Review: Microsoft Surface Pro

The Surface Pro looks like a tablet, but it's not a mobile device. It's a portable device.

Sure, put the Surface Pro next to the Surface RT and it's hard to spot many differences. One's a little thicker, but their shapes are otherwise identical. Both have the same matte-black, magnesium-based casing. They both can be used with snap-in keyboards and they're both propped up into typing position by built-in kickstands.

It's a full-blown computer, but one that folds up into a tablet-sized package.While the differences are blurry on the outside, if you use them both for a little while, the dissimilarities become distinct. The Surface RT is thoroughly a tablet, and it exists to directly challenge the iPad. It closely matches Apple's larger slate in size, weight, performance and price. The Surface Pro, however – which goes on sale Feb. 9 for a starting price of $900 – is something more ambitious than a tablet. It's a full-blown computer, but one that folds up into a tablet-sized package.

It's also more expensive than a tablet – and comes with many hidden costs – but is far more capable since it runs full Windows 8 Pro. And though it isn't perfect, the Surface Pro is certainly very compelling.

Ever since Windows 8 launched in October of last year, Microsoft's hardware partners have been experimenting with ways of incorporating the OS's touchscreen capabilities into their computer designs. The result, so far, has been a flood of tablet/PC Frankenbeasts with keyboards that twist, slide, fold, or otherwise play peek-a-boo beneath the touchscreen. The success of these devices varies, but most are flimsy and awkward. They want to be tablets, but they don't want to leave the laptop behind, and they end up stuck somewhere in the middle.

The Surface Pro is more well-constructed and thoughtfully designed than any of them. It's the best of the hybrids. The quality of the hardware, the performance, and the simplicity of the design make it a success.

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But let me be clear: The Surface Pro is not a tablet. Many people have confusedly asked me if the Surface Pro is even a good tablet. The answer is a clear and resounding, "No." It's heavy and thick. It doesn't invite you to curl up with it on the couch. It's tough to read with it in bed, and it works much better propped up on a desk than it does resting on a knee or in a lap.

And while it's portable, it isn't an amazing laptop, either. Microsoft's Touch and Type covers don't come bundled with Surface Pro – you have to pay an extra $120 or $130, respectively, if you want to avoid touchscreen typing (and trust me, you will want to avoid touchscreen typing). And with either keyboard attached, the thing is so top-heavy, it's physically challenging to use on your lap.

See Also: The Other SurfaceRead our review of Microsoft's less-powerful, more tablety Surface RT, which starts at $500.So why bother? Because the Surface Pro is a Windows 8 PC through and through. It comes with an Intel Core i5 processor, and it can run all of your legacy desktop applications. You can surf using your favorite browser, you can type and save and share using the full versions of Office and all your other regular work applications. You can freely download software from the web without depending on the (still anemic) Windows Store.

Microsoft has also given the Surface Pro a killer screen. The 10.6-inch, 1980x1080 pixel resolution display is a visible step up from the Surface RT. With the same 16:9 aspect ratio, it's great for watching movies. It feels a little silly to use it in portrait mode because it's so tall, but text is much crisper on the higher-res display, so browsing the web and reading text is more pleasurable. It's not quite on par with the iPad's Retina display, but I could barely see a difference between the two. Ten-point touch gestures are supported, as well as the standard swipe gestures.

The touchpads found on both keyboard covers don't support the standard swipe gestures. They're accurate enough for pointing, but if you try to swipe in from the right for Charms, or from the left to switch applications, they won't respond. You'll need to reach up and use the screen, or buy an extra mouse or trackpad like Logitech's Rechargeable Trackpad ($80, another additional cost).

The Surface Pro does come with a great pressure-sensitive pen that magnetically attaches to the power connector. The pen really shined in handwriting-driven apps like One Note, or the painting app, Fresh Paint. And the top of the pen acts as an eraser, which is neat.

Performance is generally excellent across all Windows 8 apps I tested. However, one thing that stuck out is a general problem with screen rotations. When switching between portrait and landscape modes, it takes about a second for the Surface Pro to register the rotations. I found this lag to be disconcerting. Also, some apps displayed rotation quirks. The worst offender was Chrome. The desktop version worked flawlessly, but when I used the version made for the tile-based Windows 8 interface, the app repeatedly refused to resize properly when I flipped between landscape and portrait modes. Likewise, whenever I put Chrome in Snap View mode – a Windows 8 trick that lets you run two applications side-by-side in a split-screen arrangement – the Chrome window got smaller and would not readjust back to full-screen size when I exited Snap View.

Otherwise, I was happy with Windows 8 Pro on the Surface. All the apps I used during my tests were super-responsive. Scrolling was smooth, and there were no input latency problems to speak of.

This high performance comes at a steep price, however: The Surface Pro is half a pound heavier (2 pounds without a cover) and 0.16 inches thicker (at 0.53 inches) than the Surface RT. Partly to blame for the bloat are the two built-in fans, which keep the processor cool by blowing hot air out through a thin ventilation strip that runs along the top half of the back edge.

It's strange to find fans and vents in a device that looks like a tablet, but they're necessary – even with all the venting, the Surface Pro gets really warm. It was especially noticeable when I used it in tablet mode, sans keyboard, holding it in my hands on my lap. It's hot and heavy and not all that comfortable to cradle. That said, the fan is quiet. It makes a low whirring noise that's nearly imperceptible in most settings. It's nothing compared to the jet-engine wooshing sounds made by the fans in my year-old MacBook Air. And because of the vent, the kickstand doesn't rest completely flush against the back, making it much easier to open from either side with the flick of a finger.

Running Office Apps?
It's important to note that the Surface Pro does not come bundled with Microsoft Office. You'll have to pick up Office 2013 separately, or buy an Office 365 Home Premium subscription. I downloaded Office 365 Home Premium on the Surface Pro and didn't run into problems.Speaking of the kickstand, I really wish it was adjustable. The Surface Pro's kickstand is angled at 26 degrees instead of the 22 degrees of the Surface RT. Since I used it mostly as a desktop PC (see the reasons stated above), I desperately wanted to push the screen forward and back a few degrees as I adjusted my sitting position, like I would a laptop's screen.

Storage is an issue. After all the system files are accounted for, you're left with only 23GB of usable space in the 64GB model. The 128GB model has a more manageable 83GB of free space. Of course, you can add as much storage as you want via the USB 3.0 port and microSDXC slot, but that's an inconvenient solution which further inflates the cost. Battery life is on the paltry side, too. I squeezed roughly four hours out of it during regular use – web browsing, typing documents, running Office apps, playing music, watching a few YouTube videos, all at nearly full screen brightness. That's about half the battery life of the Surface RT – the sharper, brighter display, dual fans, and beefier processor of the Pro all take their toll.

But as long as you're plugged in (or at least not away from a plug for long stretches), you can go ahead and use it as your sole computer and rarely feel cheated, shorted or left out. That's more than can be said for most of the Windows 8 hybrids I've seen so far, and it's definitely far more capable than the Surface RT.

But the Surface Pro is pricey. Because of the storage limitations of the 64GB version, the 128GB model is the only one that really makes sense as a main device. Add a keyboard cover and you're looking at an investment of at least $1,120. That's way too much for a tablet, but not entirely out of the question for a super-portable Windows 8 computer with a unique design and fantastic touchscreen.

WIRED Sleek and well-designed hardware. Sharp, beautiful touchscreen. Speedy performance. Runs all legacy Windows desktop applications. Great pressure-sensitive pen. Additional USB port on the charger so you can charge your phone at the same time. Type Cover is pleasant and forgiving.

TIRED Lacking in usable storage space. Short on battery life. Non-adjustable kickstand becomes a burden with long-term use. Pricey; you'll need to drop extra money on several accessories (mouse, keyboard cover, external storage). Too hot, heavy and thick to comfortably use as a tablet.