Surface Pro Irish release date and verdict

censuspro

Does anyone know when the surface pro will be released in Ireland? Also, read a review on wired.com that gave it an excellent rating. Anyone else have any thoughts?

censuspro

Bump

Torqay

We already have a thread about the Surface in the Windows section. Given the underwhelming sales figures, my guess is that we will never see the Surface Pro in Europe. At least not the current model, maybe the next generation with more than 4 hrs battery life, if Microsoft has any further interest in Surface Pro that is. Rumour has it they're now working frantically on a 7" RT model to compete with the Nexus 7 and iPad Mini... too late, as always.

Overheal

I dont know how I feel about a 7" RT anyways. Desktop mode is hard enough to navigate on those netbook sized screens as it is

For Forks Sake

Torqay wrote: »

We already have a thread about the Surface in the Windows section. Given the underwhelming sales figures, my guess is that we will never see the Surface Pro in Europe. At least not the current model, maybe the next generation with more than 4 hrs battery life, if Microsoft has any further interest in Surface Pro that is. Rumour has it they're now working frantically on a 7" RT model to compete with the Nexus 7 and iPad Mini... too late, as always.

Going on sale UK&I by end-May. http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/23/microsoft-surface-pro-and-surface-rt-now-shipping-in-more-countr/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

Meesared

Overheal wrote: »

I dont know how I feel about a 7" RT anyways. Desktop mode is hard enough to navigate on those netbook sized screens as it is

I think what MS is going for in Windows Blue (8.1) is that they are trying to move every setting that was only previously changeable in desktop mode, into the "metro" settings screen. So they can abandon desktop mode completely on a 7 inch tablet.

Torqay

For Forks Sake wrote: »

Going on sale UK&I by end-May. http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/23/microsoft-surface-pro-and-surface-rt-now-shipping-in-more-countr/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

And who in their right mind would buy one then with the next processor generation just around the corner? The new Haswell chips for desktops and laptops will arrive in Q2 2013, the ULV versions (10/15W TDP) for tablets and ultrabooks in Q3.

Besides, there is a difference between announcements (of which we have seen quite a few already) and actual availability.

Meesared

Torqay wrote: »

And who in their right mind would buy one then with the next processor generation just around the corner? The new Haswell chips for desktops and laptops will arrive in Q2 2013, the ULV versions (10/15W TDP) for tablets and ultrabooks in Q3.

Besides, there is a difference between announcements (of which we have seen quite a few already) and actual availability.

There is always something better around the corner, sometimes you do have to just bite the bullet and get on with it, especially in this market

Torqay

Well, go ahead then, bite the bullet and buy a tablet with 4 hrs battery life for €1,000 or more.

FYI, for 200 yoyos less, you'll get the Iconia W700 (which is available in Ireland now) with a better display and 8 hrs battery life?

Meesared

Torqay wrote: »

Well, go ahead then, bite the bullet and buy a tablet with 4 hrs battery life for €1,000 or more.

FYI, for 200 yoyos less, you'll get the Iconia W700 (which is available in Ireland now) with a better display and 8 hrs battery life?

I'm not disputing there are other options, but I'm just pointing out the fact that waiting for "the next thing" is somewhat of an endless circle.

As for your other points, the Acer you linked may have a bigger screen but that doesn't mean better.

And the 128GB version of the Surface will be less than €1000, going by the pricing of the RT and the price of the Pro in the states

Torqay

Meesared wrote: »

And the 128GB version of the Surface will be less than €1000, going by the pricing of the RT and the price of the Pro in the states

I don't share your optimism. The 128 GB version costs $999 plus $130 for the keyboard. When you add the VAT this usually translates into the same price in Euro.

Meesared

Torqay wrote: »

I don't share your optimism. The 128 GB version costs $999 plus $130 for the keyboard. When you add the VAT this usually translates into the same price in Euro.

Id say €899 to €950 without the keyboard, educated guess.

BanjoB

So it looks like i can get a US surface pro on eBay for less than €700 new. I'm very tempted. Does anyone have one?.

If I do buy one. Will I have to change out the charger or just the connecting lead.

Torqay

BanjoB wrote: »

If I do buy one. Will I have to change out the charger or just the connecting lead.

An adapter should do, the PSU (charger) should be able to handle anything from 100V to 240V.

Remember, you'll be hit with 23% VAT when importing a tablet computer from the US of A.

Overheal

confirmed. 100-240V range of input. You'd need just a pin adaptor or I suppose any standard 2-prong electronic cable (US example) would work

I have mine, it runs very smooth. As discussed on other threads it weighs a little more and doesnt have as great battery life as other tablets but its running much more powerful guts too. Noticeable differences between the pro and the rt in terms of webpage rendering times and screen definition. Doesn't appear to have the same "smart cover" functionality as the RT, it seems to prefer to use a deeper sleep setting.

BanjoB

Do you get the stated 5 hours battery with moderate use with applications like office, mail, browsing etc??.

I'll be using it as a drawing tablet too and it looks like a great option.

Overheal

My buddy scott says he does get all day general use from it. Im a little more demanding on my machines. I'll have to give it a proper go one of these days but I feel that on average you'll see 4 hours, in which case 5 seems plausible. Most of my uses though are large download files, file transfers, handwriting, netflix, etc.

BanjoB

Overheal wrote: »

My buddy scott says he does get all day general use from it. Im a little more demanding on my machines. I'll have to give it a proper go one of these days but I feel that on average you'll see 4 hours, in which case 5 seems plausible. Most of my uses though are large download files, file transfers, handwriting, netflix, etc.

Good stuff. The more I see of it the more it seems it will fit in with my work and play.

Is it guaranteed that i will have to pay customs if bought from the US??.

Has anyone bought anything like this and not had to pay any more for it??.

Torqay

BanjoB wrote: »

Is it guaranteed that i will have to pay customs if bought from the US??

IIRC, there's no Customs or Excise Duty on Tablet PCs, only VAT (which also applies to shipping costs and insurance). Use the Duty Calculator for exact figures.

And remember...

If you are caught smuggling you may have a financial penalty imposed on you, your goods may be seized, you may be prosecuted or a combination of all of these measures may be applied to you.

zephyrs060780

Well, its a gorgeous device anyway, but with the 2 around the corner I'm looking to get rid of mine...

Overheal

Adverts.ie is your man.

zephyrs060780

Thanks!, I'm actually just after posting it on adverts.ie... was also thinking about donedeal.ie?

symbolic

zephyrs060780 wrote: »

Well, its a gorgeous device anyway, but with the 2 around the corner I'm looking to get rid of mine...

Why are you getting rid?

Torqay

symbolic wrote: »

Why are you getting rid?

Because...

symbolic

Torqay wrote: »

Because...

So he lied in his ad? Haha :-) only messing.