The Microsoft Surface Pro 2 is a Windows 8 tablet and it succeeds the Surface Pro that was released in 2013. The gadget, produced by Microsoft, has a design similar to its predecessor and has overcome many of the drawbacks present in the original one. The previous model had a short battery life and was heavy. The Surface Pro 2 was introduced in less than a year after the previous version was released.
The Good about Microsoft Surface Pro 2
It has a great display, improved battery and fast performance. It is more comfortable to use and is very attractive. The hardware is well-built too.
The Bad about Microsoft Surface Pro2
The typing features haven’t improved and it is still heavy as a standalone tablet. Plus, the 64GB storage is too less.
The Bottom-Line:
The Surface Pro 2 has an improved battery life and a current-gen Haswell processor, but it still doesn’t match the best tabs like the iPad.
The new Surface Pro 2 hasn’t made much advancement as a standalone tablet and is more like a laptop replacement. The kickstand features two positions and provides you with the perfect angles to work with the Surface on your lap or the desk. When it pops back into place, it produces a soft click. The dimensions are exactly the same as the previous one. It has a larger touchpad and a more beautiful keyboard layout. The magnetic connectors on the bottom edge can catch hold of the keyboard covers instantly. The Surface Pro 2 uses a new Intel fourth-generation core i5 processor and can last for around 7 hours after being charged.
The Surface Pro 2 was designed to overcome the shortcomings of the previous model, so it was made to rest more comfortably on one’s lap. It isn’t as comfortable as the Sony Vaio Tap 11’s kickstand, but the progress is worth mentioning.
The notch on only one side of the tablet makes it difficult to open it though. It would be better if there was a notch on both ends.
Design and features of Microsoft Surface Pro 2
The dimensions of the Surface Pro 2 are similar to the previous model. Its predecessor had the ‘Microsoft’ logo on the back panel, but this design has the ‘Surface’ logo instead. The kickstand is adjustable to two angles and makes it easier for you to see from different positions. The body is slightly slimmer and has a fully separate keyboard. The typing experience is splendid and the magnetic connection is powerful enough. The touchpad is responsive but small. The Touch and Type Cover 2 are backlit. The Surface Pro 2 has two batteries; one is the internal battery and the other is the secondary keyboard battery.
The Surface Pro 2 has a 10.6-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. It has an optically bonded ClearType Gull HD display. It also has a light sensor that adjusts the screen brightness automatically.
Lots of other accessories are available too like typing covers, Surface Pen, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Touch isn’t the only option to give input to the gadget; you can use the unique keyboard that doubles as a protective cover. The keyboard is available in many colors. With the Surface Pen, you can take notes, mark documents and make drawings. You can connect to a wireless network using Bluetooth 4.0.
There are two cameras and a microphone. The cameras record video in 720 pixels. You can also charge your Surface while you’re out or stuck in traffic. The USB accessory plugs into most vehicle power ports. The gadget can be changed from tablet to desktop in an instant. You can connect the tab to any of your favorite accessories like an external monitor, speakers or printers.
Connections, performance and battery
The Surface Pro 2 is fast and smooth. Its battery life is 6 hours and 27 minutes, which means it can last around 7 hours after being fully charged. It has the best graphics as compared to others that have the same specifications. Microsoft has improved the GPU performance by a lot. The Surface Pro 2 is even faster than the Sony Vaio Tap 11, which uses a low power Core i5 Y-series chip.
The Windows 8.1 runs beautifully and enables you to multitask even when you’re using a program and an app on the Windows desktop. There’s no limit to how many apps you can use at a time.
In addition to the internal storage, there are some external storage options too. The Surface Pro 2 comes with a lot of built-in snappy apps. You can check out these apps from the tiles on your start screen. The Pro 2 has four sensors that can be used by different apps. These sensors are a compass, light sensor, gyroscope, and an accelerometer. The tablet is designed to work between 0 and 35 degree Celsius, so take care and avoid keeping it in sun or a hot car. You can recharge the battery anytime and it isn’t necessary that you wait for the battery to become empty. If the battery gets defective during the warranty period, you can contact the company.
This Surface Pro model uses an internal lithium-ion battery. The battery status appears on the lock screen and the lower left corner of the home screen. The battery status also appears on the lower-right on the desktop taskbar. You can tap the battery icon to know more about its status and charging, including the percentage of charge remaining. It takes around 2-4 hours to charge the battery fully. If you aren’t using the tablet for a while, the Surface may go into a power-saving state to save battery.
Conclusion
The Microsoft Surface Pro 2 compromised as both a tablet and laptop and has overcome a lot of shortcomings of the previous version. The improved battery life has helped a lot, the two keyboards make it very easy to use it in your lap, and it gives you a new angle on the kickstand. The Surface Pro 2, however, relies on its accessories but still maintains a big position in the market.
