Microsoft Surface Pro 2

Anyone have experience with this tablet?

I was leaning towards the Samsung Note 10.1 2014 Edition for the better screen and stylus. But now that the SP2 came out with an update, power consumption between the two are similar. Both get around 8 hours of video playback which is what I use it for mostly for my travels but with the SP2, I can leave my laptop at home and just take the tablet for lighter travels.

With the Note, I will be able to use most of my Android apps that are not on Windows but then again, it's windows so I can just use the browser for 75% of my stuff and don't need a dedicated app or worry about it running slow.

And I do have an android phone so it's not like I will be completely losing out on the apps and honestly on the tablet, the only thing that I will probably miss would be Google Books but that's it.

Does the SP2 run standard windows apps? Or do you need special ones. Once an app is on your android/google play account it runs on any of your devices.

Windows 8.1 isn't a super popular OS... the apps and support comes with user base.

That is true. SP2 is full windows on a tablet.

Apps like US Airways, National Car Rental, Gmail, Evernote, FB, Maps and so on can be viewed via browser and doesn't require a mobile application.

The only app that I will miss is Google Play books.


I actually went to the mall today and liked both of them. Note 10.1 since it's cheaper and lighter but SP2, I can leave my laptop at home and still have my movies on the go.

Ideally, I would love to have my laptop but it's heavy and not as good battery life.

I have the Xoom and I love it but it's slow and only get movies in 480P and at 720P, its laggy. Not bad but it's time to upgrade.

Movies play fine on either. You can get keyboards for any tablet, the Asus Transformer has a good one. I have the Asus Transformer TF101, similar to the Xoom. Great for its day, but compared with my S4 it's just super slow and a bit frustrating.

What are the key uses for the tablet?

Movies pretty much but with the SP2, I can travel much lighter and just being that and not a laptop and android tablet. Having full Windows is some thing good to have to lighten my load. With android only, I still need to my windows PC.

I have the old Surface Pro and like it quite a bit, but I use my Nexus 7 a lot more.

The Surface Pro is fantastic for things like Outlook and Microsoft Office. I also love having Chrome and regular IE on it so webpages don't default to mobile sites all the time. But besides business stuff and internet browsing, I pretty much prefer the Android tablet for everything else.

Also, the Win 8 apps that are available just aren't very smooth. Even things like the Kindle app are clunky to use and are a lot more tempermental, not to mention there's still no official Facebook app, etc. Plus the apps and notifications on Android seem to keep all the social stuff right at your fingertips. You don't have to open up multiple tabs in a browser just to keep up with stuff.

RHChan84 wrote in post #16436508
Movies pretty much but with the SP2, I can travel much lighter and just being that and not a laptop and android tablet. Having full Windows is some thing good to have to lighten my load. With android only, I still need to my windows PC.

Anything plays movies. Buy whatever's cheapest. Transcode with handbrake.

Yes I guess I was just looking for a way to justify the SP2 over the Note10.1. It would be nice to not carry both laptop and tablet but its not too bad I guess.

I have only used the first gen RT version, but I really like the Metro UI for tablets. Definitely prefer it over android, it looks organised to me. Since you're interested in buying the Pro version, the lack of certain applications is, as you said, not a huge dealbreaker. What it really comes down to is what you will use it for and whether that includes many x86 applications as well. The latter doesn't seem to be the case as you're comparing it to a tablet running android. The Note 10.1 will probably save you quite a bit of money, especially if you can wait a little longer. I have to admit though, I really love the surfaces, especially since they also come with Office (also RT versions) and the userbase seems to be growing (also mobile market, look at the new Lumia phones). Have you also considered the Surface 2 RT or maybe even the Nokia Lumia 2520 (also running Windows RT)? Or do you really want either the productivity of the full windows 8 SP2 or the high resolution screen of the Note? It all comes down to what kind of apps/software you want to use and if the combination of laptop/tablet is really a burden.

Hope I helped a bit, it's always extremely hard to make such decisions..

I'm hopeful the Samsung ATIV Q will come to the U.S. market. The best of all worlds, runs Windows and Android. It seems to be stopped with some sort of a patent issue.

patrick023 wrote in post #16436557
not to mention there's still no official Facebook app,

Actually the official FB app for Windows 8 came out a few weeks ago.

Ive had a Surface RT since they launched a year ago, and a Surface 2 the day it launched. I love it. Yes, you can get a BT keyboard for any tablet but nothing compares to the usability of the Surface keyboard cover and kickstand. I have an iPad with the Logitech ultraslim keyboard and it doesn't even compare to the Surface. With other tablets you have to think about whether or not to bring your keyboard, and if you do, its extra size and weight. With the Surface you just have it. I'll be traveling for a work conference for 6 days next week and my Surface 2 is the only device I'm bringing with me. It has full Office with Outlook, I can VPN into my work, and all the tablet apps I need... Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Kindle, Feedly, Instapaper, and I use Xbox Video for renting/buying movies for the plane or whatever.

I do know people with the Surface Pro 2 that love the extra battery life compared to the Pro 1, and its an extremely powerful device.... Microsoft has stated that it benchmarks better than 95% of all laptops currently on the market. Personally I think the Surface 2 is plenty capable for me. Plenty of apps to chose from, and of course full Office.

SP2 now is probably going to be a good seller since it has HD display and over 7 hours of battery life for movies.

I know I might lose out on notifications but lately I have noticed that I can careless about notifications on my tablet since I wil be using airplane mode a lot and I have my phone to give me notifications. I still have it on and I might miss it here and there but shouldn't affect me much.

I thought about the RT as well but if I'm going to buy a windows tablet, then it will be a full windows.

I have the sp2 for a little over a week. iPad has been relegated to the closet. Just received a SSD external drive to hook up to the sp2. Finally I have a tablet that runs all the applications my company has as well as VPN and RDP. Now got see how it works tethered to my DSLRs.

I picked up a Surface Pro when it originally came out, and love it for in-field editing. I still have my desktop for editing weddings and large events, but for travel or convenience, it is amazing.