Surface 2 and Pro 2

Overheal · 24-09-2013 04:31AM #1

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2013/sep13/09-23surface2pr.aspx

Have a Look, here: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-ie/pre-order

Today Microsoft officially unveiled the new Surface 2 and Pro 2 Windows Tablets.

Both units will ship on October 22, just a few days after the release of the Windows 8.1 update. This release date is consistent for 22 markets, including Ireland and the United States.

Surface 2

Minor and needless re-branding effort of the Windows RT tablet label. Sports a new silver look and a 2-stage kickstand: it now supports a 44 deg and a 22 deg tilt angle. Pro 2 also has this kickstand.

Inside, the Surface 2 got a bump in CPU/GPU performance with the Tegra4 SoC ARM processor, the USB port has been upped to 3.0 (was 2.0), and the display is now 1080p (was 1377x768), and the front and back camera has been massively improved (from previous status, of 'complete shyte') -3.5MP front/5MP Back, with low light accommodation. It also will get better battery life, be thinner and lighter, allegedly, and plays nice with the new generation Covers.

The Surface 2 will still come included with Office Home and Student 2013, and will now also include Outlook 2013. Microsoft carefully worded this in its press release: this unlikely permits commercial use, though odds are slim they will stop anybody.

Surface 2 starting at $449 USD for 32GB and 64GB models. Surface RT (1st gen) will still be available at $349, for the time being. Existing RT units will receive the same free addition of Outlook 2013 when they are upgraded to Windows 8.1. Note that the RT 1st gen does not support all 2nd generation cover accessories.

Pro 2

Pro 2 looks at first glance the exact same as the Pro 1 with the same black VaporMg casing, ports and form factor. No surprise the unit received a Haswell i5 Processor. Haswell is Intel's favorite trumpet as the largest single generation bump in energy efficiency the company has ever produced, with an average 30% better battery life on configurations offering equivalent performance to an Ivy Bridge counterpart [source:Intel]. Pro 2 will also get extra battery materiel to boot, so expect more than paltry battery life from the unit versus the Surface Pro. Microsoft is claiming "75%" better battery life. Before you factor in the new Power Cover option.

Pro 2 will be available from $899 USD in 64GB/4GB, 128/4GB, 256/8GB and 512/8GB configurations. No word on the continuation of the Pro 1st gen, which may simply discontinue into ether.

LTE Models will also be available.

Accessories

Touch Cover 2

The price of the original touch cover being previously dropped to $80, the Touch 2 will be MSRP $120 and feature a thinner and stronger build (being less "floppy") and include "updated sensors that support a variety of gestures across the entire keyboard." Translation: the touch cover now has over 1,000 pressure sensors, up from 80, so these can in theory turn the entire surface of the cover into a multi-gestural interface. It's also Backlit (as are all the other keyboards now).

Type Cover 2

Thinner than the predecessor and now available in multiple colors (Cyan, Magenta, Purple and Black). Also backlit. Thinner and quieter, and sturdier, and "bettererer" (...). $129.

Pricing on Touch and Type and pin configuration suggests compatibility with all surface models to date.

Music Cover

This is kind of weird, yet interesting. For much, much more information, head over to Surface Remix Project. Latency is advertised to be non-existent and clicking this into a Surface Pro, Surface 2 or Pro 2 tablet will automatically prompt the installation of the accompanying Remix app. Not compatible with 1st Generation Surface RT.

This unit does not seem to have a specified price and a contest is currently on to put this in the hands of the musicians first, so it seems like more of a publicity stunt and a dive into the possibility of providing more "custom UI" covers/"Click-in" devices in the future.

Power Cover

Here at last, confirmation that the Surface will support an external battery pack. This will not ship until 2014 but will marry a Type Cover with an additional battery which will effectively double tablet battery life. Need to confirm whether this is Type Cover 1 or 2 functionality, but hey BATTERY LIFE. Because the Surface RT 1st gen lacks the 2 secondary receiver pins seen on the Surface Pro, Pro 2 and Surface 2, this accessory will not be compatible with it (not that the RT really has battery complications to begin with)

Wireless Adapter for Covers

Neat and unexpected: this device clicks right on to the Cover's pins magnetically and provides a Bluetooth interface, giving users more options for using the keyboards at a distance, and giving you much more of a reason to use the tablets DisplayPort (Surface 2 still has a proprietary "HD Digital" port) to hook it up to your monster 60" television to watch porn and sporting events. MSRP $59

Pro Docking Station

Allows connection for charging, Ethernet, External monitor, 1xUSB 3.0 and 3x USB 2.0. Appears to work on a sliding interlock: click the tablet into the charging base then slide the left and right sided braces into place, securing the connections to the tablet's ports. Compatible with Pro and Pro 2. $200. Ships in 2014.

Microsoft also announced Car Adapters and a new Mouse. woo.

But Thats Not All...

Buyers of the Surface 2 and Pro 2 will additionally receive freebies with their purchase: 1 year of Unlimited Skype Wifi access worldwide, free landline calls in 60 countries via Skype, and for 2 years the user's SkyDrive account will get a 200GB bump.

I'm glad Microsoft stuck to not reinventing the form factor. Truth be told, the tablet as it is, is very easy to hold, and has all the right angles for picking it up and manipulating it. More importantly, keeping the form factor as consistent as possible ensured maximum compatibility with the 1st generation devices for the wave of new accessories. Not sure I see the need to keep the Surface RT 1 in circulation, but truth be told there are still a large number of these units still in Microsoft hands and Im not entirely up on what is happening to them. A lot were written off as a tax deduction I think, mostly as part of giveaways. I myself was given one at a retail training event. Handed out like candy to anyone who RSVP'd and followed the paperwork trail. They will probably, quietly, be sold out of inventories with a whimper.

Another review site ran a benchmark tool on the Pro 2 and found only about a 9% boost in gaming performance from the Surface Pro, but this is to be expected: Haswells are not trumpeted as being much faster than Ivy Bridge at all. Haswell's M.O. was improving energy bleed.

Should you wait/buy now? Personally I'm in the wait camp, but I do already own both current gen Surface tablets, the Pro and RT. Pro 2 will have much improved battery life and the Surface 2 will have pretty much better everything: more than a handful of improvements that justify the extra asking-money. Watch out for clearance deals though, and fanatics looking to sell existing units. If you're looking at the Surface Pro for digital art/pen writing and much less the mobility of the unit, then sure fire away.

The Skype incentives just seem strange sans the wifi access. I feel like they'd be better off sweetening the pot with a premium bump to Xbox Music. At the moment they have a long way to catch up with Spotify for my money's worth.

symbolic · 24-09-2013 11:45AM

I've been waiting for this update, but was hoping for a heavier keyboard dock that would support the Surface Pro at any angle.. Guess unit is too heavy? Does such a dock exist? Really want this but think I would miss not being able to turn it into a laptop.

beno619 · 24-09-2013 12:28PM

Its a shame there still not bundling the touch cover with the Surface 2, with RT struggling there still pricing these things to expensive to make any traction..

super_furry · 24-09-2013 12:36PM

At the right price, the RT could be a big tempter. What's the Windows App store like?

timetogo · 24-09-2013 04:08PM

LIGHTNING wrote: »

Its fine, people make such a big deal over the so called lack of apps. As a user of all 3 of the major phone OS`s half the stuff in the iOS/Android store is either junk or crap copies of decent apps.

True enough. I've just being playing with a Windows 8 tablet myself and it has its fair share of poo too.

You can have a look for yourself and see if all the apps you use have equivalents.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ie/windows-8/apps#Cat=t1

Overheal · 24-09-2013 04:29PM

beno619 wrote: »

Its a shame there still not bundling the touch cover with the Surface 2, with RT struggling there still pricing these things to expensive to make any traction..

You mean the type cover?

Frankly I own both covers and I use the touch cover more often as I just frankly don't need to write the works of Shakespeare while on a tablet. The touch cover really is a lot easier than people make out. Problem being most people who tried one were weirded out by the absence of haptic feedback and probably tried it in a showroom. Even in my own showroom you can't hear the audio cues it gives you when typing presses are registered via the tablet speaker. The learning curve for the keyboard is quite short.

The expense isn't really an issue. It's still cheaper than equivalent iPads and includes now a full office suite sans Access and Publisher. The fact that they throw in a ton of skydrive storage and Skype access helps too. I disagree with the argument entirely that these tablets are not good value. Apple went and invented an entire file sharing system just because they refuse to support USB, and airdrop is only for newer devices. Bit of a joke really.

For all the things you get, it's $50 more than the iPad for the same usable storage (16 of 32gb), a cover, keyboard, trackpad, larger screen, USB, microSD, 200gb skydrive space and hotspot access. Not good value? Seriously?

The App Store is up to 100,000 apps and big names will be available in October, including Facebook. If you are running 8.1 preview you will have seen the new apps that will become available (a good few of which aren't showing up under 8.0). Again though I don't run that many apps on the tablet, I use windows explorer, office, mail, skydrive, IE10 and pretty much the basic apps bar a few games. Being honest these are all the things you do most on any tablet, and there are few tablet specific apps I can think of that I lack. Now I can't say the same of phones, I use the hell out of waze on my iPhone, but that's mobility/navigation application an not a thing for a tablet to really be doing

symbolic · 24-09-2013 05:58PM

Overheal, what's it like to use on your lap? And say on a small plane table with keyboard? And on a bedside table watching a movie I imagine the upwards angle of the screen would be annoying? Thanks for any information. Also can't imagine sitting on a couch with it using the keyboard. Bah, I want it but does it only work well with keyboards when you have a nice flat table?

symbolic · 24-09-2013 06:14PM

Cheapest Pro with 8gb of Ram is 1,309 euro

Think that's me out..

symbolic · 24-09-2013 06:18PM

Battery life stats are funny too. Gives idle time and how long it takes to charge. No average usage.

Overheal · 24-09-2013 08:05PM

symbolic wrote: »

Cheapest Pro with 8gb of Ram is 1,309 euro

Think that's me out..

Why do you need 8gb of ram on a tablet PC?

Battery life stats are funny too. Gives idle time and how long it takes to charge. No average usage.

It will vary on task, environment, and use. Even wifi connection quality determines battery life. Having said that, it will still have lower battery life than other tablets, due to the nature of having an i5-4200U under the bonnet compare to an ARM SoC.

Overheal, what's it like to use on your lap?

Not obviously as stable as a laptop, but works fine. I can see how a new 44 deg tilt would be handy though.

And say on a small plane table with keyboard?

Or my drivers seat when Im in the parking lot: its a lot easier to work with in cramped sitting conditions than a laptop

And on a bedside table watching a movie I imagine the upwards angle of the screen would be annoying?

Actually not really, though I normally stand it right next to my head, or just fold the keyboard and stand flat and watch sideways while holding it. Its quite stable though with the kickstand out and the cover folder back behind the unit, gives it a nice right-angle stand.

Thanks for any information. Also can't imagine sitting on a couch with it using the keyboard. Bah, I want it but does it only work well with keyboards when you have a nice flat table?

My first thought, as everyones, is "this only works on flat surfaces". But often I've been caught using it on my leg, and it works grand. And yes, the couch.

Digital Society · 24-09-2013 08:07PM

Used one of these for the first time recently. Awful piece of kit. Another Zune.

Down South · 24-09-2013 09:04PM

I have the current pro for my business. It's my pc( with Bluetooth keyboard and large monitor) laptop and tablet. I find it great, with the only downside being battery life. No issues using on my lap. Being not confined to apps and being able to plug anything into it is great.
Used an android tablet in the past and found it difficult to get real work done.

PaulieC · 24-09-2013 09:20PM

Digital Society wrote: »

Used one of these for the first time recently. Awful piece of kit. Another Zune.

hey, great contribution, really insightful. Thanks.

AlmightyCushion · 24-09-2013 09:22PM

I'm tempted to get a Surface 2 (non pro). I think it's a great product and the silver looks really nice, although I'd have to see it in the flesh. Windows 8.1 is the best tablet OS out there and the multi-tasking is brilliant and beats iOS and Android hands down. App selection is pretty poor but that doesn't concern me too much as most of the things I'd want to do would be through the web browser any way. Plus it is much worse than a 10" Android tablet where most of the apps are just phone apps that aren't designed for the 10" screen and look terrible? The problem is I really want one of the cases, they're basically one of the killer apps for the Surface, but they're really expensive. They should really look to cut the price of these.

symbolic · 24-09-2013 10:00PM

Overheal wrote: »

Why do you need 8gb of ram on a tablet PC?

Well I'd be planning on using it as my main PC too, so VS, Eclipse, Websphere, VMWare etc.

Overheal wrote: »

it will still have lower battery life than other tablets, due to the nature of having an i5-4200U under the bonnet compare to an ARM SoC.

Oh I know it wouldn't be comparable to an iOs/Android tablet, but laptops are given an average battery life under X,Y,Z conditions. That's all, not having a go at them, just found it unusual.

Cheers for taking the time to go through all the questions.

Overheal · 25-09-2013 01:40AM

No problem.

Your application sounds like a Hybrid Laptop would be a better solution, for faster CPU and more memory. The Pro kinda falls into the Hybrid category, but not quite.

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

The problem is I really want one of the cases, they're basically one of the killer apps for the Surface, but they're really expensive. They should really look to cut the price of these.

Well the Touch/Type gen 1s are still available and should still work on the Surface 2. The major difference would probably be construction quality improvements and backlit keys though. They are priced $80 compared to $120.

Frankly though, go compare that to similar tablet options. A standalone keyboard can average $40-100, and a case anywhere from $30-100 or more especially if it marries a keyboard with it. The Zaggfolio Pro would probably come closest, it's $129 for a backlit keyboard case for iPad. Kinda bulky though but not the bulkiest case I've seen.

You're right though they aren't quite priced at that "no-brainer" point, yet I don't feel they're at the point where I couldn't justify it. I'm still going to have to contemplate the Power Cover. That is a pretty penny.

Down South · 25-09-2013 11:23AM

Any idea of increase in weight bulk of the power cover over the old type cover?

Overheal · 25-09-2013 01:08PM

Not specifically, but probably double

AngryLips · 25-09-2013 04:17PM

I think Surface 2 (non Pro) has become a really compelling product with this upgrade. I was put off by the first one because of reports that it wasn't able to smoothly handle Windows RT without occasional lag. Now, with the faster processor, improved kickstand and better screen quality it just seems like a must buy to me. unfortunately, I'm still leaning towards an ultrabook and iPad Mini as I think it will better suit my needs.

AlmightyCushion · 25-09-2013 06:42PM

AngryLips wrote: »

I think Surface 2 (non Pro) has become a really compelling product with this upgrade. I was put off by the first one because of reports that it wasn't able to smoothly handle Windows RT without occasional lag. Now, with the faster processor, improved kickstand and better screen quality it just seems like a must buy to me. unfortunately, I'm still leaning towards an ultrabook and iPad Mini as I think it will better suit my needs.

Windows 8.1 has some improvements in performance as well. People have been saying that the Surface RT is more responsive and snappy with 8.1. I'm think I'm going to have to treat myself to a Surface 2 for Christmas.

If I was looking at a buying an ultrabook, the Surface Pro would definitely be considered so you should look at that. The 10" screen might be off putting though.

Overheal · 25-09-2013 07:34PM

functions as a writing tablet though, making it an exceptional ultrabook alternative for light use (ie. not virtualization)

Padraig Mor · 25-09-2013 10:30PM

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Windows 8.1 has some improvements in performance as well. People have been saying that the Surface RT is more responsive and snappy with 8.1. I'm think I'm going to have to treat myself to a Surface 2 for Christmas.

If I was looking at a buying an ultrabook, the Surface Pro would definitely be considered so you should look at that. The 10" screen might be off putting though.

Pro is 11.6 inch no?

AlmightyCushion · 25-09-2013 10:53PM

Padraig Mor wrote: »

Pro is 11.6 inch no?

Nope. 10.6.

Padraig Mor · 26-09-2013 01:57PM

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

Nope. 10.6.

I'm getting confused with other tablets I think!

Overheal · 26-09-2013 03:19PM

most tablets are 10.1" and 7". Some 8" models are available, the iPad Mini is 7.8" and the Fire HD came in an 8.9" screen. The HD 2 and HDX will be available 8.9" also

Ronanc1 · 26-09-2013 04:10PM

Padraig Mor wrote: »

I'm getting confused with other tablets I think!

Yeah the majority of the current ivybridge windows 8 tablets were 11.6inch

whitebriar · 28-09-2013 03:52PM

Interesting thread.
Luddite here...Question,will absolutely everything that you can do on a laptop work on these?
I'm starting to get fond of my windows 8 phone.
I've a few business programs that run on a bog standard lappy at the moment that needs the skip..So need to know if these will run.

Also Sky Go and slingbox?

Am looking at the surface 2,not the pro 2.

Thanks.

kayos · 28-09-2013 04:13PM

whitebriar wrote: »

Interesting thread.
Luddite here...Question,will absolutely everything that you can do on a laptop work on these?
I'm starting to get fond of my windows 8 phone.
I've a few business programs that run on a bog standard lappy at the moment that needs the skip..So need to know if these will run.

Also Sky Go and slingbox?

Am looking at the surface 2,not the pro 2.

Thanks.

Right you want it to do everything your laptop does in a surface you need to look at the pro. The non pro versions are Windows RT running on ARM processors and as such normal PC applications do not run on them.

Overheal · 20-10-2013 05:51PM

Having played with the surface 2 I love the white magnesium casing. With the 1080p screen and USB 3.0 it seems like a no brainer tablet purchase. Apple even had to respond recently by giving iWork away on all new devices they sell in the hope that it will make the included Office suite less of a differentiator, but the app lost is much stronger than it was a year ago on RT, theres less of a reason now more than ever to get an iPad. For the 500 you just get way more for your cash - backlit keyboard, trackpad, stand, USB, office suite, etc.

I'm interested in what Apple will respond with on Tuesday.

beno619 · 20-10-2013 06:39PM

Do PC world have the Surface 2 already ?

AngryLips · 20-10-2013 06:44PM

beno619 wrote: »

Do PC world have the Surface 2 already ?

No but their website are taking pre-orders. According to some reports the Argos website is already taking orders for collection in store.

Surface 2 and Pro 2

Comments