I think I may pick up a surface 2.


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So around this time last year I was looking for a tablet. For web/email/games and so on. I ended up getting the iPad mini with retina display. I love that little tablet. I was torn with the surface but never got it.

I still find myself playing with them at the store. Recently, with the price cut I've been really checking them out again. $349 seems like a good deal. With a touch cover later it'll be great.

I recently discovered a need for what it has. While on vacation I took ally of pictures and wanted to share them right away but couldn't. Then I found online at BH photo a USB stick that was an SD card reader. For like $10. Not bad. So I could take pictures, put the USB stick in and upload my pictures that way and be done. Neat! I can't do that now which kind of sucks. I ran out of space on my SD cards so I ended up deleting some.

Another thing I discovered was a Team Viewer Touch app. So I can log into my PC and use that to use desktop apps if I really needed...which I won't most likely.

Has anyone else thought about the surface 2 again since the price drop? I know Walmart has their holiday lay-a-way coming up so I may throw it on there so I don't have to part with too much money upfront.

I don't think I'll get the LTE version since I can turn my phone into a hot spot. But I'm normally connected to wifi.

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skip the surface and only go pro.  You will thank me immensely as you can run anything on it you want...the only limitation is hardware not os and hardware.

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skip the surface and only go pro.  You will thank me immensely as you can run anything on it you want...the only limitation is hardware not os and hardware.

 

I've really debated that, but I cant justify the cost.  There really isn't a benefit for what I need a pro for. 

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What would be bad if you buy S2 RT and MS announces S3 RT.

That's another reason why lay-a-way is great until Christmas.  If something new comes out I can change it.  S2 does seem like it's worth it though. 

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I actually just purchased the Surface 2 yesterday because of the reduced price and ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT.  Totally worth the purchase. 
I purchased a screen protector as well because I like the matte finish of the protector that was on one of the demos in the store, but I had to wait a whopping 30 min for someone to install it for me because there were 8 other people in line who were also waiting to getting either a protector installed on their S2 or getting help on how to use their brand new S2 (so yes lots of people were buying them... I actually bought the last black Type Cover 2 because they ran out from everyone buying S2's that day).  It came with a free sleeve too! :)

 

Don't listen to any negative crap online.  Most people who slam it have never actually tried it, or they are looking for something more powerful.  For most users, the S2 is good enough for a primary device and for powerusers it's a great complimentary device for your main desktop.

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I've really debated that, but I cant justify the cost.  There really isn't a benefit for what I need a pro for. 

Just be sure that whatever you want to install supports RT.  There are many apps that don't, itunes is an example of such an app. 

 

This still stands today, if you are used to 8 the 10th item is bunked.

http://www.cnet.com/news/top-10-biggest-drawbacks-of-windows-rt/

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Just be sure that whatever you want to install supports RT. There are many apps that don't, itunes is an example of such an app.

This still stands today, if you are used to 8 the 10th item is bunked.

http://www.cnet.com/news/top-10-biggest-drawbacks-of-windows-rt/

Thanks. Looking at the App Store all the ones I need say x86, x64, ARM so I assume that's good for surface ?

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Just be sure that whatever you want to install supports RT.  There are many apps that don't, itunes is an example of such an app. 

 

This still stands today, if you are used to 8 the 10th item is bunked.

http://www.cnet.com/news/top-10-biggest-drawbacks-of-windows-rt/

 

That article was a hilarious read. Half of the points are just "traditional programs won't run" restated over and over. And the article is from 2012, so a couple of the other points, like limited apps, are less of an issue. Although if the apps you need aren't available, that's still an issue.

 

Honestly, if your need for desktop programs is limited and you can remote to  a full computer using Remote Desktop or Teamviewer or Splashtop for them when you do need them, the Surface 2 is an excellent device. I've basically retired my laptop in favor of my original Surface.

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I see all the hate about the ARM versions of Surface and I don't get it.

 

I had the original Surface Pro. It didn't took long for me to realize that it would never become a replacement for my much more powerful laptop (and soon to become a far more powerful desktop). Size, weight, battery life, price were not ideal, so I looked towards the Surface 2 and the iPad. I went with the former and never regretted it. I got the 32GB version, added a 64GB SD card for $35, and store more videos that I can handle. The browsing experience is excellent (especially if you enable the ad blocker that comes with modern IE and very few people know about). And when it comes to accessing my main machine, remote desktop (the one that comes by default with the system) works great. And the few touch apps I use such as for Reddit or Twitter, also work great.

 

I very rarely thought "oh man, I wish I could run that x86 app right now". It has happened, but not enough to bridge the gap between that need, and my love for the hardware. The screen is excellent, the kickstand is more useful than it may seem, and the keyboard mechanism is very convenient for me; much more than those of tablets like the T100. There's also the little things like the fact that it charges MUCH faster than any other device I've seen, and battery life has been great.

 

...I feel like such a weirdo saying that I actually enjoy my Surface 2!

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I did not end up picking one up yet.  The sale ended.  I didn't take notice it was only for a few days.  

 

 

I am going to wait to end of September since I believe there is a microsoft event around then.  If not, then probably around the holidays if it comes down more.  

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