Microsoft Surface 2 (32 GB)

Let me start by saying this is a wonderful little device. That however, is contingent on you knowing what you're buying, which for my review, needs some context. Let me say this though: if all you want to do is listen to music, watch videos, use internet and use MS Office, there is no better machine than this. For context, I bought a Surface RT, the 1st gen (I'll call it S1 from now on), when they were mega cheap. Functionally it's exactly the same as Surface 2, just noticeably slower. The screen was fine, speakers were fine, performance was acceptable, battery life was great, touch keyboard was... passable. That was 2013. Now in fall 2014 the Surface 2 just got a %20 price cut which, to my eyes, made it competitively priced. So, what's changed from the Surface RT? The screen is much better, I didn't think 1080p would be that noticeable on such a small screen but it's certainly clearer. The fact that it's no longer the PLS screen from the S1 but it's now an IPS is quite noticeable to my eyes as the colors are super rich on the S2. The speakers are way, way better. I can't really explain this other than the fact that it sounds "fuller" as in with more volume, more 3D like, more real, less flat. It's thinner (not by much) and lighter (somewhat noticeable) than S1. I got a type cover, the one with actual clicky keys, which is a million times better than the touch cover if you write a lot like I do. If you don't, you can get by with the touch cover, but the type doesn't really add much thickness to the whole thing and it's way, way more useful and functional. So, the S2 is just a much better S1 in all respects. The end question is the same that applied to S1: is this device right for you? Well as I said in the beginning, if you want this thing to listen to music, watch videos, use internet and use MS Office - write on Word, calculate spreadsheets on Excel and do Powerpoint presentations - then this machine is perfect. I teach at a public state university and it's all I use to teach, grade, present and do my own research when I'm at work. If you want any desktop apps (Photoshop, Acrobat, etc) then you need an actual full PC, not the tablet hybrid that is the non-pro Surface. I have a great desktop PC at home so the Surface was enough for me, if you don't have a powerful PC at home you may be better served by the Surface Pro than just the Surface. Also, keep in mind that come Spring 2015 Microsoft will be combining Windows versions into a hybrid that adapts to whatever screen/hardware combination it's installed on, so things will change. The version of Office on the Surface will undoubtedly change to their new, as yet unrevealed mobile version (kind of like Office for iPad but more powerful) since they will eliminate the desktop on the Surface (you don't really need it right now, it doesn't make much sense, that's why it's going away). So I guess this is another way to look at it: if all the Windows Store apps work for you, you're fine with the Surface, but if you'll require desktop apps in the future, you should get a Surface Pro. Remember though, even though Office is a desktop app right now it's being ported to a Windows Store app with the same functionality, just not requiring a desktop (and not having a desktop whould improve battery life a LOT too). So that's my review. Excellent machine if it fits your needs. Make sure you know what you're buying. This is a tablet just like the iPad and allows some serious work with Office. This is not a laptop, so don't expect to use desktop apps (except Office). Just like you don't buy an iPad to run Mac programs, you don't buy a Surface to use desktop apps. For that, there's a Surface Pro.

I bought the Microsoft Surface 2 (32 GB) in August 2015. Before buying this tablet I did some research on it and talked to a friend who owns this tablet. From what I found out, I decided it would be a tablet worth buying. Overall I am very satisfied with this product and would give it a four star rating. I would definitely recommend it to others, especially college students because it is great for note-taking and simple computer uses. Through using this tablet for a couple months I have found many aspects that I like and a few that I am unhappy with. Features I like: 1. The tablet has a wide screen and is light weight. It also includes a kickstand that makes it easier for viewing and includes both portrait and landscape views. 2. Microsoft Office bundle (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, and OneNote) is already installed on the tablet, so there was no need to purchase this separately. 3. It was fairly priced and was also delivered on time. 4. A USB port can be found on the tablet, which is one feature not included on the iPad. This is great to plug a mouse or keyboard into. 5. The battery life is long lasting. 6. There is a handwriting recognition feature that allows you to use a finger or a stylus. It can read both block and cursive writing. While I found this table to be mostly what I was looking for, I discovered some aspects that I do not like or that I think could be improved. Things I do not like: 1. This tablet is Windows RT, which is fairly limited. It restricts you from downloading certain apps like Google Chrome or Spotify. 2. Keyboard and other accessories are not included with the tablet. 3. The storage is limited but, additional storage is available for purchase. One suggestion I have would be to purchase a keyboard along with the tablet. A keyboard makes the tablet more usable and more like a computer. I purchased the Microsoft Surface type cover 2, which was decently priced and works very well. Overall this tablet was worth the purchase and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a tablet.

I received a Surface 2 tablet from my job. (I work in IT support and these are being handed out to one of the user groups at my company). It has quickly become my favorite computer/tablet/all-purpose-device. The Surface 2 hits the sweet spot between portability and usability. One thing to be aware of is that to get the most out of this device, you really also need the Power Cover 2 (NOT the Touch Cover, which I've heard is basically a useless piece of garbage). The reason for this is twofold: 1) The Power Cover 2 is a great, useable keyboard. I'm a fast typist, and I have had no problems touch-typing on the Power Cover keyboard. It's a little smaller than a standard keyboard, but is very well-designed as far as tactile feedback and the size of the keys. It's really fun to be able to type a lengthy comment, or review, or email, and then go back to using the touchscreen. After years of carrying around devices with a touch-only interface, it is so great to have a keyboard back! 2) The Power Cover 2 functions as a backup battery for the tablet. Basically you have two batteries, one in the tablet and one in the keyboard. (The tablet connects to the keyboard via a magnetic connector that makes a satisfying click as you snap them together. Sexy!) When the tablet is connected to the keyboard, it uses up the keyboard battery first, then the tablet's internal battery. Likewise when you charge, it charges the tablet first, then the keyboard. In theory, you have up to 20 hours of battery life with the Power Cover 2 attached. I don't know about that, but I do know I've been able to use the device pretty much all day without running out of battery life. (One drawback is that there is no way to charge the keyboard separately while carrying the tablet around. The keyboard has to be attached to the tablet in order to charge.) Included with the tablet is a full version of Office 2013 including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. This allows you to do "real work" if your work involves using any of these applications. You can use these applications on the "desktop" side or the "tablet" side. Basically you have two different home screens you can look at: the mobile screen with the tiles (this is the one I use the most), or an interface that looks more like a traditional Windows desktop. There are actually separate versions of the Office applications depending on which interface you're using; the ones on the desktop side are more full-featured, but I find myself using the tablet interface for most things. Unfortunately, there is no way to install other Windows desktop programs (you would need a Surface Pro for that), but you can install apps on the "tablet side" via the Store. Have I mentioned how awesome it is to have both a touchscreen and a keyboard? Web browsing becomes much more intuitive and fun. (The downside is that now I keep trying to touch the screen of my Windows 7 laptop, which of course doesn't do anything). The form factor of this device is ideal. The screen is large enough for comfortable reading and viewing, but the whole thing is so small and light -- even with the Power Cover attached -- that I can easily slip it into my bag for the day. As a result, I have the device with me all the time. It's the device I go to first now for most uses. This is also the device that got me using OneNote. Learn to use OneNote! It's practical and surprisingly fun. Pros: - Excellent form factor - Good battery life - Office 2013 - Affordable Cons: - Power Cover 2 keyboard must be purchased separately - No app to watch Amazon Prime video - Can't install Windows desktop applications.

i was looking to get something easier to carry with me when i have client meeting for my business than my bulky laptop and so i saw this and it seemed to have the right processor, screen size, ram, etc that would atleast work and then i could give my current laptop to my 12 yr old daughter. so this would be a great little tablet if i had chosen the bigger memory (64gb) but i think even then i would need more...they dont tell you that just the operating system (nothing else downloaded or used) alone takes up 18gb which doesn't leave much if you are planning on doing anything more than email, viewing files off a thumb drive and facebook...yes it has a micro sd slot to add to the memory but they don't make them bigger than 128gb and not even sure that if i bought one if the machine is expandable to that much (i cant find the parameters for micro sd) ***also it seems to glitch sometimes where i cant get the screen to come on...i can touch it and hear things but cant see anything until i hold and restart the power button a few times.....i should have bought a another laptop so if your looking for something to do what a laptop does or play games on... you will be disappointed...if your looking for something to just check email and maybe some internet..you will be fine.

I did a lot of research on the 2 in 1 market and almost made 3 other purchases before I finally bought the surface 2. After reading many reviews and looking at the specs for just about every mid ranged price tablet on the market, I thought the surface made the most sense. Keep in mind I did not research any apple products, I'm just not as big a fan as everyone else. Plus I wanted to be able to write and type papers using Microsoft programs. I figured the surface was more productive compared to an I pad and it seems as though I was correct. First the pros of the surface 1)productivity- I typed a few sentences right after I got this and hit print and it printed to my printer without ever really setting anything up, it just sensed it, so I thought that was pretty cool. 2)ports-it has more ports or connections on the tablet than most other tablets and keyboards combined. USB 3.0, mini hdmi, headphone and mic jack mini sd card for more storage and of course the 2 position kickstand. 3)camera- the surfaces aren't the best tablet cameras on the market but they are pretty good 3.5 mp front facing and 5 mp rear facing. Considering the surface pro 2 did not upgrade their cameras, I would say that is a good addition for the surface 2 rt. Most other tablets only have one camera and if they have 2 they are not as many mp's. 4)security- The security on the surface 2 is excellent because of the fact that you can not download 3rd party applications or software. Most people hate this point, but I love the fact that I don't have to worry about viruses and things to slow down the tablet, I have laptops and a desktop if I want that. This brings me to my next point, which is the 5) speed and connectivity- the connectivity is great after a month I have not experienced any lag or glitchyness either while on the internet watching movies or playing games. The speed of the processor is excellent very fast, I guess this was a problem on the 1st surface but they definitely upgraded the processor. 6)look and feel\screen quality- I love the look and feel of the tablet. The magnesium alloy back looks like a very expensive product especially with the kickstand. It weighs a little more than some of its competitors, but that is because of the quality of the construction which is very sturdy not much flex in the surface compared to some other tablets, which tells me it was built well and worth a couple extra ounces of weight. At less that 1.5 pounds it is still not that heavy. The screen resolution is spectacular 1080p HD, watching movies on it is second to none because of the widescreen display and the HD, absolutely wonderful movie viewing compared to anything on the market in my humble opinion. 7)touchscreen- the touchscreen is very responsive. In my opinion there are not many cons with the surface unless you're a big app person, which I am not, but if you are you're in for a real problem because the windows app store kinda sucks. My wife is a big candy crush saga player and this app is not in the store, however most apps can be played through an actual website (which is what she does). So if you're worried about that, check and see if the app can actually be played through a website. Then it doesn't matter but if you're a big app person and going to an actual website doesn't fit into your plans then maybe the surface 2 isn't right for you. In conclusion, if apps are not that big of a deal to you and productivity is, then I would suggest a surface 2.

I really hate this $&^*&%÷@ thing. I don't have hours in the day to explain all the reasons so I'll just leave it at that I didnt completely expect it to replace a traditional windows PC but I thought it would be close enough to do at least some things similar to a PC. Nope, I've been able to access more websites and programs on my android tablet than this damn Surface could even think of. Can't personalize with things like Google Chrome but I suppose I should have expected that from Microsoft. Hate, hate hate hate. And I wanted desperately to give it a chance so when I finally did decide to return it, I was two days too late. STUPIDSTUPIDSTUPID ME! ---------Update, one year later. I still hate this thing, it has never worked without MAJOR quirks. I rarely use it because I hate it, and now the touch screen stopped working, I can only use it with the keyboard I bought separately. Also, for the last 6 months it turns off randomly and will not turn back on. I have to leave it be (because I've nearly smashed it on the tile) and come back hours later and try again. Often times, it will not save a Microsoft Office document properly (it will tell me that it has save successfully) only to go back to an empty document. I ONLY ever use this for Excel which I do my monthly bills with, so you can imagine how freaking awesome it is to spend an hour or more figuring out bills only to come back to NOTHING. I have no interest in having any kind of warranty repair done, I'm assuming it's under warranty, because one of these days I really will smash it on the tile and then I will feel soooooo damn good........and I smashed it guys, and it felt amazing.

Just received my MS S2 in mail. Funny, price went down $70 since I ordered it 10 days ago. OK so what. Its $70. So, I had IPad 1 no camera, Galaxy (which I am writing thiss review), IPad Air brand new. So I know a little bit about them. I bought Ms for USB, SD card (which Galaxy has) and the Office bundle. So on the plane to Las Vegas I open it up for my four hour flight and it would not read xls files from my memory stick tat works on my HP Laptop. Hmmm, wonderd what that was about. So I pop out my 32GB SD card that has music on it and it does not recognize it, actually, I could not find the file system and the music icon could not locate any music on the SD or stick. The MS product is not intuitive, easy to navigate like the Galaxy. Maybe with time this exersize will become easier but this is the first tablet I owned that was difficult to operate right out of the box. A tip window is annoyingly poking out of the left margin and I'll be dammed if I can figure out how to make that thing go away. I dont know why MS has to fight the tablet trend with easy to ID desktop icons. Sorry MS, you are difficult to use. Help is useless unless you are on a wifi network and ther was ZERO documentation in the box aside from a quickstart paper that outlined how to turn this thing on. Just findi g the web page bar is diddicult. Its really small and on the bottom of the page, took 20 minutes to find yahoo. Maybe I'm the yahoo? But seriously, the Galaxy and Apple old and new were EASY to operate. I'm sure it will become easy over time but startup was brutal. The only plus so far is the MS Office bundle, now if only I could figure out how to get my files. If I find any redeming value vs the Galaxy I'll let you know. It plays ALL my MP3's unlike the Apple (ITunes IS the virus), I hope MS will too. Gut feeli g is you will be happier with Galaxy. And for thos that don't like the lack of Flash for Apple and Samsung - open the video attachment on Galaxy in new window option and it will play just fine, not sure about Apple but I found an app that opened any video. It's just hard to use and I blame MS engineers who think they have a better idea but first impression is not good. Go with the flow designers, we want easy, you should have stolen the icons from Apple like you did with early Windows your brutally difficult desktop and file system will stall sale. I hope I can get through the learning curve fast.

It's been said in virtually every positive review of the Surface 2 - this is not a toy. Which has two sides to it: don't judge the S2 for its paltry game selection or the limited number of other apps, but for what Surface alone can do among mobile devices - work seamlessly and powerful on the Office apps that you run every day. This is almost cliche by now - but it's true. Many reviewers have compared it unfavorably to smartphones for smartphone-like functions, and AND unfavorably to laptops for Windows-type functions, and given insufficient credit for the great value of straddling all of those functions and performing all of the essential tasks of both, in form factor that looks and feels great to use and is impressively svelte. In my opinion, most tech reviewers are behind the curve when it comes to new device genres, and the Surface/Windows RT is just such a device. Office runs great, and most of the saving/file management behavior is just like Windows. This is a device you can take home or on the road every day while leaving your laptop at home. Where it's not like full Windows 8 office: Excel macros. Yes, that's about it, and I feel the inconvenience of this myself, sometimes. But other than that, the only other things missing that I know of are true power-user capabilities like running third-party extensions for Office. This is not totally insignificant, and will be important for some users, but understand that all of the other normal functions are as they are in full Office. There are also good security rationales for these limitations in the lighter, lower-power RT environment that don't have loads of security software and other processes running in the background. If you are used to Android or iOS apps, you have to adjust to doing more from your browser, but you realize that's as much because of the form-factor - this is more like a laptop than a regular tablet, and Internet Explorer runs everything web-based, unlike iPads or cell phones. I run a solo-practice law office, and the #1 use for my Surface is timekeeping on my web-based practice management software, essentially a sophisticated website - and it works great. I have also set up a VPN for my Surface to port into my disk server at work. This (as with any device) might take a little tinkering and be fairly basic in terms of functionality/options, but it functions well. Any web-based portals you have to disk servers as well seem to work fine despite the lack of Java. It also connects with servers and other computers via local networks including homegroups, with no problems that I have noticed. The other big payoff for this device is the beautiful, businesslike design. I recommend the magnesium color, which might pick up a scuff or two down the road, but it really stands apart and shows off the matte metal finish and the unique form factor. The kickstand perfectly complements its more-laptop-than tablet use cases and makes this an attractive and useful fixture on your desk - whether that's your workplace office, an out-of-town meeting, or the breakfast table.