Microsoft Surface Pro 2 Review
by Anand Lal Shimpi on October 21, 2013 12:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Tablets
- Microsoft
- Mobile
- Surface
- Surface Pro 2
Display
Like Surface 2, Surface Pro 2 ships with 150% DPI scaling enabled for classic desktop applications. Unfortunately even under Windows 8.1 there are a lot of issues with DPI scaling in 3rd party applications and touch targets. Chrome for example is mostly unusable as a touch browser in classic mode.
There’s not much difference between the new 1080p panel in Surface 2 and what’s in Surface Pro 2. Both feature a laminated cover glass and the same increase in color gamut. The end result is a big improvement over the previous generation, but not quite up to the level of color accuracy we’ve come to expect from cheaper tablets.
Surface Pro 2's display does get substantially brighter than the panel in my Surface 2 review sample. One thing I don't have a good feel for is just how much variation there is between panel suppliers into the Surface lines.
It really is a very good display, it just could be better.
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Mondozai - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Reading this it seems like Microsoft played it safe, or maybe it's just the lack of execution we've become used to seeing with the WP8 platform(although the updates on that area is picking up). Hopefully the much-lauded "re-org" can change things to become much better for the third generation.The Surface Pro is still too expensive considering that the batterylife isn't up to par.
Reading the review, it still feels more like a jumbled 2-in-1 laptop rather than a tablet with a keyboard cover.
The whole point of the Google Nexus series is to show the other OEMs what is possible to do. It's priced quite cheap - in relative terms - and you get good hardware for the money. If we compare the Surface series, can anyone say it is driving the ecosystem to the right place?
inighthawki - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Is that a joke? The surface pro is widely regarded as very good for it's price compared to other ultrabooks in the same tier, as well as versus the MBA. Good perf, good display, and while the battery isn't great, it's not horrible either for the form factor and the power it pumps out.augustofretes - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
The Air has longer battery life, a proper (better) keyboard, Intel HD5000, a much better trackpad and is cheaper. The Surface Pro has a stylus support, a touchscreen a better screen.The thing is that as a laptop replacement it's not good at all, simply the experience of typing is too inferior and so is only having to angles for that hinge.
To be honest with you, with regular ultrabook hitting 8-10 hours battery life in very small 11.6" sizes, the Surface Pro and tablets in general (unless you don't want to spend as much money as you need to to get an Ultrabook) are pretty much useless, especially if you own a smartphone.
augustofretes - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
So many typos.FredyHandanovic - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Love my job, since I've been bringing in $5600… I sit at home, music playing while I work in front of my new iMac that I got now that I'm making it online(Click on menu Home)http://goo.gl/iwURWg
pppdns - Thursday, December 12, 2013 - link
↑ spam ad, please delete!doobydoo - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Excellent post.santiagoanders - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Now list the Surface pro 2 advantages.And please explain how the MBA is cheaper when it starts at $1000.
Scannall - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
MBA starts at $999Surface 2 starts at $899 + 129 for the keyboard. = $1028.
santiagoanders - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
So I guess we should add in the cost of a Wacom pad to the MBA, huh?