Customer Ratings & Reviews

First, a couple disclaimers which I'm sure you may have the same questions as I did: I'm a pretty technical guy and I was looking for a machine that I could carry around instead of my laptop. I wanted a machine that I could do work on. While I understood that I wouldn't be able to run virtual machines etc. from this, one reason I was leary about tablets was because I could not do much except apps and internet. Word processing apps have always been lacking on mobile Operating systems. Now for my review: This tablet is great. I run my "high end" applications on my home desktop. The Surface RT has Office 2013 with Word, Powerpoint, Excel and OneNote. I can also Citrix into work and it runs fine. The screen also looks amazing. Paired with the type cover this machine more than compensates for my laptop. Battery life is great. I'd say I get about 6 hours on a charge. Slightly less if I'm really working it hard. The OS is a little clunky and definitely not snappy. This is something I knew and accepted before I bought the machine tho. I wish they would come out with Visio for this. That's kind of a bummer. They don't have Outlook *YET* But I heard it is in the works. Also, the App store is VERY lacking. Some of the most popular apps on other platforms are not in the store. Not even Chase Bank app. That is definitely a downside but not a deal breaker. GET IT TOGETHER DEVELOPERS Overall this is an amazing piece of equipment and in my eyes much better than paying $1000 for the Surface Pro. A+ in my book

I was looking for a tablet that had quality , was lightweight and easy to use. I also wanted a tablet that had port for usb... which most tablets do not. The Surface RT had all of that, and it comes at a very affordable price.

I use It mostly for school and its such a life saver because its nice and light so I carry it around campus without any problems, the MS Office is just what I needed on a tablet and the kickstand makes it even better, its such a great touch

great value and very good and very very very very good

I have given my Surface RT about a month of use before writing a review and I love it. I wanted something smaller than my Asus 14" laptop to travel with since I am gone a few nights a week. The Surface gives me a small, light package with the capability to surf the web and check my email. The added bonus is the productivity side with Office products included with Surface. We have an iPad at home and the few times I was able to steal it away from the wife or kids, I was never really wowed by it. I am currently using an iPhone 5 and I used to have an Android phone, so prior to making a purchase I was considering any and all platforms. I considered the Kindle Fire HD, the new Nexus 10 and the iPad. These are the things that sealed the deal on the Surface RT: Price $349-less than the iPad & Nexus 10, more than the Kindle Fire HD Memory-has the micro SD expansion slot for up to 64GB. Unlimited if you want to swap out cards. Plus SkyDrive 7 GB free storage. Graphics-I feel it is every bit as good as the iPad that we currently own, which isn't a Retina display. Battery life-Really good. I haven't ever timed it, but it has pretty close to 7-8 hours. Apps-Here is the slippery slope. I know there aren't unlimited apps like with Google and Apple, but how many does the average person need. I have found what I need so far with no complaints. Build quality-Top notch. I am very impressed. Apple has always set the bar high with their products and I think Microsoft has more than matched it. Speakers-This is the only complaint and a small one. They are ok, but not great. Our iPad has better sound, at least louder speakers. Miscellaneous-Full sized USB port, built in Bluetooth capability(I use a Microsoft wedge touch mouse), easy to use with my wireless printer. This is my first Windows 8 device and I have yet to see why it has gotten such a bad rap. It is different, but I have liked it from the beginning. I liked it so much I upgraded my Asus laptop with Windows 7 to Windows 8. I would definitely recommend the Surface RT. I would consider a Surface Pro, if and when I have to replace my Asus laptop.

Finally getting tired of lugging around a heavy laptop and A/C charger for years so needed a lightweight replacement. At first I was put off by the bad reviews--that there are not as many apps for the Surface as the IPad or Android, etc. I was almost planning on getting an Android tablet because of that, but then, by way of doing due diligence, I started reading reviews from people who have been actually using the Surface for real and they're all raving about it. One review in particular really jumped out at me where a reviewer said 'think of the Android tablets as more of a large smartphone, but think of the Surface as a lightweight laptop. With all due respect to those users who are looking for an entertainment device with lots of games, etc. available, I'm sure the Android and IPad are just the ticket. However, I am constantly using the Surface for my work and consider it a much lighter laptop replacement. My back is very grateful for not having to lug around a heavy laptop anymore. I still use it and a desktop at home for some functions, but for traveling, taking to meetings, jumping on the internet to look stuff up or get email, the Surface is fantastic. That it comes with MS Office is a huge plus and the USB port is also a fantastic feature. I find that the battery life is easily 2-3 times better than my laptop and it does everything I need it to do really well! I was on a trip recently and was showing some friends some videos of both my daughter's piano and vocal performances and used a pair of portable, powered speakers and the quality was awesome. The Surface can handle any kind of media like photos, music and video and there are actually quite a few apps available. I especially appreciate the Windows and MS Office compatibility. Also, I got the better typing keyboard rather than the touch keyboard, which I really prefer. The ease of transitioning to tablet format without the keyboard is also a big plus. Now I can actually read news articles, etc. and the display is fantastic!

I was tired of carrying around my trusted laptop after 2 years in law school and decided to look into a tablet. Immediately, I was draw to the Surface because (1) it's Microsoft, (2) it has Word, and (3) it has a keyboard. I looked at several tablets, including an iPad and Samsung Galaxy Note, but nothing else compared to what I needed - MS Word that can be transferred to my computer for outlines, external storage, ease of use, keyboard, and lightweight. I am very happy with my purchase and now rely solely on my Surface for everything law school related! I recommend the type-keyboard, but if you can figure out how to use the touch-keyboard, it looks much cooler. On a negative note, the app store is seriously lacking.

Love the look of the screen and the flip stand, but navigating WindowsRT (8) is definitely a challenge for the non-tech. Microsoft missed the mark with this OS regardless of if its on a tablet or pc. Windows 7 was and is definitely a much better OS. Having said that, Xbox radio absolutely rocked the tablet! This was definitely the best feature. Having Office installed on a tablet was a really nice feature as well. Anyone in business should appreciate that as well as having a USB port makes this useful in a corporate environment, but I don't see it taking over iPads any time soon. Not nearly enough apps. If a person wants a tablet to do a bit of surfing, working with documents and listening to music, this is worth the money. Its not a full version of Windows, but it will grow on you the more you use it.

I bought the Surface RT for a month now before I write this review. It is fab and I love it! I use it for work everyday and just put my HP laptop on my desk gently forever (with TeamView Touch installed of course). The Surface RT come with IE, Office 2013 RT, Desktop View, Mail, Calendar, etc, which are critical for my day to day work. It's very light in weight and size. The power adapter is so tiny and cute, I can't imagine how I can take my old DELL and HP Power adapter and wire in the past. I buy an additional type cover, which is a real keyboard and I love it. I bought a Surface RT w/o keyboard because I believe Surface RT is made along with the Type Cover. Maybe it's because I use Surface RT in work so I need a real keyboard and typing precisely. However, the usable space of this 32GB Surface RT is insufficient if you are a serious user. You need to consider this factor carefully even though you purchase an additional 32GB or 64GB Micro SD card like me. I have about 13GB usable space now after the first Windows Update. I bought an additional 32GB storage card so it's good. You can also use some cloud storage out there, such as DropBox, SkyDrive, SME, etc. There are so many different cloud storage app in the store for free. I bought a Micro HDMI to VGA display adapter additionally, because I need to project my PowerPoint and Excel to projector frequently. It works great and I can give presentation conveniently. However, I can't project to the Surface desktop to my monitor at home, it shows some kind of distortion because of the limitation in screen resolution. (I don't want to buy a new monitor yet just because of my new toy Surface RT) All in all, the battery is not as good as the spec stated. My Surface RT lasts for about 5 hours only, that's why I need to carry the Power cable in my bag (the Power cable is durable and small, I like to carry it around though). Maybe I use the table too often, including watching video, web browsing, work, etc. and then the battery drop rapidly. Anyway, I can use Surface RT for real "work" and very productive, in addition to leisure and casual usage. Thumb up to Microsoft.

I was looking for a lightweight, portable, versatile device to write with, and in many respects this really fits the bill. The detachable keyboard makes it usable in many different ways, the long battery life is great, and the stuff that comes loaded already is very useful. My one big complaint is that I have a Fitbit, and this device is NOT compatible with it, which is very disappointing. (I am also not able to download Firefox on the Surface, but that's less of an issue for me. Still, I'm concerned about what else I will eventually discover won't work with it, as well.) Otherwise, however, it's a very acceptable replacement for my stolen netbook, and its ability to convert to a tablet is a nice plus.

I love this item! It is the perfect size for on-the-go business management or studying. The battery life is amazing. I am a nursing student and have to sit in class for at least 6 hours a day. By the time I get home, I still have over half of my battery power left. And the fact that it has its own built-in kick stand is amazing. So you don't have to buy a case that acts as a kickstand for this tablet. You also wouldn't have to buy a protective case because the removable keyboard that you have the option of buying acts as a protective screen cover as well! The only thing I would recommend to the company is to provide more variety of apps in the app store. I would definitely recommend this to a student who is looking for a fast, easy, and portable desktop-like system!

This tablet has a USB port, a micro SD port, great, large screen, built in stand, easily attachable keyboard, and it is light and readable in any lighting condition. Easily beats out a comparable IPad in price and features. The only negative are the number of apps available. The best buy of any tablet on the market if you are looking for a tablet for productivity as well as entertainment and web surfing.

We've used it for 18 months now and it's never failed us. Beautiful screen, fast, responsive interface, reliable and fun. The only ding, but not worth losing a star over, is the dearth of actual apps for the product. If there were more apps, I'd have literally nothing to complain about. The battery lasts plenty long, the kids love it.

I purchased at phenomenal price..$199.00 cyber monday...the size is great..its like a mini laptop for me..microsoft office capability was selling point also..at no extra cost..ability to transfer some of my pictures from other tablets is great..the storage space..the camera..the ease in use in addition to being so similiar to the laptops I have owened in past ..and so light weight makes it great for me especially as I travel the country so often for pleasure....its a great many uses in one for me...ease in use for 61 year old not very techno me. Highly recommended..

I have been using this tablet for a few months now, and overall I would say it was worth the money, even if the price was a bit high when paired with a keyboard. Windows RT is basically Windows in every single way, it just can't install third party desktop apps. This may be a deal breaker from a laptop perspective, but a free copy of Microsoft Office is included. This is the only desktop app I needed, so that worked out. The tablet itself feels solid. It's well built and feels like it can withstand the test of time for at least a few years. The charger also keeps a premium feel, but I have a love-hate relationship with it. The magnetic connector can be frustrating to use. It doesn't just snap in like the keyboard covers. It also means buying a spare brick is a $60 investment. But on the bright side, it charges ridiculously quick. Something that just isn't possible with USB chargers. Plus, the battery lasts all day for me with frequent use, and multiple days when all I am doing is checking email and messages every now and then. So having to pack my charger is pretty rare anyways. The screen is very nice. No visual gap between the glass and the display, which is good for the touch function. It will sense up to 5 fingers at once. Also, the Windows logo on the front acts as a start button. It will even wake the device if you touch it when the screen is off. The quality of the screen makes up for the fairly mediocre resolution. But, use the micro HDMI port on the side, and the tablet will plug in to a desktop monitor or a flat screen TV. No need for expensive cables or converters. A simple $10 Micro HDMI cable will do. One more thing to note, it has a full size USB port. Mice, keyboards, flash drives, hard drives, printers, etc. for the most part work just as you'd expect with a laptop or desktop. Plug in an Xbox controller and some games will recognize it and allow you to play with it. But what's really nice is that it will actually charge a cellphone if you plug it in. This is wonderful for travelling because it means that I only need one power socket to charge both of my devices, and one less thing to carry with me. Bottom line, it's a nice device with plenty to offer. It won't be the best tablet, and it won't be the best laptop. But it is one of the few devices that will actually do both functions, and do them well.

We bought this tablet for my daughter because she wanted the Word program and thought it would be a nice cross between a computer and a tablet. She has since bought an Apple mini because she likes Apple products and the smaller size. I have inherited the Surface and I like the size. There aren't as many apps as Apple or Android and that is a problem. It works well for what it was designed for, but if the lack of apps is an issue, you might want to choose another product.

I REALLY LIKE THIS SURFACE RT , IT IS LIGHTWEIGHT, WITH A LARGE ENOUGH SCREEN,AND I LOVE THE FACT THAT IT HAS AN ATTACHABLE KEYBOARD / COVER ! I LOOKED AT QUITE A FEW AND THIS WAS THE BEST CHOICE FOR ME ,I AM NOT COMPUTER SAVY BUT LEARNED QUICKLY HOW TO USE IT . I REALLY LOVE THE FACT THAT I CAN TAKE THIS WITH ME TRAVELING, JUST GOT BACK FROM HAWAII AND IT WORKED VERY WELL !

I purchased this as a replacement for my laptop. Due to travel, I have a laptop for work, and my personal laptop. This was not always convenient having to haul around two PCs. The Surface is very useful for my needs, which are watching movies on Netflix, listening to music, and homework for school. It comes loaded with what is basically a full version of Microsoft Office, and it's not a trial version. The app store still has a long way to go, and the fact that you cannot install any software you already own is a little inconvenient. However, this product is still in it's infancy, and as I recall, iTunes didn't offer a lot of apps it's first go around. If you're looking for a gaming console, this isn't it. There are a few basic games available, and some decent apps. When it comes to playing games, I still use my Google Nexus tablet. All in all, I think this tablet is very useful and productive, as long as you're not expecting to have a gaming system at your fingertips. It's definitely meant more as a productivity tool, than an entertainment tool.

I am a full time student and mommy and also a huge picture taker and music lover. I had been debating for a long time between a tablet (for portability and convenience of use) and a laptop (desktop functions like word, powerpoint etc., more memory and usability)... I've been saying for a few years now how I wish they made laptops in netbook size... well THIS IS IT! It is up and ready to work, instantly connected to your internet the minute you need it like a tablet but it runs desktop programs like word, powerpoint, onenote etc. It is quick and responsive, display is clear and vibrant and I have dumped over 5,000 songs and twice that in pictures onto the Surface and it is still running quickly with memory space to spare! I love that it has a slot for a mini SD which can add even more memory space and the USB port (not available on most tablets) is very helpful! You may read reviews of substandard display or sound.... take it from me, this little thing has better sound and display than my $1000 Dell Laptop ever even thought of having. It is more than adequate for most needs. My one complaint is because of the relative newness of this product, Microsoft has yet to put many apps on the store for download, though it does have facebook touch and twitter available as well as plenty of games... basically if you can be patient with the apps we are waiting for and are okay with just pulling up some things on the internet instead of having an app link directly to it (you can set favorites for the sites you use most often which work almost as quickly as an app would) this is a great buy!

This is great ,really easy to use , very light and easy to handle, has camera on the front and back, needs A little more speed and really more apps.,but has a USB port (great feature)