Having retired my RT Surface 1 last week at Best Buy, on Tuesday (22 Oct) it was time to go back to Best Buy and redeem my $200 trade-in card, plus some additional monies, for a new Microsoft Surface 2.

First Impressions:

• The case is lighter in color – a light grey/silver
• The power connector connects MUCH easier, and it is easy to tell it is connected with the new ring light
• My older TYPE keyboard works just fine – no plans on getting the newer version.
• Once started, it appears to boot faster
• More importantly, it appears to operate much faster
• Once setup, and logged in via my Microsoft account, it identified all my software from earlier versions and enabled me to opt to install them – nice.
• The DESKTOP icon on the Start Screen was not there…it was in the All Apps screen and could be pinned to the Start Screen
• The Kick Stand, now in two positions vice the older version which had only one; seemed less sturdy than the older model.
• I elected to continue with a 32GB SSD configuration and used the older model’s 16GB microSD for additional storage memory.  Since I don’t use the Surface for a production machine, 32GB or main storage and 16GB of auxiliary storage is more than sufficient.  About 12GB of storage is available on the main SSD.  (Note: I usually set up the machine with a local admin account and one user account tied to Microsoft login.)  It appears that having a microSD for additional storage is a necessity on tablet computing devices.
• I like Windows 8.1 RT better than the 8.0 version although I would like to see a Firefox version of the browser.  The desktop IE version is OK.
• I installed the Google search application…it is a nice way to achieve an alternate browser experience.
• WiFi seems to be picking up additional neighboring hot spots…means it is probably more sensitive.
• My usage is not heavily dependent on main storage…pictures are in my camera not in my tablets.  Music is in my iPod.

As with other tablet devices, I consider the Surface 2 to be a consumption device and not much of a production device, although the 10″ form factor makes some productivity possible especially with the included Office Suite.  Windows 8(.1) in general suffers from a lack of applications that are common on the iPAD and Android platforms…especially some tools I like to use and news readers.  Hopefully those developers will offer same in the Windows Store.

Pros:

• Windows 8.1 platform – and the Office Suite
• Generally easy to hold – no better than other 10″ devices
• Significant speed improvement…much, much better
• Ability to continue to use existing keyboards
• Apparently the Wi Fi is more sensitive in the Surface 2
• Full size USB port, and now USB v3 capable

Cons:

• Productivity potential limited based on real estate
• Some common iPAD and Android applications/tools not available in the Windows Store.
• Inability to install my browser of preference – Firefox

Overall rating 4 out of 5 stars.

Recommended configuration:  Base machine with 32GB storage; 16GB and greater micro SD…move some folders to the micro SD to better balance the configuration needs.

ED