Microsoft Surface RT Pro Reviews

A superbly designed tablet that’s ideal for mobile professionals, but it comes with too many compromises to make it a must-have

Maybe I say this too often, but I wanted to love this device. Actually, I wanted to love the Surface when I first saw it, before I even got my hands on the review unit. It made Windows 8 make sense in a way other products had not, and I could see a world where this kind of device was the only one I carried with me. Once I did get the review unit, I wanted to love it even more. And truth be told, there is a lot here to love. Plenty — but not enough for me right now. The promise of the Surface was that it could deliver a best-in-class tablet experience, but then transform into the PC you needed when heavier lifting was required. Instead of putting down my tablet and picking up my laptop, I would just snap on my keyboard and get my work done. But that's not what the Surface offers, at least not in my experience. It does the job of a tablet and the job of a laptop half as well as other devices on the market, and it often makes that job harder, not easier. Instead of being a no-compromise device, it often feels like a more-compromise one. There may be a time in the future when all the bugs have been fixed, the third-party app support has arrived, and some very smart engineers in Redmond have ironed out the physical kinks in this type of product which prevent it from being all that it can be. But that time isn't right now — and unfortunately for Microsoft, the clock is ticking.

The Microsoft Surface with Windows RT's $499 starting MSRP means those thinking about making the investment here will be carefully cross-shopping against same-priced offerings from Apple, ASUS and others. Where does this one rate? Very well -- but very differently. While those devices are primarily targeted at content-hungry consumers, the Surface is a slate upon which you can get some serious work done, and do so comfortably. You can't always say that of the competition. It's in the other half of the equation, that of the content consumption and entertainment, where the Surface is currently lacking. It needs a bigger pile of apps and games to make up for that and, while we're sure they're coming, we don't know when. If those apps arrive soon, then early adopters will feel vindicated. If, however, the Windows RT market is slow to mature, not truly getting hot for another six months or so, holding off will prove to have been the smarter option.

Microsoft’s first stab at building a premium tablet was a very good one in our opinion. Microsoft still has a lot of work to do to build out the Windows 8/RT app ecosystem and consumers in general still seem to be apprehensive about Windows 8’s radical new interface, but the Surface tablet itself and its array of accessories are excellent. Microsoft has proven that they can hang with the best of them in terms of hardware design and manufacturing.

The Microsoft Surface for Windows 8 RT ($499.99) represents an important step in Microsoft’s entry into the tablet market. While it does not even try to win the “specification” war, it is important to note that it has a unique value-proposition for those who are interested by using a tablet for productivity purposes, and who like to manage files and setting within a known Windows environment. On top of it, add a 9-hour battery life and a 1.5 lbs weight and you will understand why Windows users start salivating. To put it simply: if your would-be tablet usage revolves around working on Microsoft Office documents, Email and web browsing, the Microsoft Surface RT basically crushes everything else, because no other mobile platform offers a complete Office file compatibility. This has to be one of the main friction point for people who want to work with a tablet. We highly recommend the optional cover keyboards as well, even if we wish that they were cheaper ($120 and $130).

The Surface RT is a problematic product. It attempts to be both a touch-friendly casual tablet computer while also allowing you to get work done with Microsoft Office and a fake Windows desktop… and it fails at both. The former endeavor, that of having a touch-friendly casual tablet computer, can only be realized when there are enough apps to cover your needs. And as of the time of this writing, that is just not the case. The latter goal, that of allowing you to be productive, is saved for the Surface Pro, a much more expensive tablet that can give you the real Windows desktop experience, in a nice hybrid form factor. That’ll be the one to seriously consider if you’re in the market for a Windows 8 touch-product that can also get some work done. We don’t recommend the Surface RT, for anyone, until the app story changes on the platform. If you buy one now, it’ll be like owning a car without wheels.

Microsoft like being pushed, it seems. No other explanation of how well it did with the Surface considering the pressure pot of high stakes and overwhelming expectations. It didn't take its eyes off the target either, knowing (though hardly enjoying the fact) that the iPad is the tablet to beat. Yet, despite generations of hardware and software advancements, iOS hasn't become the hallmark of handheld productivity, and thus give PCs a real challenge. It's a multimedia consumption device and that's what gives the Surface a chance to get a slight edge. Microsoft offers plenty of content under the Xbox umbrella, ranging from music to movies and TV shows, from handheld to full-blown console-quality games. But the numbers behind the iPad can't be matched, not yet anyway. Windows RT has a long way to go - the app count is still low and the fact that you can't run legacy Windows software on RT doesn't sound particularly enticing. The Microsoft Surface RT is a bold statement nonetheless. It's got good enough internals into one of the hottest bodies in the business. The VaporMG casing feels cooler than anything we've held recently and the kickstand and magnetic detachable keyboards go a long way to make the Surface unique and desirable.

Microsoft, for its part, has done a tremendous job in bringing to market a competitive tablet in the Surface RT. On the hardware side, it has a stunning design that’s very unique amongst most things, but on the software end, we see that there’s still plenty of growing up needed for it to tangle with Google has going on with Android. Yeah, it’s not the coolest or most stylish looking tablet we’ve seen around, but we can’t help ourselves drool over the super affordable price tag attached to the Nexus 10. At $400 for the base versions, versus $500 for the Surface RT, there is without doubt a lot more value found with the Nexus 10 – and not to mention, it actually performs handsomely in many areas over its rival. From its snazzy looking display to the complete feel of the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean experience, it goes to show why the Nexus 10 is the clear winner in this comparison. Not only are you going to save a cool $100 in the process, but we’re certain you’ll appreciate the experience more as well.

The Microsoft Surface is a good tablet, but there are a few weaknesses. For example, the performance is low - at least, when measured with the available benchmarks. Other tablets with Tegra 3 post higher scores. However, the Surface does offer good performance for everyday use (subjective) and will be able to run any application. In addition, the tablet offers many Apps in the App Store, which is easily accessible and should grow exponentially in the coming months. The interfaces of the Surface are limited, but the tablet does have a USB port and a SD card reader - slightly more than the tablet average. The video out will excite users with HD output. However, s/he will have to first purchase the separately available adapter. The 10.6 inch touch screen is very good and offers bright and lively content. The viewing angle stability is great and so is the fast interface. The resolution is good, although other tablets even offer Full-HD.

A beautifully-made and fantastically flexible tablet which is great for working on the move, but it's not without its problems

A unique, superbly designed tablet that’s ideal for mobile professionals, but it comes with too many compromises to make it a must-have

Peering into the tablet landscape right now, it’s quite evident that Microsoft still has some serious work ahead of itself in catching up to the same level of its rivals in terms of platform functionality and comprehensiveness. Windows RT is a big undertaking for the Redmond based company, so naturally, they’re intent on giving users a unified experience to migrate them into Microsoft’s various services – like XBOX Games and its music/video services. However, as we look back at some of the first versions of other respective tablet platforms, like iOS for the iPad or the QNX based OS of the BlackBerry PlayBook, Windows RT has more of a polished appeal right from the get-go.

Is the Surface worth its price? I think a more useful question is this: if on a business trip, could I replace my laptop with the Surface? The short answer is no. The longer answer is also no, but these are the reasons why. The overall sluggishness and bugginess in the interface, especially when using IE10, is disappointing. Flash support for IE10 is currently lackluster. Also, more pointedly, IE10 isn't yet compatible with CNET's content management system (the tool we use to publish). There aren't nearly enough apps to support my entertainment social networking needs when not actually working. Until Microsoft addresses these issues, the Surface isn't quite ready to take over as my one and only device. Your needs may be different, though. Paired with a keyboard cover, the Surface is an excellent Office productivity tool (the best in tablet form) and if your entertainment needs don't go far beyond movies, TV shows, music, and the occasional simple game, you're covered there as well. Especially if you like to multitask; the split-screen feature is incredibly useful and cool.

The Microsoft Surface with Windows RT bridges the distance between tablet and laptop for many users, particularly if you use the Web or Microsoft Office constantly. The Surface has very good hardware and some innovative design, but Microsoft Office RT is the killer app that comes to the Surface and makes it shine.

Surface RT is packed with productivity potential, and finds a certain measure of success in reinventing the tablet form factor. But its hardware isn't perfect, and its Windows RT operating system lacks flexibility and app support.

In the end, it all comes down to ecosystem. If you’re already invested in Microsoft then it’s a good solution: if you’re a Windows Phone user, or an Xbox 360 gamer, or simply have a background with Windows 7, then Surface will likely fit into your world more smoothly than an iPad or Android tablet might. If you’ve considered subscribing to Xbox Music, Microsoft’s streaming audio service, then Surface makes sense there, too, considering cross-platform apps for that haven’t been released yet. Personal reactions of ClearType HD aside, it’s hard to be too critical of Microsoft’s hardware. The Surface team has cribbed some of Apple’s notorious attention to detail and applied it with its own spin, and the result is a well-constructed slate with legitimately useful design elements like the kickstand. You could argue that the focus on the Touch Cover and Type Cover are Microsoft proving reluctant to let go of physical keyboards, but using Surface without them is undoubtedly practical and their convenience (and the fact that Office is preloaded, albeit in preview form) means you get the best of both worlds.

Surface RT is packed with productivity potential, and finds a certain measure of success in reinventing the tablet form factor. But its hardware isn't perfect, and its Windows RT operating system lacks flexibility and app support.

It's a surprise that Microsoft created its own tablet, but it's done a more than decent job of it; far more creative and polished than many Android tablets. Microsoft has to get the price right – the current thinking is comparable with iPad and 10-inch Android tablets for Surface RT rather than with the 7-inch Kindle Fire – and battery life has to be good. Surface doesn't feel like an iPad in your hands; it feels like a well-designed Windows tablet crammed with clever touches that make it practical.