Microsoft has officially announced the fifth generation of the Surface Pro. Microsoft tablets Disadvantages reported in reviews

Today, during a special presentation in New York, Microsoft introduced the new Surface Pro 4 tablet.

Compared to its predecessor, the novelty has received many improvements, including a more powerful hardware filling and a smaller thickness - only 8.4 mm.

The tablet computer is equipped with a 12.3-inch display, the resolution of which is 2736 × 1824 at a density of 267 pixels per inch.

The display, built with Pixelsense technology, is equipped with a custom controller, which allows recognition of up to 1024 degrees of pressure with the new generation Surface Pen stylus that is included in the kit. It should be noted that the charge of the stylus is enough for a year, it is attached to the device by means of a magnet, without requiring fasteners.

As a hardware platform, the sixth generation Intel Core processor (Skylake) is used here. Depending on the modification, the device can be equipped with up to 16 GB of RAM and a solid state drive up to 1 TB. The device received cameras with 8- and 5-megapixel matrices and a battery, the capacity of which is enough for 9 hours of battery life in video playback mode. A mini-computer is running.

Optionally available keyboard-cover Type Cover, which has its own fingerprint scanner. The accessory is compatible with previous generation Surface tablets. The case will be offered in six different colors for $130.

Product dimensions: 292.1 x 201.42 x 8.45 mm. The body of the tablet is made of magnesium alloy, while its weight, depending on the configuration, can be from 766 to 786 g.

The Surface Pro 4 tablet will go on sale October 26th starting at $899. Pre-orders will begin accepting October 7th.

Verdict

• Brilliant PixelSense display;
• Simple, elegant design;
• Improved Type Cover keyboard;
• Fantastic performance;

• No USB-C;
• Surface Pen and Type Cover sold separately;
• Better but still mediocre battery life

Nearly five years have passed since Microsoft introduced a 2-in-1 device, the Surface Pro continues to be a hybrid that other companies are trying to outdo. And how has Microsoft improved on an already class-leading hybrid tablet this time around? The manufacturer refines the design, improves performance, fixes some concerns about battery life, and also creates a new line of improved and more colorful accessories.

The new device still lacks USB-C ports, and its endurance, while improved, could still be better. One thing is clear: the Surface Pro (from $799 | Rs. 45,500) is still the cream of the 2017 hybrid crop.

Design: If nothing's broken, don't fix it

Not wanting to tempt fate with an exceptional design, Microsoft is making the new Surface Pro virtually identical to the previous two models.

Of course, the company had to trim some corners to make the Surface Pro feel good in the hand, but all the familiar elements are in place, including the kickstand, power button, volume buttons and front-facing speakers.

The kickstand now opens to 165 degrees, turning the Surface Pro into a low-profile drawing stand, emulating the Surface Studio.

And this is the first noticeable change to the footrest, which now opens all the way to 165 degrees. This allows you to convert the Surface Pro from a standard laptop to a low-profile drawing board, giving you the drawing experience of the Surface Studio but in a much more compact package.

Measuring 292 x 201 x 8.3mm and weighing 1.08kg (including keyboard case), the Surface Pro is noticeably lighter than standard laptops or 2-in-1 hybrids, even the slender (1.22kg) or HP Specter x360 ( 1.29 kg). Meanwhile, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will only be slightly lighter and thinner, at 304 x 221 x 6.8mm and weighing 712 grams.

Like the Surface Laptop, the Surface Pen and Type Cover are available in platinum, burgundy, cobalt blue, and gold, eye-catching colors, while the Surface Pro itself only comes in gray.

Ports: Where is mineUSBC?

The new Surface Pro connections don't change. You get one old-school Type-A USB 3.0 port, Mini DisplayPort, a headset jack, plus a Surface Connect port and a microSD card slot hidden behind the kickstand.

And that's terribly disappointing because there are no USB-C or , which come with almost all premium 2-in-1 systems. So you can only connect one accessory when using Surface Connect.

The PixelSense Surface Pro display is one of the best LCD panels on the market.

Microsoft says it's not adding a USB-C port to the Surface Pro yet because consumers don't yet understand the meaning of the new port. However, this reasoning seems unconvincing, as Microsoft demonstrated a USB-C port on the Lumia 950 back in 2015. Also, a big and powerful company like Microsoft influences connectivity standards instead of following the market.

Display: PerfectPixel

The 12.3-inch PixelSense display on Surface Pro is one of the best LCD panels on the market. With a resolution of 2736 x 1824 pixels, it looks extremely sharp, and the 3:2 aspect ratio balances the vertical area of ​​the screen just right when you want to work, while also remaining wide enough that you won't be distracted by black bars when you want to watch a movie.

The Surface Pro's screen brightness is also excellent, peaking at 396 nits. That's over 25 percent brighter than the Dell XPS 13 (305 nits) and the HP Specter (318 nits).

The Surface Pro's color gamut coverage is as good as the rest, covering 140% of the sRGB spectrum as measured by our colorimeter. Once again, the panel outperforms comparable XPS 13 (106%) and Specter x360 (102%) laptops.

Surface Pro color accuracy passed Delta-E testing with a rating of 0.5. Given that the score is better than close to zero, the Surface Pro is close to perfection, and this makes the tablet laptop the best choice for photo editors. The HP Specter x360 isn't too far behind, offering a rating of 0.74, while the XPS 13 scored 4.03.

Audio: Powerful sound

The Surface Pro's speakers aren't the most powerful we've heard, but they offer above average volume and sound quality. We especially like that the Surface Pro's stereo speakers are front-facing, ensuring that the sound is projected at you rather than downwards or to the sides.

While listening to music, we were pleasantly surprised by how the Surface Pro recreated vocals. However, like many other ultraportable speakers, the Surface Pro's speakers deliver light bass.

Keyboard CaseType-Cover: A new level of softness

While this isn't the first time we've seen Alcantara on Surface keyboards, with 1.3mm key travel and a 70g actuation weight, Microsoft's Type Cover remains the best detachable keyboard on the market.

At the top of the keyboard, Microsoft equips the Type Cover with even stronger magnets, making the tablet even more stable and easy to use on your lap. However, when desk space is limited, like on a plane or train, the Surface Pro kickstand can make positioning the tablet properly a hassle.

I'm a power user of Surface devices, so my typing speed test returned a perfect result. The number of words per minute came out even more than usual, with only two errors.

NewsurfacePen: Calligraphy accuracy!

The new stylus offers 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity, and the new Surface Pen is four times more responsive to pressure than earlier models. But that's not all, because Microsoft has taught the stylus to detect the angle you're holding the pen in, so now you can tilt the stylus to change the shape of the lines. This allows less trained hands to gain better control, offering the best possible artistic experience.

You can still use old Surface Pens with the new Surface Pro. You just don't get the extra levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt control.

Performance & Graphics: FastsurfacePro

With a $2,199 price tag for the Surface Pro review model - powered by an Intel Core i7-7660U processor, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD - you would expect speed from a tablet. And she is present. In almost every test, it easily takes the lead, outperforming competing ultra-portable machines. In everyday life, it doesn't show a hint of jerkiness or slowdown, including traditional workloads that often include 20 or more browser tabs, a photo editor, YouTube, and multiple spreadsheets at the same time.

Surface Pro graphics performance is 50 percent faster than Dell XPS 13 and HP Specter x360.

In Geekbench 4, which measures overall system performance, the Surface Pro (8879) scores nearly 10 percent above the XPS 13 (8105) and HP Specter x360 (8147), which also feature a 7th-gen Intel Core i7.

The Surface Pro also outperforms its competitors on spreadsheet tests, where it has to sort through 20,000 names and addresses, which it did in 3:13 versus the XPS 13 and Specter x360's 3:44 (3:33).

We were also pleasantly surprised by the SSD speed of the new Surface Pro (2017), especially after the Surface Laptop's performance was far from cutting-edge. The new SSD proves its speed in downloading a full DVD of mixed media files in 15 seconds, reaching speeds of 339MB/s. The XPS 13 achieved 191MB/s on the same test, while the Specter x360 was much closer at 318MB/s.

The battery on the Surface Pro (2017) lasted 7 hours and 30 minutes, a significant improvement over the 6:05 of the old Surface Pro 4.

In terms of graphics, the Surface Pro scored 1,569 on 3DMark's Fire Strike benchmarks. That's 50% better than what we got with the XPS 13 (927) and Specter x360 (920). However, if you're going to be playing some serious games, you're better off relying on a discrete graphics card than the Iris Plus Graphics 640 that comes with the Core i7.

camerassurfacePro: Unexpectedly sharp

The Surface Pro's 8-megapixel and 5-megapixel cameras were surprisingly sharp, but we liked the 5-megapixel front-facing camera the best.

The camera did a great job of capturing details in the hair, and what's more, the camera provides instant login thanks to the handy Windows Hello integration.

Both cameras also shoot video in 1080p resolution.

Temperature: Cold under load

Despite the powerful Intel Core i7, the review Surface Pro showed no problems in temperature tests. After streaming Full HD (1080p) YouTube videos for 15 minutes, the tablet's hottest spot (dead spot on the back) hit 30.5 degrees Celsius.

Battery life: Better, but we want more...

One of the main problems with most hybrid systems, including the older Surface Pro 4, is mediocre battery life compared to more traditional laptops. To address the issue, Microsoft is promising a 50 percent increase in battery life for the new Surface Pro. On our Wi-Fi surfing battery test, the Surface Pro (2017) lasted 7 hours and 30 minutes, a significant improvement over the older Surface Pro 4's 6:05.

The bad news kicks in when you compare the Surface Pro to other systems like the XPS 13 and Specter x360, which last one and a half to two hours longer than Microsoft's new tablet, clocking in at 9:11 and 10:06 respectively. Even Microsoft's own Surface Laptop beats the new Surface Pro, offering 9 hours and 2 minutes of battery life. Thus, despite the additional hour and a half of work, in comparison with the previous tablet, there is still room for perfection.

Summing up

Other 2-in-1 hybrids just can't beat the PixelSense brilliance on the Surface Pro, simple yet dynamic design, and world-class user experience. Throw in four times the pressure sensitivity, an improved detachable keyboard, and you have a recipe for success. With high specs like the Surface Pro (2017) we reviewed, the tablet's performance promises to be a huge boon for users.

However, we believe that Microsoft continues to play an overly safe game in some areas. And while it's improved, Surface Pro's battery life still falls short of other ultraportable laptops, and the lack of USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 seems like an oversight for the company's flagship tablet. And after three years, during which the Surface Pro has retained its aesthetic, we would like to see more influence on the design of the hybrid tablet. However, if you want the best hybrid tablet, the Surface Pro is still one of them.

Microsoft Surface Pro review

With its fantastic PixelSense display, improved Type Cover, faster performance, and even better battery life, Surface Pro is still the king of 2-in-1 hybrids.

Excellent!

With its fantastic PixelSense display, improved Type Cover, faster performance, and even better battery life, Surface Pro is still the king of 2-in-1 hybrids.

If you put this year's Surface Pro and Surface Pro 4 next to each other, it's hard to tell the difference. They are almost the same size and weight, with only a few cosmetic differences and a difference in the angle of the stand. The main advantages of the new model are inside, among other things, the processor and graphics chip have been improved.

It uses the latest generation of Intel Kaby Lake processors and Iris Plus integrated graphics, which perform well. The graphics performance of the device has almost doubled compared to two years ago. This allows you to challenge laptops like the first generation Microsoft Surface Book and the 15-inch HP Specter x360, which have discrete graphics cards.

For such performance, Microsoft asks a high price. The fabric-coated Signature Type Cover is sold separately for $160, while the Surface Pen is another $100. The review considered a tablet model priced at $2199. This price makes one wonder if it's not easier to buy a laptop starting at $700, even if it's slightly heavier.

Since the new tablet differs little from the old one, the differences will have to be carefully looked out for. The front camera is hidden in the frame of the tablet, the profile has become more rounded and soft. Most users won't notice this. This tablet was the first in the Surface Pro line on Windows 10 Creators Update.

The Signature Type Covers are pleasantly fluffy, although the fabric does shrink a little, especially at the bottom, and collects dust. Available in platinum, burgundy, black and blue color options. The new $100 Surface Pens feature the same colors.

The specifications should sound familiar. The dimensions of the new Surface are 287.5 x 197.5 x 8.25 mm, the same as the Surface Pro 4, and weigh 1.07-1.09 kg. The tested version with a Core i7-7660 2.5 GHz processor, 16 GB of memory and a 512 GB NVMe drive. Without a keyboard, the tablet weighs 788g, making it one of the thinnest Windows tablets on the market.

The screens are the same: 12.3 inches PixelSense with a resolution of 2736 x 1824 (267 ppi). There is one difference: the Surface Pro received a "boosted" color profile, like the Surface Studio, against a standard sRGB display. Colors are slightly brighter in boosted mode, and faded in sRGB. Surface Studio includes a Vivid color mode that is different from this Surface Pro (Enhanced) color mode. The midtones are closer to the P3-D65 color range, the skin color remains normal.

Internal differences are also subtle. Both tablets support 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 on the SP4, and Bluetooth 4.1 on the new Surface Pro. The benefits of a more modern version of Bluetooth will become apparent with the release of this year's version of Surface Pro with LTE, since Bluetooth 4.1 signal does not overlap with LTE.

The cameras on the Surface Pro and Surface Pro 4 seem to be the same, 5MP on the front and 8MP on the back. The rear camera on the SP4 produces richer colors, although mobile photography enthusiasts may opt for the Galaxy Book's 13MP camera. More importantly, the front camera on the Surface Pro supports Windows Hello and is very fast, thanks in part to a second front sensor that the Surface Pro 4 doesn't have.

Microsoft has stuck with its familiar set of connectors: Surface connector, mini DisplayPort, full-size USB-A. The microSD slot is hidden in the stand, as before. The Surface Connector allows tablet owners to connect existing peripherals like the Surface Dock and charger. This is a smart decision, while the Samsung Galaxy Book's complete dependence on seems like a mistake.

Externally, the main difference between the two Microsoft tablets is the new Surface Pro stand, which reclines to a 15-degree angle horizontally, what Microsoft calls Studio mode. This is a nod to the Microsoft Surface Studio all-in-one computer, whose touchscreen also tilts almost horizontally. If you have a Surface Dial accessory, the new Surface Pro will also allow you to use it on your screen, something that was previously only possible on the Surface Studio.

Improved keyboard and Surface Dial integration made with ink in mind, for the existing Surface Pen and for the updated model. The Dial doesn't slide across the tablet screen like the Studio does, it needs more space to be useful.

Microsoft has updated the Surface Pen to 4096 degrees of pressure, but the stylus is a little less comfortable. The new Pen is devoid of a latch, now it uses a magnetic strip on the side to attach it, the impracticality of which becomes apparent over time.

The updated Pen continues to use AAAA batteries, which last for a year. The ability to erase digital ink has been preserved, which not all styluses can do. The input is as good as the original Pen, and there is support for tilting, which allows you to increase the thickness of the line. Microsoft has reduced input lag to 21ms. There were no slowdowns, and most importantly, the stylus and navigation with it becomes a natural part of working with Windows.

Fabric aside, it's hard to tell the difference between the new Surface Pro keyboard and the Surface Pro 4 keyboard, except for the removal of the Insert button. The keyboard on the Surface Pro 3 is more preferred by some, but that's a matter of taste. There are no major flaws in any of these models, and the same goes for the trackpad on the new Surface Pro, they are efficient and comfortable for extended typing.

Microsoft Surface Pro 2017 Performance

The comparison was made with a model on a Core i5 processor, not a Core i7. Performance gains can only be seen in graphics-intensive applications. In the PCMark 8 Work benchmark, the increase was only 10%. Thus, buying a new laptop to replace the Surface Pro 4 only makes sense for gaming, imaging, and similar heavy graphics tasks.

Improved not only graphics performance. The Samsung KUS040202M-B000 NVMe SSD is used, one of the fastest at 1702 MB/s according to the CrystalMark 5.0.3 benchmark.

Productivity growth is not given in vain. When working with Surface Pro 4, there is no thermal degradation, the level of performance is the same in all conditions. The new Surface Pro will turn on the fans and slow down under continuous load, such as gaming. In the 3DMark benchmark, performance drops by 24-33%, the case back becomes hot.

Microsoft talks about a performance drop of no more than 20% and claims that there could be a defective model in this review. Next, we compared the Surface Pro 2017 to several Windows tablets, ultrabooks, and laptops with different processors and graphics chips.

The PCMark benchmark has three test suites, Word, Home, and Creative. The latter two include browsing and light gaming, and Creative is also looking into multimedia encoding. The more graphics are used, the better the tablet performs.

You might have expected the Surface Book to take the lead, but the more modern Surface Pro processor makes itself felt. This difference is noticeable in the Creative test.

Then more specific tasks were considered. The Maxon Cinebench benchmark measures the display of graphics scenes by the processor and graphics, here two Core i7-7660U cores and four threads showed their maximum capabilities. The Surface Pro performed well. It's not a gaming laptop, the Inspiron 15 7000 with a Core i5 processor and a GTX 1050 Ti graphics card scored 478 in Cinebench versus 391 for the Surface Pro.

The Handbrake benchmark shows how movies are encoded from MKV to other formats, where the new tablet is again in the lead.

For medium laptops and some gaming computers, the 3DMark SkyDiver benchmark is used. Microsoft opted for a combination of Core i7 processor and Iris Pro graphics, which works great here, though the Surface Book laptop with discrete graphics takes the lead. But the new tablet surpasses the Surface Pro 4 almost twice.

Once again, it must be reiterated that these results are temperature dependent. If you test the device for a long time, which will be enough to turn on the fan, the Surface Pro results noticeably drop. This does not happen with Surface Pro 4.

In terms of real-world use cases, don't count on being able to play the latest version of Battlefield at a high graphical level. Things are better for fans of the old singles. Tomb Raider managed to hit 42fps on high settings and 1080p. Batman: Arkham City delivered 48 frames at 1080p, and as the resolution decreases, the speed increases. I'm concerned about the possible performance degradation when playing for a long time.

Among all the Surface Pro surprises, one of the most interesting relates to battery life. The size of the tablet does not leave room for an increase in battery, but the available 45 Wh allowed us to work for 8 hours, which significantly exceeds the result of the Surface Pro 4.

On the other hand, this is much less than Microsoft's promised 13.5 hours of video viewing. True, Microsoft makes this promise for the Core i5 processor. Screen brightness values ​​may also vary.

Conclusion: competition intensifies

Despite these shortcomings, it turned out to be an excellent Windows tablet. It is expensive, the model with Core i5 will cost $999. The device performs well with short-term work with heavy applications, although performance can start to drop when the fan comes into play. The promised runtime was not achieved, but it's better than the Surface Pro 4.

The innovations of this tablet can not be called significant, but the competition is growing with each new generation.

Pros of Microsoft Surface Pro 2017

1. Iris Pro graphics;
2. The stand allows the tablet to almost lie down on the table;
3. Will appeal to the owner of previous Surface models.

Cons of Microsoft Surface Pro 2017

1. Price;
2. Battery life.

According to experts, the time is not far off when personal computers, and, most interestingly, laptops will sink into oblivion. And they will be replaced by powerful tablets. Some technical innovations make it possible to think that this is exactly what will happen.

The tablet has better features than some modern laptops

Microsoft, having missed its time, is trying to catch up by releasing a tablet that, according to them, can replace a laptop - Microsoft Surface Pro 4. Is this really so, let's try to figure it out by reviewing this powerful device.

Specifications

Contents of delivery

Tablet, Surface Pen, charger, user manual, warranty card and safety guide.

Design

Externally, the tablet looks stylish and expensive, Microsoft is very scrupulous about this issue. The case is made of magnesium alloy, sits nicely in the hands. The height and width do not differ from its predecessor - 292.1 × 201.42 mm, but Microsoft Surface Pro 4 has become thinner - 8.45 mm. In addition, the bezels around the display have become thinner, due to which it was possible to slightly increase the screen diagonal to 12.3 inches. The developers felt that the Start touch button would be superfluous, and therefore removed it, giving the freed up space to the screen. Indeed, it is perfectly pressed on the screen itself, and when a keyboard is connected, it is already on it. Only the display remained on the front panel, above it - a camera with an operation indicator and a light sensor, and on the sides - speakers.

The back cover of the tablet also has no unnecessary elements. It is completely metal, only the zone of radio modules is made of plastic so as not to jam the signal. To make it convenient to place the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet on a table, there is a folding stand that is approximately half the height of the case. It allows you to put the device at an angle of 30 to 150 degrees. It moves easily, so sometimes the tablet lacks stability. On the lid itself is the Windows logo, and at the top is the main camera. There are holes for ventilation on the sides in the upper part.

Connectors are located on the sides of the Microsoft Surface Pro 4. Since this is primarily a tablet, there are not very many of them. Most of them are on the right side: USB 3.0, mini Display Port and magnetic interface for charging. The latter solution minimizes the risk of damaging it. On the left is an interface for connecting a headset or external speakers. You can connect anything, even an audio system. Below is a magnetic mount for the keyboard, which can withstand the weight of the tablet itself, if you turn the entire structure upside down. On top are the plastic power and volume buttons.

The keyboard of Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is slightly improved in comparison with the previous model, it has island-style keys with five levels of backlighting. It is quite rigid and practically does not flex when used on your knees. In addition, it is equipped with a full and full-sized glass touchpad that supports gesture control. Its approximate cost is $ 130 for the regular version and $ 160 for the version with a fingerprint scanner.

The stylus is attached with a magnetic strip directly to the body of the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet. It is capable of recognizing up to 1024 gradations of pressure, it runs on an AAAA battery (which is not so easy to get in Russia) for about a year. In addition, you can buy replacement nozzles.

The overall comfort of use is at a high level. The weight of the tablet is rather big, and the hand will get tired of holding it for a long time. The keyboard does not have, in addition, it is much lighter than the main part of the tablet, due to which there may be a weight skew. It’s not very comfortable to work on your knees for a long time, despite the presence of a stand.

Screen

The display of the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet has a diagonal of 12.3 inches, a resolution of 2736 x 1824 and a pixel density of 267 per inch. The average backlight level is about 400 cd / m 2, not every smartphone can boast of such a level. Contrast - 1147:1. There is no anti-glare filter, but its absence is compensated by a high level of brightness. Colors are quite natural, with 97% coverage of the sRGB palette. In some ranges, the coverage even exceeds the norm, but the usual calibration quickly eliminates this drawback. The review does not suffer even at a strong inclination.

Proprietary technology PixelSense significantly improves the response to touch with your fingers and stylus. A separate G5 chip is responsible for this. The Microsoft Surface Pro 4 sensor recognizes up to 10 simultaneous clicks.

Performance

There are several modifications of the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet, which differ in the installed processor, the amount of RAM and the amount of solid state drive. Available processors are Intel Core m3, i5 and i7, the amount of RAM is 4, 8 or 16 GB, and the amount of SSD is 128, 256, 512 GB and 1 TB. This also varies the price.

Microsoft itself has specifically designated the scope of use of each processor. M3 is primarily intended for undemanding users who use the tablet only for browsing, processing small documents, listening to music and watching movies. I3 is proposed to be used for processing large office documents, games and photo editing through Photoshop. Well, the most powerful i7 is designed for professional designers as a tool for high-quality video processing and 3D modeling.

We can safely say that the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet copes with everyday tasks with a bang. Even the most powerful model does not overheat even at the most. New generation fans are completely silent. By the way, the younger model is fanless. Most of the games adapted for the touch screen from the Windows Store work without problems and freezes.

Multimedia features

Thanks to full-fledged Windows 10, you can install any player and codec on the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet, and customize it to your taste. The sound in the speakers is quite clear and loud, but traditionally for such devices they lack the purity of the bass. Dolby Audio technology is responsible for the sound. In headphones, you can get simply excellent quality.

Battery and operating time

The manufacturer claims that the battery should be enough for 9 hours of video viewing. It is not known under what conditions they made measurements, but in reality this is hardly achievable. The average time you can count on is 6-7 hours. The model with the m3 processor will last longer - on average, 8 hours, although you can stretch it up to 13 when using the power saving mode. Again, everything will depend on the settings and mode of use.

Camera

The front camera of Microsoft Surface Pro 4 with a resolution of 5 megapixels supports Windows Hello facial recognition technology. Just look at the tablet, and it will unlock in seconds. The quality of video calls is also quite acceptable.

The main camera of the tablet with a resolution of 8 megapixels has improved significantly compared to the previous model, but is not yet up to smartphones. However, the photos are more or less tolerable in good light, and the presence of autofocus allows you to perform macro photography. Both cameras shoot video in Full HD resolution.

Operating system and programs

Microsoft Surface Pro 4 comes with Windows 10 Pro desktop. So you can install any program, as well as on a computer. In addition, it contains thousands of applications and games adapted for touch control. It is noteworthy that even Microsoft Office will have to be purchased and installed separately. For that price, you could get a discount.

Competitors

If we consider the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 as a tablet, then it is obvious that the main rival will be the Apple iPad Pro. It has a half-inch larger screen and much longer battery life. It is, first of all, a tablet. And it costs several times less.

If we consider the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 as a laptop, you will agree that the filling is quite consistent with the status of a laptop, then we can compare it with the Microsoft Surface Book. The advantage of the latter is a hard keyboard, a larger screen and a more capacious battery.

Pros and cons

Summing up the review, I would like to note the pros and cons of the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet.

Pros:

• The highest performance;
• Sensor support;
• High quality screen and case.

Minuses:

• The need to buy a keyboard separately;
• The keyboard is not rigid enough;
• Lack of a cellular communication module and GPS;
• Inappropriately high price.

Conclusion

Overall impressions of the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 are pretty mixed. On the one hand, it's a tablet. Then he doesn't have time. On the other hand, its filling is completely computer-based, designed to replace a laptop, and it would be more logical to add a keyboard to the package. And so it must be purchased separately. In addition, I was disappointed by the fact that you have to buy a mobile modem and a GPS adapter. It’s not a fact that the latter will be needed, but I would like a complete “stuffing” for the money that the device is being sold.

First of all, the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet will be an excellent acquisition for people of creative professions, because with the help of a stylus you can create beautiful drawings and diagrams. Well, as an everyday device for Windows fans, it can also be advised.

Did you like our review? What points would you like us to highlight in more detail? Write it in the comments.

The results of Microsoft in the field of tablet building are not particularly impressive so far: the Surface tablets released in 2012 (they reached Russia only in April 2013) showed very mediocre sales and caused conflicting reviews, although they undoubtedly attracted a lot of attention. And so, at the end of 2013, Microsoft updated its line of tablets by releasing the second generation. And today we will get acquainted with the older model: Surface Pro 2.

At the moment, the Microsoft tablet lineup includes four models: Surface Pro, Surface, Surface Pro 2 and Surface 2. The difference between them is in the operating system and hardware platform: models with the Pro prefix have a full Windows 8 operating system (64-bit version). ), and on models without Pro - Windows RT OS, on which it is impossible to install applications written for desktop Windows. Accordingly, Pro models run on 3rd and 4th generation Intel Core processors, while non-Pro models run 3rd and 4th generation Nvidia Tegra single-chip systems.

Let's take a look at the specifications of the new Microsoft Surface Pro 2.

Specifications Microsoft Surface Pro 2

• Processor Intel Core i5 4200U/4300U (Haswell)
• Number of cores: 2 cores (4 threads including Hyper-Threading)
• CPU Clock: 1.6 GHz (up to 2.6 GHz Turbo Boost) / 1.9 GHz (up to 2.9 GHz Turbo Boost)
• RAM 4 GB / 8 GB DDR3
• Flash memory from 64 to 512 GB
• Operating system Windows 8.1 Pro
• Touch display on a matrix IPS, 10.6 ″, 1920 × 1080 (208 ppi), capacitive, multi-touch
• Cameras: front (1.2 MP, video transmission 720p) and rear (1.2 MP, video transmission 720p)
• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
• Memory card support: microSD
• Bluetooth 4.0+EDR
• 3.5 mm headphone/microphone jack, Mini-DisplayPort 1.2, dock connector, USB 3.0
• Lithium polymer battery 42 Wh
• Stylus included
• Accelerometer
• Gyroscope
• Compass
• Tablet dimensions 275×173×13.5 mm
• Tablet weight 900 g

Let us explain that even a specific model - Microsoft Surface Pro 2 - comes in several modifications. Firstly, the differences can be in the amount of RAM, and secondly, in the amount of flash memory (moreover, 256 and 512 GB can only be obtained on modifications with 8 GB of RAM). Finally, in January of this year, the processor was updated (initially, the Surface 2 Pro worked only on the Intel Core i5 4200U, but now there is a variant with the Core i5 4300U, which is distinguished by higher frequency and support for Trusted Execution Technology).

Who do we consider the main competitors of Microsoft Surface Pro 2? This question is not so easy to answer, because we have, in fact, a laptop configuration in a tablet case. However, Microsoft itself offered the answer by posting a comparison of the Surface Pro 2 to the Macbook Air and the Surface 2 to the iPad Air on its website. Therefore, below will be the results of performance tests in comparison, both with an ultrabook and with popular tablets. In addition, during the testing process, we will try to consider the differences in use cases.

*according to the manufacturer

A comparison table with characteristics allows you to clearly see all the main differences between Microsoft Surface Pro 2 and flagship tablets on other operating systems. Undoubtedly, strengths include everything related to performance (processor, RAM) and functionality (the maximum amount of built-in flash memory, the presence of a USB 3.0 connector, which, however, Asus Transformer Pad Infinity 2013 also has on the docking station).

And what speaks not at all in favor of the Microsoft product is the weight (the device is almost twice as heavy as the iPad Air!), the thickness of the case, the resolution of the rear camera and, of course, the price. For example, the Asus Transformer Book T100TA tablet on the same OS can be purchased at almost half the price, while the kit will include a keyboard docking station.

However, we will not draw premature conclusions and move on to studying the product.

Equipment

The tablet comes in a large laptop-sized box. Along with the box, we received the Touch Cover keyboard (it is purchased separately). We have already talked about it in the review of the first. The new variant is no different and is fully compatible with first generation Surface tablets (and vice versa).

Inside the box we will find a power supply, a stylus (small and quite handy), as well as a set of leaflets and a quick start guide. The magnetic 5-pin charger connector is identical to the one on the first generation Surface Pro. On the one hand, this solution is quite successful (although not original, since it is clearly borrowed from Apple), on the other hand, it is not very convenient to connect the connector due to the beveled edges of the tablet.

Among the flyers, there is a coupon for 200 GB of cloud storage space for a period of 2 years.

As for the stylus, it supports gradations of pressure and can be used in professional applications. But there is nothing revolutionary here, we saw a similar level of solution both on Windows tablets (Asus Eee Slate) and on Android (Toshiba Excite Write, Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition).

Design

The general appearance of Microsoft Surface Pro 2 repeats the first model of the family and has obvious similarities with Surface tablets running Windows RT. But the main difference from Microsoft's Windows RT tablets is that the Pro is substantially thicker and more massive.

Indeed, when you pick it up, you understand how much easier and more pleasant it is to hold the same iPad Air. Of course, even in a bag, a Microsoft tablet takes up much more space than competitors' tablets. In this respect, the Surface Pro 2 is closer to an ultrabook than it is to a tablet.

However, in terms of style, this device is equally far from tablets and ultrabooks. You can't call it graceful: chopped straight edges, metal everywhere, the absence of any decorative elements or something that would soften the look. On the other hand, reputable businessmen may well like this design. It is immediately obvious: the owner of the Surface Pro 2 is a serious, respectable person.

In Surface Pro 2, designers have retained the main feature of the line: a folding metal plate that acts as a stand and allows you to put the tablet on the table at an angle convenient for the user sitting at the table.

In terms of connectors and buttons, the situation here is identical to the first Surface Pro and is significantly better than the Windows RT Surface models. The main advantage is the presence of USB 3.0 (on the left side). There is also a rather elastic volume rocker and a 3.5 mm jack for a headset.

On the right side, there is a Mini DisplayPort connector for connecting an external screen (an atypical solution, but more reliable than the usual Micro-HDMI), a magnetic connector for connecting a charger, and a slot for microSD memory cards.

On the top side there is only a hole for the built-in microphone and a power button. Along the entire top edge, we see a solid gap through which warm air is vented when the tablet is under load (the Surface Pro 2 uses active cooling).

On the bottom edge is a dock connector for connecting the keyboard.

In general, the design is difficult to evaluate unambiguously. He is an amateur. But the objective disadvantage is the mass and thickness of the device.

We also note that the back surface, despite the apparent reliability and “bulletproofness”, quickly collects scratches.

Screen

The tablet has a screen with the same diagonal as the first generation Surface tablets: 10.6 inches. The difference, however, is in the resolution: 1920x1080 versus the previous 1366x768 (the Windows RT model, the original Surface Pro had a resolution of 1920x1080).

The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface, resistant to scratches. Judging by the reflection of objects, there is a very effective anti-glare filter, in terms of reducing the brightness of the reflection, it is approximately equal to the screen filter of Google Nexus 7 (2013) (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here are photos in which a white surface is reflected in the off screens of both tablets (Microsoft Surface Pro 2, as it is not difficult to determine, is on the right, then they can be distinguished by size):

Visually, the reflection on the Surface Pro 2 screen is slightly lighter, but statistics from the graphics editor show that there is no significant difference between the brightness of the reflected surface between the two screens.

The ghosting of reflected objects in the Surface Pro 2 screen is very weak, which indicates that there is no air gap between the outer glass (it is also a touch sensor) and the matrix surface (OGS type screen - One Glass Solution). Due to the smaller number of borders (glass-air type) with very different refractive indices, all other things being equal, such screens look better in conditions of strong external illumination, but their repair in case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since you have to change the entire screen.

On the outer surface of the screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, even slightly better than Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much easier, and appear at a slower rate than in the case of ordinary glass.

With manual brightness control, its maximum value was about 440 cd / m², and the minimum - 8 cd / m². The maximum value is high, and given the good anti-reflective properties, the image on the screen should be clearly visible in bright daylight. In complete darkness, the brightness can be lowered to a comfortable level. Automatic brightness control works according to the light sensor (it is located to the right of the front camera eye). The operation of this function depends on the position of the brightness control. If it is at maximum, then in complete darkness the auto-brightness function reduces the brightness to 150 cd / m² (it could have been lower), in an office lit by artificial light (about 400 lux) it sets it to 440 cd / m² (too much), in a very bright environment (corresponds to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) increases to the maximum, that is, to the same 440 cd / m². If the brightness slider is at about half the scale, then the screen brightness for the three conditions above is as follows: 50, 120 and 440 cd / m² are very correct values. If the brightness control is set to minimum when automatic brightness control is enabled, then the brightness always remains at the minimum (8 cd/m²) value. In general, the result of this function is as expected. At medium brightness, there is backlight modulation with a large amplitude, but the modulation frequency is very high - about 30 kHz, so it is impossible to visually detect backlight flicker, and the presence of such modulation cannot affect the comfort of working with this device.

This tablet uses an IPS type matrix. Micrographs show a typical IPS subpixel structure:

For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.

The screen has good viewing angles without hue inversion and without significant color shift even at large deviations of the gaze from the perpendicular to the screen. For comparison, here is a photo in which the same images are displayed on the Nexus 7 and Surface Pro 2 screens, while the brightness of both screens is set to about 200 cd / m². Perpendicular to the screens test picture:

It can be seen that the differences in color reproduction are small, but the image on the Surface Pro 2 is slightly less saturated (pay attention, for example, to fruits), however, this is the only reasonable conclusion that can be drawn from the photo. And the white box:

We note a good uniformity of brightness and color tone, which is slightly different from the tone of the Nexus 7 screen (when photographing, the color balance is forced to 6500 K). Now at an angle of about 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen, the test picture:

You can see that the colors didn't change much on either tablet, but on the Surface Pro 2 the contrast was reduced mostly due to the blacks being blown out. Then a white box:

The brightness at an angle for both tablets has noticeably decreased (at least 4 times, based on the difference in shutter speed), but in the case of the Surface Pro 2, the brightness drop is less (brightness in photos 241 versus 225 for the Nexus 7). At the same time, the color tone has changed slightly. The black field, when deviated diagonally, is highlighted strongly and acquires a purple or red-violet hue. The photos below demonstrate this (the brightness of the white areas in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the screens is the same for the screens!):

And from another angle:

When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the black field is very good:

The contrast (around the center of the screen) of the Surface Pro 2 is relatively high at around 890:1. The response time for the black-white-black transition is 18ms (9ms on + 9ms off). The transition between 25% and 75% grayscale (according to the numerical value of the color) and back takes a total of 28 ms. The gamma curve constructed from 32 points with an equal interval according to the numerical value of the shade of gray did not reveal a blockage either in the highlights or in the shadows. The exponent of the approximating power function is 2.37, which is higher than the standard value of 2.2, while the real gamma curve deviates slightly from the power law:

Due to the aggressive and non-switchable dynamic adjustment of the backlight brightness according to the nature of the displayed image, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential grayscale output on the entire screen. For this reason, a number of tests - determining the contrast and response time, comparing black flare at angles - we carried out when displaying special patterns, rather than full-screen solid-color fields.

Color gamut narrower than sRGB:

Apparently, the matrix light filters mix the components to each other and/or the illumination spectrum is poorly differentiated by regions. The spectra confirm this:

This technique allows you to increase the brightness of the screen with the same energy consumption for backlighting. As a result, the colors of images - drawings, photographs and films - oriented to the sRGB space (and the vast majority of them) have slightly reduced saturation. The balance of shades on the gray scale is not ideal, since the color temperature is close to the standard 6500 K, but the deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) is more than 10, which is considered not a very good indicator even for a consumer device. However, in this case, the color temperature and ΔE change little from hue to hue, which has a good effect on the visual assessment of the color balance. (The dark areas of the gray scale can be ignored, since the color balance does not matter much there, and the measurement error of color characteristics at low brightness is large.)

The brightness adjustment range of this screen is wide, and the anti-glare filter is very effective, which allows you to comfortably use the tablet both on a clear day outside and in complete darkness. At the same time, the user is relieved of the need to manually adjust the brightness, since the corresponding function does an excellent job of this task, in addition to helping to save battery power. The advantages also include an effective oleophobic coating, the absence of an air gap in the layers of the screen and flicker, excellent black field uniformity and - in visual evaluation - a good color balance. Extremely disappointing is the strong lightening of the black color when the gaze deviates from the perpendicular to the screen surface and the fact that the color gamut does not reach the sRGB borders - this is very strange for a tablet with Pro in the name. However, overall we find the screen quality of the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 tablet to be good.

Note that the tablet is equipped with a Mini-DisplayPort connector, which allows you to output an image to an external device. Modes traditional for Windows: copy (clone), extension of the desktop (regular, not tiled), only on the tablet screen or only on an external device. This connector is relatively small, but it has a highly reliable connection, so there are no problems when using it, unlike Micro-HDMI in Microsoft Surface.

Sound path

To evaluate the output sound path intended for connecting headphones or external acoustics, we conducted instrumental testing using an external Creative E-MU 0204 USB sound card and the RightMark Audio Analyzer 6.3.0 utility (testing is carried out for stereo mode (24 bit; 44.1 kHz)).

According to the test results, the audio path in the Microsoft Surface 2 Pro tablet received an excellent rating.

The full report with the results of testing in the RMAA 6.3.0 program is placed on a separate page, a brief report is given below.

Platform and Performance

The tablet that we tested is powered by an Intel Core i5-4200U (Haswell) processor, with 4 GB of RAM. The graphics subsystem uses the built-in Intel HD Graphics 4400 core. In general, this is a configuration that is quite typical for ultrabooks. Therefore, it is quite logical to test the performance of Microsoft Surface not only by the tablet method (especially since it is difficult here due to the lack of multiplatform benchmarks), but also by the laptop method, using iXBT Notebook Benchmark v.1.0 and iXBT Game Benchmark v.1.0 benchmarks.

Note that, of course, the applications used in the iXBT Notebook Benchmark v.1.0 test script are not typical for a tablet. Still, in tablet mode, processing photos in Adobe Photoshop CC or editing videos in Adobe Premier Pro CC and Adobe After Effects CC is almost impossible. And by no means because the performance of the tablet is not enough for this (there are no problems with this), but simply because it is extremely inconvenient without using a mouse and keyboard. On the other hand, using a USB hub, you can connect both a keyboard and a mouse to this tablet and turn the tablet into a kind of laptop. And then it is quite possible to use any applications on it. Actually, when testing this tablet, we just connected a keyboard and mouse to it, using a four-port USB hub for this without additional power. There were no problems with this. True, it turned out to be no longer possible to connect an external HDD-based drive with a USB interface to the same hub - there was simply not enough power for everything.

The results of testing the Surface Pro 2 laptop in the iXBT Notebook Benchmark v.1.0 are shown in the table:

So, as you can see from the test results, the integrated performance of the Microsoft Surface 2 Pro tablet with an Intel Core i5-4200U processor is identical to our reference system based on the previous generation Intel Core i5-3317U processor. There is a slight performance advantage in video conversion and digital photo processing, however, due to the slower SSD drive, there is also a slight lag in the speed of loading applications and content. So in general, the performance of the Surface tablet and the reference system is the same. In principle, for the Intel Core i5-4200U processor, this is quite a typical situation, that is, it should be so. The advantage of the Intel Core i5-4200U (Haswell) processor over the Intel Core i5-3317U (Ivy Bridge) processor is not higher performance, but lower power consumption with comparable performance.

Well, now let's look at the results of testing the Microsoft Surface 2 Pro tablet in games. Note that testing in games was carried out at a screen resolution of 1920 × 1080. The results of testing the laptop in the benchmark iXBT Game Benchmark v.1.0. presented in the table:

As can be seen from the test results, even with the game settings at the minimum quality, the Microsoft Surface 2 Pro tablet allows you to comfortably play only two games: Grid 2 and World of Tanks.

Well, with the settings for maximum quality, almost all games slow down, and some games are played only as a slide show.

The script automatically sets the screen brightness of the device to 50%, which in the case of laptops just gives an average of 100 to 150 cd / m². However, top-end tablets tend to have higher screen brightness. In particular, for Microsoft Surface Pro 2 it is 440 cd / m² - therefore, 50% gives 220 cd / m².

The test results are as follows:

In order to compare these results with the results of tablets on other platforms, we manually set the brightness to about 100 cd / m² and ran standard tablet tests, but with one caveat. Since Epic Citadel, which we use to measure 3D gaming battery life, is not available in the Windows Store, we just used a real 3D game - Asphalt 8.

As you can see, the tablet loses in this part to all competitors. And if you compare it with ultrabooks, then the victory will not be on the side of the Microsoft product (when tested using our laptop method, some ultrabooks showed results in the region of 12 hours, while the Surface Pro 2 did not reach seven).

cameras

The tablet is equipped with two video cameras - front (1.2 MP) and rear (1.2 MP). What explains the decision to use a rear camera with such a low resolution is a big mystery to us. After all, in this form, the camera is practically useless. The pictures are so bad that they are hardly suitable even for documentary photography. In particular, the tablet failed our traditional test of capturing a page of text in sunlight. The text on the picture is undecipherable. Sample photos in original resolution are shown below.

Note another oddity of the rear camera. Its lens is angled, meaning it doesn't look straight ahead, but slightly up. This can be seen in the photo below.

Apparently, this is done so that the user can take photos and videos, holding the tablet in the same way as when reading or watching a video, that is, tilting the screen away from you. However, this solution has two problems. The first problem is habit. Most tablet owners are accustomed to the fact that you need to shoot video while holding the tablet vertically. Now they have to retrain. The second problem is that it is extremely inconvenient to shoot an object located at the bottom (for example, a sheet with text), you have to turn the tablet inside out so that the screen is almost invisible.

The camera can shoot video at a resolution of 1280×720. Here is an example video (31 seconds, 36.2 MB). The quality, apparently, is so mediocre that it is impossible to take this opportunity seriously.

Thus, we sadly state that the rear camera is purely “for show”.

Operating system

The tablet runs on Windows 8.1 Pro. We will not talk about the operating system as a whole, on a site on this topic. Here we will focus on those points that are specifically related to using Windows on a tablet (again, avoiding the descriptive side that was in our previous reviews of Windows tablets).

In this case, we are dealing with a top-of-the-line tablet created by the same company that developed the operating system. That is, we can consider this in some sense a reference example of how a tablet with Windows 8.1 should look, according to Microsoft.

First of all, we recall that the Pro version, unlike the RT version, is compatible with programs for Windows 7. And this makes Windows 8.1 Pro tablets a logical choice for those users who are going to use the tablet as a working tool and at the same time have some very specific professional software. In fact, even before the advent of Windows 8, some manufacturers tried to release tablets on Windows 7, focusing them specifically on professional use.

However, from the point of view of the convenience of the interface, Windows 8 in desktop mode is, of course, far from iOS and Android. It is extremely inconvenient to get into small icons and menus with your finger (it is especially difficult for owners of large fingers). But most importantly, without a keyboard it is very difficult to do many of the usual operations. For example, how do you open a second Explorer window if one is already open? You don't have Ctrl+N. There are solutions, but it is with touch control that they are inconvenient and non-intuitive. It is from such trifles that the overall impression of the OS and its use for everyday operations is formed. Of course, we should not forget that programs for Windows 7 are also not optimized for tablet use and touch-control.

However, for typical tablet usage scenarios, a tiled interface is offered, but although it is interesting in its own way, it is also far from being convenient and intuitive.

Note that Windows is more "thoughtful" than iOS and Android (although the performance of this tablet, as can be seen from the tests, surpasses the top solutions of competitors). So, exiting sleep mode takes at least five seconds, while in iOS and Android it happens instantly. Apps also take longer to open.

One of the undoubted weaknesses of Windows tablets is games. iPad and Android tablets have long become independent and very promising gaming platforms. In the case of Windows tablets, the situation is much sadder (moreover, there are no serious successes in two years). There are only a handful of serious 3D games available in the Windows Store, which hosts tile-optimized and fully touch-enabled apps. Perhaps the most famous of them are GTA San Andreas, Asphalt 7 and 8. However, after checking the work of Asphalt 8 on Windows Surface Pro 2, we were very disappointed: the game "ate" the battery in just two hours, while the tablet was noisy and heated so that not only the back surface became hot, but also the screen. Therefore, it was simply uncomfortable to play. Although there were no performance problems and some alarming symptoms such as freezes and crashes, from which we can conclude that the game worked correctly.

Another major disappointment (already of a different plan) is Halo: Spartan Assault. The release of this game was widely announced - "hooray, a game from the famous Xbox Halo series is now on tablets!". Alas, Spartan Assault has only a formal relation to the cult gaming series. This is not a first person shooter. In Spartan Assault, we control a little man, looking at him from a very high position.

Touching the screen with the thumb of the left hand, we control its movement, touching the thumb of the right hand - we shoot and choose the direction of fire. Enemies - the same small figures. The graphics are nice, the cutscenes between missions generally look great, and there are plot intersections with Halo (the events unfold between Halo 3 and 4), but still it's not quite what we expected. Branches of popular series such as Mass Effect: Infiltrator and Assassin's Creed: Pirates are still much more interesting and honest towards fans of these series.

conclusions

Well, our detailed acquaintance with the exemplary Windows tablet according to Microsoft has come to an end. It's time to draw conclusions and determine what it is and why it is needed.

If we start from the tasks for which people usually buy a tablet (and it was Apple that formulated the modern understanding of what a tablet is), then the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 loses to the iPad Air in almost all respects. It's bulky and heavy, battery life is significantly shorter than iPad Air, the choice of decent games that can be played without additional peripherals is many times less, the price is significantly higher, and there is no version with a cellular module, the rear camera is terrible. .. Disadvantages can be listed further. There are only three pluses compared to the iPad Air: the ability to directly copy files from and to an external drive, the ability to watch videos in any format, and higher performance. The latter, however, manifests itself exclusively in benchmarks, and there are simply no real applications that really use this performance in the Windows Store.

Comparison with Android tablets Surface Pro 2 also loses, and the same Asus Transformer Pad Infnitiy 2013 allows you to copy files via USB 3.0 (if you take the version with a docking station) and plays movies in almost any format. At the same time, the price is significantly less than that of the Surface Pro 2, as is the weight (although the iPad Air is still ahead in terms of weight). And the work with the pen is perfectly implemented in the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition.

In addition, if you are buying a tablet for tasks such as games, watching movies, surfing the web, social networks, watching videos, reading books, then Android and iOS will be a much more logical choice due to the convenience of the interface of the OS itself and the huge number of applications. And do not buy into the seeming familiarity of Windows: being alone with the touch interface, you will realize that you have to re-learn how to use this operating system.

However, there is another scenario for using a tablet on Windows: as a replacement for a desktop PC. We connect a USB hub with external power to the tablet, to it - a mouse and keyboard, an external hard drive and all the necessary peripherals (printer, external DVD drive, etc.). We buy a Mini-DisplayPort-DVI (or HDMI) adapter and connect the monitor to the tablet. Now we have, in fact, a full-fledged PC, the main disadvantages of which are the high cost, the inability to connect discrete graphics and the limited amount of internal memory (64 GB and even 128 GB is very little).

In addition, in this case, it is necessary to make one more comparison: with the younger models of the Apple MacBook Air. For the same price, you get roughly the same hardware configuration, the same expansion ports (USB 3.0, memory card slot, connector for connecting an external screen), a slightly worse screen and no touch capabilities, but a full-sized, very comfortable keyboard, a great trackpad and great design. And all this weighs not much more. Yes, and Windows 8.1 can also be put there.

It turns out that the only application for which the acquisition of Microsoft Surface Pro 2 would be appropriate is working with professional Windows programs that require the use of a pen or input information on weight.