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Surface fine print: Windows eats up storage space

That 32GB Surface isn't as roomy as you might think.

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Brooke Crothers Former CNET contributor
Brooke Crothers writes about mobile computer systems, including laptops, tablets, smartphones: how they define the computing experience and the hardware that makes them tick. He has served as an editor at large at CNET News and a contributing reporter to The New York Times' Bits and Technology sections. His interest in things small began when living in Tokyo in a very small apartment for a very long time.
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Brooke Crothers
Microsoft Surface: 32GB tablet yields only 16GB of free storage space.
Microsoft Surface: 32GB tablet yields only 16GB of free storage space. CNET

Windows has a bad rep for gobbling up storage space on PCs. Ditto Surface.

The $499 32GB Surface tablet actually leaves you with only 16GB free storage space for things like music, photos, and videos, according to Microsoft documentation.

So, what's devouring all of that flash storage space? On a 32GB Surface, Windows reports 29GB available. Subtract 5GB for Windows recovery tools, then another 8GB for Windows RT, Microsoft Office, and built-in apps. That leaves 16GB for the user.

On the 64GB model, you're left with 46GB.

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Microsoft does offer advice on the same FAQ page about how to free up storage space, however.


Suggestions include using cloud storage via SkyDrive, using a microSD, microSDHC, or microSDXC memory card to add up to 64GB. or a USB flash drive or hard drive.

Here's the Microsoft documentation that spells it out
Here's the Microsoft documentation that spells it out. Microsoft

[Via Engadget ]