Windows RT 8.1 Impressions

Well, I finally (and I mean finally) downloaded Windows 8.1 RT.  It only took my 5 hours to download it and 30 minutes or so to set it up.  It should be already installed on the new Surfaces and many new Windows 8/RT Tablets. 

The download size (for Windows RT 8.1) is stated at 2.11 GB, however I needed to delete an additional 1.5 (at least) to install it.  So, you might want to have 4.0 GB of free space.

For some reason, when you first run RT 8.1 things load really, really slow.  It may be a good idea after the install to run all of your apps at least once (as it seems to decrease load times on subsequent loads).  From what I can tell, Windows RT 8.1 seems to run a little slower than Windows RT. 

There were a couple of things that changed (or that I noticed)

My Surface RT Report: October-ish 2013

Windows 8.1 (aka Windows Blue) RT hits on October 17th. 6 days away.  The Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 release on October 22nd.  Starting at $449 ($549 for 64GB) and $899 ($999/$1,299/$1,799). 

I have been using my Surface sporadically.  However since the last patch Tuesday (the 2nd Tuesday of the month if you didn't know), my Surface has been acting kind of unstable.  There must have been something in those 29 updates that messed things up a little.  It really, really slowed down and I had to delete numerous apps.  Maybe I should just refresh it again (but I would have to delete almost everything on it to free up enough space). 

Microsoft Surface 2 Announced. Impressions.

Well, Microsoft announced today that they are releasing the Surface 2 and the Surface Pro 2 on October 22nd (pre-orders are slated to start tomorrow).

http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en-us/pre-order

So, what did we find out about the announced sequels?

Microsoft Surface 2 Supposedly to Be Revealed Today

Well, the time has finally come for Microsoft (MSFT) to detail its successor to the under-rated Surface line of tablets.  

The Surface RT and the Surface Pro may not exactly have set the world on fire, but they were decent first offerings from MSFT into the tablet market. Will they release the rumored mini (8")?  Will their asking price not be as misaligned as last time? Will there be Windows 8 minis (not just Surface)?

My Surface RT Report: March 2013

Well, another month has come and gone (like months typically do).  So how have I been enjoying my Microsoft Surface RT this month?

I am still using it mostly as an Xbox portable (with some email).

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. 

My Surface RT Report: January 2013

Well the new year has come (thank you very much pseudo-Mayan doomsayers, too bad they were wrong).  It's been a while since my last "report" so let's see what has been going on.

My Surface RT Report: November 2012

Another month has come and gone.  I have been enjoying my MSFT Surface RT tablet. So, how are things going on the Surface front.  The surface may not be lighting retail on fire (allegedly), but did anyone really expect it to with limited distribution channels?  I really liked my Zune and so far I really like my Surface. 

my Surface RT, One Month Later

Has it really been a month already?  One month ago today (October 26th), i bought my Microsoft Surface RT.  So how have things been?

My Surface Report: October 2012

Well, i have now had a Microsoft Surface RT tablet for about three weeks (since October 26th).  So what have i been doing all of this time with it?

The Story of My Surface

So, here is the question... why did i buy a new Microsoft Surface RT (32GB, no touch cover - yet) over some of the other tablets in the market.  Good question. 

Basically, i have been thinking about getting a tablet for several years now.  My top three choices were: Microsoft Surface RT, Kindle Fire HD and Google Nexus 7 (16GB).  At one point i was even considering getting a Blackberry Playbook.  i was dismayed when i found out that Microsoft would be charging more for the Surface RT than the Asus/Google Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire HD combined.  Yes, i think it was at least $100 more than it should have been (but the price isn't going to drop in the next 3 months or so, probably longer)

Well, one day i was kind of bored and had a little time on my hands (ok Surface/Windows 8 launch day).  i had found out a couple of days earlier that they actually had a Microsoft Store in walking distance (not sure if it is a real store or pop-up).  So, i walked down there (3 miles) or so to check out the surface and take some notes.  Well, i got there and had a little hands-on time with the Surface RT.  It was exactly as i expected it.  It is a relatively smooth experience with an easy gesture system (though there is a bunch of stuff i don't know how to do). 

i actually expected the Surface RT to be sold out (especially the base model - which i got).  i went in there and took some notes on the tablet.  i was also interested to test drive another Windows RT tablet too, the Asus Vivo (which would have been my fallback RT tablet choice).  That was a nice tablet too.  However, upon briefly leaving the store some employee asked me if he could help me with anything else.  i said something to the effecet of "not unless you accept cash".  The question i wanted to ask was about pre-paid cards and apps.  It turns out they did.  Who knows why i was carrying a relatively large sum of cash with me at the time... 

Well, i bought the tablet and then took the long journey back to the place i was staying (if it can't survive a 3.2 mile walk it was never meant to be).  Now i am just getting acquainted with the tablet.  i still have my share of questions like: how do i tell when it is fully charged and whether or not there were any pre-paid solutions to buy apps (i wish Xbox points). 

Surface RT and Comcast/Arris TG862 Do We Have a Problem?

Recently, my Surface RT has had some problems connecting to the internet here.  Some days i cannot connect at all (2 or 3 so far) and today the connection just dropped out on me. 

i am bringing up the specter of the the piece of garbage Arris TG862 (or at least with the horrible Comcast firmware).  Basically, my Xbox 360 S had similar problems connecting to the internet.  At first i could connect easily, then things got dicier (until i couldn't connect it to the internet at all).  After Binging it (i could have Googled it, but they don't let me "earn" MSFT points), i learned that the gateway (Arris TG862) and my Xbox 360 S were not compatible.

Maybe Microsoft products and the gateway just don't get along.  i am not saying there is a definite issue (at least known), i am just ranting against a probabe reason.

If you wanted to get Comcast internet, i would consider telling them to forget it if they offer you the Arris TG862 gateway (used for Triple Play).  Well, that is unless you have your own router and have it put in Bridged Mode (but they charge for that).  They do have decent speeds, however some of the wireless connection stuff is kind of a nightmare.

Edit: November 9th.  Well, as i expected i haven't been able to connect my Surface to the internet for several days now.  i guess it is a good thing that the library has free wi-fi.  Just say no to the Arris TG862 gateway if you want Comcast Triple Play. 

Update 2: I don't know if it was a Surface RT firmware update or what, but I have been able to connect for at least the last week.  Great, I just jinxed the connection. 

So Why Did i Get a Microsoft Surface Tablet and stuff

As i may have mentioned before... my top three tablet choices were (in order): Microsoft Surface RT, Kindle Fire HD and Google Nexus 7 (16GB).  Yes, the Surface base model was more than both of those 7 inchers combined.  Well, i guess on specs it also had the same amont of RAM, the same amount of storage (sort of Windows RT/Office surely take up more memory) as those combined too.  However, the Surface also has a USB port and a microSD card slot - the other two tablets do not. 

i do not currently have the type cover (though i tried it out at the Microsoft store and it worked fairly well).  If you want to use the Office Home and Student 2013, i would highly recommend getting the type cover (or something similar).  i guess it was nice that i also got another 3 GB from SkyDrive (i think i am up around 28GB now). 

First of all, why did i chose RT over Android (Apple was never a consideration, especially with how high they priced their "mini").  Basically i view Android as kind of a fragmented mess.  i also view it mostly as a smart phone platform.  In the wild you have all kinds of different Android devices running all kinds of different OSes.  You can see gingerbread, honeycomb, ice cream sandwich, jellybean, key lime pie (not yet).  i still see this as kind of a mess. 

i may be off base here, but when i looked at Windows RT i saw a slightly more normal OS.  i viewed it as something that could still be supported 3 or so years from now with minimal change (outside updates).  Who knows, Android could be up to Orange Sherbet by then.  

Yes, i know that the Windows Store is behind on the sheer quantity of apps.  This doesn't really bother me.  You are basically comparing a "mature" ecosystem (like Android or Apple) to a new service launch.  i also like the more curated Windows Store to the "wild, wild west" that i see as Android.  There is heavy pirating, maliscious code, etc.  That is why i found Amazon's App Store more interesting than Google Play. 

Now if Microsoft would only give me a pre-paid solution to buy apps (and the apps on the Windows store seem slightly more expensive).  Then again if i upgraded my PC to Windows 8, maybe i could use apps on a tablet and a PC.  There is a pretty good offer from MSFT to upgrade online for $39.99. 

Speaking of apps, how many are currently available for my Surface RT (there were 98 games on launch day)... 
* Games 98 / 91
* Social 87/59
* Entertainment 76 /99
* Photo 93 / 47
* Music/Video 81 / 67
* Sports 90 /67
* Books/Reference 78 / 82
* News/Weather 44 / 80
* Health/Fitness 85 / 45
* Food Dining 72 / 45
* Lifestyle 80 / 73
* Shopping 24 / 18

Well, that is what was listed on my Surface RT today at (10:30 AM).  So, overall 908 games listed categorically in Top New and 773 listed in Top Free.  The apps will come, i guess it is just a matter of time. 

Update: That number appears at least a little off, i didn't realize that the category titles were clickable (which shows every app).  There are currently about 2,768 apps available for my Surface RT (2,244 free).

"Details"

Relative Size: Microsoft Surface RT vs 15.6" Toshiba notebook computer

 



Camera Sample (used indoors, looks better here than on my computer - soft and blurry):

 



 

Kickstand (from side, also USB port, video output port and charging port):

 





Issues:

* Pre-paid app option?
* Lack of apps (which may be a good thing for me right now)
* Charging, unable to tell when it is fully charged (no indication that i know of on the charger).  So, how can i tell when/if the Surface is fully charged.  It does charge quickly (i think) which is nice
* Cameras: not really usable for many things (hopefully good enough for future barcode scanning app, but i do have a DSLR
* The Surface RT is an absolute fingerprint and dust magnet. 

My New "Toy" - Scratching the Surface

Ok, maybe i should quit using the term "scratching the surface".  That would be a good hint if you want to guess what my new "toy" is.