My review of the Surface tablet from Microsoft
After seeing quite a few people in my office using their own surface tablet, telling me how cool it is!
Some with keyboards and others without, I decided to buy one and check it out. It’s a bit pricey, as many other brands of tablets. Ok, it arrived yesterday, out of the box: the tablet has a very good look and doesn’t seem cheap (unlike these old Asia manufactured android tablets!).
It runs a Windows 8 apparently and it’s quite smooth and fast with a very sensitive touch screen. The keyboard itself is less sensitive, as it’s not actually made of keys like a regular keyboards, it makes it hard to type fast with. It is fitted with:
– Office
– Internet Explorer 10 fitted with Bing for search
– A few other goodies
Now, with the problems:
At some point I tried to download putty (SSH client), and Windows told me that it couldn’t be executed because it doesn’t come from the App Store. That’s again the first annoying thing about Microsoft. They should tell you it’s a problem of compatibility or something like this. No! They tell you because it’s not on their filtered app store, you cannot get it. It’s obvious that .exe file should run on it…
Fair enough. I go on the app store, and find 3 pricey SSH clients (around 2 British pound each). Of course Putty is free… But it cannot be run because it’s not from the App store… I hardly create a “Microsoft” account because of the captcha implemented by Microsoft. It also tries to hijack my Google apps mail emails…
Something good about the store however, it asks me if I want to set in up my Paypal account. This seemed at the time quite handy to buy quickly and securely. All set up, ready to spend 3 pounds! Click on “Confirm payment” – And Now.. big, and annoying problem.
First attempt: Payment cannot be processed at this time, try again.
Second attempt: Payment cannot be processed at this time, try again.
Third attempt: Payment cannot be processed at this time, try again.
And so on… Not frustrating at all right ? Even free stuff couldn’t be processed!
Tried to switch from PayPal to credit card, switch back. Look on the internet, etc. (empty the cache, check date/time settings, and so on…)
All I had actually to do to fix that payment issue was to restart the damn Tablet, which updated itself for 15 minutes. And then finally I could buy the damn app. Really, it got me upset.
Note that no other browser available (Android gives you choice…) on the app store. So you need to live internet explorer.
Then: Last straw.. I tried to go on my favourite flash games website. Flash is not supported by internet explorer! Or at least, this is what they want you to believe. After a fast look on Google (and not Bing) – there is an hidden white list of sites that can use flash. With a few manipulations, it is possible to get flash working.
But again – Why Microsoft, Why ? It’s just bad publicity.
Now – I have given (like many other tablets I don’t like) the toy to my son – hope he can play with it.
Because here, for me, I really thought that maybe just for once Microsoft did something good – a real replacement for the laptop (a tablet, with a fitted keyboard) – but sadly, all the restrictions and the bad will imposed by Microsoft just drove me away. I will stick to the Nexus 7 and continue to type by voice, and the IPAD for games.
I keep hearing about the surface Pro. I will try that one when it’s out – But I do not have huge hopes.
As of this moment I wouldn’t recommend to buy a Microsoft Surface tablet, instead by a Nexus or an Ipad!