Microsoft Surface
Surface 2 with infected keyboard
October 26, 2012: Germany Germany Canada Canada United States United States February 14, 2013: Austria Austria Switzerland Switzerland March 15, 2013: Japan Japan Surface Pro: February 9, 2013: Canada Canada United States United States May 29, 2013 Austria Austria May 30, 2013 Switzerland Switzerland May 31, 2013 Germany Germany Surface Pro 2: October 22, 2013: worldwide
2x2 MIMO Wi -Fi ( 802.11 a / b / g / n); Bluetooth 4.0
Surface RT: USB 2.0, HD video-out port, microSDHC Surface Pro: USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, microSDHC
- Touch Cover, Cover Type
- " Palm Block" pen input (only Surface Pro)
Microsoft Surface is a family of tablet PCs of the company Microsoft, which was presented on June 18, 2012 by Steve Ballmer.
- 2.1 Surface 2
- 2.2 Surface Pro 2
- 5.1 prices
- 5.2 sales
- 6.1 1st generation
- 6.2 2nd generation
First generation
Both devices have a multi -touch -enabled 10.6 - inch display with 16:9 aspect ratio. The case with fold-out stand consists of a " VaporMg " said magnesium alloy and contains two microphones and speakers and one camera on the front and back. The screen is glazed with Corning Gorilla Glass 2.0. Also, both versions have in common the two-antenna configuration for wireless according to the standards 802.11 a / b / g / n.
Surface RT
The cheaper version of Surface is based on an Nvidia Tegra 3 ARM SoC with Nvidia Geforce ULP (1.3 GHz ) and 2 GB RAM. It runs under Windows RT and comes with Microsoft Office 2013 Home & Student RT (Word 2013 RT, Excel 2013 RT, PowerPoint 2013 RT, OneNote 2013 RT and RT from Windows 8.1 and Outlook ) delivered. However, the Office programs in the RT version do not support macros, add- ons and features that require ActiveX. E -mail applications like Mozilla Thunderbird or Opera Mail can not be retrofitted. For this, a mail app from the Windows Store (registration with Microsoft Account) is needed or is already installed. The tablet weighs 680 grams and is 9.3 mm thick. The 10.6 -inch ClearType screen has a resolution of 1366 × 768 pixels ( WXGA). The Surface RT is available in two memory variants with 32 and 64 GB. As connectivity, there is a USB 2.0 port, an HD video-out port ( μHDMI, separate adapter for HDMI and VGA connection required ) and a slot for microSDHC cards.
Packaging
Surface Pro
Surface Pro is based on an Intel Core i5- 3317U ULV processor third-generation ( " Ivy Bridge " ) with 1.7 GHz clock frequency, Intel HD Graphics 4000 4 GB RAM and dual-channel memory from Micron Technology. Surface Pro runs under the operating system Windows 8 Pro. This version weighs 903 grams and is 13.5 mm thick. The also 10.6 -inch ClearType screen has a full HD resolution of 1920 × 1080 pixels. The cooling is achieved by two small fans, as well as slots around the whole case around so that it can not be blocked with your hands when holding the tablet. There are two memory variants with 64 and 128 GB. Surface Pro provides a USB 3.0 port, a mini display port and a slot for microSDHC cards are available.
The Surface Pro can be in addition to multi-touch finger input operated with a supplied stylus that can be magnetically attached to the housing when not in use. In pen-based tablet ignored automatically finger input, for example, can be made for writing involuntarily by placing the hand in order to avoid incorrect entries. Microsoft calls this " Palm block " (of English. Palm for " palm ").
Microsoft offers for the market in China to its own edition of the Surface Pro, not with Windows 8 Pro, but with the classic Windows 8 is shipped. In return, Office 2013 Home & Student (rather than a one-year trial of Office 365 ) pre-installed free of charge.
Second generation
The second generation of Surface tablet was unveiled on September 23, 2013 by Microsoft. Both devices appeared on 22 October 2013.
Surface 2
The successor of the Surface RT is called Surface 2, and is shipped with the latest Windows RT 8.1. The Surface 2 is thinner (9 mm) and lighter ( 676 g) available than its predecessor ( 9.3 mm, 680 g) and only in silver, the stand on the back can be set up at two angles now. As a Tegra processor from Nvidia 4 1.7GHz clock frequency and 2 GB of RAM is used. In addition to a USB 3.0 port and Bluetooth 4.0, the tablet has a 1080p screen. Another new feature is the improved cameras: a 3.5 - megapixel camera on the front and a 5-megapixel on the back and a large 1/3-inch sensor, which greatly improved image quality will enable even in low light. A Surface tablet with LTE to appear in 2014.
Surface Pro 2
The Surface Pro 2 running Windows 8.1 Pro and has an Intel Core i5- 4200U ( Haswell architecture ) with a HD 4400 graphics chip and 1.6 GHz clock frequency. The Full HD screen has been compared to the predecessor model improved in order to reduce reflections and to allow a more accurate color reproduction. Likewise, Microsoft has revised the speakers. The battery life should have been improved in contrast to its predecessor by 75 % and, in addition, a keyboard with integrated battery ("Power Cover " ) be extended by another 25%. With a weight of 920 grams, it is significantly heavier than comparable tablets.
In January 2014 it was announced that newer Surface -Pro -2 models come with a 300 MHz higher clocked Intel processor (Core i5- 4300U 1.9 GHz).
Versions
Accessories
Microsoft has developed special cases that can be connected to both versions of the surface using magnets. These covers are used on the one hand to protect the screen, on the other hand as a keyboard. In this case, the touch cover 3 mm thick and has a touch-sensitive inside of which can be used as a keyboard, and a touch pad. It is available in five different colors. Attached to such a cover on the device, so the background of the Modern UI surface takes on the color of the cover. The Type Cover is thick with 5 mm and offers real keys with 1.5mm stroke and also a touchpad.
When folding the cover to use the device as a pure tablet (eg using the onscreen keyboard ), the tablet automatically stops responding to key presses on the cover. When using the cover and the integrated support, the viewing angle of the rear camera is adjusted so that it does not (for example, on the table ) pointing down, but in the horizontal, as the camera is tilted by 22 degrees.
With the second generation, the new Touch and Type Cover were presented, which additionally have a backlight and thinner. What is new is the Power cover that includes a spare battery, which is to extend the battery life. This works with both generations of the Surface Pro and the Surface 2
Market introduction and availability
Microsoft announced the availability of the Windows version of RT for the launch of Windows 8. The Pro version will come about three months later on the market. The price of the Surface RT should be able to compete with the other tablets, the Surface of the Pro with the of ultrabooks. Other than initially expected, Microsoft announced in July 2012 on the sale of surface together with the online retailer Amazon. As of July 18, 2012, there were registrations possible for the pre-order the tablet. A short time later, the pre-order was no longer possible, as the reason called the Amazon customer service lack of valid information on the delivery date by the manufacturer.
In September 2012, Microsoft also announced that every employee of the company would receive a Surface tablet free.
On October 26, 2012, the day of the public release of Windows 8, and the Surface RT has been published. The Surface Pro was released on February 9, 2013 in the U.S. and Canada.
Since February 14, 2013, the Surface RT is available in 13 more countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Since April 2, 2013, the Surface Pro is also available in China.
On April 23, 2013, Microsoft announced that the Surface Pro in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK will be available before the end of May.
On May 16, 2013 were announced that the Surface Pro from May 29 in Austria, would be available in Switzerland and from 31 May 2013, Germany on May 30.
On July 15, 2013, Microsoft announced a significant price reduction of around 150 € for the Surface RT after the tablet has sold only inadequate.
The Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 released on October 22, 2013 in Germany. Prices start at € 429 for the Surface 2 with 32 GB memory and € 879 for the Surface Pro 2 with 64 GB memory. A short time later, all devices from Microsoft as well as the retailers were sold out. Also in early 2014, there were probably due to the high demand continues to be a poor availability of the equipment.
Prices
Sales
According to the financial news agency Bloomberg on March 15, 2013 Microsoft has sold a total of 1.1 million Surface RT and since February 2013 approximately 400,000 Surface Pro since October 2012 and refers to three informants.
Criticism
1st generation
The Surface Pro received middling reviews. Thus, the high-resolution display, the solid and high quality housing and the processor performance was praised. On the other hand the high weight and low for a tablet battery life have been criticized. Another point of criticism is the misleading storage capacity. So fall about 25-35 gigabytes of internal memory to the operating system, so are available for the 128 GB version only about 80-90 GB of effective memory. Is noted negative, furthermore, that the Surface Pro can hardly be repaired by its own design. A battery replacement is problematic due to its solid bond.
The one - megapixel digital camera with the Surface RT has, according to the Stiftung Warentest a resolution too low and the operation is very unusual because there is no shutter button. A photo is triggered here by pointing a finger on the display. Compared to other tablet systems otherwise the focus is adjusted by this function.
2nd generation
The second generation of Surface - family received consistently much better reviews than its predecessor. How to Convince the Surface 2 in particular, the mobility, the high-resolution, true-color display and the intuitive operation of the operating system Windows 8.1. Also, the fast processor fell in tests positive on ( " The Windows tablet is super fast " ), as well as the complete office suite free included, which also came with Outlook now. Were further highlighted the excellent quality of workmanship and the quality of materials used.