Surface Pro advice

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#1442584 8-Dec-2015 11:56

Geektastic: So...I am typing this on my new SP4!

I have to say, based on 1 hour of use spent mostly doing setup tasks, that Windows has moved on a great deal! The UI is pleasant and so far fairly straightforward and logical. The setup wizard is well executed too.

The device itself is actually very nice: Apple really ought to have made this. There is a little too much reflection from the screen to be ideal in all light but that is a small niggle. The keypad is actually nice to use - no worse than most laptops really and better than many!

Noel Leeming had one in stock, with a black cover and gave me over $100 discount (which I did not even have to ask for!).

Congratulations! Which NL store did you buy yours at?

I went to one and they didn't offer a cent off, despite asking for the $3999 version.

Geektastic

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#1442607 8-Dec-2015 12:26

heavenlywild:
Geektastic: So...I am typing this on my new SP4!

I have to say, based on 1 hour of use spent mostly doing setup tasks, that Windows has moved on a great deal! The UI is pleasant and so far fairly straightforward and logical. The setup wizard is well executed too.

The device itself is actually very nice: Apple really ought to have made this. There is a little too much reflection from the screen to be ideal in all light but that is a small niggle. The keypad is actually nice to use - no worse than most laptops really and better than many!

Noel Leeming had one in stock, with a black cover and gave me over $100 discount (which I did not even have to ask for!).

Congratulations! Which NL store did you buy yours at?

I went to one and they didn't offer a cent off, despite asking for the $3999 version.

Masterton. I got the i5 model with 8gb RAM and the 256Gb SSD.

I got $61.18 off the SP4 and $75.01 off the Surface 4 Type Cover. Plus 98 Fly Buys to go into my Air NZ pile.

JayADee

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#1442685 8-Dec-2015 13:31

Nice! Give us a review once you've lived with it a while and tell us how you're getting on.

Geektastic

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#1442697 8-Dec-2015 13:43

Am I correct that if I format my external HDD's as exFAT they will work with both El Capitan and Windows 10?

Obviously, if I am editing using the SP4 whilst travelling then exporting the LR catalogues to a disk, the iMac needs to be able to read the disk to import the catalogue when I get home!

heavenlywild

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#1442822 8-Dec-2015 15:13

JayADee: Nice! Give us a review once you've lived with it a while and tell us how you're getting on.

+1. In addition, love to know how loud the fan is in your everyday operations and battery life!

Regs

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#1442928 8-Dec-2015 16:45

Geektastic: Am I correct that if I format my external HDD's as exFAT they will work with both El Capitan and Windows 10?

not sure about El Capitan, but Win10 can read exFAT OK.

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#1443023 8-Dec-2015 18:50

OK, so I have spent a fair bit of time today doing updates and so on and got fairly much everything working, I think! Windows Hello is a great way to log on - can't believe Apple have not done that one.

Did a bit of test editing in Lightroom. It actually opens faster than it did in my MBP. Working with a pen takes a bit of getting used to after years of doing it with a mouse but doing brushes and so on is way easier and more precise. The fan came on a few times in the day but no more than a laptop and is no louder or more intrusive than the one in my MBP, which came on a few times a day (especially when building Lightroom previews after import).

Windows v OSX? I prefer OSX but couldn't tell you genuinely whether that is because I am more used to it. I still don't see why Windows persists in calling drives D:, C: etc instead of hiding that bit and just calling them by name like Macs - so much neater. That said, Windows 10 is a great improvement on whatever version I last used - XP or 2000 or something.

I put a 128Gb micro SD in the slot and it took me a minute or two to find out what the equivalent of a Mac's Finder was so that I could see it and so on but all good now.

So far I am liking it - it still feels a bit unusual after being all Mac for so long but I don't think will last as it becomes more familiar. I now have my iTunes library, Mac mail and Mac calendars aboard too.

I've improved it aesthetically by putting a vinyl decal of the old style Apple logo over the MS one...!!

JayADee

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#1443088 8-Dec-2015 20:31

Geektastic: I've improved it aesthetically by putting a vinyl decal of the old style Apple logo over the MS one...!!

Lol! I think the Surface is pretty stylish.
I'll be putting mine in a UAG case though.

Geektastic

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#1443209 8-Dec-2015 22:59

I'll have to Google that and see what one is.

Battery life thus far has been fairly average. The unit was downloading a lot of stuff and updating things etc today so I suspect wifi use has had a caning. It was fully charged around lunchtime and is at 6% now.

Oh yes - do I have to have the shortcut icons on the desktop or can I just biff them? I do not need them there and it looks messy. Don't want to delete them if it is going to cause some kind of error though.

MikeAqua

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#1443352 9-Dec-2015 09:42

This is worth a read - all the 'clever' background features you may wish to turn off in W10 if you haven't already.

http://windows.wonderhowto.com/how-to/everything-you-need-disable-windows-10-0163552/

This made a significant difference to the performance of my Surface Pro 1 in windows 10. Being an older lower spec unit after installing W10 it was laggy. Shutting down all that background stuff and turning off live tiles resolved that.

Geektastic: ...

Battery life thus far has been fairly average. The unit was downloading a lot of stuff and updating things etc today so I suspect wifi use has had a caning. It was fully charged around lunchtime and is at 6% now.

...

Mike

nathan

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#1443361 9-Dec-2015 09:50

JayADee:
Geektastic: I've improved it aesthetically by putting a vinyl decal of the old style Apple logo over the MS one...!!

Lol! I think the Surface is pretty stylish.
I'll be putting mine in a UAG case though.

STM Dux is nicer IMHO

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rav4chch

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#1444463 9-Dec-2015 13:02

Geektastic: I'll have to Google that and see what one is.

Oh yes - do I have to have the shortcut icons on the desktop or can I just biff them? I do not need them there and it looks messy. Don't want to delete them if it is going to cause some kind of error though.

You can biff them all, it won't cause any issues. I usually delete everything but the recycle bin, but you don't have to keep that either.

Geektastic

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#1445672 9-Dec-2015 18:50

So after Day 2 here is an update.

Lapability not too bad - in fact I am typing this on my lap.

Battery - looks like I should get 7-8 hours today. I turned some stuff off (thanks for that!) and have done some Kindle reading, played with One Note, done some LR & PS editing, surfed the net a while etc so quite reasonable to be honest.

Found Tune Blade that allows me to stream my iTunes like Airplay, so one less difference there now.

Much as it pains me to admit it, I have to say MS have mostly got it right with this device. I think some Apple style battery wizardry would have squeaked another 10 or 15% use out of it (possibly) and there are a few minor things (screen keyboard does not always appear when you need it, you have to press the icon to get it: Apple would have made it just happen; two finger swipes on the track pad randomly stopped working and that kind of thing) that could be improved. Generally though it is a sound device for my requirements and if it fits yours, I do recommend it.

The built in sound is not bad either, actually. Obviously no hi fi but strangely immersive soundstage and good quality. Needs more bass, of course.

Overall so far, this is what the iPad Pro should have been.

Talkiet

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#1446739 9-Dec-2015 20:58

sonyxperiageek: Wow! Four updates!

It's _THAT_ good it needs 4 updates.

Cheers - N.

PS. SO that these two posts make sense after the thread is cleaned, somehow the day 2 updates were posted 4 times in the thread :-)

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

blackjack17

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#1446781 9-Dec-2015 21:52

If you want to use airplay with an apple tv check out airparrot ($10)

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