Microsoft’s highly anticipated Surface RT has arrived.
Thankfully, it’s nothing like the dogs previous Windows tablets have been.
Windows RT, the version for ARM tablets of Microsoft’s
flagship OS, is finally available on a range of devices, including its own
Surface RT. The I0.6in screen provides a fraction more room in which to
manoeuvre than the iPad, but it’s just as thin as Apple’s tablet at 9.5mm.The
Surface is easy to squeeze into a bag, and it isn’t too heavy to carry, at
686g. An optional cover adds around 200g.
Microsoft Surface
RT
In contrast to the rounded iPad, the Surface has a far more
angular, businesslike yet sleek design. In portrait mode, Windows 8’s
tile-based interface looks odd, but held in its preferred landscape mode the
Surface promotes wrist strain. This tablet is very much designed to be operated
from a desk.
The kickstand is an important element. A bracket flicks out
at the tablet’s rear, in the process revealing a microSDXC slot, which lets you
add up to 64GB more storage, but the kickstand s rake isn’t adjustable.
Adding one of two keyboard covers creates what feels like a
pint-sized laptop. These keyboards are a genius invention. The Touch Cover,
just 3mm-thick with flat keys, initially feels strange in use, although you
quickly get used to it. Its pressure- sensitive touchpads are fine for casual
use, but serious typing demands the Type Cover. This is double the thickness,
but fitted with real keys.
Adding one of two
keyboard covers creates what feels like a pint-sized laptop.
Both keyboard covers click securely into place, and you can
even dangle the Surface from its cover without it hitting the ground.
The Surface RT feels like a premium product right out the
box. We’d have been more impressed in this regard had it not been for an
unseemly gap on the rear, through which the internals are on display. The
VaporMG chassis, made from injection moulded magnesium, makes the slab strong
and nice to the touch; although, within minutes, we’d tained its absorbent
finish with scores of fingerprints.
Performance
Windows RT can’t run regular x86 software making it all, but
useless when faced with legacy Windows programs. It’s designed to run on ARM
processors, and the Surface is fitted with a 1.3GHz nVidia Tegra 3 quad-core
chip and 2GB of memory.
Windows RT’s
designed to run on ARM processors, and the Surface is fitted with a 1.3GHz
nVidia Tegra 3 quad-core chip and 2GB of memory.
There’s precious little software available for Windows RT,
which includes our usual benchmarking utility. Through Internet Explorer 10.0
we were able to run SunSpider, in which the Surface recorded 1,024ms in the
Desktop mode and 985ms in the Modern Ul. Both scores trail the iPad’s 854ms.
From the user’s perspective the interface is extremely
slick, just like Windows Phone 8.The interface animations are smooth, and tasks
such as pinch-zooming in Internet Explorer are responsive.
Apps don’t launch as quickly as we’d like, though, and we
were often left staring at Windows 8’s swirly dots for several seconds upon
first launch behaviour we’ve previously noted in Windows Phone 8.
At its comparable $599 price point, the 32GB Surface has
twice the storage of the 16GB iPad 4. A microSDXC slot lets you add up to 64GB
more. There’s also a 64GB Surface RT, which costs $839 (including the Touch
keyboard).
The 1366x768 pixel count is common on 15in laptops, but on a
10.6in tablet it gives a higher 148ppi pixel density. The screen looks good at
a regular viewing distance, matching the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, but it’s no
Retina iPad; look closer and fuzzy edges are noticeable in reading type.
More than the usual Wi-Fi, the Surface has two antennae for
better wireless performance, plus Bluetooth. There’s also a headphone jack,
micro-HDMI, full-sized USB, and a keyboard dock and charging port. The Surface
won’t charge over USB, although this pore accepts peripherals.
Our experience of battery life bemused us. We started the
day with a full charge, and used the tablet for 90 mins while shooting our
video review, and 30 minutes browsing the web. The next day the battery was
flat. Microsoft touts a seven- to 15-day idle runtime.
Softwhere?
Most interaction is via the touchy Modern Ul with its tiled
design. Learn all the finger gestures and it’s a breeze to navigate. One handy
feature is the ability to configure multiple user accounts. Logging into the
tablet with our Windows Live account instantly populated the tablet with our
contacts, email and calendar. The Store lets you buy apps, although many
everyday utilities, including Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, Google Maps and
Dropbox, are missing.
The Surface includes a preview of Office 2013, which runs
within the Desktop tile. This makes the Surface a great portable productivity
PC.
Bottom line
The Surface RT is a very well built and a cleverly designed
tablet. The hardware is mostly sound and Windows RT runs smoothly, but lacks
decent apps.
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Info
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Price: From $599
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Company: Microsoft
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Website: microsoft.com
Pros
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Well-built
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Great (optional) keyboard
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Premium feel
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Strong performance
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Good connectivity
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Expandable storage
Cons
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Few apps
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Battery life not as expected
Specifications
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1.3GHz nVidia Tegra 3 quad-core ARM
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2GB RAM
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32/64GB flash storage; 10.6in (1366x768) LCD
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802.Ha/b/g/n, 2x2 Mimo
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Bluetooth
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MicroSDXC
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USB 2.0
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Micro HDMI
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Microsoft Office Home & Student 2013 RT (preview)
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31.5Wh fixed lithium battery
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275x172x9.5mm
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686g
Verdict
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The Surface RT is a great tablet, but it lacks a good range of
apps. In time, this should change
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Ratings: 3.5/5
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