Just got a Surface Pro 4. What can I do with it?

[BrabusMog]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I got one to test for our field guys last week and gave it back yesterday, cannot stand it. Too heavy to be a tablet and too flimsy to be a laptop in my opinion, back to iPad Air and Macbook Air for me.

[HappyMidget]

Mammasaid said:

Don said:

OK. I use my i7/16GB/512GB Surface Pro 4 as a PC and cane the crap out of it with SQL Server and Visual Studio. Doing that I can get battery life down to a couple of hours. Runs hot, too.

Or I can use it for the stuff other people do and have it last loads longer. I doubt you'd get that 9 hours of video they claim, though...

Similarly, I'm running a SP3 i7/8GB/512GB with VS/MS SQL Server Management Studio/Test Manager and tons of chrome tabs simultaneously, and and it seems to handle everything thrown at it.

And then I take it home, remove the keyboard and surf Pistonheads all evening with some Sky Go thrown in (other catch up services may be available)

Other than an occasional fan noise when running flat out, it's great for my needs.

P.S. get the SP4 dock, it's perfact for when you need to plug anything in!

https://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msuk/en_GB/pd...

Yup same here. VS, SQL, SSIS, SSAS, SSRS connected to two external monitors using the dock at work then unplug it to take it home and cast some video to the TV whilst browsing the net. Windows hello is great for logging in as well.

[Frik]

I think OneNote is brilliant and is one of the reasons I went for the purchase. The installed version is a bit limited though.

This link explains what can be done to resolve this.

[frankenstein12]

grumbledoak said:

Surface Pro 4:


Removable screen, high spec, shiny thing. But that won't save it as a tablet - Win10 needs a mouse.

And? So get a mouse and connect it and use a mouse either bluetooth or usb.

[frankenstein12]

BrabusMog said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I got one to test for our field guys last week and gave it back yesterday, cannot stand it. Too heavy to be a tablet and too flimsy to be a laptop in my opinion, back to iPad Air and Macbook Air for me.

Some people get it some people dont. Me I dont get apple. Way too convulated in how to do even the simplest of tasks. Windows is simply logical and works well.

I recently picked up a 2520 nokia running win 8.1 with the power keyboard which doubles the battery life. With the keyboard attached its pretty heavy but the idea of the keyboard is to have it on a hard surface anyway so the weight is irrelevant.

Remove it from its keyboard and second battery and it weighs a lot less. Does everything I need it to so far. Also very handy is that I have a sim card in it meaning when out and about I dont have to find Wifi or use my mobile as a hotspot.

[frankenstein12]

Microsoft are definitely heading in the right direction. This week they launched their new Microsoft Surface studio which is stunning.

They also have their new ish 950 windows phones which are apparently liquid cooled and can be used as a pc or phone via their dock.

Rumour is they will be bringing out a surface mobile phone which will be able to be used as a phone or full computer on the go.

I personally think that is a great idea. All you have on your desk is a dock with screen mouse and keyboard plugged in. Come into work put phone on or plug phone into dock and it automatically changes to PC mode and you can get on with work.

[Mammasaid]

frankenstein12 said:

Microsoft are definitely heading in the right direction. This week they launched their new Microsoft Surface studio which is stunning.

They also have their new ish 950 windows phones which are apparently liquid cooled and can be used as a pc or phone via their dock.

Rumour is they will be bringing out a surface mobile phone which will be able to be used as a phone or full computer on the go.

I personally think that is a great idea. All you have on your desk is a dock with screen mouse and keyboard plugged in. Come into work put phone on or plug phone into dock and it automatically changes to PC mode and you can get on with work.

It's called Continuum, and here already.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/mobile/accessory/h...

It's basically a dock for the phone that allows peripherals to be plugged in and the phone used as a PC.

[EggsBenedict]

I've got one of these: http://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Offer.aspx?p=c-s...

It's more a laptop than it is a tablet, but it does solve the 'doing actual stuff with it' use case. Thin, and great battery life. HP do some lovely kit now.

http://store.hp.com/UKStore/Merch/Offer.aspx?p=c-h...

[frankenstein12]

Mammasaid said:

frankenstein12 said:

Microsoft are definitely heading in the right direction. This week they launched their new Microsoft Surface studio which is stunning.

They also have their new ish 950 windows phones which are apparently liquid cooled and can be used as a pc or phone via their dock.

Rumour is they will be bringing out a surface mobile phone which will be able to be used as a phone or full computer on the go.

I personally think that is a great idea. All you have on your desk is a dock with screen mouse and keyboard plugged in. Come into work put phone on or plug phone into dock and it automatically changes to PC mode and you can get on with work.

It's called Continuum, and here already.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/mobile/accessory/h...

It's basically a dock for the phone that allows peripherals to be plugged in and the phone used as a PC.

Oh I know I was going to look at getting one for myself for work but its such a battle;e getting permissions and finance allowed to do so because we are gov secure that I dismissed the idea. It is also not quite there yet imp in that in reality the phone is not potent enough to do 100% full pc style stuff like heavy graphics and the fact you have to plug the phone in whereas I would like to see it wireless.

[Mammasaid]

frankenstein12 said:

Mammasaid said:

frankenstein12 said:

Stuff

Nice stuff

Oh I know I was going to look at getting one for myself for work but its such a battle;e getting permissions and finance allowed to do so because we are gov secure that I dismissed the idea. It is also not quite there yet imp in that in reality the phone is not potent enough to do 100% full pc style stuff like heavy graphics and the fact you have to plug the phone in whereas I would like to see it wireless.

That wouldn't bother me, as the phone would probably have to be plugged in for power anyway.

[frankenstein12]

Mammasaid said:

frankenstein12 said:

Mammasaid said:

frankenstein12 said:

Stuff

Nice stuff

Oh I know I was going to look at getting one for myself for work but its such a battle;e getting permissions and finance allowed to do so because we are gov secure that I dismissed the idea. It is also not quite there yet imp in that in reality the phone is not potent enough to do 100% full pc style stuff like heavy graphics and the fact you have to plug the phone in whereas I would like to see it wireless.

That wouldn't bother me, as the phone would probably have to be plugged in for power anyway.

Not with wireless charging it wouldn't. I know it seems lazy but the idea of simply dropping the phone onto a pad and getting on with things rather than having to plug it in and unplug it all the time is much more appealing.

In fact I believe it is now possibly to charge over air meaning you don't even need a pad. Its of course early days still but cannot wait for that.


That would be awesome as then you could simply walk to your desk sit down and start working without rafting around and getting your phone out of your pocket or bag.

[randlemarcus]

frankenstein12 said:

Oh I know I was going to look at getting one for myself for work but its such a battle;e getting permissions and finance allowed to do so because we are gov secure that I dismissed the idea. It is also not quite there yet imp in that in reality the phone is not potent enough to do 100% full pc style stuff like heavy graphics and the fact you have to plug the phone in whereas I would like to see it wireless.

Wireless is there already. Microsoft Display Adapter, job jobbed.

As for heavy graphics stuff, that will get there, but the demand to run full AutoCAD isn't there, so neither is the hardware. This is not a Government project

[HappyMidget]

randlemarcus said:

frankenstein12 said:

Oh I know I was going to look at getting one for myself for work but its such a battle;e getting permissions and finance allowed to do so because we are gov secure that I dismissed the idea. It is also not quite there yet imp in that in reality the phone is not potent enough to do 100% full pc style stuff like heavy graphics and the fact you have to plug the phone in whereas I would like to see it wireless.

Wireless is there already. Microsoft Display Adapter, job jobbed.

As for heavy graphics stuff, that will get there, but the demand to run full AutoCAD isn't there, so neither is the hardware. This is not a Government project

Yeah, I use it with my 950xl quite a bit at home. Can also cast the Surface to the TV too.