My Surface RT Report: February 2013

So what has been going on in the exciting world of Windows RT?  Well the doomsayers are still out in full force.   I still don't get some of their reasons.  It is not that confusing (maybe I am overestimating the intelligence of consumers).  Sure it may not be selling great (much of that is actually a function of price and distribution channels), but does that really matter.  They also depressed sales by announcing the "pro" version before RT released.  If they switched the release order things would likely be doing better. 

i'm pretty sure that Windows RT will be supported for its full term (what is it 4-5 years).  With MSFT consumer devices, you are probably looking for the 2nd or 3rd generation to improve things.   

Personally, I think Windows RT is a pretty good OS so far (sure it doesn't do legacy apps, but that really isn't an issue for me - and legacy apps with a touch OS don't always work so well).  It is pretty intuitive.  If I have less chance of getting malware, that is good for me.  I still think that Windows RT needs a sub $300 7-8.9" solution. 

Look how badly Android was floundering as a tablet OS before the cheaper 7" tablets came along.  Maybe it is just my totally rational dislike of phones that puts Windows RT high on my list of tablet OSes.  There is no way I would buy an Apple product and I still think of Android as a phone thing (not a tablet thing).

I will admit that I am using it mostly for apps (games, I like the Xbox on Windows 8 stuff) 

I digress, sort of

* Connection issues: only a necessary retraining of the modem

Available Apps (as of 3/13/13 - a sort of palindromic date, at least in the US): Total/Free
- Games: 3,950 / 2,925
- Social: 474 / 412
- Entertainment: 2,893 / 2,603
- Photo: 532 / 384
- Music/Video: 981 / 528
- Sports: 714 / 624
- Books/Reference: 1,663 / 777
- News/Weather: 1,015 / 957
- Health/Fitness: 724 / 579
- Food/Dining: 517 / 418
- Lifestyle: 1,032 / 924
- Shopping: 157 / 144
- Travel: 875 / 774
- Finance: 295 / 213
- Productivity: 1,134 / 816
- Tools: 2,081 / 1,773
- Security: 132 / 93
- Business: 372 / 293
- Education: 3,430 / 2,719
- Government: 89 / 79
* Come on pre-paid cards (or at least unlock MSFT points for purchases)
* I don't think i'm getting 8 hours per charge anymore.  Monsters Love Candy kind of eats the battery (so do several other games)

Xbox on Windows Surface App Stuff:

New Games since last time (it feels like the pace has picked up a little):
* Galactic Reign (haven't tried) [$4.99]
* A World of Keflings (pretty good port of XBLA game) [$6.99]
* Zombies!!! [$4.99]
* Disney Fairies Hidden Treasures [$4.99]
* Rayman Jungle Run [$2.99]
* Royal Envoy 2: Special Edition [$3.99]
* Big Buck Hunter [$4.99]
* Monsters Love Candy (free to play)
* Adera: added Episode 3 [$3.99 I think]

dang it, Gunpowder went on sale for $1.49 after I paid $3.99 for it.  A Ty the Tasmanian Tiger game has been announced for Windows 8 (who knows when it will be out).   

According to my records, I have no purchased 14 Xbox on Windows 8 games for my Surface RT (I should probably resist the temptation for at least a month).  That is still about the cost of a new retail game.  My newest games are Royal Envoy 2: SE and A World of Keflings (I've been waiting for that one).  I did get a few for free too (6 or so).