Windows Surface Tablet

[Pushead2]

I tried to search for a thread on this and didn't see any (forgiveness please if Q).

Anyone purchase one of these? Either the 1st generation or the 2nd?

eBay daily deals has a deal on what appears to be the 1st generation, 32GB for only $180.

I primarily will use it for social networking, watching some NHL GameCenter Live and sometimes movies / TV shows.

[007]

I had one and sent it back. the Lack of any real MKV support sucked. Plus, I had all kinds of issues with the wifi dropping on it all the time. If you search the wifi thing is a common problem with them.

[Pushead2]

Originally Posted by Guru

I had one and sent it back. the Lack of any real MKV support sucked. Plus, I had all kinds of issues with the wifi dropping on it all the time. If you search the wifi thing is a common problem with them.

Hmmm, not exactly a stellar review. It seems that its been a hit or miss for people.


I'm in the market for a tablet but I refuse to spend more than $200 but I'd prefer the 10" screen.

[Vegas_Dave]

Depends on your needs. I use a Dell 8" Windows Tablet and really like it. But I do miss the Swype keyboard of the Android tablets.

[Pushead2]

Originally Posted by Vegas_Dave

Depends on your needs. I use a Dell 8" Windows Tablet and really like it. But I do miss the Swype keyboard of the Android tablets.

Just browsing IG, twitter, watch some shows / movies, normal web browsing & the main thing is to be able to watch NHL GameCenter Live.

I like the idea of the 10" screen, but with the price range I'm looking at, I think I might get a Nexus 7.

[Vegas_Dave]

Originally Posted by Pushead2

Just browsing IG, twitter, watch some shows / movies, normal web browsing & the main thing is to be able to watch NHL GameCenter Live.

I like the idea of the 10" screen, but with the price range I'm looking at, I think I might get a Nexus 7.

I have my Galaxy Tab 8.9 (8.9" screen) that runs like a champ for sale. I have it overclocked and it's screen is still flawless. Back is scuffed but who cares too much about that.

PM me if interested.

[007]

Originally Posted by Pushead2

Just browsing IG, twitter, watch some shows / movies, normal web browsing & the main thing is to be able to watch NHL GameCenter Live.

I like the idea of the 10" screen, but with the price range I'm looking at, I think I might get a Nexus 7.

If you plan to do a lot of online streaming I wouldn't go with the Surface. Whenever I tried to stream anything that was when the wifi drops were the most annoying.

[kcxiv]

Originally Posted by Pushead2

Just browsing IG, twitter, watch some shows / movies, normal web browsing & the main thing is to be able to watch NHL GameCenter Live.

I like the idea of the 10" screen, but with the price range I'm looking at, I think I might get a Nexus 7.

I have a Nexus 10 bought it last summer, i use it all the time. Its great for for bathroom breaks! lol Its a beautiful tablet. The only problem is the lack of SD card, but for me thats not a real problem, i use it for mostly surfing and the occasional netflix usage and now MLB.TV app for games when im out and about and want to watch some baseball.

[Lex Luthor]

For the price range you're looking at you would get a device running Windows 8 RT, not Windows 8 Professional. That may not sound like a significant difference, but believe me, IT IS.

Windows 8 RT is a piece of crap. It's not really Windows at all. It's an OS that looks and feels exactly like Windows, but you can't install standard Windows applications on it. The only apps you can install are the ones that Microsoft ports over to the RT platform and makes available in the Windows RT store.

Microsoft sells both a Surface RT (total crap), and a Surface Pro (runs real Windows 8). The Surface Pro is much more expensive.

I have a Microsoft Surface RT. the only time I ever turn it on is to update it whenever Microsoft has Windows 8 updates and to show people what a horrible piece of crap Windows 8 RT truly is. I also have a Dell tablet that runs Windows 8 Professional. I turn it on once or twice a week. At least that thing runs standard applications, so it's 1000 times more useful than the crappy Surface RT.

I also have a Samsung Galaxy Tab that runs Android, and I have an an IPad. Both are FAR superior to any Windows tablet. The iPad is by far my favorite, but it sounds like an iPad is probably out of your price range.

You should go with an Android tablet. Any of them can do what you're looking for at the price you're looking for.

[Pushead2]

Originally Posted by Brainiac

For the price range you're looking at you would get a device running Windows 8 RT, not Windows 8 Professional. That may not sound like a significant difference, but believe me, IT IS.

Windows 8 RT is a piece of crap. It's not really Windows at all. It's an OS that looks and feels exactly like Windows, but you can't install standard Windows applications on it. The only apps you can install are the ones that Microsoft ports over to the RT platform and makes available in the Windows RT store.

Microsoft sells both a Surface RT (total crap), and a Surface Pro (runs real Windows 8). The Surface Pro is much more expensive.

I have a Microsoft Surface RT. the only time I ever turn it on is to update it whenever Microsoft has Windows 8 updates and to show people what a horrible piece of crap Windows 8 RT truly is. I also have a Dell tablet that runs Windows 8 Professional. I turn it on once or twice a week. At least that thing runs standard applications, so it's 1000 times more useful than the crappy Surface RT.

I also have a Samsung Galaxy Tab that runs Android, and I have an an IPad. Both are FAR superior to any Windows tablet. The iPad is by far my favorite, but it sounds like an iPad is probably out of your price range.

You should go with an Android tablet. Any of them can do what you're looking for at the price you're looking for.

Thanks for the details - it seems that RT is in fact a piece of shit from what I've read elsewhere.

I think I'm going to have to end up getting the Nexus 7 even though I would have like the 10" screen.

[007]

Originally Posted by Pushead2

Thanks for the details - it seems that RT is in fact a piece of shit from what I've read elsewhere.

I think I'm going to have to end up getting the Nexus 7 even though I would have like the 10" screen.

IF you can be patient, you would be surprised at the 10" deals that pop up on www.slickdeals.com every now and then. I don't know that you will see one come in at $200 often but they do happen.

[Pushead2]

Originally Posted by Brainiac

For the price range you're looking at you would get a device running Windows 8 RT, not Windows 8 Professional. That may not sound like a significant difference, but believe me, IT IS.

Windows 8 RT is a piece of crap. It's not really Windows at all. It's an OS that looks and feels exactly like Windows, but you can't install standard Windows applications on it. The only apps you can install are the ones that Microsoft ports over to the RT platform and makes available in the Windows RT store.

Microsoft sells both a Surface RT (total crap), and a Surface Pro (runs real Windows 8). The Surface Pro is much more expensive.

I have a Microsoft Surface RT. the only time I ever turn it on is to update it whenever Microsoft has Windows 8 updates and to show people what a horrible piece of crap Windows 8 RT truly is. I also have a Dell tablet that runs Windows 8 Professional. I turn it on once or twice a week. At least that thing runs standard applications, so it's 1000 times more useful than the crappy Surface RT.

I also have a Samsung Galaxy Tab that runs Android, and I have an an IPad. Both are FAR superior to any Windows tablet. The iPad is by far my favorite, but it sounds like an iPad is probably out of your price range.

You should go with an Android tablet. Any of them can do what you're looking for at the price you're looking for.

An iPad 2 is within my reasonable price range but is it going to be like most Apple Products that they are left for shit once they upgrade?

Aren't they on the 5th generation of the iPad already?

[DaveNull]

Originally Posted by Pushead2

An iPad 2 is within my reasonable price range but is it going to be like most Apple Products that they are left for shit once they upgrade?

Aren't they on the 5th generation of the iPad already?

In general Apple is great at supporting their stuff with software updates as long as the hardware will push it than any Android device. Google and the hardware makers haven't been able to get any more than 3.5% of total Android devices up to the current version. That's compared to Apple getting 74% of their devices up to iOS 7 as of December, with only 4% stuck on iOS 5 or earlier.

My 2007 iMac was running the most recent version of the OS. The only Mac I've used that got stuck without updates was a 2008 Mac Pro that wouldn't got to Mountain Lion but it would run everything before it without a problem.

Right now the first iPad won't run iOS 7, but that's because it had something like 256MB of RAM which was pretty slim.

That said, you're right that the iPad 2 is pretty long in the tooth. If you bought one now, I wouldn't expect to run iOS 8 one it when that drops in the fall.

For what it's worth, my OG iPad still plays back video just fine and we use it for the things you described in your original post.

[Lex Luthor]

Originally Posted by Pushead2

An iPad 2 is within my reasonable price range but is it going to be like most Apple Products that they are left for shit once they upgrade?

Aren't they on the 5th generation of the iPad already?

What most people don't know is that even though Apple has introduced several newer models of the iPad, up until two months ago they continued to produce and sell new iPad 2s as a lower cost option.

My iPad is an iPad 2. I've had it for several years and I can't believe how much I love that little tablet. I normally like to stay current on technology, but I see nothing in the newer iPads that compels me to go out and buy one. My iPad 2 still runs IOS 6,and I have no plans to upgrade.

Two weeks ago I decided to buy an iPad 2 for my wife. Best Buy recently sold out their inventory, but I was able to find one at the Office Max store in Lenexa.

An iPad 2 would be a great choice for a low-cost tablet. As has been pointed out, it probably won't run IOS 8, but the one I bought two weeks ago came pre-loaded with IOS 7,and Apple hasn't even announced yet when IOS 8 will be available.

An iPad 2 would do just fine for you, if you can still find one.

.

[Xanathol]

Originally Posted by Guru

All I did was post my first hand experience with it. Don't know how that was being anti windows RT.

Wasn't really replying to you man.

Originally Posted by Brainiac

If somebody asks for my opinion about a Microsoft Surface RT, I will continue to say exactly what I said the first time. I'm not going to say "Yeah, it's Windows baby!" and leave it up to the person asking the question to go do his own resarch. He'll be severely disappointed if he shells out his hard-earned cash and then discovers that he can't load standard Windows software on a product manufactured by Microsoft and running Microsoft's OS, especially when Microsoft calls the OS Windows 8 RT.

Something as wrong as that needs to be pointed out, especially when someone asks specifically about the Surface RT.

Yes, if you are technically savvy enough you can get around the app signing and you can compile your own apps to be portable and run on the ARM architecture. Bully for you. But that's not what a typical user is going to do. Especially when the user says up front that he will primarily use his new tablet for social networking and watching sports and TV.

The Surface RT was resoundingly rejected by the marketplace. Microsoft took a $900 million loss on it in the 4th quarter of 2013 because those pieces of shit weren't selling, and Steve Ballmer lost his job shortly after that. That's something else a potential buyer should be aware of.

There's nothing wrong the ARM architecture itself. What was wrong was all of the boneheaded decisions Microsoft made regarding Windows 8 on ARM and Windows 8 in general. You obviously agree, and you recommended avoiding the Surface RT. I just found it puzzling that you defended the product so vehemently that you referred to honest criticism of it as "crap" and "misinformation".

If information is correct and useful, it's neither "crap" nor "misinformation".

You can say whatever you like of course but saying 'it isn't really Windows' is incorrect.

There's no denying that the decision to go ARM vs Atom was a poor one (driven by a perceived need to differentiate the RT from the Pro), but that didn't cost Steve his job alone - he'd been failing for at least a decade. Anyway, this is my biggest gripe about the RT; MS knew the expectations and decided to try to profit off the confusion instead of eliminating it.

All that said, its still a damned good product, which just makes it more embarrassing to screw up. There's really no reason to choose an equivalent iPad or Andriod tablet over the RT other than LTE or some app that may not exist on the RT. Take whatever those tablets do and the RT gives you more. But again, the Dell or something like it is MUCH better.