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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Anand Lal Shimpi - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
I know they are, but they are no where near as good as the Windows 8.1 experience in doing the same. Hence my use of the word "well" in this line:
"The screenshot below really helps illustrate what I would love to do on most tablets, but what I can only do (well) on a Surface:"
doobydoo - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
'Samsung galaxy devices have supported spilt-screen multitasking'Yes they also support S-Voice, S-Gimmick and S-Fail. Only problem is that they are all gimmicks rushed to market to be bullet points which only fool unsuspecting idiots.
Wade_Jensen - Tuesday, October 22, 2013 - link
I don't like to see less tech savvy people called idiots, but "S-Gimmick and S-Fail.... Hahahahaha!!rituraj - Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - link
As much as I wanted to call you an idiot, I shouldn't, because you really need to be taught.I agree with you about the SVoice. But the pen, split screen are the features that no one else is providing. Right now I am writing this with a whatsapp window open above my chrome browser in my note2. I forgot to sign a document once so I put my sign on the pdf file with my S *gimmick* pen and mailed it. So that's the *fail* I got out of S-stuff.
Yes you cannot expect windows7-like split window or the stylus quality of a wacom cintiq (if you even have the slightest idea what that is) but these features are in a fuckk8ng phone, let alone the tablets. Should I elaborate with more examples?
backbydemand - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Samsung may support split screen multitasking, but Win 8 will still let you use desktop mode and you can have any number of simultaneous windows open, hell as the desktop is an App you can have desktop using 70% of the screen and run a Metro App in a bar next to it - Android can't do thatHomeles - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Man, this tablet could have been so much better with just a tad more polish. It's still a nice hunk of hardware, but I guess we'll have to wait until next year to get the real deal.Microsoft is quite the OEM dinosaur... I just wished they were a bit more like Apple.
dtolios - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
If this same device was an Apple product, consumers would be raving.sweenish - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
I'm already raving, the Surface Pro line is what I expected to iPad to be from the beginning.doobydoo - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
'If this same device was an Apple product, consumers would be raving.'What a silly comment. If this was an Apple product it would be EVEN MORE slated, because people hold Apple to higher standards.
You can't defend any product with a fake, unproven fanboy comment like 'if Apple made this it would be great'. How about accepting that it's actually not that good?
YuLeven - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
You're commenting all over the article recommending people to use Apple products and yet you call other commenters to be fanboys. Oh, the irony.