Microsoft Surface Series

Microsoft Surface RT

Specifications

67% Microsoft Surface RT review
Source: PC Pro
One of our biggest original criticisms of the Surface RT was its lack of performance. That objection has mostly been wiped away by the firmware updates. The new version of Office also feels much better tied to the operating system, even if it still has those annoying restrictions. Another reason to think twice before buying the Surface RT is that the Surface Pro is very nearly here. While the price is set to be on the high side once more, it offers the distinct advantage of running Windows 8 rather than Windows RT.
Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 02/08/2013
Rating: Total score: 67% price: 67% performance: 67% features: 83% workmanship: 83%

67% Review: Microsoft Surface with Windows RT
Source: PC Authority
The Surface RT is an incredibly hard device to define. Microsoft’s first tablet is bold, unique and the most fully-featured device of its type. No other tablet makes it as easy to get to work straight out of the box; no other tablet has its broad compatibility with a range of peripherals; and no other tablet has such over-arching ambition.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/03/2013
Rating: Total score: 67%

Apple iPad vs Microsoft Surface RT vs Google Nexus 10 head to head review
Source: V3.co.uk
Despite very stiff competition from its new rivals, the Apple iPad retains its crown as top 10in tablet, boasting a compelling complete ecosystem offering, a decent - albeit not on a par with the Nexus 10's - screen, fast performance and excellent battery life. However, we should point out that for those looking for a full-on laptop replacement, the Surface RT is currently the only valid option, featuring support for Microsoft's email and a full version of Office 2013. The only downside of this is that people wanting to use the Surface in this way will have to buy its Touch Cover keyboard add-on, which adds an extra £80 to the device's cost.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 12/04/2012

Microsoft Surface RT vs iPad 4 comparison review
Source: PC Advisor
It really is difficult to say one of these tablets is "the tablet you should buy" as the needs of each person are completely different. We can say - in very loose terms - that if you're looking to buy a tablet to be used alongside your laptop, then the iPad 4 is probably the more polished of the two. However if you want a tablet that you can put in your bag and use instead of your laptop, then you'd have more of a fighting chance with the Surface (and its Touch Cover) in your arsenal. On a side note it's worth mentioning again (in case you missed it) the iPad 4's app store wipes the floor with the Surface's, so if it's apps you're after, then we suggest you go for the iPad 4 all day long, however, if the Surface gets its apps in order then it has the potential to be huge and a real game changer.
Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 11/20/2012

60% Microsoft Surface review
Source: T3
Full Microsoft Office support is the jewel in the crown of the Surface which along with the keyboard makes it a great tool for productivity, but whether that is enough along with the other notable features to warrant recommending over the iPad or the Asus Transformer Infinity we are not so sure. If you are truly sold on the idea of the Surface, we suggest waiting on the second generation version.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 11/13/2012
Rating: Total score: 60%

67% Microsoft Surface RT
Source: It Pro
Make no mistake: this isn’t a full laptop replacement and it does have its obvious frustrations if you’re trying to use it in a business environment. For now, it’s also held back by a lack of high-quality apps. But, and it’s a big but, the Surface is a great piece of design, looks great and is well built. While some have baulked at the price of £332 ex VAT for the 32GB version, there’s an microSDXC card slot so you can bolster the storage cheaply.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/09/2012
Rating: Total score: 67%

67% Microsoft Surface RT review
Source: PC Pro
It remains an attractive device in its own right, but more than anything, it whets our appetite for the full Windows 8 version of the Surface that’s due to arrive early next year, which will have a fully unlocked desktop and all the benefits of a regular laptop. If you can hold out until the new year, we think it’s going to be worth the wait.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/07/2012
Rating: Total score: 67% price: 67% performance: 67% features: 83% ergonomy: 83%

90% Microsoft Surface RT review
Source: Pocket Lint
The acid test of any gadget, for us, is how sad we are to give it back once we've finished reviewing it. In this case, we're beyond sad, and have moved in to a state of great turmoil that is likely to end up in an expensive online shopping trip. The Surface might not be perfect yet, but we can see a bright future for it.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/07/2012
Rating: Total score: 90%

100% Microsoft Surface with Windows RT review
Source: V3.co.uk
In fact, Microsoft's estimate may be a little conservative, as we used the Surface to take notes in Microsoft Word during a 4-hour meeting, after which the battery life had dropped by only 20 percent. It also recharges quickly, in just a couple of hours in our tests. It may surprise some readers, but overall, we found Microsoft's Surface with Windows RT an impressive device that is worth considering, not least for the built-in Office apps.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/06/2012
Rating: Total score: 100%

80% Microsoft Surface Review
Source: Stuff TV
So for many people the Surface will be a little too niche and compromised compared to getting an iPad. Or a laptop. Or whatever else Microsoft thinks it’s going up against. But for a dedicated, contrary minority this could be precisely the pigeon hole-dodging device they’ve been looking for. And perhaps in the long-run, once it gets the apps it deserves, perhaps they’ll be enjoying the last laugh.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/01/2012
Rating: Total score: 80%

Windows RT vs. Windows 8
Source: Business & IT - 2/13
Comparison, , Length Unknown, Date: 01/01/2013

60% Microsoft Surface RT
Source: PCM NL→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 03/25/2013
Rating: Total score: 60%

Обзор планшета Microsoft Surface RT: альтернатива iPad на Windows
Source: Hi-Tech Mail RU→EN
Positive: Excellent multitasking; the familiar file manager and simple; stylish look; Negative: Slow; Games and applications for Windows RT is still very little.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 11/14/2012

Microsoft Surface Pro

Specifications

60% Microsoft Surface Pro
Source: Digital Versus
Microsoft really let its creative side shine through with the Surface Pro. It's a superb-looking device with enough processing power to make full use of the company's productivity suites. Unfortunately, the low battery life, heat issues and less-than-adequate connectivity make it hard for us to give the Surface Pro any more than three stars. Sorry, guys.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 05/31/2013
Rating: Total score: 60%

70% Microsoft Surface Pro review
Source: Trusted Reviews
The Surface Pro hints at genius but implodes under the weight of its own ambition. But the potential is plain to see. It’s a welcome and compelling alternative to an Apple and Google dominated future. Make it lighter and last longer, however, and Microsoft could have a winner on its hands in future.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 05/24/2013
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 50% performance: 80% features: 90% display: 90% mobility: 40% workmanship: 90%

80% Microsoft Surface Pro review
Source: T3
Surface Pro is a decent dual-use device, with plenty of power which we’d be happy to choose over a mid-range Ultrabook. We loved being able to dock it with a screen and full desktop set up at home, then take it on the move. It’s certainly able to fulfill the job of a laptop and iPad, so long as your emphasis is on productivity rather than fun. The main frustrations are the dubious keyboard peripherals and the usability headaches caused by the kickstand, so it’s worth thinking carefully about how you expect to use Surface Pro before you buy.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/22/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%

80% Microsoft Surface Pro review
Source: Pocket Lint
Does the Surface Pro redefine what Windows 8 hybrid devices are all about? It's a bit late for that - we've already seen stacks of products to market from all the major manufacturers, each with their own shortcomings. What Microsoft has managed to do is produce a product that focuses as much on build quality and design as it does core power and usability. That means it'll click just as heartily as its rattling audio-heavy advert does with some users, while others will find it's a little late to the party and instead drift off down the more traditional - and affordable - routes.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/21/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%

60% Microsoft Surface Pro review
Source: It Pro
Microsoft has belatedly released the Surface Pro in the UK, seven months after the launch of Windows 8. The Surface Pro fails to live up to expectations. Despite the HD screen and solid performance, it's weak when it comes to portability and doesn't do enough to stand out from OEM competitors.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/17/2013
Rating: Total score: 60%

83% Microsoft Surface Pro review
Source: PC Pro
Stop to consider what you’re getting, however, and the Surface Pro really isn’t bad value for money at all. The hardware is impeccably well constructed, the performance good, and the Wacom digitiser, stylus and Full HD display make for a great combination. The ergonomic irritations in laptop mode, together with modest battery life, mean that it won’t suit everyone, but the Surface Pro is a great choice for those who want power and full Windows compatibility in such a tiny device.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/16/2013
Rating: Total score: 83% price: 83% performance: 67% features: 83% workmanship: 83%

60% Microsoft Surface Pro with Windows 8 review
Source: V3.co.uk
The Microsoft Surface Pro is a decent business tablet that can run everything you'd find on an ultrabook, but it has a high price tag compared to iPad and Android models, and lacks the built-in Office suite offered by the much cheaper and lighter RT model. The price including a keyboard at £819 also makes it equivalent to or more expensive than a laptop alternative.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 05/15/2013
Rating: Total score: 60%

80% Microsoft Surface Pro Review
Source: Stuff TV
The Surface Pro is as powerful as a lower-end ultrabook, but more portable. It's nice to type on and has a great screen. But does it do enough to justify costing more than most Windows Ultrabooks? Not quite. Its nifty portability comes at the price of a little power, a proper keyboard and a pile* of battery life.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 05/01/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%

Microsoft Surface Pro Review
Source: Ultrabook News
So after the long wait the Surface Pro is finally here, was it worth the wait? That is a hard question to answer and will depend on your computing requirements. It can probably be best answered by looking at the target customer. This is not a tablet for the average consumer whose main activities will be consuming media, email and web browsing. For the power user who needs to work with powerful business programs like Outlook but who may also be mobile and requires portability it will fit their needs nicely. It has the power, connectivity, portability and flexibility to meet a lot of power users computing needs but has the one drawback of battery life, at least when looked at in the context of mainstream consumer tablets.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/20/2013

50% Microsoft Surface Pro Review
Source: Digital Trends
Microsoft’s Surface Pro is a bold move. By jumping into the tablet business, the company is attempting to counter the “post-PC” era by guiding consumers towards a future where PCs are different, but still dominated by Windows. We think the idea is sound. The finished product? Not so much.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/15/2013
Rating: Total score: 50%

80% Microsoft Surface Pro
Source: Mobile Tech Review
The Microsoft Surface Pro isn't just novel, though that certainly is part of its appeal along with the sexy design and high quality look and feel. It's a landmark marriage of computing power and portability. The question is: do you need a miraculously portable tablet with the computing power of a Core i5 laptop inside? That's for you to answer, and I know many of you do crave extreme portability on the road.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/14/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%

80% Surface Pro review - if Microsoft can't make the perfect Windows 8 hybrid laptop and tablet, who can?
Source: PC Advisor
The Surface Pro is the best Windows tablet we've used. It also makes a pretty good laptop. But as a tablet it's not match for the best iOS or Android devices, and as a Windows laptop it can't compete with Ultrabooks. It's portability and performance will be perfect for a few, and okay for most. So that makes it a good but not perfect device, which feels about right as a verdict.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/14/2013
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 80% features: 80% workmanship: 80%

60% Microsoft Surface Pro 10.6-inch 128GB Tablet PC
Source: Comp Reviews
The ability to run full Windows application on a tablet has been something that many people have been waiting for and the Microsoft Surface Pro allows them to do that. The problem is that it is still too much of a work around for that capability. Compared to tablet it isn't quite as portable and certainly not as friendly when having to switch between native and desktop modes.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/14/2013
Rating: Total score: 60%

80% Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro
Source: PC Mag
Now the big question: Is it worth it? If you need a very portable tablet that has full Windows 8 compatibility, powerful components, and a 1080p touch screen, the Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro is your tablet. The digitizing stylus is an added boon for those who would like to take notes, draw art, or fill out forms right on their tablet screen. The Surface Pro has business compatibility (i.e., it can join Windows domains and use corporate level software), a selection of keyboard covers, and is intelligently set up for touch and portable use. It also has better ergonomics than the Acer Iconia W700 and better behavior in desktop mode (where you run almost all your programs). True, the Acer W700 has better battery life, but the Surface Pro doesn't require as much tweaking to make it useful out of the box. While it's a little thing (pardon the pun), the fact that the Surface Pro is scaled better and more usable with fingertips in desktop mode will help save calls to IT or to your family IT person (probably you, if you're reading this). The Surface Pro is the Windows 8 slate tablet to beat when you need the performance and convenience of a real PC in a compact tablet form factor. It's the one to get if you need corporate or academic campus portability.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/06/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%

Microsoft Surface Pro Review
Source: Slashgear
The Surface Pro is slickly designed, its digital pen a joy to use – if you have the need of it – and it comes without the software niggles that dampened our enthusiasm about the Surface RT last year. Think of it as a touchscreen notebook with an optional keyboard and it makes the most sense. That may be semantics, but it also means the Surface Pro is more likely to cannibalize ultrabook sales than eat into Apple’s iPad market. Whether that’s the market Microsoft was aiming for, we’re not sure, but the Surface Pro makes considerable sense for the prosumer.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/05/2013

70% Microsoft Surface Pro
Source: Wired Magazine
WIRED Sleek and well-designed hardware. Sharp, beautiful touchscreen. Speedy performance. Runs all legacy Windows desktop applications. Great pressure-sensitive pen. Additional USB port on the charger so you can charge your phone at the same time. Type Cover is pleasant and forgiving. TIRED Lacking in usable storage space. Short on battery life. Non-adjustable kickstand becomes a burden with long-term use. Pricey; you’ll need to drop extra money on several accessories (mouse, keyboard cover, external storage). Too hot, heavy and thick to comfortably use as a tablet.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 02/05/2013
Rating: Total score: 70%

Microsoft Surface Pro Review
Source: Ubergizmo
The Microsoft Surface Pro was designed to give users a true tablet experience AND a true PC experience with a surprisingly powerful hardware. In that regards, there are no compromises and both goals are achieved rather nicely. In my opinion, this is a great machine for folks who mainly want an ultra-portable and 100% PC-compatible device that can deal with everything work will throw at them. For this, I’m confident that there is simply nothing better out there. You get the real Outlook and any other PC app that your company may require, including exotic VPN accesses, printer drivers etc. This is a PC. The ultra-productive and solid design will complement the software capabilities perfectly.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 02/05/2013

Microsoft Surface Pro review
Source: PC Advisor
It's clearly far too early to pronounce on the Surface Pro. It offers the potential of tablet portability mixed with high-end laptop-like performance. As such it is a much more likely winner than the Surface RT, which is hobbled by being a halfway house between full Windows and Windows Phone. It also means the Surface Pro will be only as reliant on apps as is Windows 8 itself - ie: not very much. Windows is, after all, the most supported operating software in terms of third-party applications.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 01/10/2013

Microsoft Surface Pro review
Source: PC Advisor
It's clearly far too early to pronounce on the Surface Pro. It offers the potential of tablet portability mixed with high-end laptop-like performance. As such it is a much more likely winner than the Surface RT, which is hobbled by being a halfway house between full Windows and Windows Phone. It also means the Surface Pro will be only as reliant on apps as is Windows 8 itself - ie: not very much. Windows is, after all, the most supported operating software in terms of third-party applications.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 01/10/2013

89% Kurzatmiges Premium-Tablet
Source: Onlinekosten.de DE→EN
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/06/2013
Rating: Total score: 89%

80% PRISE EN MAIN MICROSOFT SURFACE PROFESSIONNEL
Source: 01Net FR→EN
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/17/2013
Rating: Total score: 80%

Comment

Microsoft:

These graphics cards are not suited for Windows 3D games. Office and Internet surfing however is possible.

NVIDIA GeForce ULP (Tegra 3): Integrated Ultra Low Power (ULP) graphics card in the Tegra 3 SoC. Similar to the Tegra 2 GPU but with additional pixel shaders and optimizations.

Modern games should be playable with these graphics cards at low settings and resolutions. Casual gamers may be happy with these cards.

Intel HD Graphics 4000: Processor graphics card in the high end Ivy Bridge models. Offers a different clock speed in the different CPU models (ULV to desktop quad core) and therefore a different performance.

» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.

NVIDIA :

Tegra 3: High-End-SoC for tablets and large smartphones which integrates 4 ARM Cortex A9 Cores and a power saving companion core. Furthermore, a GeForce LP GPU is included that is based on the old GeForce 7.

Intel Core i5:

3317U: Ivy-Bridge-based ULV-CPU in Q2 2012. Offers a core clock of 1.7 - 2.6 GHz and an HD 4000 GPU (350 - 1050 MHz). The TDP is rated at 17 W.

10.6: The netbook/subnotebook has a quite small display format. Nonetheless, it is a common format for netbooks. The advantage is, that the subnotebook/netbook can be small dimensioned and can be carried easily. Further the small display has the advantage, that it needs few energy, which improves the battery runtime and in consequence the mobility. The disadvantage is that the reading of texts is a bit exhausting for the eyes. It is difficult to use high resolutions.

» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.

0.676 kg:

This subnotebook is one of the most lightweight of all notebooks and can be carried very easily. There exist hardly any models in this extreme class of weight. 7-9 inch displays are normal for this class of weight.

0.92 kg:

73.93%: This rating is bad. Most notebooks are better rated. This is not a recommendation for purchase.

» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.

Notebooks with the same GPU