A True Tablet/Laptop Hybrid Arrives

With Christmas fast approaching I wanted to write one more time before the end of the year about Microsoft Surface line of tablets. This is truly the first affordable and usable tablet/laptop hybrid available today.

There are two distinct versions here so be aware of the differences before you decide to purchase one.

First there is the Surface RT (gen 1) or Surface 2 (gen 2). This version does not run Windows Pro and therefore you can not run native Windows applications and you are restricted to the Windows Store for your applications. However this one does come with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook pre-installed. If you primarily only use your tablet for Microsoft Office services, email and internet this one can be found for under $300 (RT) and $449 (Surface 2).

The more powerful (and expansive) version is the Surface Pro (gen 1) and Surface Pro 2 (gen 2). Here you get everything that comes with the RT or Surface 2 but because it is running full Windows 8.1 you can run any native Windows application. This one starts at $899.

For me I have the Surface Pro 2 and during my recent vacation away from the office I was able to travel with this exclusively with no need to also drag along a laptop. This is a big deal to me because I often have to work on the road, connect in to various workstations and servers to provide remote support. I was called upon to do this several times this past trip and the Surface Pro 2 performed admirably. What a sense of freedom it was to only have to bring this small form factor tablet/PC with me!  I have never before found anything that could handle these tasks outside of a laptop. Because this also acts as a tablet you can get away with leaving your iPAD behind as well.

The Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 can also be connected to a dock ($199) at your office which when connected to your local network can act as an office PC. When you work day is done you simply disconnect from the dock and travel how with your tablet/PC.

The dock has plenty of USB ports, video/audio out, LAN and is self powered.

The Surface sits very nice in the dock and connects by pushing the 2 sides in.

Once connected you can use your Surface on your local network.

With the dock you can of course use a large monitor, keyboard, mouse and external speakers. This is a great setup for your office and allows you to truly have a travelling office.

 

If someone is looking for a good laptop/tablet hybrid this is what I currently recommend. You can learn more here.

 

Surface 2 & Surface 2 Pro Details Emerge

This week Microsoft announced the release of their next generation of the Surface tablet family. There is a little confusion here regarding the two - very different tablets so here are some details to consider.

The Surface 2 & Surface Pro 2 - side by side.

The Surface 2 is built around an Nvidia Tegra 4 processor, which increases battery life to up to 10 hours and makes apps run faster and more smoothly, according to Microsoft.

It has a 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD display.

Both the Surface 2's 3.5-MP front camera and the rear 5-MP camera can capture 1080p HD video; both have improved low-light performance.

Surface 2 will ship with Windows 8 RT 8.1, which offers improved personalization, search, and multitasking; built-in apps; and cloud connectivity.

The Surface 2 will include Xbox Music for streaming songs and an updated video app, and it will come preloaded with Microsoft Office RT, including Outlook RT.

Be aware that the Surface 1 and 2 tablets cannot run Windows applications, only apps written specifically for the "RT" software. This is the software (apps) available directly in the Microsoft store. Think of the iPad. This is exactly the same limitation.

The one I am really excited about it the Surface Pro 2 which is built around an Intel Core i5 Haswell processor.

It has a 512-GB flash hard drive.

Users can snap apps side by side, and open as many windows as they need.

The Surface Pro 2 has a pressure-sensitive Surface Pen with palm-blocking technology. It has a 1080p HD screen.

Both tablets have a full-size USB 3.0 port, an HD Video Out port, and a microSD reader.

Both tablets come with one year of free calling to landlines in more than 60 countries; free Skype WiFi at more than 2 million hotspots worldwide; and two years' free access to 200 GB of additional storage on SkyDrive.

Surface Details

With the Surface family knowing the details is critical before making a purchase. Theerefore consumers should examine their specifications and limitations before purchasing either tablet.

Although Microsoft Office is include with the Surface 2 there is some functionality limitations.

Microsoft Office for the Surface Pro 2 will be sold separately, so factor that into your calculations, however you will be able to install any Windows application on the tablet, which is a huge plus. Think of an iPad with any Windows program you would like available on the tablet.

Surface Details

The Surface 2 will be offered in 32-GB and 64-GB configurations. Pricing will begin at $450.

The Surface Pro 2 will be available in 64-GB and 128-GB configurations with 4 GB of RAM, and 256-GB and 512-GB versions with 8 GB of RAM. Prices begin at $900.

Accessories are not included of course in this pricing and there are many new accessories being offered with these new tablets, which were previously unavailable before. two of the new accessories I am most excited about is a "charging keyboard" and "docking station" (above).

 

Surface Consideration

The Surface 2 (RT) is still priced a little higher than it should be, especially if Microsoft is hoping to steal some of the Android  market share on the consumer side of tablet sales. The Surface Pro 2 is an improvement on the already great hardware from the initial Surface Pro tablet however it is a couple of hundred dollars more then the RT version.

I don't believe you can think of the Surface Pro 2 as a tablet. It is much closer to a really good ultrabook or small laptop. If you travel or if you simply want to get work done on the smallest form factor possible without giving up power, the Surface Pro 1 and 2 are excellent options.

You can learn more about the Surface family here.

The Tablet Killed the PC Star

With smartphones having already topped features phones, tablets are now poised to surpass PCs in terms of global shipments, according to data from the International Data Corporation (IDC).

Tablet shipments are projected to surpass total PC shipments in the fourth quarter of 2013, IDC said this week. Shipments of PCs will still be higher than tablets for the full year, but that will change by the end of 2015.

Although there are those who try to point the blame at Windows 8 for the falling sales of PC's I believe it is much more complex then that simple explanation. The reason for the declining sales has very little, in fact to do with the latest version of Windows. Technology buy it's very nature is in a constant state of flux.

Blame the Tablet
The reason that the sales of PCs are shrinking can be explained by simply examining the increasing sales of tablets. Consumers and professionals alike are mobile today more then ever before. In addition average tablets today have superior processors, memory, hard drive space and more then the best PCs five years ago could offer.

Blame the Cloud
The second cause of the declining PC sales and concurrent increase in tablet sales is the cloud. Tablets by there very nature do not have very large hard drives. However many tablets have 128GB of internal storage which is for the majority of users plenty of storage, especially with the easy and inexpensive (and often free) availability of cloud storage.

All is Not Lost for the PC
With all this in mind, I would not feel to bad for the PC. It will be a very long time before PCs are dead and buried. While their market share will continue to shrink, professionals will continue to use PCs in the office and at home. Considering that today's PCs are well built and last longer then ever before and that users are also using tablets at the same time it should surprise no one what is occurring in the PC market.

Read my April 15, 2013 related article, "In Defense of Windows 8".

Microsoft Reduces Cost of Surface Pro

Microsoft is continuing to work hard to edge into the "tablet" market. This is obvious because their Surface Pro was just lowered by $100.

First things first, as much as I recommend the Surface Pro I believe the Surface RT was a mistake and should be discontinued, with Microsoft's continued emphasis placed on the Pro version.

I have been using the Surface Pro for about 6 months now and it has turned into by "go to" device for getting things done "on the go", or at home in my "easy chair". As opposed to Apple's iPad, which is also an excellent device the Surface pro was built for getting real work done while the iPad is more geared towards the consumer's more general needs such as email, internet browsing, social media and gaming. While the Surface pro can do most of these tasks fairly well where it truly shines is helping the user the get work done. this is because the Surface Pro runs a full version of Windows 8. Any Windows application can be run on the tablet and in addition to Microsoft Office you can see how fun & work can get done, all on the same, very mobile device.

Microsoft is hoping to see a boost in sales from the back-to-school shopping frenzy that's about to get underway. Unlike everyone else, however, Microsoft is sitting on a mountain of unsold Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets, which to this point have only generated $853 million in revenue. This sort of revenue would be excellent for just about everybody else, but this is Microsoft we are talking about. This led to Microsoft taking a $900 million charge on unsold inventory followed by a round of price cuts, first with Surface RT and now with Surface Pro.

Microsoft just slashed $100 off the price of Surface Pro, which now starts at $799 instead of $899. Surface Pro features an Intel x86 Core i5 processor and the full version of Windows 8, though it remains to be seen if a C-note reduction will be enough to convince PC shoppers to hop on board.
The price cut follows a $150 reduction to Surface RT just a few weeks ago. Unlike Surface Pro, the ARM-based Surface RT comes with Office Home and Student 2013 RT for free, giving users some additional value along with a lower cost of entry. On the flip side, Surface RT is also limited by a slimmer version of Windows 8 that's unable to run legacy x86 applications.

Youy can read by March 28, 2013 review of the Surface Pro here.

Surface vs. iPad

I have been using a Microsoft Surface tablet running Windows 8 Pro for several months now and I am just as impressed with it now as I was on that first day. There really are not many limits to what the Surface can do when compared to an iPad. Sure Windows 8 does not have as many apps as Apple's iPad but because the Surface tablet runs Windows 8 Pro the actual programs can be used in place of "apps". Or in cases where the website is available simply use the website. For example my bank has an iPad "app" but sadly there is not one (yet) for Windows 8. No problem however, because I can simply go to their the website when I need to access my bank.

I am also happy to see that Microsoft has taken the gloves off and is committed to showing that Windows 8 tablets are superior to the iPad (in many ways). We have already seen one commercial make its way to your television screen and now the company is launching an iPad vs Windows 8 comparison site to keep the momentum going.





Microsoft has constructed a site that lets you put several popular Windows 8 tablets in a side-by-side comparison of the iPad. The idea being, obviously, that the Windows 8 tablets are superior to the iPad in nearly every way. Of course, Microsoft does leave out one metric where the iPad would always win, resolution, but when you build the site, you can slant it however you like.

Besides resolution, Microsoft includes several categories including thinness, battery life, weight, display size and more to help the consumer size up the iPad to their Windows 8 comparable.

It’s a bit refreshing to see Microsoft actually come out and be direct with their advertising and directly calling out other platforms shortcomings. While Windows 8/RT is certainly not perfect, it can hold its own against the market leader, Apple.

You can head on over to the comparison page here to see how many existing tablets compare to that of the latest generation iPad.

Microsoft Surface Pro - Review

The Microsoft Surface was the biggest new tech of 2012, at least for me. Its first iteration—Surface RT, a confusingly named and marketed tablet-with-a-keyboard—bombed and I predicated that. The RT version was a bad idea, A Windows tablet.... without the power of Windows. What I was waiting for was the full-powered Surface Pro? Why? Well it is a braver and more divergent take on the laptop-tablet convergence than anyone else has risked so far.

But while the Pro improves on the RT in nearly every measurable way, it presents a whole different problem set for Microsoft. Where the RT was aiming at Tablet Plus—an ambitious enough goal—the Pro cannot afford to be Laptop Minus. In this strange new world of hybrid devices, is that even possible?

The Surface Pro is the fullest expression of the Windows 8 ethos. It has the face of a tablet & the guts of a laptop. Where other convertibles have struggled to contort old world design into now-world needs, the Surface starts fresh. This is the best chance we have to prove we might finally be ready to move past traditional, tired designs and interfaces.

But the Pro is also a reality check for Windows 8 itself. Defenders of the new OS insist that it just hasn't been given the right vessel to showcase it yet. Well, there will never be any better hardware for Windows 8 than Surface Pro. If it doesn't work here, maybe there's a problem.

Like the Surface RT before it, the Surface Pro is gorgeous. The Pro is a bit thicker than the RT, but keeps the same design principles. Trapezoidal angles, sure-footed kickstand, snap-in keyboard cover.

At first blush, the Pro looks thick for what it is—a slate—and that can give the impression that it's bigger than small-for-a-laptop machines like the MacBook Air. Don't be fooled; it's actually lighter and thinner than the 11.6-inch Air. Along with the Surface, Microsoft will happily sell you either a Touch or Type cover, both of which function as the Surface's keyboard and trackpad. The Type cover has a traditional keyboard that's basically full sized, while the Touch cover is a flat surface that detects your keystrokes with no moving parts. I personally have used the type cover keyboard and really like it. While these were purely optional on the Surface RT, they're essential to approaching the Surface Pro's full-PC potential.

The Surface Pro runs Windows 8 Pro, meaning it plays nice with all of Surface RT's Metro apps as well as all your old desktop apps. If you want to use Surface Pro as a laptop? Simply snap in a keyboard cover, pop out the kickstand, set it down on a table. If you want to use it like a tablet, remove the keyboard and you have a great tablet - with the power of a real operating system.

As a tablet, the Pro has significantly more weight to it than the iPad . But the build quality is so strong—everything feels like it just fits—that you don't really mind, unless you try to use it one-handed. It's a little too heavy for that.

One of the Pro's fundamental problems is almost tragically ironic. Its screen is too good. Which is to say, its 1080p resolution is so dense on the 10.6-inch screen that desktop programs seem too small, too cramped. Since you're already going to probably be hunched over your desk and squinting while using this 10.6-inch screen, teeny tiny text isn't much of a help. To offset this, Microsoft has made the default Magnification setting 150 percent. That helps a bit by enlarging icons, text, and some apps, but results in many third party apps looking like fuzzy eyesores.

There is zero difference between the keyboard covers that come with the Surface RT and the Surface Pro. They're identical, and interchangeable. But unlike RT, Surface Pro needs a real keyboard if it has any chance of fulfilling its potential.

Both the Touch and Type keyboards are totally usable. You'll need more time to get used to typing on the Touch, with the biggest difference being the lack of tactile feedback when you miss a letter. It's also a little harder to reliably hit the bottom row of function keys, because they bleed into the palmrest instead of being clearly delineated. Annoying, but manageable, mostly. You'll be able to type at basically full speed with the Type keyboard, and after a week or two, pretty confidently on the Touch cover as well. As I stated earlier I have the type keyboard and for about 10 bucks more than the touch I very much recommend the touch.

Should You Buy This?

If it fits your professional needs, you'll at least want to consider it.

The Surface Pro is ultimately the best tablet on the market right now if you truly are trying to get work & play done at the same time on your mobile computing device.

The Surface in Public

There may be hope for Microsoft's Surface after all. This evening while waiting for a seat at out local watering hole, Victory Brewing Company I took notice of a guy checking in and waiting next too me. It looked like he was holding a Microsoft Surface tablet and I walked up and asked, "Hey is that a Microsoft Surface Tablet" you have there? He responded that "Yes - indeed It was'. We then had a great conversation comparing it to Apple's IPAD. It was quickly established that we were both in the technology field and we both believed it was far superior to the IPAD in many ways. In fact I asked him if he "missed his IPAD" at which he responded that he lost track where "his IPAD even was at this point". We both agreed that the small sleek form factor with the ability to install and run any Windows application made the surface the best tablet on the market at this point.

In addition we both agreed that the Surface tablet had enough computing power to - in many ways replace both the tablet and the laptop, resulting in a much easier life for many of us.

Our conversation sadly ended when our table was ready and I could see the wife walking off into the distance.. looking back and me... after which I said goodbye and followed Mrs. Mann.

You can learn more about Microsoft's new Surface tablet here.

Browsing on a Surface

When iPads were first introduced way back in 2010, Apple promised that the “iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer.” Yes that is an actual quote. The implication was that the web via the tablet would be unrecognizable and vastly superior then what users had come to expect from their desktop computers and laptops.

Well here we are three years on, and we’re still waiting for that “interactive and intimate” browsing experience on iPads. I actually become acustomed to the weak internet browsing experience on my iPad. Then last week I started using the Microsoft Windows 8 Pro Surface tablet.

Reportably an astonishing 98 percent of tablet traffic is on on websites. Despite this, the actual experience of surfing the web on an iPad is underwhelming at best and often infuriating (at least to me). Simply put, today’s state-of-the-art tablet browsers, especially Safari, don’t do the Internet, the user, or the iPad justice. Apple wasn’t totally wrong back in 2010. The iPad has indeed proven itself to be a revolutionary device in many ways. Just not browsing the internet, outside of the pre-approved Apps. 

Getting back to the Surface tablet. Microsoft's new device comes with Internet Explorer 10, which is the exact same version that is installed on Windows 8 desktop computers. Just think, a nice small mobile tablet with a fully functional internet interface. This has been one of the highlights for me in respect to using the new Windows 8 tablet. Don't worry IE haters, there is indead a Chrome Browser for Windows 8. 

One final observation here. It's great to have Flash working on tablet.

Microsoft Surface Pro Review

For the past week now I have been almost exclusively using a Windows 8 Pro Surface tablet. I have a few early observations I wanted to share here. First, the ability to run full Windows applications on a tablet has been something that many people, including yours truly have been waiting for. As promised, the Microsoft Surface Pro allows for this to happen. There is something liberating about having a tablet that can actually truly run any Windows program out there.

 

Windows 8 Pro - a fine mix of native tablet & Windows apps

 

Although not as powerful as most ultrabooks, the Surface tablet does include some impressive technical specifications considering it is a first of a kind device.



Intel Core i5-3317U Dual Core Mobile Processor
4GB DDR3 Memory
128GB Solid State Storage
10.6" WUXGA (1920x1080) Multitouch Display
1.0 Megapixel Front and Rear Webcam
Intel HD 4000 Graphics
802.11a/g/n Wireless, Bluetooth
USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, microSD, Cover Port, Pressure Sensitive Pen Stylus
10.8" x 6.8" x .53" @ 2 lbs.
Windows 8 Professional

The Surface Pro screen takes the 10.6-inch display panel up to a 1920x1080 resolution while and can fully support 1080p high definition video. Color and brightness are quite good and the viewing angles are very wide with little contrast loss.

The heart of the Surface Pro is the same hardware that would typically be found in most ultrabooks today. It is powered by the Intel Core i5-3317U dual core mobile processor that is matched up with 4GB of DDR3 memory. The result is that the system offers some outstanding performance that allows it to take on tasks that most tablets would not be able to. Of course the processor setup along with the full Windows 8 Professional means that it can run any of the traditional Windows applications on the market. The Surface requires active cooling which means that there are fans inside the case. There have been reports of loud fans although I have had no noise issues with mine.  In addition Microsoft did a good job of disguising the air intake and output slots.

The more demanding hardware of the Surface Pro meant that Microsoft needed to put a larger battery in the tablet. They wanted to balance the weight and size of the system as well. They eventually settled on a 42Whr battery pack. This is larger than the Surface RT tablet at just 31.5WHr and roughly the same as Apple's iPad 4. Average battery length is about 4 hours which is about half of other tablets on the market today.

Storage is a big subject with regards to the Surface Pro tablets. In fact, I am reviewing the 128GB model specifically because of the space constraints that exist within the 64GB model. After the OS and recovery partitions are taken up, there is just 29GB of space left on the 64GB model. That leaves little space for programs and data. In contrast, the 128GB version has 89GB which is much more functional. This does drive the cost up but should be something that anyone considering the tablet should take seriously. The solid state storage does help make the system extremely responsive with the operating system cold booting is just about twelve seconds and applications come up almost instantaneously. There are options of adding extra storage through an internal micro SD card slot for use with flash memory or external storage through a USB 3.0 port which is something not seen in any other table today.

My favorite network application, "Track-It" running on the Surface



I was able to log my Surface tablet onto the network at work with a secure SSID which connects to the AD (active directory) server. From there I was able to install networked applications, access network files and print to networked printers. This is where a Windows tablet is going to find it's success.

The Windows 8 app store still needs to grow but I am not really that worried about that. The store's inventory has grown alot during the past couple of months and I see no reason for this trend not to continue.

Finally, we come to price. The 64GB model of the Surface Pro retails at $899 while the 128GB model runs $999. This already places it at the premium end of ultrabooks and well beyond the cost of your typical tablet. However if you want a truly mobile device that can do it all this may be the mobile solution for you.

I will be travelling with the Surface a couple of times during the next few weeks so stay tuned for more evaulation... and please keep your fingers crossed.

The Surface Arrives!

Today my Microsoft Windows 8 Pro Surface tablet arrived! I will be trying to use this thing exclusively throughout the next month. I will document my experience here for all of you, my dedicated readers.

Zite for IPAD

As the tablets wars heat up I fall in love with ZITE. What is ZITE you ask? just the coolest way to customize your news sources in one magazine type enviornment. Learn more here.

Android Takes a Bite Out of Apple

I know this is a technology blog and not a market blog but I came upon this information this morning and just had to share. As anyone who reads this tech blog knows I have a Samsung Galaxy Tablet and in fact it won the prestigious December 2010 "gadget of the month" on this very blog. As the past several weeks have gone by my love affair with my tablet has only matured and grown. The mixture of the convienenant 7" size and reliable Android software makes this a great mobile device for both work and pleasure. Anyway on to today's exciting market news.

Bloomsberg reported today that Android tablets have grabbed 22% of the market share this quarter. Samsung and Android must be very exicited about this turn of events. Unlike Apple's long masterly run at controlling the MP3 market with their IPOD, Android, and partners such as Samsung are going to be on their heals in the tablet market.

I don't expect Apple to continue plunging dramatically in the tablet market, however it is exciting to see their share reduced from 96% to 75% in just one quarter thanks to Android and Samsung.

Monthly Gadget Review

 

This holiday season the hot gadget is the Samsung Galaxy Tablet. At 7” x 4” as compared to the Apple I-Pad’s larger frame of 9” x 7” the Galaxy is a much more mobile device then the I-Pad, weighing in at about half of the I-Pad. This article is not meant to actually compare the two devices so that is all you are going to hear about the Apple I-Pad. (I actually can’t help myself a little later in the article.)

Samsung’s Galaxy tablet runs on Android 2.2 software which is becoming one of the most popular mobile device OS’s (operating system) today.  The big four carriers (ATT, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile) all have different plans for the Galaxy so you need to be aware of this if you are thinking about it. Personally I believe the most fair plan is Verizon Wireless for 20 bucks a month. With this plan you get 1GB of traffic over their network, but the best part is that you are not locked into a contract and you can cancel the plan at any time. After the plan is cancelled with Verizon Wireless, you simply treat the tablet like a laptop, using it’s wireless connectivity to access any wi-fi network.

The device is sturdy and because it is about the size of a trade paperback it is as mobile as a book making it very easy to travel with. If I carried a purse (which I don’t) you could easily store it there as well!

Now on to the fun stuff. What can you do with it once you have one? Android software was initially developed by Android Inc. and eventually purchased by Google in 2005. Android has been slowly developing and becoming more popular with mobile devices and has truly become a big player in the market. The operating system is dependable and easy to learn, although there are those who claim that it is a too “techy”. Android software is “community-based firmware” which means that it is open source allowing for programmers to easily develop software for any device running Android. What this means is there are always plenty of useful and fun apps (or applications) for the device.

In addition to surfing the web with various browsers of choice (Android Browser, Firefox and Dolphin, with Chrome on the way) you can get your social networking on with Facebook, Twitter, Linked-In, Goodreads and more. Watching video from services such as Youtube is flawless as well.

If you are a book reader (like me) and you have been thinking about e-book readers like the Amazon Kindle or Barnes & Noble Nook, look no further that this device. The Galaxy has great apps for both which work great. I actually have had a Nook for about a year, and after a day or two with the Galaxy Tablet I was able to retire it (giving it to one of my sons of course) and use the galaxy for this purpose as well. The display is easy on your eyes when you are reading and at night you won’t even need a night light because of the screen!

With the Galaxy Tablet you can remain in touch with work (if you want to) because it is easy to access your corporate email, calendar and tasks on your device. At the same time you can enjoy social networking sites, plenty of games, internet sites, HD video, music and more all on the same small 7” tablet.

Unlike the I-Pad, Android supports Flash which is important when browsing many websites as well as video formats such as XviD and DivX.

With an additional 1.3MP camera in on the front of the device, you will be able to engage in video chats, something you cannot do with an iPad. Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity will  take care of your browsing needs. Battery life of Galaxy tablet is impressive to, with the device able to deliver up to seven hours of movie playback without charging.

As I noted above there are several price points, with Verizon Wireless probably being the best choice because you can actually cancel the service contract resulting in no monthly cost.

You can learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Tablet here.

To lean more about Android click here.