Gadgetory

well computers stay the status quo or are they on the verge of evolving in a something entirely new I'm Scott Stein and this is a look at the Microsoft Surface pro tablet the high-end version of what debuted in someways last fall with the Microsoft Surface RT and they look similar but Microsoft's take on the surface pro side is a lot more high-end and a lot more like a real computer because it is a real computer underneath is a Core i5 processor 3rd generation Intel those 4 gigs of ram there's a 64 gigabyte or 128 gigabyte SSD and also you're not going to be limited to r/t style apps there's a full Windows 8 operating system and intel HD 4000 graphics this is $8.99 or $9.99 for the two configuration so it's not cheap and keep in mind that price does not include the iconic really the number one thing we associate with the surface which is the really cool keyboard cover the touch cover or the type cover these are the very same covers that work with the surface RT are not sold with the system you have to buy those for 119 129 each respectively honestly if you're going to get a surface you're gonna get one of these and I would recommend going with the 129 type cover which has a pretty fantastic keyboard for its size and a little multi-touch trackpad right underneath it docks magnetically does it seamlessly and it works about as well as any peripheral I've ever seen even those in the iPad world and it really 1ups any keyboard covers I've ever experienced it's really easy to use it's fun to use with this now keep in mind the kickstand on the back which comes out provides a laptop like experience but you can't technically put it on your lap in the same way I was able to lap type but it's really meant to stand on a table and you'll have to get a little used to the footprint here but when you cover this up and use it kind of like an iPad or a tablet it becomes an all-in-one cover it's a very portable and fun way to travel now the surface pro is heavier and thicker than the surface RT it's a little under 2 pounds same vapor mag construction here magnesium very solid feeling but there's also an additional vent around the side it's a hairline vent in the back and you can hear fans inside activate very softly if you hold your ear up and it gets a little hot if you keep it down on a bed or something like that computer for a while now included with this is a pressure-sensitive pen the surface pen which comes and attaches to the side here in the very same magnetic port that's used for the AC power it's a comfortable pen it's very useful for drawing in apps you don't get the keyboard but you do get the pen and another thing you don't get is a full version of Microsoft Office like you do in surface RT here you're getting your basic suite of apps and the kind of pre-installed set of stuff you'd find in a full Windows 8 laptop now is it worth the money well I think that this is a fantastically designed package I think that it's a lot of fun to use this type cover or touch covers the case may be I think it definitely proves the point that tablets can be used like computers especially when they have peripherals that are this smart but the price is a little high when you look at the landscape you get an ultrabook right now with similar specs for 800 or less and you can also get in at alternative option which are these lower powered processors inside tiny laptops much like the HP Envy x2 which includes a keyboard and a trackpad al biet running an Atom processor for about 850 so you are paying up here for the extra processing power and the design you might find yourself a little hampered by the storage limitations here and the fact that there are port limitations this has one USB 3.0 port it also has a mini display port and an SD card slot and that's pretty much it there are a few other nice design touches on the surface pro the AC adapter comes with an extra USB port for charging external peripherals at the same time clever and this surface pro doesn't actually need one of these keyboard covers in order to survive in fact even though it's something you want to buy just keep in mind you could connect a bluetooth keyboard and mouse to this and be just as fine especially since it's got a built-in kickstand in the back but absolutely Microsoft has done the job in showing that tablets can be full computers - I'm Scott Stein and that's a look at the Microsoft Surface pro coming out February 9th