Just got a Surface Pro 4. What can I do with it?
Discussion
After using MACs for ten years I've come to this. Got the deal from hotdeals - quidco cashback and money off at the Microsoft site plus a £50 voucher.
Its a beautiful device, if I didn't know better I'd think it was apple from the future. I feel really rusty using it for some reason.
My trouble so far is it seems so restrictive. For instance:
- how do you draw straight lines on one note? For highlighting etc.
- Is there some way to use touchpad gestures to swipe between desktops rather then swipe up and tap?
- Is there some way to use a touchpad gesture to swipe back on websites instead of tapping on the arrow?
- Is there some way to make it wake up the same way it went to sleep?
- I detach the keyboard, re-attach and still it won't recognise it for the purpose of logging in.
- If it goes to sleep in tablet mode, it stays in tablet mode when it wakes up. I've got it on automatic switching to no avail.
I've had to restart several times already but now updated it seems quite stable. Keyboard and touchpad is really nice to use.
Its a beautiful device, if I didn't know better I'd think it was apple from the future. I feel really rusty using it for some reason.
My trouble so far is it seems so restrictive. For instance:
- how do you draw straight lines on one note? For highlighting etc.
- Is there some way to use touchpad gestures to swipe between desktops rather then swipe up and tap?
- Is there some way to use a touchpad gesture to swipe back on websites instead of tapping on the arrow?
- Is there some way to make it wake up the same way it went to sleep?
- I detach the keyboard, re-attach and still it won't recognise it for the purpose of logging in.
- If it goes to sleep in tablet mode, it stays in tablet mode when it wakes up. I've got it on automatic switching to no avail.
I've had to restart several times already but now updated it seems quite stable. Keyboard and touchpad is really nice to use.
Richyboy said:
My trouble so far is it seems so restrictive. For instance:
- how do you draw straight lines on one note? For highlighting etc.
- Is there some way to use touchpad gestures to swipe between desktops rather then swipe up and tap?
Not needed this so can't help.- how do you draw straight lines on one note? For highlighting etc.
- Is there some way to use touchpad gestures to swipe between desktops rather then swipe up and tap?
Richyboy said:
- Is there some way to use a touchpad gesture to swipe back on websites instead of tapping on the arrow?
- Is there some way to make it wake up the same way it went to sleep?
I know on Chrome you can swipe left to right on the screen to go back.- Is there some way to make it wake up the same way it went to sleep?
In the power settings you can set the power button to hibernate rather than shutdown which will get you back to the same place as you left off.
Richyboy said:
- I detach the keyboard, re-attach and still it won't recognise it for the purpose of logging in.
- If it goes to sleep in tablet mode, it stays in tablet mode when it wakes up. I've got it on automatic switching to no avail.
I've had to restart several times already but now updated it seems quite stable. Keyboard and touchpad is really nice to use.
Not had the keyboard issue or the tablet mode so can't help.- If it goes to sleep in tablet mode, it stays in tablet mode when it wakes up. I've got it on automatic switching to no avail.
I've had to restart several times already but now updated it seems quite stable. Keyboard and touchpad is really nice to use.
Send it back, nothing but trouble. A couple of colleagues have them and the feedback isn't good, regularly blue screens, doesn't autosave documents when supposed to so you lose a lot more work than expected when it does blue screen.
These are fully updated devices but the updates haven't fixed the problems, I recal a lot of the problems are down to problems in the actual processor chip.
These are fully updated devices but the updates haven't fixed the problems, I recal a lot of the problems are down to problems in the actual processor chip.
Richyboy said:
- how do you draw straight lines on one note? For highlighting etc.
https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Build/2016/KEY0120 mins in showing some of the new inking features coming in Windows 10 anniversary update (July 2016)
22 mins shows the new ruler
26 mins shows the ruler integration with office
Richyboy said:
- Is there some way to use touchpad gestures to swipe between desktops rather then swipe up and tap?
not that I've found - if you type "touchpad" in the search box on the toolbar (next to the start menu button), then select "mouse & touchpad settings" from the resulting search, you can browse the options, but they're relatively limitedyou can use the keyboard : ctrl - windows key - left/right arrow to switch desktops.
Richyboy said:
- Is there some way to use a touchpad gesture to swipe back on websites instead of tapping on the arrow?
you can swipe on the screen if you use chrome, and I believe that swiping to navigate is coming to Edge soon (probably the July update)Using libreoffice. Display driver stopped responding and had to be restarted, just lost the letter I was typing lol. Got a spinning wheel. Do you wait for it to stop spinning or turn off and on again? Takes me back to the old days before mac 
Still love this surface, beautiful machine to use. Wheel still spinning lol.
Anyone know what extra stuff you get with one note if you opt for the 365 subscription?
Wheel still spinning in a clear box with no option to close it. I liken this computer to an old Italian car, a pleasure to drive and look at but temperamental internals.
Still love this surface, beautiful machine to use. Wheel still spinning lol.Anyone know what extra stuff you get with one note if you opt for the 365 subscription?
Wheel still spinning in a clear box with no option to close it. I liken this computer to an old Italian car, a pleasure to drive and look at but temperamental internals.
gottans said:
Wonder how long the love for the shiny box will last?
Yeah your right. I tried to ignore your previous post lol. Its slowly starting to annoy me 
The fan just came on and it wasn't updating, I was just browsing the net. The WIFI drops connection if I move it from my desk. The two finger scrolling is annoying. Clicking/tapping on things with no effect. Would've liked a fully functional one note that can record etc.
I've got a Win 10 tablet. Bought it out of curiosity to see how Windows 10 touch / tablet experience compares to an old iPad and Android.
It's getting upgraded to dual boot (Win 10 \ Android) installed on it and probably sold.
Compared to the iPad and Android, the Win 10 tablet mode UI is ill conceived, unintuitive to use, difficult to use, and as the apps generally follow the OS UI, they're the same.
Considering how few Win 10 phones have been sold I do wish MS would concentrate on what they're good at, desktop OSs and development tools for their OSs, and just forget phones and tablets, or go back to separate OSs for desktops, phones and tablets. Apple manage perfectly well by having different versions of their OSs, iOS and OSX, the apps are good on each and they're coining it in.
It's getting upgraded to dual boot (Win 10 \ Android) installed on it and probably sold.
Compared to the iPad and Android, the Win 10 tablet mode UI is ill conceived, unintuitive to use, difficult to use, and as the apps generally follow the OS UI, they're the same.
Considering how few Win 10 phones have been sold I do wish MS would concentrate on what they're good at, desktop OSs and development tools for their OSs, and just forget phones and tablets, or go back to separate OSs for desktops, phones and tablets. Apple manage perfectly well by having different versions of their OSs, iOS and OSX, the apps are good on each and they're coining it in.
fwaggie said:
I've got a Win 10 tablet. Bought it out of curiosity to see how Windows 10 touch / tablet experience compares to an old iPad and Android.
It's getting upgraded to dual boot (Win 10 \ Android) installed on it and probably sold.
Compared to the iPad and Android, the Win 10 tablet mode UI is ill conceived, unintuitive to use, difficult to use, and as the apps generally follow the OS UI, they're the same.
Considering how few Win 10 phones have been sold I do wish MS would concentrate on what they're good at, desktop OSs and development tools for their OSs, and just forget phones and tablets, or go back to separate OSs for desktops, phones and tablets. Apple manage perfectly well by having different versions of their OSs, iOS and OSX, the apps are good on each and they're coining it in.
So if we're comparing the Surfaces to iPads/android tablets, It's getting upgraded to dual boot (Win 10 \ Android) installed on it and probably sold.
Compared to the iPad and Android, the Win 10 tablet mode UI is ill conceived, unintuitive to use, difficult to use, and as the apps generally follow the OS UI, they're the same.
Considering how few Win 10 phones have been sold I do wish MS would concentrate on what they're good at, desktop OSs and development tools for their OSs, and just forget phones and tablets, or go back to separate OSs for desktops, phones and tablets. Apple manage perfectly well by having different versions of their OSs, iOS and OSX, the apps are good on each and they're coining it in.
can your tablet run visual studio (or x-code) to develop tablet apps?
can your tablet run full version of office?
can your tablet run 3d studio? AutoCAD? full PC games?
Can your tablet run all of the millions of productivity based applications written in the last decade?
Of course not - that's because the surface pro is not solely a tablet, it's a PC in a tablet form factor. The UI cannot be solely touch based (think how PhotoShop or visual studio would look as touch based apps)
I've used my SP3 as my only computer (save my gaming machine at home) and never felt the need to reach for a traditional tablet yet? In fact whenever I borrow my daughters iPad to browse for something, usually because my SP3 is out of reach, it only takes me about 10 seconds before I hand it back and get off my arse and get the surface.
I find the iPad, what's the word? unintuitive.
Many tech writers have tried to use iPad (and iPad Pros) as their sole devices, and all but the most trivial users have failed, which means you need another computing device to buy, lug around and transfer files between.
Surface for me any day of the week.
I bought a SP3 last year as a xmas pressie to myself. I mainly use it as a tablet but it can do anything that a decent PC can do as well.
I love it, never had any issues other than maybe once where it got it's knickers in a twist whilst doing an update, I had to do a hold key re-boot to clear it, but it worked out after 30 minutes of me dicking around.
I have read a few posts about the SP4 having some issues so maybe it's not yet fully developed, but the SP3s seem to be unbustable.
I love it, never had any issues other than maybe once where it got it's knickers in a twist whilst doing an update, I had to do a hold key re-boot to clear it, but it worked out after 30 minutes of me dicking around.
I have read a few posts about the SP4 having some issues so maybe it's not yet fully developed, but the SP3s seem to be unbustable.
Don't get me wrong, it is a nice looking device and scores points in a lot of ways but reliability is not one of them.
My colleague next to me spends so much time swearing at it because it just crashed or did something stupid. You can't help thinking it was a premature ectopic pregnancy that microsoft had and created a b
d child. A child that will make your life unhappy no matter what you do with it.
My colleague next to me spends so much time swearing at it because it just crashed or did something stupid. You can't help thinking it was a premature ectopic pregnancy that microsoft had and created a b
d child. A child that will make your life unhappy no matter what you do with it.I had one for work, it's good for what it is, but I'd much rather have had a proper tablet for mobile stuff and a proper laptop/desktop for proper work.
If your circumstances mean that you really need full computing on the go and can't do that with a laptop or ultrabook, then I can see the appeal, but I think that's going to be very few people.
If your circumstances mean that you really need full computing on the go and can't do that with a laptop or ultrabook, then I can see the appeal, but I think that's going to be very few people.
Bit of a thread resurrection but there's a deal on the Surface Pro 4 i5 256gb 8gb model incorporating a new Xbox bundle for £970.
Seems like a good deal and I have someone who wants the Xbox off me for £200 making the Surface £770 which seems even better.
It'll be my only machine, recently sold a 2010 iMac and have nothing yet to replace. I'm going to use it as a general consumer device but with some fairly moderate music recording tools. I like the tablet idea, want the portable design as I use it at home and at work and want a tablet that can do stuff rather than just browse and email. This looks like a great bit of kit but have earlier bugs been ironed out? Are they robust enough?
Seems like a good deal and I have someone who wants the Xbox off me for £200 making the Surface £770 which seems even better.
It'll be my only machine, recently sold a 2010 iMac and have nothing yet to replace. I'm going to use it as a general consumer device but with some fairly moderate music recording tools. I like the tablet idea, want the portable design as I use it at home and at work and want a tablet that can do stuff rather than just browse and email. This looks like a great bit of kit but have earlier bugs been ironed out? Are they robust enough?
I've still got this netbook (i5 8GB but runs like a netbook) and don't know how I've managed to keep from throwing it through a window. Even as a netbook with hardly anything installed, I can't open too many tabs in edge otherwise it gets buggy. Little things like scrolling bugs and tablet issues make me stop using it.
Truthfully its a beautiful device, windows 10 ruins it. I hate saying this because I'm probably stuck with windows since apple has priced me out of the market I'm going to persevere with it.
Truthfully its a beautiful device, windows 10 ruins it. I hate saying this because I'm probably stuck with windows since apple has priced me out of the market
I'm going to persevere with it. Chicken Chaser said:
Bit of a thread resurrection but there's a deal on the Surface Pro 4 i5 256gb 8gb model incorporating a new Xbox bundle for £970.
Seems like a good deal and I have someone who wants the Xbox off me for £200 making the Surface £770 which seems even better.
It'll be my only machine, recently sold a 2010 iMac and have nothing yet to replace. I'm going to use it as a general consumer device but with some fairly moderate music recording tools. I like the tablet idea, want the portable design as I use it at home and at work and want a tablet that can do stuff rather than just browse and email. This looks like a great bit of kit but have earlier bugs been ironed out? Are they robust enough?
Mine's been flawless so far: Works great with Office 365 / Xbox etc. One thing to be aware of: it IS a tablet. NOT a laptop. It can emulate a laptop when places on a flat surface very well but don't expect to use it in laptop "mode" on your lap. The keyboard/stand combination doesn't work for that.Seems like a good deal and I have someone who wants the Xbox off me for £200 making the Surface £770 which seems even better.
It'll be my only machine, recently sold a 2010 iMac and have nothing yet to replace. I'm going to use it as a general consumer device but with some fairly moderate music recording tools. I like the tablet idea, want the portable design as I use it at home and at work and want a tablet that can do stuff rather than just browse and email. This looks like a great bit of kit but have earlier bugs been ironed out? Are they robust enough?
I require a Windows and a Mac so the combination of MacBook Pro and Surface Pro 4 is great for me. The Surface also plays reasonably nicely with iCloud so your calendars and mail can remain in sync across the heterogeneous platform.
I'm still getting to grips with the Pen so can't comment on that: I got an "Arc" mouse for when I am using it in laptop mode.
Also: the screen, despite being extraordinarily high resolution, is also quite small. At work you'll want to use an external monitor. I'm looking into the dock/monitors at the moment. The dock is notoriously unreliable, btw. A friend of mine has now had three. Buy from John Lewis for a long warranty...
Richyboy said:
Going to send it back and buy one in a year when issues are resolved. Its a great computer, I just don't have time for faffing about.
This, sadly, is where Apple have got consumers by the balls. I'm not an Apple evangelist by any means, and I had issues upgrading to macOS Sierra recently, but for the most part I don't have to think about how to use it, I just do. It's just a crying shame that Apple don't care for their Mac line anymore.
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