My surface is here!

[jamesfed]

Arrived at home to find out it arrived around lunch time today! So over the moon with it already and it is pretty easy to touch type with the touch cover (typed this with it!).

 

So the big question is - what do we want to see in a video demo!?

 

To start the USB port has already come in use and the screen is just as clear as Microsoft say it is

[Domino]

Will it blend?

[jamesfed]

Will it blend?

 

Do do do da dooo do da do da doooo

[Ric_]

Ease with which you can create a slideshow of lolcats

[Arthur]

Have you installed KB2748583? If so, could you confirm that this fixes the issue shown below in Office 2013 RT?

 

[jamesfed]

Have you installed KB2748583? If so, could you confirm that this fixes the issue shown below in Office 2013 RT?

 

 

Havent gotten that far yet - will be the first thing I do when I get to work tomorrow and don't mind downloading a 600mb update.

[SYNACK]

So the big question is - what do we want to see in a video demo!?

 

 

 

How about the UI speed in real world tests, edugeek scrolling, RDP, typing action with the keyboard.

[gshaw]

Can you show us how well Office works on it via touch in the real world?

 

Also does the RT have a standard Windows login screen so it can be used as a true multi user tablet? Basically can you give it to any student to use then another one afterwards.

[jamesfed]

Can you show us how well Office works on it via touch in the real world?

 

Also does the RT have a standard Windows login screen so it can be used as a true multi user tablet? Basically can you give it to any student to use then another one afterwards.

 

Office yes - I'm going to do a mini video on that

 

I'm afraid I refuse to try and use a Windows RT device as a multi user device - thats what full Windows 8 is for (and I feel quite strongly about this).

 

On a side note - Im already touch typing on touch cover and just using the onscreen keyboard is pretty easy too!

 

Still working on getting the Xbox 360 controller to work with it....

[pmdc199]

I agree with the principle of what you say but I think the cost of the full surface win 8 is going to be about 800 pounds if the HP envyx2 is anything to go by.

[gshaw]

 

I'm afraid I refuse to try and use a Windows RT device as a multi user device - thats what full Windows 8 is for (and I feel quite strongly about this).

 

 

Hmmm interesting but not sure I agree on that one. What I hoped from the Microsoft line is that we'd have something that's truly...

 

- manageable

- shareable

- productive

 

Now given the price point of £400+ for the RT there's no way we could give one to each student so for me the only thing that can make it better than an iPad is the ability to have separate users on the device, basically a tablet version of a domained PC.

 

Unfortunately it's not looking good so far with the RT due to the lack of domain functionality, could live with it if the integration with either SkyDrive or Office 365 is slick enough but haven't really seen much of it yet.

 

The Pro tablets are silly money, not going to shell out the best part of £1000 for the sake of a touch screen...

[SYNACK]

I agree with the principle of what you say but I think the cost of the full surface win 8 is going to be about 800 pounds if the HP envyx2 is anything to go by.

 

Depends on which brand you go for, the admittedly low spec Acer W510 is around NZD$800 or 400 pounds which is much cheaper, probably cheaper than the surface will be here, given the NZ markup they will probably give them away for free in the UK.

 

The Acer is only a dual core Atom but comes with a keyboard, 64GB SSD 2GB RAM etc. You also get full W8 and 64bit.

 

EDIT: We use the W501 tablets here at the moment with 8 and it works fine.

Edited November 2, 2012 by SYNACK

[jamesfed]

Hmmm interesting but not sure I agree on that one. What I hoped from the Microsoft line is that we'd have something that's truly...

 

- manageable

- shareable

- productive

 

Now given the price point of £400+ for the RT there's no way we could give one to each student so for me the only thing that can make it better than an iPad is the ability to have separate users on the device, basically a tablet version of a domained PC.

 

Unfortunately it's not looking good so far with the RT due to the lack of domain functionality, could live with it if the integration with either SkyDrive or Office 365 is slick enough but haven't really seen much of it yet.

 

The Pro tablets are silly money, not going to shell out the best part of £1000 for the sake of a touch screen...

 

RT was simply never meant to be used like that - its a personal OS for personal devices not for domain joning that is purely Windows 8.

 

I have however seen mentions of Intel Atom/AMD C-50 powered Windows 8 Pro PCs that should arrive at a similar point.

 

I might have to do a video about this point as well.....

[gshaw]

RT was simply never meant to be used like that - its a personal OS for personal devices not for domain joning that is purely Windows 8.

 

I have however seen mentions of Intel Atom/AMD C-50 powered Windows 8 Pro PCs that should arrive at a similar point.

 

I might have to do a video about this point as well.....

 

In which case I really think they've missed a trick there

 

An affordable, managed tablet is what the market is crying out for and on a technical side really don't get what's so difficult in achieving it once MS had done the hard part in porting Windows to ARM? Yes it can't run desktop apps but your average business user wants to access their network files and edit them in Office. A domain join with tablet policy and native network drive support at £400 would be a sure iPad killer. A Surface Pro at £1000 not so much so (and not as thin \ light either)

 

Basically the one RT device could easily cover both bases, seems a shame that it's restricted (either deliberately or just hasn't got the tech side sorted in time)

 

Trouble with waiting on Atom ranges etc is some of the lower priced stuff so far looks so poor in comparison e.g that Advent from the other day, really need something to hit that sweet spot to make it worthwhile.

 

Yes it's high expectations but why shouldn't we have them from a company the size of MS

Edited November 2, 2012 by gshaw

[pmdc199]

I have windows 8 on last years dell duo with an Intel® Atom™ Processor N570

(1M Cache, 1.66 GHz) flip screen. Runs win8 perfectly and all of 2013 and lots of other software. That was only 350 new last christmas that computer. But they stopped making it. Their new version - albeit with a bigger screen and better processor is 1000 pounds. Stick with my duo

[SYNACK]

Depends on which brand you go for, the admittedly low spec Acer W510 is around NZD$800 or 400 pounds which is much cheaper, probably cheaper than the surface will be here, given the NZ markup they will probably give them away for free in the UK.

 

A domain join with tablet policy and native network drive support at £400 would be a sure iPad killer.

 

I think that MS is going for the high end range and leaving affordable for the other vendors, thy still use the same gorilla glass 2 screen so should also be reasonably robust.

 

They don't look as pretty yet but if its about getting the job done the current crop should manage.

[jamesfed]

There will be vendors out there (HP for example) who are working on these lower end x86 tablets that run all the programs in the window store that will meet the needs of schools who want Domain Login and if they come with Atoms there is no reason why they shouldn't be around the £400 price point.

 

We do have to break away from the point of view that some people have that iPads and Windows RT can be used in multi user environments though - they simply are PERSONAL devices that are designed to be used by the individual.

 

Anywhos back on topic guys - is there anything else we want to see in a Video demo?

[gshaw]

We do have to break away from the point of view that some people have that iPads and Windows RT can be used in multi user environments though - they simply are PERSONAL devices that are designed to be used by the individual.

 

I don't think we do, name one technical reason that the RT couldn't work across the board if you're happy with Windows Store Apps? Why do we need to have a distinction between a "personal" tablet and a "professional" tablet?

 

Sorry for going off track

 

Also need you to do your version of the keyboard click from the advert, backflips and dance moves optional!

Edited November 2, 2012 by gshaw

[pmdc199]

The HP envyx2 is atom and 800 pounds

[Steve21]

I don't think we do, name one technical reason that the RT couldn't work across the board if you're happy with Windows Store Apps? Why do we need to have a distinction between a "personal" tablet and a "professional" tablet?

 

Isn't the RT only available off domain though? So it goes back to one device per user, which is fine if you have that many, but not really "shareable".

 

Steve

[jamesfed]

I don't think we do, name one technical reason that the RT couldn't work across the board if you're happy with Windows Store Apps? Why do we need to have a distinction between a "personal" tablet and a "professional" tablet?

 

Sorry for going off track

 

Also need you to do your version of the keyboard click from the advert, backflips and dance moves optional!

 

If we get into the real world of business Microsoft et al want to make money, the best way they can do that is by separating out personal (Windows RT/8) from professional (Pro).

 

So there is no technical reason it is pure business - something we will never be able to escape.

 

Oooh don't worry there will be a keyboard click

[SYNACK]

The HP envyx2 is atom and 800 pounds

 

The envy is also the high end, prosumer, shiney, shiney brand. It has to be priced that high to fit in with the business scope, if they release an EliteTab series or something that will probably be much more reasonable.

 

Back on topic:

 

Video playback, screen visibility in bright light/angles, YouTube playback (just to show it on an RT tab).

[pmdc199]

I use Goal seek in Excel I doubt it will be slow but could you do that too please. Access, speed using queries and general use of the software

[jamesfed]

Have been working through the videos and so far I have-

 

Hardware overview

USB Printing

USB PowerPoint Presentations

 

Will be uploading onto YouTube once the guys here turn on the power again! (Don't feel like uploading HD video onto YouTube via my mobile phone)

[jamesfed]

Videos to come include

 

Snapping of applications

In depth look at Office 2013

Using as a desktop replacement

Web browsing/YouTube video playback ect