to be on the safe side ,, do a complete reset in the recovery before updating to the new 81 ..and it will take time maybe full day

Go for it : Microsoft Surface RT
Don’t worry just go for the tablet, my friend bought it and he told me that it has a
USB ports and also expandable memory and believe me I have never seen him charging it as it has a long battery life. He says that it provides the best of reading and typing experience to its user. It is very light and one the MOST POPULAR iOS and android app in the market. Hope so it helped.

As said the RT is only 720p but it is fine for looking at movies but the Surface 2 has a better screen but just don't believe what people say about the lag on it. You can make it a fantastic piece of kit with just a few adjustments which I found on here and other sites.
The Surface 2 can take advantage of the same adjustments which makes it even faster again.
I had a Nexus 7 (2013) and the RT is faster than that ever was plus I don't have the Google [email protected] and the battery for me lasts between 10 and 13 hours.

Pros:
Metal casing makes it feel premium and durable.
The screen is bright and the colors are vivid even with auto brightness turned on.
Unlike most of the tablets it has a full usb 2.0 port so you don`t need an otg cable.
If you get a (touch) cover you will not need a tablet case.
Kickstand.
Charger does not rely on usb. That means faster charging and longer charger cable.
Cons:
Its heavy because of the metal casing.
The cameras are pure garbage for taking photos. However they are super fine for skype and 720p(and 800p) videos.
The touch cover sometimes misses keystrokes(maybe I need to push it harder?).
The SoC is old (from 2012) so some apps and future updates might not run super smooth.
If you are interested in running anything else other than windows Secure Boot will say nope.
The Surface runs on windows RT which means no desktop applications (not because you are not able to, because microsoft said nope, see windows RT jailbreak) except for ms office, basic windows utilities (minus media player) and IE.However you can get all the apps from the Windows Store (well not all just the arm compatible ones, see VLC). It has reached a hundred thousand apps, some of them are very useful.
Windows RT is certainly closer to a real operating system than iOS or Android. Windows Explorer is an excellent file manager and IE is a desktop browser, so you will always get the full featured website (and not the mobile optimized one).It also has full Flash support out of the box!
Unless you only run ms office and browse the web with your desktop/main computer surface rt will NOT replace your desktop. Even jailbroken will still run very few (though useful) desktop applications.
Windows RT IS Windows but microsoft decided they needed to have absolute control over what is running on it. If they had it open I am sure many applications would have been ported on arm (just as many did on 64bit, its just a matter of compilation). That lockdown is the reason windows on arm never really succeeded(and why the 600 dollar surface came down to 150 with the touch cover...). WinRT(Windows RunTime not the os) is very limited and runs on a sandbox so dont expect any functionality near the one of the classic windows applications (or some android ones) on Windows Store Apps.
Overall I would recommend Asus T100A or some of the Bay Trail tablets that will run everything your laptop or desktop does and have better performance compared to Tegra 3( its equal to Tegra 4 or Snapdragon 800). However you will get worse battery life compared to the arm processors(6-8 hrs atom vs 10-12hrs on arm) and sometimes worse build quality for the same price.
If you are happy with what you can do with ms office and IE on the windows desktop then go for it. Its an excellent tablet with a keyboard on a good price.
If you want to run some of the popular windows tools (Visual Studio, Notepad ++, Sublime Text, 7 Zip, Vlc, Chrome etc...) then you need a bay trail tab.
Personally I thought I could work with Surface RT but after a week of using it on 8.1 I downgraded on RT to get the jailbreak. I use it a lot more than my android tab( nexus 7), but still after a month of usage I feel it is awfully limited.

It seems that you guys have convinced me to go for the surface. There was a good deal this weekend for the Nexus 10, but decided that it's better to get what i like .
Anyway, would it be better to get a new surface rt or a second hand surface 2? I've found a guy who has one for sale with 3 month warranty on it (about 9 months old), but he does not have the receipt. Do you know if you need it in case of any issues?

You can take it to a MS store for service no problem. If you don't have one nearby though... not sure. I *think* they won't care (use the serial number to track it, maybe?) but I can't swear it.

[Q] Surface 2 worth to buy now?

A little disappointed not seeing a new surface with Tegra K1 or mini sized model.
That's why I am thinking to buy Surface 2. I want a tablet with the full functioned Office and I can check and edit documents easily outside. Is it still worth to buy a Windows RT tablets right now? Do you guys think Microsoft is still developing Windows RT?
Can someone who have Surface 2 share you experiences? :fingers-crossed:

My honest opinion, not worth it. I honestly don't think RT is around to stay and some of the atom tablets manage to get to similar enough price points yet run full windows 8.1.

SixSixSevenSeven said:
My honest opinion, not worth it. I honestly don't think RT is around to stay and some of the atom tablets manage to get to similar enough price points yet run full windows 8.1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what i think too. I really hope Microsoft would bring out a surface-liked, atom equipped, 10.1 inch Windows 8.1 tablet in the future

I have a Surface RT, I mostly use it for watching episodes of shows, school work, and emails. For basic usage it's fine with 8.1 RT, M$ still does windows updates to fix whatever.
The surface 2 Pro & SP3 both have the same i5 Haswell that's about 1yr old now. I honestly don't see why the SP3 didn't wait for Broadwell...
Transmitted From Burning Gundam

For me, the lack of a published jailbreak for RT 8.1 would be a deal-breaker on the Surface 2. Hopefully that will change as I believe a jailbreak is still in the works, but I wouldn't bet on it anymore when x86 devices are at or near the same price point. If you don't care about running desktop software other than office, and find a really good deal on a Surface 2, then it might still be worth it. I really like the Surface hardware and form factor, just Windows RT is somewhat disappointing out of the box. I've had my Surface RT and type cover for a bit over a year now and it is a really useful device.

I have a Surface 2 for about 7 months now and I still love it! Love it much more than any Android or iPad tablet. It's very good in terms of performance and the kickstand is just amazing! I love the 16:9 form factor because I always use my tablet in landscape (On a table or most of the time on my chest when I am in bed ) Internet Explorer 11 is amazing, much better than Chrome or Safari are except for one annoying bug that is when I try to go back to a page it takes almost forever to load it again! (Microsoft if you are reading this, please fix this bug, it's very very annoying). I love watching movies in there as well and the design is fantastic! But yours movies will have to be mp4 as there aren't AFAIK any good free mkv players (VLC team if you are reading this, we are still waiting for VLC in ARM!!! Please do it!!!)
Battery life is not very good when you use it for web browsing (about 6, 6.5 hours) but for watching movies it's very good! If you want for Office though, keep in mind that the Office RT version doesn't have VBA...
I love the virtual keyboard, it's really really responsive, never failed me...
And there is a USB socket where I can plug my pen drive with my movies and it's really a very good thing to have and you'll never have that in a iPad.
The cameras are ok, not the best but also not the worst. The front is good enough for skype calls.
The audio could be a little better though with speakers on front instead of sides, maybe for surface 3.
And another thing, there are still missing a lot of apps in the store. And the charger is a little tricky to get it plugged in.
I think Microsoft might have a killer tablet Windows RT tablet if they have:
- Have the speakers on the front
- Have a better GPU (Tegra K1 )
- Have a little bit more bright in the screen and a 12 inch screen like Surface 3
- Improve the battery life for web browsing
- Fix the increasingly annoying bug in the Internet Explorer 11 back button.
The dream is to get a Surface Pro 3 with all this. I believe what's really missing in Surface Pro 3 right now is a really powerful GPU to play games. When Microsoft makes that, then the game is over for every other tablet!! Imagine able to play Watch Dogs at a decent framerate/quality everywhere!! Just plug in a mouse, a keyboard or maybe a 360 controller and you are done.

I'm set to get the Surface 2 in a few weeks coming from Japan, as Microsoft have rare distributors around, with my region having only one who overprice by over $200 to $300 for the Surface Pro series. They absolutely don't carry the Surface 2.
The Surface Pro are really expensive, and I have a powerful but heavy Alienware laptop to do heavier loads for 3D rendering when I need to. So, the Surface 2 comes to mind for my masters thesis writing needs with a great keyboard cover and lighter to carry around.
I'm a heavy Galaxy Note user, was really tempted to get the Note 10.1, or the 12.2. My decision for choosing the Surface 2 instead were:
1. That wonderful built-in kickstand. I don't like leather covers.
2. Fantastic Type Cover 2 for my fast typing and with backlighting.
3. 200GB of OneDrive for 2 freaking years!
4. Full Office.
5. Snappy OS, with practically no viruses I've heard of.
6. Half the price compared to the Pro series, and I'm getting the 64GB version, all within $700 with the Type Cover 2.
7. Full connectivity with USB 3.0, Wifi, Bluetooth, miracasting, and HDMI for extended screen at home.
8. A promising RT future - I know people doubt RT is ever getting the pickup it truly deserves and the news that MS is going to merge RT and WinPhone into one is something. I do not need Instagram, or any of those games most are playing. I mean to see this as my writing and reading tool.
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