Microsoft Surface 2 Tablets

Great tablet that's been abandoned by Microsoft

The Microsoft Surface 2 is the worthy successor to the original Microsoft Surface RT tablet. Using a form of Microsoft Windows (Windows RT) designed for ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) processors, the kind of processors typically seen in smart phones and Android tablets, the Surface 2 is responsive and sensitive. The screen is a 1080P capable screen, an improvement over the original RT's screen. Also the Surface 2 features a USB 3.0 port as well. Finger gestures on the Surface are far superior to gestures on an iPad or Android device. Simply swiping the display down minimizes a program very intuitively; swiping it down and holding it for a second closes the program completely. The browser works well for web surfing, and the incorporated kickstand in the back has two positions, making it easy to find a good working angle to see the screen. Where the Surface 2 has trouble is in the lack of apps. Not many regular Windows apps have been ported for use in Windows RT for an ARM processor. Microsoft also locked down the tablet, making it nearly impossible to run apps that haven't been obtained through the official Microsoft store. There were workarounds for Windows RT 8.0, but those workarounds don't function in Windows RT 8.1. As of 2017, if you buy a Surface 2, it's pretty much good for web surfing, some simple word/spreadsheet processing using Windows Mobile Office (included) and listening to various media (video, music, other audio). Sadly, the Amazon Kindle app was withdrawn from the Microsoft Store for RT devices, so there's no app for Kindle. However, it's still possible to read your Kindle library both online and offline, as long as you first are able to connect to Amazon. Battery life is good, though still short of what you can get with an iPad. In terms of value, the RT products appear to be a dead-end for Microsoft, with no further updates expected. Microsoft is working on a various "cloud" devices which some rumors state are simply updated versions of Windows RT. If true and if the products appear, one can hope that perhaps an upgrade path will be made for these truly great, if not well-known/high-selling, tablets.

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Still a good quality workhorse despite the bad mouthing it got!

This is my second Surface. I actually traded up from a first gen RT with 64gb. I know many people bad mouth this tablet, but wow what a workhorse she is! Once again I made a good deal. This tablet is in pristine shape. Screen is crisp and clear! Battery still holding a charge as if new! It has plenty of productivity in it despite the hate on the availability of apps! I got MS Office for free for ever not just 365 offer. I frankly cant see(nor can afford) to pay 800+ for a new Super priced and loaded tablet by anyone, though perhaps if I could I would! But I already have a company owned tablet that is farther along, non-rt, loaded with the same productivity apps including MS Office. So I can leave that tablet at work while still accessing MS Office apps documents on the One Drive! Try that with an Ipad! As to watching videos or playing games, meah! Frankly any movies looks just as good on RT as on the latest tablets! The fact is the human eye can barely see the difference in the upper level and who sits there mesmerized by how good the tablet picture looks for ever? At some point you are lost in the movie, or the game or the work you are doing in the device. Don't get me wrong, If I could afford it I would get the latest and greatest, but right now, at this moment, I got bills to pay and this little Surface 2 with all its accoutrements seems as good as a Surface Pro whatever! I may try to trade up by selling some things and this one itself, but I am in no hurry since the Walking Dead on this tablet looks as awesome as it does on my HD flat screen TV! And with the prices dropping I figure I can do well before they flatten out on this baby! So if you aint got the money be for real! A Windows Surface RT or Surface 2 is just as great as the next best thing!

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Good except for one fatal flaw = delicate screen.

Nice but limitations. First, if you look at the picture you will see that it really is a Surface 3 (windows logo on side). The great limitation is the screen - watch out - it cracks very easily. This one had a little crack in the corner and about a third of the touch screen didn't work. I have had others where you had to turn the touch completely off because of ghost touches. Microsoft did a bad job designing protection for the screen. It starts up fast and is real zippy. I use it for word processing and youtube. It is fast and fine. When new there were a lot better, cheaper alternatives in laptops but the Surface is of good quality and very small, easy to carry around if you protect that delicate screen. I have the click keyboard and it works fine and is lighted up but the touchpad leaves a lot to be desired. There is no click buttons just tap and it is hard to find the tap area. I also have Surface 1 and 2 and they all seem to be equally good except the 1 screen seems a lot sturdier. In my use they seem equal in spite of different processors.

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They tried

The surface RT 2 is a nice device overall, for 5 years ago. It could easily replace a net book or an ebook reader or could be used to watch a movie in bed, but not for anything more serious. Pros: * 1080p sharp and clear screen * 8-10 hours battery life for lite use * tegra 4 runs windows RT smoothly, never lags. * nearly full microsoft office. * micro sd slot Cons: * windows RT, can only install arm specific software. x86 and x64 apps wont run here. * locked device, can only install apps feom the app store. * the app store barely has any apps, its nearly negligible compared to android store. * most wanted and important apps like google chrome and Firefox dont have an arm version. * office for windows RT doesnt support VBA at all. * very limited storage space. 18gb available out of total 25gb (windows takes 7gb) * no palm rejection, cant write on it properly Im sure therr are more pros and cons, but i could only thinknof those at the moment.

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