Microsoft Surface Pro reviewed from a scientist perspective. This is the future of personal computing.

With the Surface Pro Microsoft has made a statement on what a PC should be for the next five to ten years.   Rather than fading away the PC will become thin, lite, and easy to use while retaining the flexibility that has always been the hallmark of the personal computer.   That said, Surface Pro is not perfect for all uses.  These are my impressions after spending a week with the Microsoft Surface Pro 64 GB. 

I have been an avid Linux user since 1997.  M$ has been part of my life only because I like to play games and they have the best platforms for gaming.  With the surface pro they created the best mobile computer on the market today.   This is not a clone of the iPad.  This is a statement on what the PC should be.  Surface pro is a declaration that the “Post PC” era hasn't come and will never come.   

For the longest time I have been using an HP Touchsmart TM2 which weighed about 4 lbs.  Surface pro has better specs by far and is half the weight.   Everything my old convertible tablet could do this new device does better.  It even runs Ubuntu Linux, with most of the functions working, with little difficulty.  (Only the wifi is lacking but that will come along with future Linux kernel releases).  This PC can do everything I need a PC for on a day to day basis as a science student.  With the optional “type” cover I can write Latex or Matlab code on it.  I can take handwritten notes on it.  I can make a PowerPoint presentation on it.  Scientist should consider un-tethering from their desk, and still working to be a real option.

 I have had an Android tablet.  They generally can’t be used for productive content creation.  In fact all Android and IOS are good for is buying content created by others.

The storage sizes available for Surface Pro are kind of small compared to today’s hard disk drives.   That said, look at how many SD cards and USB pen drives we technophiles have laying around.  Look at all the different cloud storage options we have.  There is no reason that the vast majority of files and even programs needs to be on the system hard drive.  

One of the best and worst aspects of the Surface pro is the screen.  On one hand it is very sharp.  Retina display like sharp.  On the other it is small compared to most PC screens and it can be hard to read.  For that reason alone I would suggest that if one has a Surface Pro or any similar tablet they should at least keep their old laptop or desktop for the times a big screen is essential.  I would not want to watch a ripped DVD on surface pro unless I was watching alone.

Improvements  I would like in the future.

I would like to see a docking option which would involve inserting the surface pro into a large touchscreen.  This would contain more storage for playing 3D PC games and movies.   

I would like to see tablets made with better graphics options.  The Intel HD4000 is better than the stand alone graphics in my pc from three years ago by far.  However it pales in comparison to the best available graphics chips.    

In the future the main storage of these devices should be user serviceable and upgradeable.

In short surface pro is a good buy as a computer for real world science and educational use.  Microsoft has demonstrated decisively that the PC as we have known it since 1980 isn’t going to go away.  It will only change its shape.    

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Microsoft Surface Pro: Why One SMB Says No

Microsoft Surface Pro: Is It Right For You?(click image for larger view and for slideshow)IT pro Ryan Jones thinks Microsoft's Surface Pro is a fine tablet. Nonetheless, his user community won't be carrying the devices on the job any time soon.

Jones, a network administrator at the civil engineering firm Ben Dyer Associates, sees possible value for the Surface Pro in roles such as field sales, consulting and real estate, but he thinks the tablet is unviable in the engineering business. Use cases comprise a big reason: Ben Dyer's engineers -- the overwhelming majority of the company's 60 or so employees -- do much of their work in heavy-duty computer-aided design (CAD) applications. Today's tablets don't cut it for CAD work, according to Jones.

"A CAD user requires a decent system in excess of $900 for a desktop, or $1,500 for a laptop," Jones said via email. "Needless to say the capabilities of the tablet itself are more suitable for basic users, so that will rule out 90% of my office."

For the rest of the team -- mostly project managers (PMs), accountants and administrative staff -- price is a problem. In fact, it might be the problem. At $899 and up, the Surface Pro has to compete with much more affordable setups for the email-and-spreadsheet crowd, especially if there's no real need for mobility. "Realistically a secretary or accountant is going to be at their desk and [they] don't really have any take-home work, so they still have a desktop," Jones said, "leaving only the PMs as suitable candidates for the Surface."

Those PMs aren't getting Surface Pros, at least not in the foreseeable future. The reason is bit of basic math. "I'm now getting a roughly $900 device for a person to send and receive e-mails," Jones said. "Why not just invest in a $350 laptop, upgrade to [a professional edition of Windows], download Open Office and connect to our Exchange server? That's 50% less in costs to have fully functional email/word stations."

[ Learn more about Surface Pro's pros and cons. See Microsoft Surface Pro: 7 Questions To Ask. ]

The less-expensive Surface RT, which starts at $499, stands up better in a cost comparison with the traditional low-end PC system. But Jones, like others who rue the lack of legacy app support and less-robust version of Windows 8, sees RT as unsuitable in most corporate environments. His environment is no exception: "In the office they will need Active Directory, so that's going to rule out the RT," Jones said.

Another strike against the more affordable RT: Apple's iPad. "It's the industry leader and can access everything I would need it for [at] only $400-$500 for the basic units," Jones said. "Once again, far below the $900 required to even open the door with the Surface Pro."

Again, it's not that Jones thinks the Surface tablets are poor products. On the contrary, he tried to make a hypothetical case for outfitting some of Ben Dyer's engineers with a Surface RT for field work.

"Our engineers in charge of water and sewer spend time in the field, take notes and come back to a CAD station. So we could easily equip them with a RT to take notes, then transfer via e-mail or Bluetooth to their computer at work," Jones said. The math still doesn't work. "Why would we want to make two investments? A desktop plus the RT equals the price of a CAD-ready laptop."

Maybe the PC isn't dead just yet. Maybe Jones is just doing what sensible IT pros do: assessing business-specific needs and making decisions accordingly, rather than following trends or vendor pitches. Maybe Microsoft's sales team has some work to do in the engineering industry.

"All in all, these two devices don't have viable options in the engineering fields," Jones said, "other than excessive spending for devices that won't be used to their desired purposes."

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Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 Pro

When Microsoft built the Surface Pro, the designers packed the power of an ultrabook in the body of a tablet. Unfortunately, they also made the device nearly impossible for a typical consumer or even an in-house tech to service and repair. On this week's episode of Cracking Open, I take you inside the Surface Pro.

Full TechRepublic teardown gallery: Cracking Open the Microsoft Surface Pro

More ultrabook than tablet
From a hardware standpoint, Microsoft's Surface Pro is more like an ultrabook or convertible laptop than a tablet.

The 10.6-inch display has a true 16:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1,920x1,080 pixels. It has stereo speakers, a microSD card slot, a full-size USB 3.0 port, a Mini DisplayPort, and two 720p cameras.

On the inside, it has a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5 CPU with HD 4000 graphics, 4GB of 1,600MHz DDR3 RAM, and a 42Wh battery.

(Credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic)

For more information on the Surface, including real-world tests and pricing, check out Scott Stein's full CNET review.

The Surface Pro comes in 64GB and 128GB models, and I strongly recommend getting the larger one. In a statement to CNET, Microsoft said that out of the box, the 64GB Pro has only 23GB of available storage.

Given its laptoplike hardware, it's not surprising that the Surface Pro weighs a hefty 2 pounds, which is significantly more than other tablets. Like the Surface RT, the Pro is well-built and feels sturdy in your hands. Unfortunately, it's also much more difficult to disassemble and service.

(Credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic)

Cracking Open observations

Difficult, time-consuming to open: The Surface Pro's front panel/display assembly is held to the tablet's body with very strong adhesive. To open the device, you'll need to use a heat gun, hair dryer, or other method to heat the adhesive tape and release the panel. This is a slow, tedious process. It took me nearly an hour. But if you rush, you risk damaging the tablet.Too many internal screws: I was glad to find that most internal components were held in place with screws. This usually makes disassembling a device easier than if parts are attached with glue. But Microsoft went a little crazy with the screws. There are dozens of them, and they range in size from Torx T2 to T5. I highly recommend cataloging the location of the screws as you remove them. (Credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic) Replaceable battery: The Surface Pro's 42Wh lithium ion battery isn't soldered to the motherboard and can be replaced. Unfortunately, there's so much glue holding it to the back cover that it's difficult to remove.Modular components: Most internal parts, such as the headphone jack and volume button assembly, speakers, keyboard connector, power connector, and cameras, are separate components and can be replaced individually.Fused front panel and display: Like the Surface RT, the LCD and front glass panel are basically fused together and separating them isn't practical. (Credit: Bill Detwiler/TechRepublic)

Bottom line
After cracking open the consumer-targeted Surface RT, I hoped that Microsoft would make the more business-targeted, and nearly twice as expensive, Surface Pro easier to disassemble and service. It isn't.

In fact, Microsoft took one of worst tablet design elements (a glued-on front panel) and married it with one of the worst laptop elements (an overabundance of screws) to create a device that's more difficult to crack open than even the Apple iPad.

There's no denying that Microsoft is making a bold effort to bridge the gap between tablets and laptops with this device. But as Jason Hiner wrote in his TechRepublic review, the Surface Pro "doesn't quite stand out enough at either function."

A more detailed version of this story was first published on TechRepublic's Cracking Open.

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Microsoft Surface RT to Debut in Japan in March, Says Report

The Microsoft, Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) Surface with Windows RT, better known as the Surface RT, could be out in Japan by March, according to Japanese news service Nikkei.

Compared to the more recent Surface with Windows 8 Professional (Surface Pro), the Surface RT is a more bare-bones tablet, with a stripped-down, “lite” version of Windows 8 for devices based on ARM architecture. It can only run a limited number of applications, including the similarly stripped-down Office RT and Internet Explorer 10, as well as apps purchased through Microsoft’s online storefront.

The Surface RT costs little more than half that of a Surface Pro, with the base 32 GB version priced at only $499. Japanese pricing was not yet revealed, but it is expected that the Surface RT will cost about 50,000 yen, or $531 USD.

Checking on the veracity of the report from Nikkei, CNET was able to get a comment from Microsoft regarding the release of the Surface RT in other markets. The Redmond, Wash.-based company was noncommittal in its answer. “The worldwide customer response to Surface has been exciting and humbling to see,” said Microsoft’s statement. “In order to meet customer demand and retailer expectations, we are taking a phased approach to the availability of Surface. With regard to additional markets, we have nothing further to share at this time.”

The Surface RT was first released in the United States on October 26, but has yet to achieve substantial sales in the tablet market. Other markets where the RT is available include Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, France and Germany.

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Microsoft Surface Tablet to Launch in Japan – Here We Go Again!

Get ready for another bizarre sold-out on release date fiasco – the Microsoft Surface Tablet is apparently heading to Japan. According to new reports posted by the Wall Street Journal this week, Microsoft has confirmed that both versions of the Surface Tablet will hit the Japanese market by the end of the year, though didn’t go so far as to confirm actual release dates.

The move apparently represents part of an ongoing and preplanned global rollout of the Surface RT and Surface Pro Tablets, following their rather shaky arrival in the US.

It is at present widely expected that the Microsoft Surface RT Tablet will be the first to go on sale in Japan and could potentially prove to be primary model of interest for the consumer population. The Surface RT is expected to launch for the same $499 as in the US for the 32GB version, which is likely to attract modest numbers across Japan’s emerging consumer technology market.

Having originally landed in the form of the low-calorie Surface RT Tablet last October, Microsoft’s tablet duo has become quite simply the most debated and scrutinized product launch in the history of the tablet PC market. While the Surface RT was largely panned and being under-functional and underwhelming at best, critics argued that the Surface Pro took things completely OTT and resulted in a price-tag that most would not be able to realistically justify.

Nevertheless, bot the Surface RT and the Surface Pro managed to sell-out in just hours following each release date – something immediately picked up on by the world’s press as a deliberate and rather shameful ploy by Microsoft to drum up further interest in the Surface range.

So, it remains to be seen how the pair gets on in the Japanese market but given the way in which both have yet to really strike any chord with the mainstream in the West, chances are both the Surface Pro and the Surface RT will be in for another rough ride.

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