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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LOL_BEAN - Monday, January 20, 2014 - link
@Mondozai - Do you know some thing called surface. which is solid example of what you are looking for. This is for PROs. compare apple to apple not to oranges.Surface 2 comes for $450 which is priced similar to google nexus.
LordSegan - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
I purchased an 8/256 model of the Surface Pro 2. I know it's not perfect, but working in an office environment, my iPad simply isn't enough computer and I don't need a full laptop. I also do want to stylus for editing and marking up documents for other people to finalize. So for me, it's a great machine. I'll probably get the Broadwell model eventually too.doobydoo - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Have you tried an 11" Macbook Air? You should. You'd prefer it.SpartanJet - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Actually I'd rather poke my eyes out with a sharp stick than use osx. Second I see no advantage to using a netbook type form factor I have a real laptop running windows 8 when I need a notebook.. People in the market for a tablet that does more than silly little apps with cash shops or microtransactions are looking at the Surface 2. I love windows 8, and I'm looking for a tablet this is the natural choice for me.meta4our - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Yeah, I tried going from a 1080p IPS touchscreen with built in wacom digitizer to a 1366/768 TN panel with no input and I wanted to throw it out the window when I was done surfing facebook and wanted to actually do things.backbydemand - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Try taking the keyboard off the MBA and using it as a tablet. No? Didn't think so, if I wanted just an ultrabook with an OS not optimized for touch there are plenty out there better spec, lower price with Windows 7.B3an - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
The shit low res TN display on the Air is enough alone to make the Surface Pro better. EVERYONE will benefit from the much better display.With a Type cover you also have a keyboard just as good, and its backlit now as well. Pro might cost more with a Type cover but you get what you pay for - a way better product plus advantages like touch screen + SD card slot + quality wacom digitizer. Theres no contest here.
GotThumbs - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
We have two of the Surface Pro first gens and I'm going to get the same config you got. We run SQL Server and Toad (Oracle) on ours. I find the Surface Pro is a great balance between the convenience of a touch screen tablet-like device and PC workings/flexibility. I believe the Surface Pro models are mistakenly lumped with ARM based tablets, when they are clearly Tablet PC's (remember the early Motion Computing PC Tablets with XP) I would have liked to see the Macbook added to the charts. Comparing a PC tablet against ARM tablets just didn't make as much sense to me, especially when Anand brings up the MacBook in the article. Comparing the thickness of ARM based tablets with a PC Tablet is like comparing Apple and Oranges IMO (no pun intended). How about comparing the weight and thickness of the Surface Pro and some of the Ultra Books out there...including the MacBook?At the end of the day, People will buy what works for them. As they should.
~Best wishes
MrSpadge - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Agreed - either compare Surface (2) Pro to real computers, or compare the ARMs with something of their league, like Kabini and Silvermont Atoms. Otherwise it's like comparing Geforce Titan to a Geforce 7200GS os so.. the Titan is way faster and is obviously bigger and sucks more power.melgross - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Weight isn't everything. It depends on what you're getting for that weight. An 11" notebook has a vastly better keyboard, and you really don't need a stylus with it, whether it's Windows or OS X. So the Pro, without the keyboard-cover weighs 2pounds, and the Air, as the example used here, weighs 2.5 pounds with the much better built in keyboard. Very little difference once the several ounce Typing Keyboard is added in.