Surface 3 Announced
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While I agree for using on your lap that the whole kick stand makes it impossible and you need a lapdesk to use it. For walking around being able to take notes etc. very easily in OneNote, either via the attached keyboard which you can't if walking, or handwriting or on screen keyboard. That option has been great while on client sites. Love the fine point "pen".
It is a snazzy portable "tablet/laptop" hybrid. I rarely use the stupid metro page for anything desktop or tablet. No point in it.
To call it a tablet is very deceiving though but it's not a laptop either can't convince me of it.
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I remove almost all "metro" apps when I setup W8 for my clients. Some never see the start screen when I check that box and pin 99% of their daily apps/programs to the task bar. 99% of W8 concerns disappear.
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I use a Asus TF101 on my lap using the dock. Does the Surface have to use the "kickstand"?
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@technobabble said:
I remove almost all "metro" apps when I setup W8 for my clients. Some never see the start screen when I check that box and pin 99% of their daily apps/programs to the task bar. 99% of W8 concerns disappear.
"I got 99 problems but Metro ain't one."
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Crap now I can't edit my post...@Carnival-Boy what are your 99 problems related to W8 or the Surface?
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@technobabble said:
I use a Asus TF101 on my lap using the dock. Does the Surface have to use the "kickstand"?
Have to? Of course not. I haven't see the docking station for it yet, but I'm guessing that it's a desktop docking unit.. not meant to be portable.
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@technobabble said:
Crap now I can't edit my post...@Carnival-Boy what are your 99 problems related to W8 or the Surface?
Nothing. It was my feeble attempt at a Jay-Z related joke. Sorry
I do have problems trying to use my Win 8 Ultrabook without a mouse, using the touchpad. If I'm not careful with my finger it will do things I don't want it to (like zoom in the screen).
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@Carnival-Boy Oh, got it. I haven't used a touchpad yet, just mouse and screen.
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@Dashrender Asus calls their keyboard a keyboard dock. So what I really meant to say was when using the surface with a keyboard, you still have to use the kickstand?
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Touch pads is one place where people complain. To easy to bring up the charms bar (does anyone even use that now with 8.1 or especially since Update 1)?
I've managed to disable the charms bar in the mouse driver for the touchpad and made most people happy.
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@technobabble said:
@Dashrender Asus calls their keyboard a keyboard dock. So what I really meant to say was when using the surface with a keyboard, you still have to use the kickstand?
The keyboard you can buy for the Surface does not include a hinge like the Asus does, so no, if you're using the keyboard you have to use the dock, otherwise the unit will be laying flat on the table.
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@Dashrender how did you disable it?
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While I appreciate the Asus style keyboard/hinge, it kind of defeats the purpose of a table to be thin and light weight.
The keyboards available for the Surface are super thin (no extra battery in there) and light (again no extra battery), also, they can be folded to the back of the unit when you want to use it as a tablet instead of a laptop instead of having to remove it (and maybe lose it) like you do with the Asus.
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@Dashrender got it...no hinge...that is weird to me!
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@Dashrender said:
Touch pads is one place where people complain. To easy to bring up the charms bar (does anyone even use that now with 8.1 or especially since Update 1)?
I've managed to disable the charms bar in the mouse driver for the touchpad and made most people happy.
The above statement.
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Look in the driver for your touch pad. There are check boxes for different swipe functions assuming the manufacture put them in.
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@technobabble said:
@Dashrender got it...no hinge...that is weird to me!
This lack of a hinge is what kills the 'lapability' (I first heard this term from Paul Thurrott). Since you have to use the kickstand in laptop mode, you need a longer lap to support the kickstand..
If you're a desk/table/surface other than lap user.. you'll get along OK with this, actually in some respects, better. Paul pointed out in a review that because of the kickstand, the device does not vibrate the top of the screen like a laptop does if your in train or plane, but outside of this situation it really doesn't matter.
To me, the biggest advantage of the kickstand is that you don't need a cover to provide the same function, and assuming you buy the keyboard for it ($129+) you're device has a little bit of coverage from bumps, etc.
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Do people use their laptops much on their laps then? I use mine on my lap for watching videos and stuff, where I wouldn't use a Surface keyboard anyway (normally when I'm slouching on the sofa or on the bed) , but for serious typing work I always find a table to put it on. Apart from anything, my old laptops used to get too hot to be comfortable with long periods of lapwork.
Lapabilitiness is not an issue for me.
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I'd say 90% of my computer time at home is with my laptop on my lap. I did end up getting a lapdesk though because of the aforementioned heat problem.
Paul's take on the lapability is that of a journalist. I can definitely see those guys needing to be able to work from their laps often. But, the average Joe Schmoe or office worker or even IT pro, it's probably not a real issue. It's not like an IT pro is going to go to a meeting and keep the device on their lap.. they're going to put it on the table.
