Done gone and got me a Surface Pro 2.. A mini review of sorts.

[iBMe]

So this week I have picked up a wonderful little Surface Pro 2, I got it off eBay for the modest price of 120 pounds, and I couldnt be happier with it!

 

Never before have I had a full Windows desktop experience in such a small portable ickle rickle thing, Im finding it a bit odd frankly but excellent all the same. I prefer to use it laptop style, but tablet mode is actually suprisingly useable and well thought out too.

 

I highly recommend if you're a windows "power user" like me.

 

It can run all your favorite apps and programs, I got the i5 4gb version, and while it's only dual core 2ghz its suprisingly fast and powerful, web pages load well quick (Im getting full 7.0mb/s+ download speeds with whatever wifi card it has), and its just nice and smooth to use generally, also installed the game BlackMesa Source (A modern remake of Half-Life, which I also highly recommend), it runs great getting around 35 fps at high settings med shadows and AA tuned down to 2x. Im shocked honestly, it's only an intel on the chip GPU, last one of these I used could barely run Quake.

I also plug it into my bedroom TV at night via the mini display port and have a blue tooth mouse and keybord connected, it pretty much just becomes a full desktop PC at that point, can play HD videos, youtube, netflix, porn etc just fine. It's amazing how versatile it is.

 

Downsides, the soft keybord case cover is a bit strange and taking some getting used to typing on, not having any real tactile feedback is just odd and you have to tap the keys quite accurately and deliberately or you will miss letters and fuck up more often, It's not too bad obviously, Im typing this on it right now and slowly getting used to its quirks. I think the keyboard/case was redesigned and greatly improved on models after this one , gen 3 onwards.

Another semi negative thing is the storage, this one only has 128gb and its some weird flash storage module that is a bit slow, somewhere between hdd and ssd speeds, though can always just plug in USB storage if I need too, which should be fairly quick being usb 3.0 I would think.

Upgade-ability also sucks, I would like to put 8GB ram and some bigger better storage in at some point (and no doubt still will being a bit of a techy), from what I have read and can see its all glued together and just a tricky bugger to get into.

Oh and a final point, "Lapability" sort of relating to the first point, due to the floppy soft hinge of the cover you cant really just use it on your lap like you can a regular laptop that has the stiff hinge for support, you sort of can get away with it using the back support if you sit it flat on your legs and hold it with one handwhile typing, but I suppose its designed to be used as a tablet really in that instance.

 

All in all I think it's great bit of tech, I ummed and ahhed about getting one over just a little 13"/14" laptop, but Im now well glad I did.

 

Who would've thought Microsoft could pull such a blinder.

 

Edited November 1, 2019 by iBMe
edit: mistakes

[tokenroll]

Love my little pro, I sold my i7 Desktop to buy it and do not regret it one bit. For photography using the pen etc nah I could not go back to a non touch screen ever. Only thing I don't like is the keyboard when using photoshop etc I remove the keyboard and set it aside as there is no battery in it (silly really) but I use a cheap Bluetooth keyboard for such times. If want a bigger screen plug in my old 27inch deal and or the tv. Amazing machines.

 

Enjoy the freedom there will be no going back.

 

Toke...

Edited November 1, 2019 by tokenroll

[highgrower]

My nephew just got a surface go - have to say im very impressed with it very good value for the cash - only problem is the screen is a bit small for me but for young eyes it perfect.

 

I looked at the new surface machines as my old thinkpad is showing its age but the new surfaces are quite pricey and you can get a similar spec'ed touchsceen thinkpad for about 500 quid less.

[tokenroll]

highgrower the touch screens on other 2 in 1machines ain't the same in anyway never mind the multi touch and how the pens work. My surface pro 6 replace my Wacom Cintiq Pro and that cost a shit load more than the surface pro6 setup. The surface line aint cheap that's for sure but you do get what you pay for, something unique, but like anything else unless if you have a use for it they are just expensive door stops. I just wish the Surface Studio wasn't a 4k price tag lol.

Toke...

[Seasick Steve]

On 02/11/2019 at 11:10 AM, highgrower said:

my old thinkpad is showing its age

 

 

How ya doing mate?

Thought I'd mention, i just bought a 500gb SSD for my Thinkpad, cost about £50 and came with copying software, took about 2 hours to duplicate the drive and swap it over.

I can't believe how much faster it runs, it's like a new laptop. I nearly threw it out the window a number of times cos it was so slow, might be worth trying.

 

 

[j.o.i.n.t]

On 02/11/2019 at 11:10 AM, highgrower said:

My nephew just got a surface go - have to say im very impressed with it very good value for the cash - only problem is the screen is a bit small for me but for young eyes it perfect.

 

I looked at the new surface machines as my old thinkpad is showing its age but the new surfaces are quite pricey and you can get a similar spec'ed touchsceen thinkpad for about 500 quid less.

 

Heh, total agreement from me...We've got a Go and Thinkpads of various ages here I still use my t420 all the time, it's the last one with the proper keys

 

The Go is a nice thing, mrs loves it. If I had money to burn I - after not using windows as main OS since around Me time, so its a bit weird for me -  would be very tempted by the pro.

 

 

Edited November 4, 2019 by j.o.i.n.t

[highgrower]

10 hours ago, Seasick Steve said:

 

How ya doing mate?

Thought I'd mention, i just bought a 500gb SSD for my Thinkpad, cost about £50 and came with copying software, took about 2 hours to duplicate the drive and swap it over.

I can't believe how much faster it runs, it's like a new laptop. I nearly threw it out the window a number of times cos it was so slow, might be worth trying.

 

 

 

 

I upgraded my x220 a while a go with an ssd and made a huge different - problem is the machine is getting on and other bits causing an issue plus is on windows 7 and need to start using 10 for some bits to do with work - its about 10 years old and owes me nothing and served as a excellent work machine.  Also am jealous of the touch screen on the surface go and was time for an upgrade so went for a x1 yoga - only had it about a week and not fully moved over but its a very nice machine and expect 10+ years out of it - plus is work related so can claim as expense.

[Exhale]

On 11/1/2019 at 10:59 PM, iBMe said:

Who would've thought Microsoft could pull such a blinder.

 

Since MS bought out Nokia I've been buying the handsets for work as they were great to connect to a tv and use a keyboard and mouse, then when the Surface launched I got those in.

 

This week I've got the Surface Pro X (boss perks) and I'm blown away by it.

 

I've even had some looks on the train like "Oooh you bitch I want one of those".

 

I went into the carphone warehouse to see if they could get me a deal on an unlimited data SIMO. Guy in the shop laughed at me and said "no one needs unlimited data on their phones" so I just did this half arsed laugh back at him

 

 

And walked out the shop.