Microsoft Surface RT - worth purchasing

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bbunnys

321 posts

Ultimate Geek

#127052 28-Jul-2013 16:34

So I see the RT has come down to $500 now which seems like a good price.

I currently rock an Ipad mini but find it quite small for watching video inc Plex, and Netflix, also surfing the web.

Cant really afford a 32gb full size Ipad currently or would look at that.

Question is how does RT hold up for surfing web, watching video and light gaming.

Also how is app store can you get all the main apps now like Netflix, Spotify etc

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#867440 28-Jul-2013 16:46

16:9 screen so perfect for videos. No Spotity app for Windows 8 yet AFAIK but you can use Xbox Music which also offers free music streaming. Netflix app is available if you switch the region to US under control panel and works fine with your VPN/DNS provider. Web browsing is fast as IE10 metro app is really good and even supports Flash so you can watch iSky on it.

Battery life is about 9.5 hours for me when browsing the web. The only thing you will find lacking maybe is the app store which is only getting better. Facebook app will be released anytime now as it was announced late last month.

Do whatever you want to do man.

semigeek

1606 posts

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#867441 28-Jul-2013 16:46

I love my RT, there are a lot of negative reviews around, but I just ignore those. You can get Netflix, but you have to change region to United States in Control Panel to install it, you can then change back to NZ and it will work fine. I have Plex on an old laptop and stream to the RT no problems at all. The email app isn't the best, but with the 8.1 update there is Outlook.

Battery life is fantastic, display is pretty damn good. Sound through the inbuilt speakers is adequate, but with headphones its great. I have heaps of useful apps on mine and a few games, unfortunately there is no Spotify, well not at the moment anyway. Hopefully it does come. Nor is there Chrome Browser, but IE from the desktop works fine.

For the price you are getting a great machine with extra ports that aren't found on iPads. Personally though, I would spend a bit extra and get a touch or type keyboard.

All in all, its a excellent buy that doesn't get enough respect. I see this as people being swayed by the iPad, but it is so much more useful than an iPad, especially with Office.

Buy it, I guarantee you will like it

z2k

320 posts

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#867446 28-Jul-2013 16:52

For Spotify, you can always use the web player. Only problem is that the music stops when you put the device in standby.

bbunnys

321 posts

Ultimate Geek

#867449 28-Jul-2013 16:55

Thats good, so things like Spotify web all work on the RT. Some devices I load web player up on refuse to play content.

z2k

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#867451 28-Jul-2013 17:00

bbunnys: Thats good, so things like Spotify web all work on the RT. Some devices I load web player up on refuse to play content.

"Desktop" IE is one of the main advantages the Surface RT has over Android and iOS.

You can use the web player and play on your device without a premium subscription. Hulu works very well too :)

billgates

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#867457 28-Jul-2013 17:04

Hulu has an app anyways in the Windows store :-)

Do whatever you want to do man.

bbunnys

321 posts

Ultimate Geek

#867460 28-Jul-2013 17:09

Sorry for all the questions but like to ask guys who have used it.

I see it has a USB port as well, can you put a USB stick in it and watch movies/TV from it. Like when on a flight and does it support most formats.

Id normally use Plex and plex sync function on Ipad but see plex sync is not available for RT version.

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z2k

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#867464 28-Jul-2013 17:13

bbunnys: Sorry for all the questions but like to ask guys who have used it.

I see it has a USB port as well, can you put a USB stick in it and watch movies/TV from it. Like when on a flight and does it support most formats.

Id normally use Plex and plex sync function on Ipad but see plex sync is not available for RT version.

Yup, you can use it for external storage, mouse, keyboards, Xbox 360 controllers..

@billgates - I meant you can watch Hulu from the browser without having to pay for a subscription.

semigeek

1606 posts

Uber Geek

#867465 28-Jul-2013 17:15

Just as an extra, these are my favourite apps on RT. Some you will need to change region to install. I always browse the store when set to Australia, UK and US when looking for apps.

Anyway :

Netflix
Office
Twitter
Kobo
Kindle
Slacker Radio
Tunein
Media Monkey
PC Monitor
Free Books
Vevo
Adera
Your Converter
Songza
fotor Color Splash Studio
Rockmelt
Crackle Appy Geek
Nasa Be a Martian

I have more, but like I said, these are my faves.

Lots of stuff can also be done in the browser, like Hulu etc

dickytim

2514 posts

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#886062 28-Aug-2013 18:41

Does anyone know if the air play it app is on rt?

dickytim

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#886128 28-Aug-2013 20:03

I am looking at getting one as my gf has taken my ipad 128gb from me, i cant really afford or justify another Ipad so at $500 this seems to be a great option.

I want to use like an ipad so the lack of full window operating system wont matter, but with office this would seem to make it more useful than an ipad, anyone with both have an opinion on thos?

Dairyxox

1594 posts

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#886207 28-Aug-2013 21:38

its not all roses however when it comes to built in codecs....you might laugh but i had trouble with mpg files with mpeg2 video content.

I wanted to use my 'old' JVC digital video camera with it but it wasnt happening. I guess its re-encode time for those clips.

dickytim

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#886308 29-Aug-2013 06:51

Dairyxox: its not all roses however when it comes to built in codecs....you might laugh but i had trouble with mpg files with mpeg2 video content.

I wanted to use my 'old' JVC digital video camera with it but it wasnt happening. I guess its re-encode time for those clips.

Video would be secondary for the most part, we have TV's, I have a WD TV Live on it's way, also I can transcode easy enough!

dickytim

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#886464 29-Aug-2013 12:37

Ok, I got a customer return one from Noel Leeming for $499 (64GB version)

So far I love the typing on the screen, I have downloaded an RDP app, which works well, I haven't yet upgraded to 8.1 but will tonight to get Outlook etc.

I am actually thinking as a business device these could replace our fleet of Ipads, for the price you can't go wrong! the only limitation is no built in 3G.

networkn

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#886476 29-Aug-2013 12:59

I quite like the MS Tablets, they are the closest things to productivity devices of that nature that exist in my opinon, however they have two fatal flaws. Pro needs to have the same form factor as the RT, and Office needs to be INCLUDED in the purchase price. In my opinion without those two things, it will not be the powerhouse it could be.

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