@Dashrender said:
Does that slide show thing work with Windows 8.1 and Xbox One?
I could always Miracast to the XBOX One as it works pretty good...it is a good alternative for sure...I'll try it this LONG weekend! I will miss Windows Media Center...I am getting settled in with Plex...it isn't perfect but does a good job.
Quick Day 2 Update:
Takes about 3+ hours to charge from 10% left.
Hasn't crashed nor have I encountered any significant problems.
Also, this may be my Windows 10 Technical Preview test device...just concerned about drivers if I do that...
@scottalanmiller said:
I still have the Amiga 1000 along with a Commodore 64 and VIC=20.
I get my fix for all of those via Amiga Forever and C-64 Forever...they actually work quite well and when I had time some years back, you can really set up a custom "VM" if you will...
@MattSpeller said:
I really really hope they get it right this time and don't have another vista.
I think the biggest thing is the Metro/Modern apps...they look and function much better in Windows 10 but people may still not like them, as well as the Live Tiles on the start menu. Me, I like how Windows 10 has taken the best parts of Windows 8.1 and brought them into a more familiar (Windows 7) setting.
@IRJ said:
Here is a link for anyone interested in reading about it
http://blogs.windows.com/bloggingwindows/2014/09/30/announcing-windows-10/
Thanks...downloading the Technical Preview...going to virtualize it for now...
@tonyshowoff said:
Bread and Milk, is that a tradition or something? Sounds more like a Lenin poster
In the south, the store shelves empty of bread and milk at the mention of any accumulating ice/snow...
Received my Surface Pro 3 Friday. I've owned (and sold or passed down) Surface Pro and Pro 2 but that said, I will be objective to my initial thoughts and experiences:
Screen is amazing. It for sure is not being overhyped. It is very clear, bright and jumps out at you.
It is light compared to the other Pro's. Quite noticeable.
The 3:2 ratio does make it much more usable in portrait mode, though it still feels a little long and slightly awkward. It for sure is much easier to screen type in this mode.
Kickstand is fantastic. So nice to use it in many angles.
Desktop Games play well though do I dare say a few were choppier than Surface Pro 2. Time will tell there. It does get just as hot as the other Surface Pro's when playing desktop games and the innovative fan and cooling system kicks in and you can hear it. I fired up Gone Home, Skyrim, Tex Murphy Tesla Effect and a plethora of old classic GOG games and some emulators (Amiga Forever) and all ran fine. The graphic intensive games do need low settings to be playable. Age of Empires II HD ran at full resolution with no problems but again, makes system run hot. Desktop games will suck the battery 3x as fast...not sure if that is normal even on a gaming laptop.
Apps. Yes...sometimes it IS about the apps. There simply needs to be more and useful "Modern' apps. This is a whole other subject but it still needs killer apps despite making some headway.
Pen - Pen works well. I love the OneNote button (and I defaulted mine to the desktop OneNote so I could do Ink to Text on the spot.) Maybe it is me but doesn't seem as good as the pen on the Surface Pro or SP2. Again, time will tell there.
Keyboard. Still has the feel of the last touch cover, the backlighting is nice and I love the option to press it against the SP3 and make it sturdier for laps. It does feel quite sturdy though still not as stable as a laptop. The touchpad is SO MUCH BETTER. Actually useable now.
Other Notes - I loaded the desktop app Sony Movie Studio Platinum and it says it was "touch ready" and I have to say they are absolutely right. Finally, a touch friendly video editor that has power to it. Was very surprised by this, even if Adobe Premiere elements is my favorite video editor.
Does it replace a laptop? Count me in the group that says "I am not sure." Though I liked the 8" size of the Dell Venue Pro and I think that may be a sweet spot for tablets, I think this will be my device of choice, I love the screen and the scaled desktop works well and I've not encountered any problems with legacy apps. I am going to test some intensive video rendering soon and will see if it can, pardon the pun, handle the heat. If desktop games made it pretty hot, I can imagine video rendering would be just as harsh.
I am confident I'll be using this as my main machine for quite some time.
@Dominica said:
It's definitely a nice size, just wondering about the usefulness of something that size to work from. Our iPads are mostly for the kids, and Apple has the best kids apps, as far as we've seen, so it's not a direct competitor to replace our iPad 1st gen, for instance, which I feel is on its last legs due to constant kid abuse.
Usefulness - Let's just say if you are "all in" with Microsoft Products and Ecosystems, this is a great second tablet for reading, quick work and more. I got my little girl a Dell Venue 8 Pro for having basically all A's (all 3's in Common Core now) after Kindergarten to be a primary fun/educational device. Didn't last a day until we went back with Kindle Fire HDX and the Excellent Free Time parental settings, which is top in the industry. I say all of that to say this...if you have iPads, stick with them. There is just not enough "touch" kids apps out there.
I actually prefer the Windows Tablet experience to an iPad.
Work - Desktop apps will be a chore, especially with storage. I installed Visual Studio for kicks to a mount point to the MicroSD but it still put at least 6-7 GB of data on the C-Drive.
I will still hold out judgement until I get as few week or so with it...it is great for the price if the Microsoft Environment is what you need...but if you have iPads, keep 'em... 
Not sure how close many of you may be to Central Arkansas, but I am acting and directing in a production of SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN the first two weekends in March...got a stellar cast...
I finally got around to seeing Interstellar last night and I was left kind of cold...I really wanted to like the film and went into it expecting something along the lines of Contact...
(MINOR SPOILERS) I had problems with the film...I think it was ambitious but suffered execution wise...there were many moments where I was lost as to what was going on...and the whole cut between the bizarre fight with Matt Damon and the burning of the fields was perplexing...I kept waiting for some kind of payoff and I didn't get it...I would have liked more background and character building for sure. I wasn't expecting things like those robots (which were cool but seemed oddly out of place) and I think more of an establishment of the time this story took place would have helped. And I wasn't emotionally invested in the characters...with the exception of Murph. Being a father, I did like the father/daughter thing and the fact that love could be stronger than time and relativity.
We have the Kindle HDX for our 7 year old...it has the Kindle FreeTime case on it and it is excellent protection. We use the FreeTime app too to control the content and time limits...this is a parental choice of ours but we cancelled the FreeTime unlimited because really, just too much choices for her and she would often not finish something and then go to the next app/movie and not finish it...
Bottom line, the KindleFree time app is the best parental control of any tablet...
It is a fun show...a lot of old gospel music that is played live, on-stage by the actors...don't have to be a fan of the music to have a good time...just a funny, honest show about simple times in the late 30s...with scandal at the end of Act I...dancing in the church and the "S-Word"...LOL
@Dashrender said:
i need to avoid this thread until I see it.
Yes...for sure...and would be interested in your throughts...I am with @tonyshowoff ...I often do like hard Sci-Fi...and I do like the science in this film...but just felt like it wasn't executed well...
Side note...it took me most of my life to finally appreciate Blade Runner...and though it takes an effort, I kind of like Dune (movie)...
Free voucher for Exam 70-346: Managing Office 365 Identities and Requirements for anyone interested. Doesn't look like there are any books for it but this blog looks helpful:
Listening to RUSH in preparation to see them open their tour in Tulsa in May...
Any suggestions on a good website or documentation to help me get started with Remote Desktop Services? Basically, I have an app that is installed on a single PC here but the person who uses it the most bounces from workstation to workstation often and can't always use that one PC. I want to move the app to RDS so she can access it anywhere. I have proper licenses for this.
Thanks...
@scottalanmiller said:
Does that mean that they are all pro but don't say it? Or that they are all consumer?
Basically, this is the original "Surface" but with x86 and not ARM...goodbye Windows RT...
@Minion-Queen said:
Wow, well at least this audit will help you get things cleaned up!
For real! And I am actually finding some useful stuff...hoping I do come across this needed info...
@scottalanmiller said:
The Atom is pretty impressive for what it is. But I agree, going from a new i7 to an Atom is quite a drop.
I've got the Surface Pro 3 Core i7 and when needed, I go down to my Dell Venue 8 Pro...I can for sure tell a difference but it is still quite workable...
I just found this one...it is Microsoft centric...hoping it will help: 800-755-EXAM
