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Surface 2 and Pro 2

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Comments

  • #92
    delos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 404 ✭✭delos


    subscriber wrote: »
    Hello again everyone,

    Finally got my hands on a surface 2 non pro and have been using it now for the last three days, I have to say with the exception of the speakers, its a cracking device and wins over my previous android tab hands down.

    I'm looking for a little help with a few questions I have in relation to a few of the common apps... some more trivial than others!!!

    ...

    If anyone can shine a bit of light on this, id appreciate it.

    A few thoughts from me on some of the issues:

    Gmail:
    I use Metromail, although it has been playing up with regard to the notifications over the last few days. Gmail is my junk mail account so I'm not too pushed about the performance - I don't want to configure Gmail in my main mail app to keep things clean and tidy.. I use the same app on my phone too so you might want to consider it.

    OneDrive:
    I haven't noticed any restrictions on the use of teh space what so ever.

    Recent Tabs:
    If you swipe down to close the app it shouldn't appear in the open apps list. I've never really noticed a performance hit having them there.

    Speakers:
    The speakers aren't great, but I find some things work better than others - YouTube can be poor but Netflix isn't too bad. For me they seem to work better if the Surface is on a solid surface. I usually have it resting on the keyboard (the keyboard folded back). At a pinch I use a USB headset and the sound is grand - Bluetooth speakers are also an option.
    If you haven't got a keyboard for it, bite the bullet and get the one with the physical action. I know it's expensive, but if you do a lot of typing it will transform your experience.

    Personally, I love my Surface 2. It's not a replacement for my PC, but it was never meant to be that.

    Hope that helps a bit...


  • #93
    talla
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,636 ✭✭✭talla


    Premium skype allows you to call landlines around the world.
    It also allows use skpe wifi client(not just windows 8.1, theres IOS and Andoid clients also) which will allow you to connect and use pay hotspots for free in a lot of locations around the world.


  • #94
    subscriber
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭subscriber


    How long are ppl getting out of their battery on their surface two (non pro). The spec of the tab is advertised as 10 hours usage but is this time on standby?

    I have been getting approx 4-5 hours of use from a fully charged battery with consistent use on wifi...

    I put the tab on sleep mode last week whilst it was on 80% and left it in my bag over nite. When I woke it up in the morning time it was drained to about 6%. I was very surprised at this as it was not connected to wifi over nite and i thought it wud hold its charge on sleep mode much better than this.

    I have heard some rumours lately that a batch of surface 2's were recalled for faulty batteries.. i hope my device is not one of these.

    How has everyone been fairing out with battery life??


  • #95
    delos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 404 ✭✭delos


    subscriber wrote: »
    How long are ppl getting out of their battery on their surface two (non pro). The spec of the tab is advertised as 10 hours usage but is this time on standby?

    I have been getting approx 4-5 hours of use from a fully charged battery with consistent use on wifi...

    I put the tab on sleep mode last week whilst it was on 80% and left it in my bag over nite. When I woke it up in the morning time it was drained to about 6%. I was very surprised at this as it was not connected to wifi over nite and i thought it wud hold its charge on sleep mode much better than this.

    I have heard some rumours lately that a batch of surface 2's were recalled for faulty batteries.. i hope my device is not one of these.

    How has everyone been fairing out with battery life??

    I do know that my Surface 2 get updates while it is sleeping so I might have to look at what is going on with the power settings.

    I certainly don't see power loss overnight like you describe. Some apps seem to drain more power than others too. The Microsoft Solitaire program seems to eat the battery is the one example that springs to mind.


  • #96
    subscriber
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭subscriber


    delos wrote: »
    I do know that my Surface 2 get updates while it is sleeping so I might have to look at what is going on with the power settings.

    I certainly don't see power loss overnight like you describe. Some apps seem to drain more power than others too. The Microsoft Solitaire program seems to eat the battery is the one example that springs to mind.

    And as per general usage time.. how many approx hours are u getting from a full charge?


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  • #97
    delos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 404 ✭✭delos


    subscriber wrote: »
    And as per general usage time.. how many approx hours are u getting from a full charge?
    OK, did some playing around over the weekend for you:

    On standby overnight (about 9 hours) the battery drain is 5-6% so, based on this alone, there is something not right about your battery life.

    On a full charge to the 3% warning, I can get just over nine episodes of Prison Break on Netflix (call that 7 hours) while running a full windows defender scan and carrying out the standard background operations. The screen brightness was turned up a little too (about 40%) so I's say I could probably squeeze 8 hours of Netflix on a single charge if I turned the brightness down to the standard setting.

    Bottom line is that I think you need to get your battery looked at.


  • #98
    subscriber
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭subscriber


    delos wrote: »
    OK, did some playing around over the weekend for you:

    On standby overnight (about 9 hours) the battery drain is 5-6% so, based on this alone, there is something not right about your battery life.

    On a full charge to the 3% warning, I can get just over nine episodes of Prison Break on Netflix (call that 7 hours) while running a full windows defender scan and carrying out the standard background operations. The screen brightness was turned up a little too (about 40%) so I's say I could probably squeeze 8 hours of Netflix on a single charge if I turned the brightness down to the standard setting.

    Bottom line is that I think you need to get your battery looked at.

    Most helpful.. Thanks for that!!!


  • #99
    subscriber
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭subscriber


    What protective covers is everyone using for their surface2 non pro's? I don't have a keyboard yet but will be getting one shortly.. most covers on amazon look flimsy as hell.. any suggestions?


  • #100
    delos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 404 ✭✭delos


    subscriber wrote: »
    What protective covers is everyone using for their surface2 non pro's? I don't have a keyboard yet but will be getting one shortly.. most covers on amazon look flimsy as hell.. any suggestions?

    Personally I just use the type cover as it keeps the screen protected. If you can stretch to the expensive touch keyboard it is much better.

    When not in use my Surface lives in a cheap techair bag which keeps it protected and is handy for the charger and other bits and bobs. I'd also recommend getting a lens cleaning cloth from a photographic shop and keeping it just for the surface as it is just the job for getting the fingerprints off the screen.


  • #101
    subscriber
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭subscriber


    I bought a second hand touch keyboard for my surface two (non pro) from CEX yesterday. The button functionality of the keyboard works as should .....when the keyboard decides it wants to connect correctly....

    I seems a bit iffy... Every time I snap on the keyboard, it may or may not decide to become active and pair with the tab itself. A few times, it was just really delayed, like up to a minute and then the mouse appeared on the screen, but on a few other occasions, it did not pair up at all and I had to snap the keyboard off and back on again to make it pair up.

    I`m wondering whether I've gotten a keyboard with a dodgy connection or if this is just a typical normal problem all surface users are dealing with ?

    Could anyone comment as to how quick or slow their keyboard pairs with their device each time they snap it on ....


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  • #102
    delos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 404 ✭✭delos


    Mine pairs within seconds - I think you might have a dodgy keyboard. I take it the connectors are clean and the keyboard isn't for the Pro model? Apart from the keyboard is the Surface performing OK?


  • #103
    subscriber
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭subscriber


    delos wrote: »
    Mine pairs within seconds - I think you might have a dodgy keyboard. I take it the connectors are clean and the keyboard isn't for the Pro model? Apart from the keyboard is the Surface performing OK?

    The tablet its self is preforming perfect as I bought it new from Microsoft. It is just the connectivity of the keyboard that is dodgy. Wen the keyboard successfully connects to the tablet, it preforms perfect as well.. I am typing on it right now... it is just that it is finiky wen connecting to the device when I first snap it on..

    I do not know if the keyboard is for the pro version or not.. All I do know is that, it is the older style keyboard with the grey fur finish on the bottom as opposed to the newer version!


  • #104
    delos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 404 ✭✭delos


    subscriber wrote: »
    I do not know if the keyboard is for the pro version or not.. All I do know is that, it is the older style keyboard with the grey fur finish on the bottom as opposed to the newer version!

    That's the keyboard I have (right down to the colour and finish) and I don't have the connectivity issues you describe. I was confused about the pro and no-pro
    versions of the keyboard - it is Type and Type 2 (nothing to do with pro and non-pro. Mine is a Type 2, if yours is a Type (the original) that might explain the difference.


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