Surface for Christmas

[dreamaker]

By chance did someone maybe get a Microsoft Surface for Christmas. If so, does i have any dependency on the Cloud or an equal type of service. I am interested in one, but only if it works as a stand alone unit and not requiring network assistance to function.

[97ValkSteve]

I was given a surface 2 recently for my job. There is a cloud you CAN use but there's no requirement to use a cloud. I use it just for work. It has work specific software installed on it and it works fine for that. I use my iPad for all personal stuff.

[Skyhawk]

I have surface 2 consider it like a laptop does all with or without internet I am running windows 8.1 it like having two operating systems, windows 7 and 8.1 I am happy with it

[dreamaker]

Thank You Guys!!!!

[CajunRider]

Another semi (but not really) related question...

How is it for taking notes (the hand written kind) ?? 

Can I use one to replace a notepad/pen during meetings, phone calls, etc. etc. etc.?? 
- I always lose notes in the stack of paper on my desk...

[f6gal]

I got a Surface Pro 3 for Christmas.  Unfortunately, I haven't had much chance to play with it yet.
From what I understand it will do everything a laptop will do.  We shall see.

[hubcapsc]

I got a Surface Pro 3 for Christmas.  Unfortunately, I haven't had much chance to play with it yet.
From what I understand it will do everything a laptop will do.  We shall see.

I got a Galaxy Note 12.2, it has a real keyboard like a Surface... it seems it will be an awesome offline
GPS with a 12 inch screen, which is what I got it for, but it seems terrible as a laptop. It is so different
from what I am used to, it might just be that I have a lot to learn... I wish Surfaces had built in GPSs,
I bet they're nice...

-Mike

[jimmytee]

I got a Surface Pro 3 for Christmas.  Unfortunately, I haven't had much chance to play with it yet.
From what I understand it will do everything a laptop will do.  We shall see.

Dang, a Surface Pro3 and New saddlebags?   

[BF]

I got a Surface Pro 3 for Christmas.  Unfortunately, I haven't had much chance to play with it yet.
From what I understand it will do everything a laptop will do.  We shall see.

Dang, a Surface Pro3 and New saddlebags?   

Ya can't hide money.

[F6Dave]

Keep in mind there are 2 VERY DIFFERENT Surfaces.  The 'plain' Surface runs Windows RT.  It included Office preinstalled but essentially limits you to running apps as you can't install typical desktop programs.

All the Surface Pros are full featured Windows 8.1 PCs.  They come with I3, I5, or I7 processors and very large SSD 'hard' drives.  They do everything a PC does.

All Surfaces have a USB port which is a huge advantage over some other tablets IMO.

BTW, I have a Dell Venue Pro.  It came with Office, runs Win 8.1, has a USB port, 2 cameras, and a memory expansion slot.  The best part is it cost less than $250.

[dreamaker]

I have been checking them out for awhile, just not sure of their true performance. I am looking at Surface Pro3, i7, 16gb ram, 256 SSD, 12" w/keyboard, Windows 8.1 OS. One thing I noticed, now this is my second request for the Surface info. It doesn't have GPS which is a plus for me. Why would one want GPS in their laptop? I want a TouchPad/LapTop that will last for some years, not a passing phase like Apple. Apple makes good products, but they are a fashion statement, seem like every month they are obsolete. Right from the early days of Apple, OS and hardware, not compatible  and not cheap. Don't mind spending a few extra bucks for something as long as it is value added. I want something that impresses me not the people around me.

[hubcapsc]

Why would one want GPS in their laptop?

????

Why would one want to stare at a complex map the size of a postage stamp?

-Mike

[F6Dave]

I think all Surfaces use WiFi location services instead of a satellite based GPS.  I think my Dell does too, and many apps always ask me for permission to use the services.  This must work fine as the map apps locate me precisely.

[dreamaker]

I guess if you have bad eye sight and get lost allot, I guess you would need it. LOL! Myself I don't get lost yet!! I have a GPS on my Valk and one in my car, I have two auto GPS's somewhere and a handheld Garmin for the woods. Also my cell phone is a Motorola RAZR v.3. no tracking.

[hubcapsc]

Myself I don't get lost yet!

You might want to try some of my routes...

-Mike "can I hear an Amen?  "

[dreamaker]

I'm confused, why would I want to try some of your routes, not being a wise ass.  I just don't know what you are saying.

[hubcapsc]

I'm confused, why would I want to try some of your routes, not being a wise ass.  I just don't know what you are saying.

When I'm headed somewhere planned, I like to study my map books and pick interesting
routes that by their nature are complicated. I do pretty well at sticking to them, but occasionally
have to stop and get out The Red Book for whatever state we are in and figure out
what to do next.

On the way from the east coast to Natchez, I wasn't lost when we got here:



On a ride through Virginia and West Virginia, I wasn't lost when we got here:



I used this route to get to one of Mac's rides... I had to stop and look at the map book
any number of times:



I like it, and some people like to follow me on these adventures, but I hear sometimes
folks think it would be nice to keep this to a minimum:



So... I don't really get "lost" all that much, but sometimes I don't manage to stay
on the track 100% of the time. I think it might be cool to pick these routes and
have the little computer voice whisper in my ear when the next turn approaches...

-Mike

[dreamaker]

Now I get it!!!!  Myself I generally fly solo, scary, but it keeps me sharp. Anyways I got a Garmin Zumo 550 on the bike.

[The emperor has no clothes]

[/quote]


So... I don't really get "lost" all that much, but sometimes I don't manage to stay
on the track 100% of the time. I think it might be cool to pick these routes and
have the little computer voice whisper in my ear when the next turn approaches...

-Mike
[/quote]Wouldn't be near as much fun if the adventure always went perfectly as planned

[hubcapsc]

Now I get it!!!!  Myself I generally fly solo, scary, but it keeps me sharp. Anyways I got a Garmin Zumo 550 on the bike.

Yep...  ... in the picture with us looking in the Red Book, Punisher's GPS told us to
turn left and go down the Interstate. We used the detailed map in the Red Book to
get back on the route I had picked via a gravelly pig trail... a "normal" GPS
gets you there, I want to pick a whacky route on a detailed map and have the
GPS help me avoid missing too many turns.

-Mike

[dreamaker]

Sounds cool and allot of fun.

[f6gal]

I got a Surface Pro 3 for Christmas.  Unfortunately, I haven't had much chance to play with it yet.
From what I understand it will do everything a laptop will do.  We shall see.

Dang, a Surface Pro3 and New saddlebags?   

But I bought the bags, SP3 was my Christmas present. 

[f6gal]

I got a Surface Pro 3 for Christmas.  Unfortunately, I haven't had much chance to play with it yet.
From what I understand it will do everything a laptop will do.  We shall see.

Dang, a Surface Pro3 and New saddlebags?   

Ya can't hide money.

Ya can't take it with you!

[dreamaker]

Let me know if you have issues other than the normal get the feel of it issues.

[cookiedough]

how much do the surface pros cost?

is it the ones advertised on tv that you can snap off the monitor and use separately like a tablet as well vs. snapped on like a smaller laptop?

A guy at work was talking about guessing something like that which ran 900 bucks - OUCH!

If so, that is a ton of money in my eyes when you can get a laptop or tablet for well under 1/2 of that which does the same thing as either one of them. 

But, if you look at what we spent about 14 years ago on our then top of the line pentium III processors desktop by Dell being 2300 bucks back then,  1 grand is not much at all then. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

I got a Surface Pro 3 for Christmas.  Unfortunately, I haven't had much chance to play with it yet.
From what I understand it will do everything a laptop will do.  We shall see.

Dang, a Surface Pro3 and New saddlebags?   

Ya can't hide money.

Ya can't take it with you!

Sure you can ! I was told from a reliable source that they don't accept Visa in heaven (or hell for that matter)

[dreamaker]

I am looking at, rounded off, of $1559.00 and it pretty much the price across the board for my specs.  I doubt there is a computer out there that does it all, there are always some drawback. Alien computers seem to make good equipment, but I doubt they have what I want, and they are not cheap! So I just have to wait for SAM to come through on  tax day.