First price drop for this Surface RT tablet.
I have one myself I got at launch. Great hardware and software, but I have to admit it is a bit underpowered and slow at times. App Store isn't great. Still, this is a significant price drop and an excellent tablet for casual use. As this is RT, Office comes preinstalled (full version - not a trial).
It uses Windows RT instead of Windows 8 which means it can only run new 'metro' tablet style apps available in the windows store; it won't run old desktop apps (except for Office which is preinstalled). But it has better battery life, is lighter and quieter- but it also has much less processing power.
Pro also comes with digitizer, where as RT does not.
Office on Windows RT isn't as full featured as on the Surface Pro.
seems like RT is better value from that tablet crunch link?
Stripped down mobile version of Windows 8 vs. full version of desktop Windows 8
one big difference is that surface pro has full windows 8, i.e. same as what you would get on your laptop/pc.
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/which-surface-is-righ…
With the smiliar price. You are better off buy ASUS ME400C or Acer W510.
I agree the Atom internal is better, but Surface has better build quality and better keyboard(s).
If you don't need full Windows 8, then you won't be losing much by going for the Surface. Especially if you want to use Office.
Not really because it is not x86 platform you will lose a lot.
As a Tablet, Surface RT is more than sufficient.
It's just not a laptop/ultrabook replacement like the Pro.
And it's less than half the price.
People have to understand it is not a Windows PC or Laptop.
Think it is more like an iPad but with a lot less apps.
I almost got the Asus from the recent sales, but figured I'd really miss a keyboard, being full Windows and all. So ended up getting a HP Envy X2 refurb for $550. Slightly more expensive and bigger, but feels and looks nice and the keyboard is great imo. Didn't really want to be restricted with the Windows RT and it's limitedness.
where do you get hp refurbs from?
Mine was from a private eBay seller, who claimed it was a refurb. And I guess he was honest as the device looks and behaves like a brand new, as far as I can tell. Don't know how he got it though.
Keyboard with case was only 118 for hn. Love my asus
trust me, don;t get it, I gotta return it after 2 days of using
why?
Because the only thing you can really use it for is browsing, email and Office. Since it can't run x86, you're limited to apps in the Windows store which has a pitifully poor selection.
It's true, I bought mine thinking I'd use it more often than I currently am but it's been sitting on my MUMS bed tabletop for weeks at a time. Luckily enough for me I will be resuming university next semester and will use it for pdf reading, ms office products, quick usb transfers and modifications. On a good note, I don't really have to lug around a huge laptop and will just bring this along with me.
At the time, I had a choice between the Galaxy Note 10.1 or this, since I didn't like the plastic feel of Samsung, I chose this. It does look sleek though, the form is flawless.
I don't think anyone can fault the fit and finish of the Surface. The thing looks and feels like a million bucks. But the dearth of apps make this a poor deal for most, even with the discount… unless you're a hardcore Office user.
I returned mine as well. Poor OS, good build quality. No support for Pop3 email, Exchange email for work that functioned perfectly on Android and Iphone didn't work on this no matter what the IT guys did. Bought my Acer W510 and was up and running in minutes with the same email address and password configuration I tried with the Surface RT. I would buy the pro if it was available and not overpriced as the look and feel are top notch
You need new IT guys, I'm using my exchange, IMAP and Outlook emails =/
The pro is priced at ultra book level, fits right in for the feature set it comes with.
Id agree with you if they didnt talk to Microsoft gold support directly. I think they have a pretty good idea. FYI, not all exchange servers are equal, nor are all environments so because it works for you, doesnt mean it works for all.
I'm using my one now to comment on this post, great unit if you use it as intended :)
RT can only run apps from MS Store not traditional Windows programs because it is not using X86.
Windows RT — not worth investing into. Limited app support, and the baked in Mail and Music apps feel more like betas than a finished product. Plus, RT tabs aren't that much cheaper than their X86 counterparts.
By the time RT becomes mature, this tablet would've been considered fairly obsolete.
Get the Atom based Vivotab instead.
Valid criticisms. I still don't see the great need for X86 apps on tablets though. Mostly all people to do is browse the web.
The only thing I think I'd like it for, is web browser plug ins like last pass.
If only for browsing the web an $200 Andriod tablet will do the job.
point taken, but still…ew
I love the Windows 8 Mail app, has improved significantly with each update.
Give me surface pro!!!
It comes out tomorrow :)
was about to say that I was pretty sure the Surface Pro wasn't available in Aus yet as I'd been looking into it for procurement.
458? not good enough for just the 32bit version
given the much more powerful Asus / acer ones beat it by almost 80 dollars.
Surface RT has the good design but only when it coupled with the keyboard.
Hence if it is 488 with touch type cover, then this is worth a go!
the full version office is a waste of space on 32 GB version…
for Surface RT to really take off, it needs to be like 588 with touch cover and 64GB!!!
For RT to take off it needs 3G models, the only bad thing about my Surface :(
I was mildly interested in the RT, largely to use with the touch cover keyboard. Then I actually tried the keyboard on a display model. It was the most shockingly abysmal piece of hardware that I have ever come across. I would have been embarrassed to release something like that to the public. It's so unresponsive and has little benefit over using an on-screen keyboard because of the lack of tactile feedback.
It's not as good as a traditional keyboard to be sure. Still what it lacks in usability, it makes up for in lightness. It's basically just a cover that is also a keyboard.
You get used to typing on it after a while, just have to give it some time. It's actually very responsive and, while it doesn't have any tactile feedback, it has the little divets on the f and j keys, plus it makes a sound…..plus it doesn't take up half the screen typing.
Or just get the type keyboard which they don't bundle. They touch keyboard is horrible for touch typing.
I am totally not intrested with the "RT"………which is working on the ARM construction.
So not recommend this one.
Argh I have this constant problem on the Hardley normal page where all the menus drop down and won't retract thereby hiding the product details. Can anyone tell me what causes this ?
edit nevermind it occurs in IE but not chrome I'll just switch browsers
Surface RT is still overpriced. Luckily I managed to get the vivotab at a cheaper price, 360 only
That is a good price. Where from?
720, No 1200p (or at the min, hd-1080 on 10" tablets) rule Microsoft out.
Some of the comments on here are insane. I'd love a Surface Pro as much as the next guy (especially after playing with one today)- but the RT is designed for a specific purpose. It's a tablet - not a PC and as a result it costs half as much and runs twice as long. So keep in mind - this is 'cheap' when you compare it to the Pro. Also - apps may be the be all and end all on phones - but they're nowhere near as significant on a tablet when everything can be accessed via the browser. Why not get a cheap Android? Well - build quality, the awesome screen, being able to run 2 apps side by side, being able to use the awesome touch/type covers, being able to access full usb devices, having a full desktop (network shares, Control Panel etc), being able to have multiple users logged in (Account switching), having Office 2013 etc. Apps is only part of the story - when I am sitting at home managing my home server using SMB drives mapped to my libraries and even hoping into Remote Desktop - I can't imagine a better device (besides the Pro ofcourse :) )
Apps > using a browser
being able to access full usb devices, - some android tablets can do this or use a usb otg cable.
being able to run 2 apps side by side - I think the Note tablets can do this
being able to have multiple users logged in - those with jellybean can do this
having a full desktop (network shares, Control Panel etc) - do you mean apps like splashtop/teamviewer?
having Office 2013 - this is good thing about the tablet, but it's still not full featured as the Office you'd get on the Pro version
Don't get me wrong - I agree having apps is better than a browser - but considering this has a full Desktop browser with flash capabilities, it's fine for 90% of the things you want to do. The apps are coming - it's a new platform and the push is towards touch friendly Windows Store apps (rather than traditional Win32 apps). So slowly but surely, there will be substitutes for a lof of desktop apps (although not all - and this is where the Surface Pro shines because you can run stuff like Lightroom on a tablet). Also don't forget all the goodness that's coming with the Windows Blue update.
I agree 'some' Android tablets can do some of those things (although not always elegantly) - but what I am saying is people will dismiss the Surface because it doesn't have the 'apps' without thinking about all the other things it can do. The touch and type covers are a perfect example. Sure you can get keyboards for Android and Ipads - but none of them do it as nicely as this or are packaged so neatly into the system as they are. Its a genius implementation - and you gotta give credit where it's due.
A lot of people say they should remove the desktop from the Windows RT. I completely disagree. I've mapped all my Windows shares into my libraries and can manage files from the comfort of the couch. I can snap two documents side by side on the desktop. I can plug in USB sticks and hardrives and snap two file explorers side by side - all the stuff we take for granted on a PC. I am sure some Android tablets will let you plug in a USB device - but I am guessing the file management is nowhere near as elegant as Windows Desktop allows it to be.
I am not sure how Android manages Network user accounts either - but that's another thing I couldn't live without. Having network user accounts saved into my Windows account allows me to browse my server at home based on Windows user accounts specified on the server.
If you want apps - that's completely fair enough - this may not be the device for you - but let's not dismiss a perfectly good device because the app ecosystem is fresh.
whats the difference between this one and Surface Pro?