Microsoft Surface Pro 2 Review
by Anand Lal Shimpi on October 21, 2013 12:01 AM EST- Posted in
- Tablets
- Microsoft
- Mobile
- Surface
- Surface Pro 2
Display
Like Surface 2, Surface Pro 2 ships with 150% DPI scaling enabled for classic desktop applications. Unfortunately even under Windows 8.1 there are a lot of issues with DPI scaling in 3rd party applications and touch targets. Chrome for example is mostly unusable as a touch browser in classic mode.
There’s not much difference between the new 1080p panel in Surface 2 and what’s in Surface Pro 2. Both feature a laminated cover glass and the same increase in color gamut. The end result is a big improvement over the previous generation, but not quite up to the level of color accuracy we’ve come to expect from cheaper tablets.
Surface Pro 2's display does get substantially brighter than the panel in my Surface 2 review sample. One thing I don't have a good feel for is just how much variation there is between panel suppliers into the Surface lines.
It really is a very good display, it just could be better.
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ananduser - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Don't forget the Windows Pro license.Scannall - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
I like Windows 7. Don't like 8 much. I prefer OS X, though Windows 7 comes close.InspectHerGadget - Tuesday, October 22, 2013 - link
I agree although Windows 8 in a tablet or Surface device makes sense. Maybe not so much on the desktop. I prefer windows 7 on the desktop.Imaginer - Tuesday, October 22, 2013 - link
10 point touch screen as well? But I guess that is moot, people will have their iPad to switch back and forth from, transferring and syncing files, connecting the two - wired or wireless, carrying two devices and all supporting accessories for each...sssqueeze - Tuesday, October 22, 2013 - link
Funny you say that. That's exactly what I do.basroil - Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - link
ALL Surface Pro models (including the old ones) run on Windows 8/8.1 ProScannall - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Only if you need it. Not everyone does.duploxxx - Tuesday, October 22, 2013 - link
lol, windows 8 without a keyb and mouse is impossible (tons of right click required, on screen keyb is horrible). I own both AIO Touch and tablet based version on win8 so i do know :)melgross - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
Now you're being silly. You NEED a keyboard with the Pro. We all know that. Microsoft knows that. You obviously haven't used one of these. I have. Without the keyboard, the Desktop and it's software is impossible to use. And let's face it, almost no one is going to buy this for the Modern UI. If they did, then the RT model would have sold better. Now that we know how well thePro has sold, though it also seems to have flopped.The Macbook Air also has what is considered to be the best notebook keyboard, while the Touch keyboards are barely usable. And try to type on the Pro with a Touch keyboard while it's on your lap. Good luck with that!
It also uses much more storage out of the box, making 256GB more important than for the Air. The air also is more versatile, with better ports, which includes Thunderbolt.
The only area in which it's definitely better is in with the higher screen resolution, which will be true until Apple updates the air to Retina screens.
Black Obsidian - Monday, October 21, 2013 - link
It's certainly nice that the keyboard is an option, but you're wrong to suggest that everybody NEEDS one to use the Pro. It comes with a stylus that works just fine, even if you're somehow allergic to using touch and the on-screen keyboard.On my Windows 7 slate, I get by just fine with the stylus for:
Editing Word documents
Browsing Excel spreadsheets
Annotating PDFs
Browsing the Internet
Watching video
I rather doubt that something about the Surface 2 Pro (or Windows 8) makes the device IMPOSSIBLE to use without a keyboard.