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How is the Microsoft Surface?

Hello all
I am the owner of the Nexus 7 and i'm thinking to get the Microsoft Surface RT. I heard it was a lot laggy but these sources last from November 2012 and I guess Microsoft had the time to update and fix a lot of bugs.
So, how is as today the Microsoft Surface RT? Still laggy? Are there case where it always lags? Are games running smooth? Is Microsoft Office running smooth by now? Is the slow typing issue fixed? I want to know everything
Comparing to a Nexus 7, which will I find smoother? Which will I find best for games?
PS: I don't really play games but it tells more about specs
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

For the most part it is fixed. You may get lag in PowerPoint and ink in word. Other than that... Smooth.
Sent from my Evo V 4G using XDA Premium HD app

mines fine, but I am having a replacement.... (all cosmetic damage)
Performance; fast, no lag, smooth gaming(what ever games you can find)
Design; the magnesium case makes the surface amazing to the touch, it feels solid yet light.
it gives you confidence for when you drop it. Kickstand is brilliant (mine is still attached)
All The Good Stuff;
the surface has expandable memory(supports up to 64GB Class 10 SD)
battery life is acceptable(about 8 hours give or take - depending on what your doing)
kickstand (not adjustable)
type cover (I've had a few problems with this, but all have been replaced for free)
Not All Good;
speakers (but they can be made louder in settings)
crappy app selection (a few xbox games)
standard screen
heavy ( a little heavier than ipad)
glitches in the OS
type cover is hard to use
Hope I helped a little, things maybe added to the list!

I haven't found lag to be a problem in general when running native apps (emulated x86 is a different story, although even there most apps that work at all work pretty well). Both tablets use the same CPU/GPU and have the same RAM, so performance of the hardware is nearly a wash (the Surface RT has marginally higher resolution than the Nexus 7, which will probably have a trivial impact). Games that I've played on it run smoothly, if not necessarily at *very* high framerates. I can't compare it to the Nexus 7 as I haven't spent enough time using one, but performance is not a problem for me either gaming or browsing the web. The email client used to be laggy as hell; that's now much better. I've actually done a non-trivial Powerpoint deck on the Surface RT, and had no noteworthy problems with lag there either (scrolling was just a little stutter if I went fast, but that happens even on my work PC) although my slides weren't terribly complex.
The biggest differences, specs-wise, between the two tablets are that the N7 has GPS, NFC, and optional cellular data, but comes at 16 or 32 GB of non-expandable storage, while the Surface RT has a rear-facing camera as well as the front-facing one, 32 or 64GB of internal storage, and a microSD slot. The Surface RT also has a standard USB host port, which makes it easy to add additional storage or connect other types of devices like gamepads, cellular dongles, and even phones or other tablets (although no, it cannot run ADB).
EDIT: I'm wrong, the Nexus 7 has only 1GB of RAM, which is half as much as the Surface RT. Surface should support heavy apps and multitasking far better than N7.

Thanks for all those comments if other people have some stuffs to add I'm willing to hear them
What do you guys mean by OS Glitch?
Also, is the tablet scratch proof? (screen and back)
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

The Surface line is *extremely* durable. The chassis has been shown to survive everything from being used as a skateboard (at one of the announcement presentations) to flying off a car roof on the freeway (albeit with some denting); search and you'll find these incidents. It's intended to withstand multiple drops onto concrete from "person height" of like 3.5' or so (mid-torso-ish; I should ask my friend who works in that department again). I've personally stepped on mine by accident (lying on carpet, though) with no damage at all. The screen is Corning Gorilla Glass 2, which is extremely scratch resistant, and with the metal chassis protecting the edges, it's also very shatter-resistant. In other words, it's as close to "scratch proof" as any real-world consumer object is going to be. It is technically possible to break the kickstand, but the demo video I saw required putting a large part of a grown man's weight on the top edge of the tablet (with kickstand open) before the hinges gave.
Also, in case you didn't see above, I screwed up on the spec comparison in my previous post. The Surface RT has 2GB of RAM, twice as much as the N7. Windows RT will probably have a larger base memory footprint than Android, but the difference should still allow for a lot more multitasking and also for larger programs or data sets (I've loaded really huge Excel spreadsheets with no problem, and regularly have dozens of browser tabs open, for example).

Thanks you Just watched a lot of videos on destructions test and performance So far so great

Now isn't a great time to buy hardware, since this is the tail end for last year's hardware cycle. Models, especially RT ones, are hitting clearance. There's the Dell XPS 10 RT (posted in Windows RT forum) for $250 if you want to jump. No firsthand knowledge, but the XPS 10's Snapdragon S4 is faster than the Surface's Tegra 3.
Edit: Looks like the Dell XPS 10 deal is dead. Please ignore.

jamesst20 said:
Thanks for all those comments if other people have some stuffs to add I'm willing to hear them
What do you guys mean by OS Glitch?
Also, is the tablet scratch proof? (screen and back)
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My Screen has had no scratches so far.... And for the back of the device, well that has had a few scratches, I think they are from my keys and loose change.

e.mote said:
Now isn't a great time to buy hardware, since this is the tail end for last year's hardware cycle. Models, especially RT ones, are hitting clearance. There's the Dell XPS 10 RT (posted in Windows RT forum) for $250 if you want to jump. No firsthand knowledge, but the XPS 10's Snapdragon S4 is faster than the Surface's Tegra 3.
Edit: Looks like the Dell XPS 10 deal is dead. Please ignore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean? I don't think the Microsoft Surface RT 2 will be out before end of 2013 or maybe start of 2014 :$ and rumors says it will be smaller
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Gorilla glass has a very high hardness rating, in general in order for an object to get a scratch the object scratching it has to have a higher hardness rating (no innuendo intended).
There are few common items with a higher hardness than gorilla glass. Some precious gems like diamond and sapphire (by extension ruby) will easily do it, so basically don't try scratching a wedding ring (if you happen to be married and using a diamond ring if course) against your screen. A few rare alloys can do it. Gorilla glass shards are of course the same hardness as gorilla glass so can also damage the screen. Sand (both builders and beach) is also capable of scratching the screen. That's about it. If you really tried you could do it with a material softer than gorilla glass but chances are by that point your not scratching the screen but plain shattering it (which is one thing, gorilla glass is damned scratch resistant and pretty tough but still possible to shatter)

>What do you mean?
My dad did fortune-telling as a hobby, mostly for friends and acquaintances. He did palm-reading, and had all these complicated astrological charts. One thing I've learned from him is that people don't want to hear the truth (inasmuch as "truth" can be divined) if it's bad news; they only want good news. Fortune telling isn't about reading people's fate as much as reading people.
Likewise, people asking for opinions from existing owners aren't looking for advice as much as affirmation, because the natural tendency for owners is bias toward their already-made choice. It's called the confirmation bias.
>I want to know everything.
You won't know much by asking questions with only one answer. Do the work and start reading. Windows RT and Surface RT have been covered ad nauseam on tech sites, including this forum.
But that's not what you want to hear, so I'll oblige: I think the Surface RT is perfect for you. Buy now. Don't wait. There's always something better down the line, and you can keep waiting forever.

e.mote said:
>What do you mean?
My dad did fortune-telling as a hobby, mostly for friends and acquaintances. He did palm-reading, and had all these complicated astrological charts. One thing I've learned from him is that people don't want to hear the truth (inasmuch as "truth" can be divined) if it's bad news; they only want good news. Fortune telling isn't about reading people's fate as much as reading people.
Likewise, people asking for opinions from existing owners aren't looking for advice as much as affirmation, because the natural tendency for owners is bias toward their already-made choice. It's called the confirmation bias.
>I want to know everything.
You won't know much by asking questions with only one answer. Do the work and start reading. Windows RT and Surface RT have been covered ad nauseam on tech sites, including this forum.
But that's not what you want to hear, so I'll oblige: I think the Surface RT is perfect for you. Buy now. Don't wait. There's always something better down the line, and you can keep waiting forever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't worry I did read a lot
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

By the way, I forgot to give some news here!
Ar first I bought the Microsoft Surface RT. I really realky enjoyed it! The only thing I didn't like from it was a few missing apps (such as Facebook) and maybe a missing Microsoft Visual Studio. I really wished I could do some programming on it So yeah after a week I returned it.
I then bought the Surface Pro wich I liked way more. Faster and I could use my Windows Programs I didn't like the fact the Pro version couldn't receive notifications in sleep mode, that really disapointed me. Also, it was impossible to set alarm since in sleep mode it wouldn't ring.
I had to sell it about 3 months later because I needed money to afford my school books and stuff but really, I really liked that tablet.
Envoyé depuis mon Nexus 4 avec Tapatalk

Broke my GD N8 S-Pen

In my CRS years it seems at the end of my day I tend to fall asleep while reading or working with my new Note 8.0. I'm using the excellent Poetic Revolution semi-rugged case as mu daily driver. Probelm.is putting the pen away involves flipping up a flap which, apparently, is too much work because I often fall asleep with the N8 and pen on my chest.
Well last night I seem to have fallen alseep then rolled over on the pen. The pen broke arond the inset cutout line near the upper end of the pen. Busted clean in two. A bit of PC11 marine epoxy should have it repaired in the next day or two give or take as it cures. Problem is somehow I set the top 180 degrees out so the flat side is of the upper portion is on the wrong side. Hopefully it will still slide in place for storage.
Point of my post is that cut out line around the upper end is pointless and needlessly weakens the s-pen's structure. Sadly to me it seems an intentionally induced point of failure. Of coruse that is while wearing my tinfoil hat. But wanted.to remind others of this very weak design so be careful with your S-pen and slip it back into it's cubbyhole when not in use.
I also learned the pen is HOLLOW which makes that portion of the pen even more fragile due to a thinner side wall.
At $29.99/pen on Amazon this is not an inexpensive screw up on my part. I have a backup beacusebof good luck and not good planning. But if I had not been lucky enough to grab a Wacom CS3002 work tomorrow would suck hard as my N8 is my goto tool throughout the day.
I wish there were not the reported offset issues with other than the Samsung original S-pen, 8pi and Wacom Bamboo Feel CS3002 (do note that part number as it apparently matters.) But the fragile original design serves only a single purpose and the lack of offset free options makes the $30-$40 replacement cost pretty beyond acceptable.
Still my fault but hard to swallow.

crap... d 'oh!! of course the pen won't fit back in the slot. It's designed to match the contour of the case. So looks like I'll have to re-break it after work... sigh...
Sent from my Samsung Note 8.0 in Tapatalk HD

Same has happened to my stylus after just fall on the floor.
As there is no replacement in the stores for note 8.0, am looking for a lot of offers for repacement of note II or note 10.1 styluses.
It looks like only colours are different.
So, can anyone confirm whether styluses from note II or 10.1 fits note 8 stylus pocket?

I ended up fixing mine with a a bit of gel type superglue and a section of wooden (round) toothpick to fill the hollow center & provide support. Worked perfectly and feels very solid.
I saw no reason to plank down $35 or whatever for a new pen.
BTW, far as I know none of the other S-pens fit the N8.
Sent from my Samsung Note 8.0 in Tapatalk HD

Original S-Pen from samsung
http://www.tabletcenter.be/product/...-8.0/samsung-galaxy-note-8-0-s-pen-white.html

Many thanks,
@civato - following your footsteps (Sam product code) i have found even better offer at 123onlinebuy.de for EUR14 (am not allowed for links posting...):
Anyway it means time and money, so @Breck hint of DIY fixing is the option for the time being.
btw. This looks really strange if Samsung decided to design brand new stylus for 8.0. and not keep ataching those from note II and 10.1..

janla said:
Many thanks,
@civato - following your footsteps (Sam product code) i have found even better offer at 123onlinebuy.de for EUR14 (am not allowed for links posting...):
Anyway it means time and money, so @Breck hint of DIY fixing is the option for the time being.
btw. This looks really strange if Samsung decided to design brand new stylus for 8.0. and not keep ataching those from note II and 10.1..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suspect the pen differences will eventually be designed out ' well at least for tablet size devices of 6" or larger. I noticed the 10.1 2014 is close to the same thickness as our N8's. Actually the N8 & N10.1 are 8mm (O.31mm) and the N3 is 8.3mm (0.33in) which might be a nice move toward the possibility of a universal pen. I'm also guessing owners of the N10.1 will sort of be expecting a more "normal" size stylus. That aside my instinct is it's length not girth presenting the larger challenge moving to a unified Note family pen. We'll see once the production versions hit shelves.
Though my complaint is/was about the designed in point of failure and having to resort to "Red Green" style DIY (there I failed due to not using ANY Duct Tape). My real let down is with the feel of the Samsung branded larger pen, the 8Pi as it's far lighter than the regular pens I'm used to. That pushed me right to Wacom for their Stylus Feel for the Galaxy Note (model CS 3002). That pen feels just right to me for writing (I'm no artist). The girth is better as well.
Did the stylus on the N2 have the same cut-out band around the upper portion as on our N8's? If so maybe we were just "special" in breaking ours? I tend to doubt that though.
Sent from my Samsung Note 8.0 in Tapatalk HD

OMG Surface Pro 3

I've just seen Surface Pro 3 event and... i love it, i want it... i must sell my Pro 1 and buy it.
What do you think about SP3 guys?
And its 3:2 screen instead of 16:9?

I like the 16:9 screen ratio better.
The surface pro 2 is still a powerful product regardless, but imo the thing holding them back is the policy of selling the keyboard separately.

im keen to find out if the new bluetooth enabled surface pro 3 pen will work with the surface pro 2. Im definitely considering selling off my surface pro 2 to upgrade to the 3.

julz said:
im keen to find out if the new bluetooth enabled surface pro 3 pen will work with the surface pro 2. Im definitely considering selling off my surface pro 2 to upgrade to the 3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
New pen is NTrig not wacom so will not function on a pro 2.

I was disapointed about no mention of RT at all!
Loved the way that Pro 3 looks though. I have looked at all the press on it. Great looker. But way out of my price affordability at this time. I'll make do with my 1'st gen RT with 64gbs for a while. I might keep my eyes open for a bargain, I only paid $160US for mine on ebay. WIth all the stuff I've done to mine I might, maybe be able to resell for $200US, then sit and gamble for a pro 2. "Sigh" always the best man never the groom...lol

I don't know why they switched from Wacom to ntrig for the stylus.
One thing I like about my Surface Pro over my friends Sony duo 13 is that if I just want to draw 1 or 2 lines or a few words I can use the pen from my Note 3 if I the surface pen is not in easy reach.
Other than that, I like the surface pro 3. New stand looks like it will be better for writing and drawing. I do a lot of annotating on pdfs and use a combination of keyboard and pen.
Sent from my SM-N900 using XDA Free mobile app

The active stylus can give better precision. Wacom is nice and works well in most cases, but on very high-density displays - such as the Surface Pro 3 has - its minimum resolution is several pixels across.

It will be interesting to see how users feel about the size over time. After I went from a 11" to 13" MacBook Air I really missed the carry ability of the 11'. Although the Pro 2 is heavy and thick, somehow the 10" size just seems right to me.

microsoft surface pro 3
Microsoft Surface Pro 3
short video of the Microsoft surface pro 3 from the webs

The thing I like the most about the Surface Pro 3 is that it doesn't make me want to replace my Surface Pro 2. The screen size is larger, which wasn't what I was looking for when I originally bought the SP2. The only highlights for the form factor that I would have liked over it is the thickness and weight.

i wish they just waited for broadwell they probably could have made thinner

MS needs to sync its release cycle with Intel's. 1st-gen Surface & Pro also had the same problem, of using previous-gen SoC that makes them obsolete even before release. For premium devices, which the Surface lines aspire to be, the target audience is early adopters who expect to have the latest tech. Intel's Mountain Llama (the Broadwell reference design) was impressive in its Computex debut, and SP3 won't fare well in the inevitable comparison.
The kickstand + keyboard cover combo also hasn't fared well. One sign of a good design, aside from selling well, is when competitors copy it. I don't see any OEM copying the keyboard cover, preferring instead to stick to more conventional "detachable" design eg Asus' Transformer series, which works better for fast typing.
This latter has its own issue of being top-heavy, thus needing to add counterbalance weight to the keyboard dock and increasing overall weight. Intel's ref design avoids this by not putting the docking point at the edge of the dock, thereby creating an "outrigger" that prevents tip-over. Most aftermarket keyboard docks for iPad use this setup. Its other advantages: lighter than conventional detachable, more rigid than MS' design and being more "lapable," and works in portrait. One improvement would be to add an adjustable hinge.
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I see SP3 having a short shelf life, and not just because of the obsoleted SoC. If MS sticks to its new spring release cycle for Windows as rumored, then Win9 should see a corresponding Surface launch, along with Office Touch, about 10 months from now. The i3 and i7 versions of SP3 won't ship until end of August, which gives them about a 7-month shelf life.

e.mote said:
The kickstand + keyboard cover combo also hasn't fared well. One sign of a good design, aside from selling well, is when competitors copy it. I don't see any OEM copying the keyboard cover, preferring instead to stick to more conventional "detachable" design eg Asus' Transformer series, which works better for fast typing.
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Click to collapse
Agree on syncing new Surfaces to Intel's processor releases, but totally disagree on the kickstand and covers. I love being able to just flip the cover up to make more room on my desk, flip it down when I need to do some work, or use the tablet upright without a keyboard at all - keeping something up just for reference, watching a movie, etc.
I totally don't get all the focus people put on how the kickstand works (or doesn't) on the lap. In the past 20 years, I don't think I've used a laptop on my lap more than dozen times. On a desk, I'd take a kickstand over a traditional notebook any day. It's also nice that you get both a keyboard and cover in what? 3-4mm?
For people who prefer something closer to a traditional laptop, there's plenty of choices, I really the Surface retains the kickstand.
As for the Pro 3, I see it much the same as the original Pro - some nice features but just not enough to make me want to buy one. The processor has already been mentioned, the switch away from the Wacom pen, and I actually prefer the smaller screen on the Pro 1 and 2. I could be tempted by a Pro 4 or maybe 5, but my 2 is serving me perfectly well for now.

>totally disagree on the kickstand and covers. I love being able to just flip the cover up...In the past 20 years, I don't think I've used a laptop on my lap more than dozen times...
"I like it"/"works for me" isn't an argument.
>I totally don't get all the focus people put on how the kickstand works (or doesn't) on the lap
Lap use is one instance in the spectrum of computing use mobility. At one end of the spectrum is usage while walking, ie with a phone. Next is using the device while standing. After that, is sitting without a desk (ie lap use). Then, sitting with a desk. Finally, sitting with a desk in a pre-determined location (ie a desktop PC).
By not being able to use the device well while sitting and without a desk, the Surface is even less mobile than a laptop for high-speed typing. That's why MS was so persistent with the "lapability" argument, which was shot down by the majority of reviews of SP3, from journalists and bloggers who do need that mobility.
>It's also nice that you get both a keyboard and cover in what? 3-4mm?
Thinness is visually appealing and is a selling point, but ergonomically it doesn't matter. For a tablet, which is a handheld device, weight and shape are what counts. For a keyboard, thinness affects more important things, like key travel, which affects typing speed. The Surface type cover is an inferior keyboard for typing, even by the relatively low standard of laptop keyboards.
>I really the Surface retains the kickstand.
Archos tablets have had the kickstand for many years, and it was never a big deal (read: not a selling point). Anyway, it's not a matter of having or not having a kickstand, but how to have the display at a desired angle with the least hassle. For decades, the clamshell form was the least hassle. MS' kickstand design hasn't proven to be an adequate replacement. Of present designs, the one in the above pic is IMO the most efficient.

e.mote said:
Of present designs, the one in the above pic is IMO the most efficient.
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Click to collapse
for once, and this is a rare occasion, I actually agree with you.
My laptop rarely if ever touches a desk. Had a guy round with his surface RT and frankly it was absolutely useless as a laptop replacement ergonomically (we'll ignore software) in the places I use my laptop.

e.mote said:
"I like it"/"works for me" isn't an argument.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't *just* say "I like it", I gave specific examples of where the kickstand is adventitious.
e.mote said:
Lap use is one instance in the spectrum of computing use mobility. At one end of the spectrum is usage while walking, ie with a phone. Next is using the device while standing. After that, is sitting without a desk (ie lap use). Then, sitting with a desk. Finally, sitting with a desk in a pre-determined location (ie a desktop PC).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so what's your point? Every device trades some proficiency in one area to gain some in another. If an individual's use case requires a significant amount of "lap use", that should steer them in the direction of devices that prioritize that type of use. That doesn't make a device that prioritizes another area wrong, it simple makes it potentially the wrong device for that that person. And I say potentially because I've made a point of using my Surface on my lap to see what all the fuss is about, and I don't see the issue. Perhaps it doesn't work quite as well as a traditional hinged notebook with a rigid keyboard, but for all but the most demanding of needs, it works just fine.
Personally, the minor trade-off in proficiency for lap use is far outweighed by it's increased abilities elsewhere - as I mentioned, using it on a table/desk/counter/hood of a car/etc without the keyboard at all, being able to flip the cover up to save space while the device remains standing, etc. Again, if an individual can't accept that trade-off, then the Surface simply isn't the best device for their needs.
e.mote said:
By not being able to use the device well while sitting and without a desk, the Surface is even less mobile than a laptop for high-speed typing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And by being able to use the device upright without a keyboard, the Surface is more useful than a tablet, so what's your point? If high-speed typing on one's lap is a primary concern, then they should be buying a dedicated notebook or a convertible that uses the hinged, clamshell design with a rigid keyboard. As I said in my previous post, I simply don't understand this mindset that says the Surface HAS to function AS WELL AS a traditional notebook. No, it doesn't. Thankfully, there's any number of other systems on the market that do prioritize that use case.
e.mote said:
Thinness is visually appealing and is a selling point, but ergonomically it doesn't matter. For a tablet, which is a handheld device, weight and shape are what counts. For a keyboard, thinness affects more important things, like key travel, which affects typing speed. The Surface type cover is an inferior keyboard for typing, even by the relatively low standard of laptop keyboards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thinness is directly related to weight and shape, so to say thinness is nice, but weight and shape are more important is just being disingenuous. And again you're laser focused on absolute typing performance, which is fine, but it simply makes the Surface not the right device for you, it doesn't make the Surface the wrong design for everyone.
e.mote said:
Archos tablets have had the kickstand for many years, and it was never a big deal (read: not a selling point).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had several Archos products over the years, and trust me, there's ample reasons their products weren't big sellers. I generally like their overall designs and concepts, but they have a knack for always undermining the whole device with one or two painfully sub-standard components, be it a terrible screen, resistive touch input as opposed to capacitive, etc.
e.mote said:
Anyway, it's not a matter of having or not having a kickstand, but how to have the display at a desired angle with the least hassle. For decades, the clamshell form was the least hassle. MS' kickstand design hasn't proven to be an adequate replacement. Of present designs, the one in the above pic is IMO the most efficient.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll agree there, the original Pro's single angle was pretty restrictive, and the Pro 2's two angles is barely more than adequate. I haven't found it to be an issue, but I can see that some would. I think the only features of the Pro 3 that I find compelling are the new kickstand and the thinner/lighter design.
But returning to the actual design, I'll absolutely agree with everything you said as it pertains to making the device better for someone who needs A- absolute typing performance, and B- has the frequent need to use the device on their lap. Absolutely, a rigid keyboard with equal to greater weight to the display and a strong hinged design would make for a better lap typing experience. And I'll again say that there's any number of systems that offer exactly that - from dedicated laptops to convertibles that use the rigid clamshell design. None of this makes the Surface's design wrong, it simply makes it the wrong device for those individuals, just as dedicated notebooks and rigid, clamshell convertibles are the the wrong device for my needs.
The market is big enough for multiple form factors - not every device needs to share a single overall design, because not every person has precisely the same needs. The market already has countless rigid clamshell type devices, please let those of us who don't prioritize high-speed typing on our laps have our ONE device that best fits our needs, ok?

Without having done a painful amount of digging, please allow me to butt in for a moment and ask, ate there any threads here dedicated to development or tweaking of the sp3? I just got the i7 512 model to use as the heart of a semi portable recording studio (a good amount of real-time number crunching) and was looking to get the most I can out of it. So far, with the little benchmarking and playing with Undervolting a little, I haven't seen this chip do any thermal throttling and haven't gotten any real increase in benchmark. It seems this thing is pretty damn efficient. I came across an article where people were getting major increase in benchmarks by Undervolting but with the i5. (less voltage, less heat, more time at "turbo" less fan noise - ideal for audio production) Well, hey before I REALLY start rambling, if anyone has any resources or suggestions I'd be much obliged.
Sent from my 831C using XDA Free mobile app

Handwritten notes with the Shield Tablet

Hello guys,
First of all I'm sorry if my grammar or general "english use" sucks but be patient, it's not my mother language.
I would like to ask some help taking a decision.
Let me introduce my needs first:
I'm on the market to replace my old and trusty iPad mini (i know, i know Apple's devices bring horrible nightmares to all XDA users). I'd want a compact tablet (8" to 8.4 screen) that can easily slide in my bag and follow me everywhere, from university lectures to various trips. One of the main function I'd want to improve on is handwritten notes: as it is on my iPad i can't do it and I end up simply downloading professor's slides to read them easier but still writing up to 3000 pages of notes per year, and you know that paper loves to get lost or hide when you need it. Combining it with the constant need of raw power for games i'm left with very few choices, none of them 100% suited for me (unless Samsung decides to include his majesty the S-pen on the Tab S 8.4).
So, coming back to what i'm willing to ask to you, Nvidia Shield Tablet owners: would you reccomend this tablet for hand written notes? And by that i mean: writing on this tablet is almost as fast and comfortable as writing on the good old paper with an ink pen?
If not, what else would you buy, considering that the ability to run smoothly something like Asphalt 8 it's a must have?
Thank you very much in advance.
Matteo

I bought this tablet to replace a Galaxy Note 10.1
I use the Shield Tablet with the MyScript Smart Note app.
Comparing this to Galaxy Note 10.1 + LectureNotes app (My fav at the time of ownership), it's pretty close, but not quite as good.
Writing is accurate enough for me, but not quite as good as the note.
And the smaller screen makes it a little harder to write as well (Worth it for the smaller size to carry around though).
Compared to paper, I think the convenience is way better.
The only real downside there is the lack of friction on the 'paper'.
Even with an invisishield screen protector, the tablet writes a lot smoother than a piece of paper. This is by far the biggest downside in my opinion, but it's easy enough to get used to.

Great Tablet for everything not just writing
DemiosNC said:
Hello guys,
First of all I'm sorry if my grammar or general "english use" sucks but be patient, it's not my mother language.
I would like to ask some help taking a decision.
Let me introduce my needs first:
I'm on the market to replace my old and trusty iPad mini (i know, i know Apple's devices bring horrible nightmares to all XDA users). I'd want a compact tablet (8" to 8.4 screen) that can easily slide in my bag and follow me everywhere, from university lectures to various trips. One of the main function I'd want to improve on is handwritten notes: as it is on my iPad i can't do it and I end up simply downloading professor's slides to read them easier but still writing up to 3000 pages of notes per year, and you know that paper loves to get lost or hide when you need it. Combining it with the constant need of raw power for games i'm left with very few choices, none of them 100% suited for me (unless Samsung decides to include his majesty the S-pen on the Tab S 8.4).
So, coming back to what i'm willing to ask to you, Nvidia Shield Tablet owners: would you reccomend this tablet for hand written notes? And by that i mean: writing on this tablet is almost as fast and comfortable as writing on the good old paper with an ink pen?
If not, what else would you buy, considering that the ability to run smoothly something like Asphalt 8 it's a must have?
Thank you very much in advance.
Matteo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of I would like to tell you I faced your problem at the beginning of the year.
I own a LG G Pad 8.3 and a Nvidia shield tablet (NST). The NST is recently purchased so I cannot say its perfect yet when it comes to writing. In my opinion the option of having palm rejection in the NST is delightful which makes writing comfortable. I am currently using Smart note as well but I also use WPS Office (kingsoft Office)--(with the stylus beta app) for handwriting and converting into text if I need something compatible with Microsoft word. The stylus is slippery on the NST I had better control with the LG since I had a screen protector and was using the joint sylus pro which I think is amazing for writing. ( I am actually thinking of adding a screen protector just to use the joint stylus pro with the NST because rumor has it it scratches the screen). The hand recognition in the NST is really good and I think good apps from the play store will give you the experience you are looking for.
I hope this helps, if you have questions I am happy to assist.
sorry if the writing is messy but I got to go for now.
Good luck
FYI I am also in UNI and I do a lot of writing ( recently a 30,000 word document on my lg g pad) so I feel you

OneNote. Just use OneNote. With this tablet, it is by far, par.
Edit: OneNote w/ IFTTT. I'm getting some stuff DONE!

Thank you everyone for the support, now for each answer:
Eogram said:
I bought this tablet to replace a Galaxy Note 10.1 [...] is by far the biggest downside in my opinion, but it's easy enough to get used to.
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Click to collapse
So, as I was thinking, the Note family from Samsung is still the best for notes in your experience? Frankly, I'm not a kid anymore (unfortunately) so if I have to choose beetwen "usefulness" and games I have to pick the first to justify the money spent...
Moeali8 said:
First of I would like to tell you I faced your problem at the beginning of the [...] writing ( recently a 30,000 word document on my lg g pad) so I feel you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The G-Pad was one of my first thoughts having a G3 wich I'm loving (almost), but I'm not sure it is an improvement in practicality over the iPad.
I've seen that wierd stylus and I thought it was insanely expensive, but now I see it's only 30$...Worth it?
Being an automotive engineering student, my notes are all about graphs, schemes and sketches so I need accuracy and predictibility in how the tablet translates my movements as well as a reliable software that ignores palm and wrist inputs on the screen (that's my biggest complain on the iPad).
mrm0rbid99 said:
OneNote. Just use OneNote. With this tablet, it is by far, par.
Edit: OneNote w/ IFTTT. I'm getting some stuff DONE!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OneNote relies on the NST stylus recognition or it has a built-in feature?
Side note: the Nexus 9....looks goood another contender? xD

DemiosNC said:
Thank you everyone for the support, now for each answer:
So, as I was thinking, the Note family from Samsung is still the best for notes in your experience? Frankly, Im not a kid anymore (unfortunately) so if I have to choose beetwen "usefulness" and games I have to pick the first to justify the money spent.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I was looking for a serious note taking piece of hardware... Yeah, I'd probably go with a note. I would also probably invest in a separate active stylus to use with it. The Note 10.1(2012) came with a pretty cheap feeling one. Light hollow plastic, not fun to use.
What you lose by going that route is a good AOSP-like experience. I don't like Samsung S touch wiz ui at all. And you can flash an aosp rom on it, but the stylus loses some features.

Eogram said:
If I was looking for a serious note taking piece of hardware... Yeah, I'd probably go with a note. I would also probably invest in a separate active stylus to use with it. The Note 10.1(2012) came with a pretty cheap feeling one. Light hollow plastic, not fun to use.
What you lose by going that route is a good AOSP-like experience. I don't like Samsung S touch wiz ui at all. And you can flash an aosp rom on it, but the stylus loses some features.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have the exact english phrase to say that but I'll translate litterally: seems like you're reading my toughts...
I spent the last 4 years of my life as an Apple fan boy because i was thinking that android was only Samsung...The touchwiz is insanely overloaded so that is my biggest concern about following the "samsung route"...
Anyways, today I took a look at the tab s 8.4 in first person and I have to admit that the display is amazing...Colors are cartoonish but so appealing I can't ignore it...
Unfortunately I'm not able to find a store with an NST to try here in Italy...

I was playing today with the note pro from Samsung and I must say that it is for note taking way better then the nVidia Shield Tablet I own myself although I hate the touch wiz layer. Nevertheless I use one note now on my NST for note taking.
Sent from my SHIELD Tablet using XDA Free mobile app

Congrats
Moeali8 said:
First of I would like to tell you I faced your problem at the beginning of the year.
I own a LG G Pad 8.3 and a Nvidia shield tablet (NST). The NST is recently purchased so I cannot say its perfect yet when it comes to writing. In my opinion the option of having palm rejection in the NST is delightful which makes writing comfortable. I am currently using Smart note as well but I also use WPS Office (kingsoft Office)--(with the stylus beta app) for handwriting and converting into text if I need something compatible with Microsoft word. The stylus is slippery on the NST I had better control with the LG since I had a screen protector and was using the joint sylus pro which I think is amazing for writing. ( I am actually thinking of adding a screen protector just to use the joint stylus pro with the NST because rumor has it it scratches the screen). The hand recognition in the NST is really good and I think good apps from the play store will give you the experience you are looking for.
I hope this helps, if you have questions I am happy to assist.
sorry if the writing is messy but I got to go for now.
Good luck
FYI I am also in UNI and I do a lot of writing ( recently a 30,000 word document on my lg g pad) so I feel you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First congrats on the Tab S 8.4 and you are right amazing screen, really vivid and nice colors I've always liked Samsung's screens; unfortunately it stops at their screens . But why didnt you take a note if you wanted the S-pen and S-notes. Any way I hope it works out for you. Some great apps are Smart notes which has good hand recognition and lecture notes where I thing would help you with your graphing.
Regrading the LG G Pad 8.3 I'm still using it for standard media consumption like reading and browsing the net while my NST is mainly for games and the occasional web surf if its in my hands. And I'm still using the LG for writing my notes via Kingsoft office and stylus beta has my input method (best hand to text app i've used)
Anyways good luck.

Should a universal active stylus work on Tab A8 T290 (without S pen support)?

In this video review, the guy says (at 3:18) this tablet DOES NOT support an "active pen". I hope he is mistaken and just means it doesn't support specifically the "S pen". Should a universal active pen work with the Tab A8 T290? I think of buying the pen below, the manufacturer says it should work on any touch screen. The problem is that, if it doesn't work, I won't be able to return, I am in Italy and will send it to my niece in Brazil... so I have to make sure. Thanks if you can help!
PS.: Since I'm a new poster, links are blocked to prevent spam. Please, substitute (dot) for "."
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 SM-T290 Review: How Good Is It?
youtu (dot) be/9y-jXjp7IdA?t=198
AICase Active Stylus Pen, Penna Capacitiva Attiva Universale per Qualsiasi Touch Screen
amazon (dot) it/dp/B07KK7HJ8Q/?coliid=INIFVRM8I32TF&colid=3EWJ1C2WID35A&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

"Active" pens, which are battery powered, work with devices that have a digitizer layer on the display. The non-S pen model Tab A won't support those pens.
Instead, you can use the universal non-battery or battery-powered capacitive stylus or pens, like these ones:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N1BRWLA
Or
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LG7DHXL
I already tried the first one but the experience wasn't good enough for me. The second one is arriving next week & I'm hoping it'll be better.

Coincidently, I already have exactly the first cheaper Meko. I had bought it in order to save money and use it on my Windows Surface 3, it didn't work... I can in fact write a whole sentence with a lot of pain, but not really usable. The bigger soft tip is always responsive, but not nice for note taking. In the end, I had to spend more money and buy the Surface pen (which is very good). I've also tried the cheap Meko on an iPad, it works better, but not really good enough for note taking. I haven't tried it on an Android device, though.
Please let me know if the Meko with the battery works better.
Thanks for your answer.

Bianval said:
Coincidently, I already have exactly the first cheaper Meko. I had bought it in order to save money and use it on my Windows Surface 3, it didn't work... I can in fact write a whole sentence with a lot of pain, but not really usable. The bigger soft tip is always responsive, but not nice for note taking. In the end, I had to spend more money and buy the Surface pen (which is very good). I've also tried the cheap Meko on an iPad, it works better, but not really good enough for note taking. I haven't tried it on an Android device, though.
Please let me know if the Meko with the battery works better.
Thanks for your answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, and against my expectation, the battery-powered Meko pen performed worse! [emoji34] Instead of smooth lines, it was just dots everywhere.
On my iPad, though, it worked flawlessly.
I ended up returning both of the Meko pens.
Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

optimummind said:
Unfortunately, and against my expectation, the battery-powered Meko pen performed worse! [emoji34] Instead of smooth lines, it was just dots everywhere.
On my iPad, though, it worked flawlessly.
I ended up returning both of the Meko pens.
Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
So you mean the battery-powered Meko worked well on your iPad but not on your other device? Which one is it? Would it be Samsung Tab A8?
I guess it's a matter of luck, these styluses respond differently depending on the device.
I've been testing again the cheaper Meko Stylus (with no battery). These are the devices I've tried:
Surface 3 - very bad, not usable. 1 star.
iPad 4 - it could be used, but very painfully, not practical. 2 stars.
iPad 6 (2018) - very good, not great. It is usable to take important notes, like school notes. 4 stars.
Huawei P20 pro - very similar to iPad 6, responds very well. 4 stars.
Cheap Android phone (Leagoo) - very bad, 1 star.
I'm thinking of trying my luck on that "AICase Active Stylus Pen" (the one I put the link before, you can find in Amazon Italy)... it's an active stylus for 25 euros with a glove to rest the palm on the screen.
Thanks for you answer.... and please let me know if you find some good stylus for Samsung Tab A8 T290.

Bianval said:
So you mean the battery-powered Meko worked well on your iPad but not on your other device? Which one is it? Would it be Samsung Tab A8?
I guess it's a matter of luck, these styluses respond differently depending on the device.
I've been testing again the cheaper Meko Stylus (with no battery). These are the devices I've tried:
Surface 3 - very bad, not usable. 1 star.
iPad 4 - it could be used, but very painfully, not practical. 2 stars.
iPad 6 (2018) - very good, not great. It is usable to take important notes, like school notes. 4 stars.
Huawei P20 pro - very similar to iPad 6, responds very well. 4 stars.
Cheap Android phone (Leagoo) - very bad, 1 star.
I'm thinking of trying my luck on that "AICase Active Stylus Pen" (the one I put the link before, you can find in Amazon Italy)... it's an active stylus for 25 euros with a glove to rest the palm on the screen.
Thanks for you answer.... and please let me know if you find some good stylus for Samsung Tab A8 T290.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On my iPad, both of the Meko pens worked well - 4/5 for the disc-based one, and 5/5 for the battery one.
On my Tab A, the disc one worked better than the battery one - 3 vs 1.
I found this pen on Amazon for the Tab A that has good reviews:
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 Wi-Fi Stylus Pen, BoxWave [AccuPoint Active Stylus] Electronic Stylus with Ultra Fine Tip for Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 Wi-Fi - Metallic Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PGLKXM7/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_KO4QEbQCKCTMR
Didn't pull the trigger yet.
Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

optimummind said:
On my iPad, both of the Meko pens worked well - 4/5 for the disc-based one, and 5/5 for the battery one.
On my Tab A, the disc one worked better than the battery one - 3 vs 1.
I found this pen on Amazon for the Tab A that has good reviews:
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 Wi-Fi Stylus Pen, BoxWave [AccuPoint Active Stylus] Electronic Stylus with Ultra Fine Tip for Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 2019 Wi-Fi - Metallic Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PGLKXM7/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_KO4QEbQCKCTMR
Didn't pull the trigger yet.
Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was about to state that ALL "active stylii" require a second digitizer to work but apparently that isn't totally true. I bought a BoxWave stylus to use with my HP Envy X360 laptop, and just to verify that it wouldn't work without the second digitizer, like the ones for the S-Pen, I tried it with my T510. I have never used a stylus for drawing, so I don't know if it works as well as an S-Pen for that, but it DOES work and it DOES produce a "ballpoint pen" type line. Their "MSRP" is fairly high, but if you shop around, you can get one fairly cheap. I got mine in eBay for about $20. New with free shipping.

My "AICase Active Stylus" (from Amazon Italy) just arrived. It works very well, except that the glove that comes with it is useless, you can still use your finger to write with the glove on. I'm struggling to find some material that I can use to rest my palm... It's very uncomfortable to write without being able to rest your palm on the screen.
I would say it's a bit better than the passive Meko Stylus, especially for the iPad 4, which has an older screen. It has a metal tip, so you should have a screen protector to prevent scratches.
I've tried on these devices:
Surface 3 - doesn't work, it makes a few lines, but not good at all.
iPad 4 - works well enough
iPad 6 - very good, works a bit better than on the iPad 4
Huawei P20 pro - works similarly to iPad 6
I still haven't tried on a Samsung tablet.