Surface RT: Anyone Got One? If So Thoughts On It?

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CruciasNZ

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#116155 19-Apr-2013 17:38

I was wondering if any of our resident tech nuts gurus had a Surface RT and would like to comment on what they think of the device, both hardware and software, and New Zealand usage

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#802412 19-Apr-2013 17:45

I bought the 32GB version with blue touch cover when it was released in US and had it shipped to NZ via youshop. With each firmware update and general Windows RT updtae it has only gotten better and faster. I still use mine almost every day to browse the web, play few games, a lot of Skype video calling etc. Battery life is excellent.

You can buy these in NZ now for $739 for the 32GB model or $899 with the touch cover packagae from Jb-Hifi or Harvey Norman.

Microsoft Office 2013 comes installed out of the box. Outlook for Windows RT should be released in an update sometime this year. It prints to my home and work printer fine using the standard class driver. USB port is great. The display looks great despite being only 1366 x 768 resolution. The built in kick stand is very handy.

Do whatever you want to do man.

freitasm

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#802417 19-Apr-2013 18:00

I am using a review model here. Despite my dislike of Metro UI on a laptop, it stands out on a tablet device. Very responsive and easy to use. Actually pretty nice tablet.

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CruciasNZ

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#802419 19-Apr-2013 18:04

Thanks for the responses you two. Do your models have 3G? or just Wi-Fi?

How's it for app store variety? Is there a reliable video player, eBook reader, Facebook Message app?

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freitasm

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#802424 19-Apr-2013 18:11

Just Wifi. Amazon Kindle available, although I rather use the Kindle device itself. Facebook Messenger is integrated to the Messenger app when you add your Facebook account (like Windows Phone). I just found an iPad app Bella wanted to play in the store...

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#802427 19-Apr-2013 18:17

I love the RT device, could easily use it place of an ipad (and more). There are no models with 3g/4g though and that's a bit of a PITA - I have to use a personal wifi (or wifi ap on phone).

The built in messaging does facebook messages. The built in video player app is ok - daughter watched 3.5 hours of movies/tv on the plane one trip. Kindle and Kobo are there although I haven't tried them out, RDP apps are awesome - both the metro version and the full desktop version. Skydrive, facebook, flickr integration into pictures hub is great.

I love the hardware, the kickstand and the charging - magnetic connector charges fast. Having USB and HDMI ports is great.

I do find it a little sluggish at times, but I expect that will get better with more updates and optimised code.

If I could have a surface pro with exactly the same form factor as the surface RT, and the addition of 3G, then it would be unbeatable and i'd replace my laptop/desktop.

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Dairyxox

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#802436 19-Apr-2013 18:25

Ive spent a couple of days with one. They're pretty nice. Just make sure you apply the updates ASAP.
Battery life is good.

A couple of cons:
-The app store is a bit naff if you're used to other mobile platforms
-Email & Contacts its not as integrated as it could be (like the 'people' metro app, adding contacts from an address book, i had to use sign up google contacts, import csv into google, then sync to windows. That didnt make it easy.

I also found the screen a bit dimmer than I would have liked. Auto brightness never seemed to compensate enough. Anyone else find this?

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#802494 19-Apr-2013 19:39

Got one. Love it. Battery life is great. Screen is very clear. The updates make it very smooth.

As for apps. If you want more apps, you just change region in control panel and then go back in to the app store and get the apps from the region you have chosen. This is how I got Netflix. Changing back to NZ region still updates the apps. Obviously this also works for Windows 8.

Great device and personally much more useful than an iPad. I also picked up a $10 cordless mouse with USB receiver at last weekends Harvey Norman sale and this works perfectly with the RT.

And as for apps, this is one that is looking quite interesting - Touchmail
http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-US/app/be8bb8da-15eb-49dd-9073-552201dc0a75

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#802519 19-Apr-2013 20:45

With just 2GB of ram, do you guys notice any slow downs, or find that you have to restart it once every few days?

semigeek

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#802524 19-Apr-2013 20:57

No slow downs here. Runs fine

Skillie

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#802639 20-Apr-2013 08:41

Yes, we have a Surface RT with the type cover - it is brilliant. The kickstand makes it more productive when typing documents in Word (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Note pre loaded on RT).

We hope the next version will have 3G/4G and that windows media player will return.

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CruciasNZ

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#802885 20-Apr-2013 19:20

What about storage space? The 32 GB model has an SD card reader, but how much spare space is on the drive? I'd imagine apps are locked to the drive just like in WP8

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grant_k

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#802887 20-Apr-2013 19:27

CruciasNZ: What about storage space? The 32 GB model has an SD card reader, but how much spare space is on the drive? I'd imagine apps are locked to the drive just like in WP8

My son has one, which he brought out with him earlier in the year, and I had a good play with it. From memory, about 7GB was used by Windows RT, with the rest available for the user.

CruciasNZ

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#802890 20-Apr-2013 19:29

As always you guys are awesome, thank you for satisfying my curiosity. It's now been added to my budget list :)

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billgates

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#802893 20-Apr-2013 19:37

From what I can recall, I think my storage free out of the box was 16GB odd. I still have 5GB free. There is a micro SDXC card slot to put movies, photos and videos on to if you run out.

Do whatever you want to do man.

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#802900 20-Apr-2013 20:16

I was given one, it is awesome. I use it all the time. The screen is great and being able to connect USB devices makes it flexible.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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