The Surface RT is only sold in Microsoft stores and on MS' website, so it doesn't make sense to discuss its sales figures vs. products that are in popular retail channels like Best Buy and Amazon.
You can buy it bundled with the touch cover or you can buy the cover and tablet separately (you save $20 buying the bundle but you can't choose a color- it's only bundled with the black keyboard).
Yes, Intel Core i tablets and laptops generally run the ARM version of apps as well. It's up to the developer, but I haven't seen an ARM-only app from a 3rd party developer yet.
For Black Friday, Staples had the Surface RT with the keyboard for $250. Went down to pick one up but as usual they only had about 5 on had and were not giving out rain checks. Ended up getting it at Best Buy for $199 w/o the keyboard. They had plenty on hand. Will be watching videos to see how to get the most out of it. Best buy also had 32GB micro sd card for 17.99 and 64 GB micro sd card for 34.99.
I bought this for school, i ended up returning it because I couldn't get use to the keyboard. I made so many mistakes when taking notes, and typing out papers felt forced. Not to mention this thing runs slow and lags a lot. I probably would have been a lot happier with the pro version and force my self to get use to the keyboard, but in the end i returned it, paid a little extra, and bought an older macbook air. Soon I'll be trading in the 2010's macbook air and buying the i5 surface pro 3
The OS, included apps and recovery partition all use a chunk of space, that's right. But RT apps from the MS Store are a lot smaller than Windows 7 apps, so you may not need as much space as you think.
Pick up your Transformer by the display section, the keyboard dock will come loose. Happens on the TF201, TF301 and TF700. That's why Asus says don't ever pick it up by the display section.
i just bought one for only PHP11,00 ($255). this is sooooo good as sustitute of my laptop/desktop if im on travel. i dont need a lot of applications for this because everything for a portable device is already installed here. running heavy games like asphalt 8 is superbly smooth. you can also multi-task a lot of applications and switch in just one swipe. it has also a genuine microsoft office, updates all the time to secure stability. booting is also one good point, boot time is less than a minute. usb functionality is also superb, i have a 2TB external drive and it can read all the staff in just seconds. i love this thing. those having negative comments regarding this one are those who expects to buy this thing but expecting to have a macbook-like performance. this is a portable device. not a pro but it can do more and like to do best based on the current price. good job! no regrets at all.
What a great review! It's another reminder of why I subscribe to your channel. Reviewers too often behave like the iPad is the standard by which all competing devices must be measured. I really appreciate your recognition that apples are not the standard for oranges and bananas. It seems like I can always can count on a thorough Mobile Tech Review. Thanks again Lisa!
This was a great comprehensive review. I enjoyed it immensely as it addressed all of my concerns regarding this product. Keep up the good work. You are quite knowledgeable.
lisa personally i dont know u of course. but from ur videos i have to say u r one of the sweetest people i know in youtube... and congrates for ur great reviews...
So far the Samsung Ativ with keyboard dock, Asus VivoBook with Atom + keyboard are pricing at $800 (more if you want the AT&T version). I've seen some that will come out higher :( They're not really price competitive with some of the aggressively priced Core i5 machines like the ThinkPad Twist or Best Buy edition of the Yoga.
We may review the Asus Vivo RT if there's enough interest. It doesn't seem to be setting the world on fire though :( Surface is getting much more interest.
***** ***** Im actually most likely going to go for the Surface Pro from microsoft. Since im a student the price gets slashed by $300 so its my best bet. It has pretty great specs between the chromeooks and other pcs in its pretty portable.
best review of the surface. Love how Lisa reviews products based on their merit rather than resorting to Apple/Android fanboism. Kudos. most of the reviewer never showed if media files can be played by plugging in a portable HDD. even the 32 GB Surface with Micro SD card and USB support is more than enough.
That will depend on the program that you use, not the tablet that you buy. But bottom line, yes you can do that on the Surface - just look around for the different pdf programs available.
I look at this in 2017 and all I can think about is the thick bezels and sub par resolution and think this thing is absolutely crazy. And a touch keyboard is a wild concept. But I wanted one in 2012
JD Licoski I used to be interested in this thing when it came out, I thought Windows on a tablet was amazing. Looking back, it was pretty poor considering how limited you were in the OS, and how expensive it was. Not to mention the Windows Store which is nowhere close to the App or Google Play Store.
I just bought the 32GB Surface RT at the new lower price. Initial impressions: its exactly as Lisa said. This is a gorgeous OS. I own an iPad3, a Galaxy Note 10.1, and a Surface Pro so I can write with some experience on tablets. The Surface RT is the second best pure tablet on the market. It's surprisingly fluid and functional...far more so than my clunky android tablet. The fact that it comes with the Office suite makes it a HUGE bargain.
Hey Lisa, love your reviews. Now my problem is, Yoga or Surface pro? I like both hardware, I prefer the surface design and portability. But the Yoga does have a nice design as well and it has a full keyboard. I think I will decide when the battery life will be compared. Putting aside the RT version of the Surface, which one did you prefer?
Not sure what you want to do. There's no digital pen for drawing, so I wouldn't pick it for a digital artist. No full Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator either.
Amazing review, you know exactly what you're talking about. This review solidified my resolve to get this tablet. This device caught my eye at best buy about a month ago. Out of all the other computers this tablet(which I initially thought was a laptop) was what stood out to me. Overall to me a very sexy and well made device and something I think more tablets should try and replicate.
I haven't had trouble my the headphone jack (and I don't own any Beats earbuds). The cameras are rotten and I'd say they're there purely for Skype, not photography.
I actually sold my MacBook Air to buy the RT. I am happy with my decision. I got $700 for my MacBook. Bought a RT refurbished , Touch Keypad, a 32gb sd card and case. Had $300 left over! It's great for what I do. Ebay, web surfing, and MS Office. Not really into all the game and apps. I save the web pages on the start page as opposed to using apps.
I bought one with the keyboard at a big discount because it came with MS Office... works just fine with what I need it for, even had an upgrade to the new start screen like Win 10... hoping for the Edge Browser soon...
Well, Atom is better if you want to run x86 apps! However, Clovertrail isn't the sharpest knife in the box and is better suited for the basics like web, email and Office. Photoshop, x86 games and demanding stuff really pegs CPU utilization.
I think they are only being sold and displayed in your local Microsoft store (and website)... You can go to their website and find out where is the closes store to you.
Nice review as allways Lisa! I'm just wondering about a couple of stuff; have you seen any chrome or Firefox on RT yet? Or is it only on Windows 8 Pro you will get this option? And last; is there a VLC media player available? Thanks in advance
It's true, but there is a micro SD card slot so you can cheaply expand the storage. You can also plug in a USB stick or external HD to expand the storage.
Would you recommend this product for university students? I have a lot of essays to do and I need microsoft word and powerpoint etc. Is this product good for that?
I'm thinking of getting a surface and I've used it a little and think this tablet is best for just taking simple notes. If you're getting a tablet or a computer for more advanced things, then I would suggest a laptop.
i was going to scold you for being old and then praise you for knowing how to use electronic devices but now i decided to point out that you own a copy of the elderscrolls 4 oblivion wich was one of the best games ever.Awesome review btw very informative :)
Great review. One question. When you purchase apps....do you know if you have to purchase the same app again? For instance you buy a app on a windows 8 pc and then get a windows8 rt tablet...do you have to buy that app again or will it just go with you as long as your logging in with your live/hotmail account? I hope the question made sense :) Thanks!!!
I got my for 330 dollars in total with the touch cover and they ported over the full Microsoft office 2013 for windows 8.1 rt and the hardware is great plus it never freezes for me... its pretty much the best
Not on RT. RT is purely apps. The Surface Pro runs full Windows 8 and has an Intel Processor (so its a PC in tablet clothing) so it can run Steam and media player. Skype however is on RT.
Mobile OS tablets aren't a bargain by any means, at least not the top name brand models. A laptop gives more bang for the buck, though you get instant-on and usually a much better display plus touch screen with tablets.
Oh for sure, my brother carries a 18" laptop and its heavy, and takes up so much space, plus laptops don't have easy mobility. I'm buying this before I go to college next year. Its virtually a laptop and tablet, you can still do your internet and word processing and other things you can do on the laptop.
Finally decided to buy this after owning an iPad 2 for a year and a half. I LOVE MY SURFACE RT. App selection is pretty bad as everyone knows, but everything elese like usb slot, micro sd slot, and mircrosoft office rt is amazig! So happy I made this purchase!!
Yes, I'm using it as a notebook for all my high school subjects, so far it works BEAUTIFULY. Its much faster than my old laptop & typing is hella faster than writing. the RT comes with Microsoft Office 2013 free which works wonderfully. Also the touch cover & type work great! It took me ~1/2hr to get used to the touch cover, but now I type almost as well as with a keyboard when the sound is off & equal to keyboard when the tap sound is on. You should seriously consider it for a notebook :D
Nice and informative review, but I'm personally going to wait out for the release of the Surface Pro Tablet. Hopefully you'll do a in-depth review of that when the thing gets released. :)
I wish they made two separate Windows 8, one for only desktop with no metro ui and one made for mostly tablets and only had the metro ui and keep them separate
This is why i like female does tech review like Lisa, we always get opinions from diferent perspectives, unlike other reviewers here on RUclips. Their opinions are always leaning toward specific brands. Just hate that. ----- Great Review Lisa
So gonna get this tablet with touch cover... Need something small and portable for high school, and this seems like it will defiantly get the job done + more!
Just let you know if you buy this for games , you would receive lags and low resolution
And you can even install any browser beside IE
The Surface RT is only sold in Microsoft stores and on MS' website, so it doesn't make sense to discuss its sales figures vs. products that are in popular retail channels like Best Buy and Amazon.
I can't watch these reviews without being reminded of Lesley Winkle from The Big Bang Theory. :)
You can buy it bundled with the touch cover or you can buy the cover and tablet separately (you save $20 buying the bundle but you can't choose a color- it's only bundled with the black keyboard).
"kind of like an apple smart cover, except this one actually does something" Hahah that was funny.
Aged like fucking cow milk stuffed in a jar in a hot shed during the summer. Ha.
Yes, Intel Core i tablets and laptops generally run the ARM version of apps as well. It's up to the developer, but I haven't seen an ARM-only app from a 3rd party developer yet.
Hi from 8 yrs later
hi from 11 years later
For Black Friday, Staples had the Surface RT with the keyboard for $250. Went down to pick one up but as usual they only had about 5 on had and were not giving out rain checks. Ended up getting it at Best Buy for $199 w/o the keyboard. They had plenty on hand. Will be watching videos to see how to get the most out of it. Best buy also had 32GB micro sd card for 17.99 and 64 GB micro sd card for 34.99.
Eminem , Ll Wayne , Kain West lmao
Would this be an ok tablet for movies, youtube, facebook and light gaming ?
Movies, RUclips, Facebook, yes. You can't install windows games on this tablet so the gaming part would be a no.
So, I wouldn't be able to install subway surfers or alpaca evolution or any game from the Windows App store? :O
***** If they're in the windows app stoer, you can. You can't play games like minecraft etc.
Yeah, I know. I have a gaming laptop for that :d
Found one for $199 64gb on Amazon
I bought this for school, i ended up returning it because I couldn't get use to the keyboard. I made so many mistakes when taking notes, and typing out papers felt forced. Not to mention this thing runs slow and lags a lot.
I probably would have been a lot happier with the pro version and force my self to get use to the keyboard, but in the end i returned it, paid a little extra, and bought an older macbook air.
Soon I'll be trading in the 2010's macbook air and buying the i5 surface pro 3
Yes you can change the display and input language, just as you would with Windows 8.
"it actually does something " lol
The OS, included apps and recovery partition all use a chunk of space, that's right. But RT apps from the MS Store are a lot smaller than Windows 7 apps, so you may not need as much space as you think.
i got it for 150 with keybaord for black friday lololol
dude from which store ??
please answer ASAP am gonna get one but its 200$ naked :/
Mohammed Ghanem do you know the store boscoves? i got it from there (im not sure if its a famous store around the world or just a loca store)
is it in california ?
ugh im actually not sure i live in pennsylvania so i dont know
oh am sorry for that :)
Yes, it has the usual Fonts folder in the Windows folder and you can add fonts to your heart's content.
This tablet is a piece of shit, absolute garbage!
Pick up your Transformer by the display section, the keyboard dock will come loose. Happens on the TF201, TF301 and TF700. That's why Asus says don't ever pick it up by the display section.
That's one useless device😑
that tip for keeping it on your lap was amazing, thanks
Easily the most professional, educated, and professional review of the Surface. Thank you.
Yes, music and video stored on the internal drive will automatically appear in the music and video players.
I friccan love this, very in depth and as usual from you unbiased. These days your the only one I turn to when I want a review.
I feel that this channel does some of the only unbiased reviews on youtube
Lisa.....You always give the BEST in-depth and informative reviews! Thanks again! You're freak'n AWESOME!
When you run Windows update it updates to the release version of MS Office 2013 RT.
i just bought one for only PHP11,00 ($255). this is sooooo good as sustitute of my laptop/desktop if im on travel. i dont need a lot of applications for this because everything for a portable device is already installed here. running heavy games like asphalt 8 is superbly smooth. you can also multi-task a lot of applications and switch in just one swipe. it has also a genuine microsoft office, updates all the time to secure stability. booting is also one good point, boot time is less than a minute. usb functionality is also superb, i have a 2TB external drive and it can read all the staff in just seconds. i love this thing. those having negative comments regarding this one are those who expects to buy this thing but expecting to have a macbook-like performance. this is a portable device. not a pro but it can do more and like to do best based on the current price. good job! no regrets at all.
Really great review, I cant tell you how many times I've looked for one before finding one as comprehensive as this - keep it up!
AVI is supported by the built-in video player.
So far speed hasn't degraded and I've had it a few months now.
What a great review! It's another reminder of why I subscribe to your channel. Reviewers too often behave like the iPad is the standard by which all competing devices must be measured. I really appreciate your recognition that apples are not the standard for oranges and bananas. It seems like I can always can count on a thorough Mobile Tech Review. Thanks again Lisa!
Office 2013 RT is included with the Surface RT tablet.
This was a great comprehensive review. I enjoyed it immensely as it addressed all of my concerns regarding this product. Keep up the good work. You are quite knowledgeable.
lisa personally i dont know u of course. but from ur videos i have to say u r one of the sweetest people i know in youtube... and congrates for ur great reviews...
Thank god for your reviews. Always in depth, straight forward and unbiased.
But, as a side note - these are by far the best RUclips reviews.
Please continue to post tech reviews because you are so informative
I'm thinking of getting one to take notes and record lectures in collage next year
Wow that was one of the best tech reviews I've seen in years!
So far the Samsung Ativ with keyboard dock, Asus VivoBook with Atom + keyboard are pricing at $800 (more if you want the AT&T version). I've seen some that will come out higher :( They're not really price competitive with some of the aggressively priced Core i5 machines like the ThinkPad Twist or Best Buy edition of the Yoga.
If you don't have the keyboard, tap and hold on the screen to get the right click function.
We may review the Asus Vivo RT if there's enough interest. It doesn't seem to be setting the world on fire though :( Surface is getting much more interest.
Been wanting an HP Chromebook recently but thought this might be a better option.
Me too!
What a coincidence!
***** I still haven't gone for anything. Putting a lot of thought into it.
***** ***** Im actually most likely going to go for the Surface Pro from microsoft. Since im a student the price gets slashed by $300 so its my best bet. It has pretty great specs between the chromeooks and other pcs in its pretty portable.
Jeremy Rabsatt UK doesn't get an student discount from Microsoft. Pretty shit really.
***** Oh thats garbage man. If you know someone in the U.S you might find a loophole or something :/
Srry bout that man.
I must say I love your review approach.....its never negative and you let the user come to there own conclusion and it never sounds bais....
And this is exactly what I'm buying it for (composing essays, taking notes, storing school files during college)
Wow, really impressed that you can use the proper office apps on here! Looks like a great computer.
best review of the surface. Love how Lisa reviews products based on their merit rather than resorting to Apple/Android fanboism. Kudos.
most of the reviewer never showed if media files can be played by plugging in a portable HDD. even the 32 GB Surface with Micro SD card and USB support is more than enough.
Succinct and complete review as always Lisa. Please consider using a lapel mic to eliminate the voice echo within the room.
That will depend on the program that you use, not the tablet that you buy. But bottom line, yes you can do that on the Surface - just look around for the different pdf programs available.
3:47, Elder Scrolls Oblivion game case in the background, you are now my favorite reviewer :).
Great review.. Always great no bias here... Professional.. Unlike other reviewers...keep doing with what you do...
Yes, you can. The Kindle app is on the Microsoft app store.
I look at this in 2017 and all I can think about is the thick bezels and sub par resolution and think this thing is absolutely crazy. And a touch keyboard is a wild concept.
But I wanted one in 2012
JD Licoski I used to be interested in this thing when it came out, I thought Windows on a tablet was amazing. Looking back, it was pretty poor considering how limited you were in the OS, and how expensive it was. Not to mention the Windows Store which is nowhere close to the App or Google Play Store.
I just bought the 32GB Surface RT at the new lower price. Initial impressions: its exactly as Lisa said. This is a gorgeous OS. I own an iPad3, a Galaxy Note 10.1, and a Surface Pro so I can write with some experience on tablets. The Surface RT is the second best pure tablet on the market. It's surprisingly fluid and functional...far more so than my clunky android tablet. The fact that it comes with the Office suite makes it a HUGE bargain.
Hey Lisa, love your reviews. Now my problem is, Yoga or Surface pro? I like both hardware, I prefer the surface design and portability. But the Yoga does have a nice design as well and it has a full keyboard. I think I will decide when the battery life will be compared. Putting aside the RT version of the Surface, which one did you prefer?
On A Tegra 3 with a locked bootloader? No idea how to get Ubuntu on this.
Not sure what you want to do. There's no digital pen for drawing, so I wouldn't pick it for a digital artist. No full Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator either.
Amazing review, you know exactly what you're talking about. This review solidified my resolve to get this tablet. This device caught my eye at best buy about a month ago. Out of all the other computers this tablet(which I initially thought was a laptop) was what stood out to me. Overall to me a very sexy and well made device and something I think more tablets should try and replicate.
I haven't had trouble my the headphone jack (and I don't own any Beats earbuds). The cameras are rotten and I'd say they're there purely for Skype, not photography.
I actually sold my MacBook Air to buy the RT. I am happy with my decision. I got $700 for my MacBook. Bought a RT refurbished , Touch Keypad, a 32gb sd card and case. Had $300 left over! It's great for what I do. Ebay, web surfing, and MS Office. Not really into all the game and apps. I save the web pages on the start page as opposed to using apps.
I bought one with the keyboard at a big discount because it came with MS Office... works just fine with what I need it for, even had an upgrade to the new start screen like Win 10... hoping for the Edge Browser soon...
Well, Atom is better if you want to run x86 apps! However, Clovertrail isn't the sharpest knife in the box and is better suited for the basics like web, email and Office. Photoshop, x86 games and demanding stuff really pegs CPU utilization.
Hey Lisa great review. Juss wondering which tablet u use personally for urself.
It's pretty sweet that you can connect loads of devices to it with USB :)
Best reviewer i have seen on youtube to date.!
I think they are only being sold and displayed in your local Microsoft store (and website)... You can go to their website and find out where is the closes store to you.
Nice review as allways Lisa! I'm just wondering about a couple of stuff; have you seen any chrome or Firefox on RT yet? Or is it only on Windows 8 Pro you will get this option? And last; is there a VLC media player available? Thanks in advance
It's true, but there is a micro SD card slot so you can cheaply expand the storage. You can also plug in a USB stick or external HD to expand the storage.
Awesome review! I really want this. It's sleek, portable, and has the necessities of a laptop; USB, SD, Office, etc.
I love your reviews! non-bias, very professional, and super cute!
Would you recommend this product for university students? I have a lot of essays to do and I need microsoft word and powerpoint etc. Is this product good for that?
I'm thinking of getting a surface and I've used it a little and think this tablet is best for just taking simple notes. If you're getting a tablet or a computer for more advanced things, then I would suggest a laptop.
i was going to scold you for being old and then praise you for knowing how to use electronic devices but now i decided to point out that you own a copy of the elderscrolls 4 oblivion wich was one of the best games ever.Awesome review btw very informative :)
Great review. One question. When you purchase apps....do you know if you have to purchase the same app again? For instance you buy a app on a windows 8 pc and then get a windows8 rt tablet...do you have to buy that app again or will it just go with you as long as your logging in with your live/hotmail account? I hope the question made sense :) Thanks!!!
It would be so nice if you could make a Microsoft Surface Pro review. Especially, the battery while watching a movie.
So would you say it's a safe bet to take it along with your camera and immediately tweak some pictures in the field??
great review, although you should've showed how the on-screen keyboard worked for those who won't get it with the touch-pad
Really good review again Lisa, very informative, i'm going to buy one tomorrow..
As always a great review by Lisa.
I got my for 330 dollars in total with the touch cover and they ported over the full Microsoft office 2013 for windows 8.1 rt and the hardware is great plus it never freezes for me... its pretty much the best
Not on RT. RT is purely apps. The Surface Pro runs full Windows 8 and has an Intel Processor (so its a PC in tablet clothing) so it can run Steam and media player.
Skype however is on RT.
Mobile OS tablets aren't a bargain by any means, at least not the top name brand models. A laptop gives more bang for the buck, though you get instant-on and usually a much better display plus touch screen with tablets.
I'm thinking about using the Surface RT for work. Does windows RT have an citrix plug-in / reciever?
Oh for sure, my brother carries a 18" laptop and its heavy, and takes up so much space, plus laptops don't have easy mobility. I'm buying this before I go to college next year. Its virtually a laptop and tablet, you can still do your internet and word processing and other things you can do on the laptop.
Finally decided to buy this after owning an iPad 2 for a year and a half. I LOVE MY SURFACE RT. App selection is pretty bad as everyone knows, but everything elese like usb slot, micro sd slot, and mircrosoft office rt is amazig! So happy I made this purchase!!
Yes, I'm using it as a notebook for all my high school subjects, so far it works BEAUTIFULY. Its much faster than my old laptop & typing is hella faster than writing. the RT comes with Microsoft Office 2013 free which works wonderfully. Also the touch cover & type work great! It took me ~1/2hr to get used to the touch cover, but now I type almost as well as with a keyboard when the sound is off & equal to keyboard when the tap sound is on. You should seriously consider it for a notebook :D
Will you be doing a review of the Asus Vivo Tab as well as a smackdown with the Surface?
she is the best tech reviewer on youtube.
Nice and informative review, but I'm personally going to wait out for the release of the Surface Pro Tablet. Hopefully you'll do a in-depth review of that when the thing gets released. :)
Planning on buying this for school/college work =) thanks for the review!
Before it was 499$ now it's 99.99$
I think Lisa is the only person in mobiletechreview because...I've watched a few of their videos and she's the only one there.
this review is very in depth and professional, really helped with my decision.
Good review, Lisa!
I may buy buy one of these, how thin are they exactly? ^^
I wish they made two separate Windows 8, one for only desktop with no metro ui and one made for mostly tablets and only had the metro ui and keep them separate
My parents have this and I love it, its very well made and it runs great
I wanted to get a new laptop but then when I saw this, I really liked it. Do you think I should get this instead of a Laptop?
Honestly, this is my next computer. It's all anyone really needs for school or work.
How did it go lol
This is why i like female does tech review like Lisa, we always get opinions from diferent perspectives, unlike other reviewers here on RUclips. Their opinions are always leaning toward specific brands. Just hate that.
-----
Great Review Lisa
So gonna get this tablet with touch cover... Need something small and portable for high school, and this seems like it will defiantly get the job done + more!