Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 Pro user reviews (64GB)

Pros - Fast, 6 seconds boot up
- Small-ish
- Good looking screen
- Stylus - gotta love digital ink!
- Good Wifi performance
- Well made, feels special - rare, at the moment
- Can run all programs and apps I use (Office, Autodesk Inventor, Lightroom, etc.)

Cons - Runs warm, despite having fans
- Need longer battery life
- Stylus off by 1 mm when used at a slanted angle (my normal writing posture)
- Touch cover does not magnetically stick on to the glass, nor the back

Summary I was fortunate enough to be able to pick one up on the release day. So far, I have been very pleased with the purchase. I'm an engineering student looking for a machine that I can use like an iPad, but also have the option to run all my design and programming applications. The surface pro suits the need well. So I decided to give it a try. It's very fast, in fact it feels significantly faster than my 2 year old 15" MBP (w/ Intel SSD). With my software installed, and unnecessary start up programs disabled, the computer starts up in 6 seconds, and shuts down in 1. The user interface is butter smooth. The metro side is good for content consumption, like reading, browsing, listening to music, and watching videos. The traditional desktop is good for getting work done such as office, solidworks, inventor, matlab, etc. I don't mind the small buttons on the screen as I can always use the stylus, mouse, or touchpad. It's worth mentioning that the touch cover takes a lot of practice if you want to type fast. I'm glad to finally see the Apple-like butter smooth, colorful user experience brought to a Windows device.

Aside from my positive first hand experience of the device, there are a few issues I want to mention.
- The device runs warm. Although it feels cooler coming from a macbook pro, which also ran hot, i didn't have to write anything on the macbook. I use the stylus on the surface pro a lot, and having less heat on the glass could significantly improve the experience. It's tolerable, but I hope it ran cooler.
- The stylus is not 100% accurate in day-to-day use, even when calibrated. It is technically very accurate even on factory calibration settings - if the stylus is perpendicular to the screen, but the average person doesn't write like that. We usually write at a 45 degree-ish angle. At this angle, the point on the screen is slightly off - usually about 1mm off depending on the location of the screen. This takes some time to get use to, but once I got used to it, my writing definitely look nicer and cleaner on the surface than on paper. The texts are so smooth and bright that they literally pop out of the screen at you.
- The capacitive start button is annoying in portrait mode as my hand always accidentally hit it when I copy notes (unless i flip the device 180 degrees), or read. I understand that it looks good to place the button at the center of the device, but I wish that it was in one of the corners, or that it was a physical button
- I would also like to have a physical orientation lock. The orientation sensor is EXTREMELY sensitive. Leaving the orientation on automatic is impractical.. and WILL drive you insane! FYI, the lock button is usually 4 taps away
- Battery.. It's usually around 4.5 hours for me. I just plug it in whenever I do anything computational intensive. It isn't a big issue for me as I have access to plugs often. I do wish it lasts several hours longer though. So that I won't ever have to think about it.
- The magnetic power cord takes a little getting used to. Unlike the mac one, which will almost fly in at a distance. It seems that the tolerances on the surface are a little too tight and it definitely takes some getting used to.
- Finally, like all devices with a high PPI, initially a lot of applications not optimized for this will look slightly blurry. This should get better with time.

Overall, definitely one of my favorite computers. The things it can do well far outweighs the things it can't. I would recommend this device for anyone who value content creation as much as content consumption, appreciate good quality design. Also, don't stray away from the power grid too often.

Pros FAST. FAST. FAST!
Works with regular PC games. Not limited to tablet games.
Amazing performance.
Beautiful display.
Battery Life is much better than any notebook I've ever used. Lasts my entire work day with off and on use.

Cons I wish the charger had some built in cable management (like the flip out tabs on the macbook pro charger)
Fans a little loud when doing processor intense work. Better than having it heat up and burn my fingers like my iPad 3 did though.

Summary I really love the Surface Pro. It's frustrating to see all the Apple Fanboy reviews around the web refusing to give the Surface credit where credit is due. This device is revolutionary. It's everything that I had hoped the iPad would be.

I haven't owned a windows device in nearly 10 years, I've been exclusively Mac ever since they announced OSX. However, I have to hand it to Microsoft and praise them with their achievement. They've managed to make a fun, media centered device, that's still every bit as useful as a laptop. They didn't just make a larger version of a windows phone and call it a day (I'm looking at you iPad) they made a productive tool, that's fun.

I immediately sold my 3rd Gen. iPad and MacBook Pro as I will no longer be requiring their services.

To all the skeptics out there saying that MS manufactured the sold out status of the Surface Pro, I can tell you that I saw the waiting list at my local Microsoft store with 300+ names on it.

Updated on Feb 22, 2013

I can't believe I forgot to mention the Pen! The Pen is the best part!

My wife owns a Wacom Cintiq, and says that the Surface Pro's pen is even MORE responsive than her Cintiq. I would agree, but I've never used her Cintiq. I have used many Graphics Tablets, and having the ability to draw right on the screen is awesome. It works great with Autodesk Sketchbook pro, and there are a bunch of apps in the windows store that support the pen.

As of right now, however, the pen's impressive pressure sensitivity is not recognized by Adobe products. Which is a real shame. It's definitely possible, since it works so well with Sketchbook Pro, a drawing app that is every-bit as good FOR DRAWING (not photo editing) as photoshop, if not better.

I really hope either Adobe or Microsoft updates soon.

Pros - great carry-around 64-bit Core i5 Dual Core computer.
- Full HD screen (1920 x 1080p)
- Digitizer pen
- Can run old PC programs (my company's s/w works, so is mine)
- Win 8 Pro
- great build quality using VaporMg casing
- fast

Cons 128GB is more than enough but I wish they had offered a 256GB version. I will gladly pay more for that option.

I also wish it has 2 USB ports. This is more of a wish list and not a negative.

Summary Two thumbs way up. There is nothing like it right now.

The weight and it is a non-issue. Battery life depends on your usage. One of the PC magazines reported 7-hr battery life so the spec is very conservative.

I have never felt the fan turn on and the case is very cool to the touch. May depend on the software you are running.

Pros Runs full windows programs.
Has a usb port.
Easy to transport, small and light.
Quiet.
Keyboard is very nice but typing without it is as easy as on an iPad.
Processor is quick.
Beautiful screen.

Cons Battery life.
More memory would have been nice.
Not inexpensive.

Summary I'm surprised at how much I am enjoying the Surface!