Microsoft’s first ever computer, the Surface with Windows RT (or “Surface RT” as I will henceforth call it) is a mixed bag. The design and build quality both impress, and Microsoft’s twin typing solutions—the 3mm no-moving-parts Touch Cover and the 6mm real keyboard-equipped Type Cover—are remarkably effective.
Specs at a glance: Microsoft Surface with Windows Pro
Screen 1920×1080 10.6″ (207 ppi), 400 nit, 10-point capacitive touchscreen
OS Windows 8 Pro
CPU Intel 3rd generation Core i5-3317U
RAM 4GB (non-upgradeable)
GPU Intel HD Graphics 4000
HDD 64GB or 128GB solid-state drive (of which about 25 or 89 GB are usable)
Networking 802.11a/b/g/n with 2×2 MIMO antennas, Bluetooth 4.0
Ports Mini DisplayPort, headphones, microSDXC, USB 3.0, Cover port
Size 10.82×6.77×0.52″ (274×172×13.2 mm)
Weight 1.99lb (0.903kg)
Battery 42Wh
Warranty 1 year
Starting price $899
Price as reviewed $1128.99
Sensor Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Magnetometer
Other perks 48W charger with 5W USB port
The screen resolution, however, is substantially lower than those of its comparably-priced competitors. The touchpads of those covers are wretched (in the Surface review, having used them for a week, I thought they were poor; with several months under my belt, I now think they’re downright bad). The processor is underpowered.
But the biggest issue with Surface RT is its operating system: Windows RT. Windows RT can only (officially) run applications using the Metro user interface and the WinRT API. These were thin on the ground when I reviewed Surface RT, and they’re thin on the ground today.
Surface with Windows 8 Pro (hereafter known as “Surface Pro”) is Microsoft’s second computer. It is a straightforward proposition: take Surface RT, give it an Intel processor, a high resolution screen, and stylus support. Next, make all the requisite changes to cope with the greater power consumption and heat output that the x86 processor implies—and all the software compatibility and performance that x86 brings.
Full Story: Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 Pro: Hotter, Thicker, Faster, Louder | Ars Technica.