Customer Ratings & Reviews

I bought the Surface RT after much research and inquiring with IT services at work. They actually discouraged me from the RT and told me to go for the Pro if I was planning on a Surface. My funds didn't really allow that, however, so I figured I'd give the RT a 15-day try (a nice feature of the Best Buy return policy!). I loved it within the first day, and haven't looked back. I've had multiple portable products - Asus Transformer Prime w/ keyboard, Google Nexus, multiple brands/sizes of laptops, and even the lapdock to go with a Droid Bionic cellphone. I am a touchscreen fan, so the tablets have been great - except that a large part of my work is geared around letter-writing, and the "alternatives" to Microsoft Word leave something to be desired in the Android and Apple offerings. Honestly, I'm not exactly sure what I'm missing by not having the Pro - I don't need Outlook, and the functionality of the RT does everything I could want it to. I do highly recommend the type pad - I like the feel of the keyboard much better than the flat surface of the touchpad. The only negative I have is the same one shared by many others. While it does fit on my lap fine when I'm on the couch, if I'm sitting in a normal chair or other rigid-back seat, I can't lean far enough back from my legs to fit the Surface comfortably. Also, the screen/computer is heavy relative to the type pad, so even with the kickstand positioned near my knees, it feels like it could easily topple to the floor. On a table or counter, the set-up is great, and I love the incredible battery life on this thing - I use it all day long and still have well over 50% battery at the end of the day. It's a fantastic little device that does everything I could possibly want it to do, and for $450 less than the Pro, was economical as well.

I teach at a local university. I put my lecture notes on a tablet. That way I don't have to keep shuffling paper. (I do have a print-out in case technology fails me.) My old, clunky tablet did fail me. After my last class for the day, I headed straight for Best Buy with the specific intent of seeing the Surface. It's perfect. No, it's beyond perfect. It has a USB in case I need to access my lecture there. Even better, however, since it's a computer, I can email my lectures and save them. I can also edit them in Word. I can also email my official spread sheet with grades and attendance for easy access. Now comes the fun part: It has apps. So, I can get news, sports, weather, and other sources with the touch of the screen. Did I mention that it has a detachable keyboard. News reports are wrong: MS needs to keep making and marketing the Surface.

The Surface RT is HATED by the internet community. Check out any commentary site and see the fury fly! But every place that sells the RT has the reviews at 4-5 stars! Why? If you want an iPad, buy an iPad. If you want a Kindle Fire, buy that. If you want a hybrid tablet/computer that does 95%+ of your most people's basic needs, runs REAL Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, & Endnote), is sleek and slim, and is a third the price of a similar product, this is the hands-down winner. I bought mine, then bought one for my son, and after showing and sharing with others, rang up three more sales (Microsoft should pay me!). You DON'T need the 64gb model. The 32gb (really 16gb since the OS takes up half the space) is fine. It has plenty of room for what you need and the USB port allows you to use any external hard-drive... so why pay $100 more for an extra 16gb, when you can pay less than that for a terabyte (and much less for a microcard)? You DON'T need to pay $40 each for the adapter cords (VGA and HDMI). Any micro (not mini!) HDMI cord will fit, so for less than $10, you can use your TV as a monitor (or take this to conferences and present). You DO need to buy the TYPE keyboard cover. For $30 more than the TOUCH cover, you can get the equivalent experience of typing on a laptop, as opposed to typing on cardboard (I bought my used for <$80). I would also suggest downloading the free Windows 8 Guide app from the store. The only people I would not recommend this to are: gamers and folks who need to run 3rd party software (check the Windows 8 app store... it's a desert, but it might have your software).

This product has exceeded my expectations, because not only its is portable and light, as I needed it to be, but also it is fast-working and has Microsoft Office 2013 installed on it. I would recommend this product to anyone who wants a portable computer, because it is just as functional. It is set just like Windows 8 and has some awesome apps y could install and have fun with it. It works really fast and has a high speed internet and also it takes less time for it to re-charge, while its battery has a long life.

this product has an excellent price and features. It's like having a laptop and reader at the same time. The screen is so clear and the keyboard is almost perfect and serves as a very good cover to protect the screen. It is light and easy to carry wherever you want to go. Having free microsoft programs is a very good deal for this product.

the size and weight of this tablet is great. Screen has great color. Easy keyboard, very happy with the price compared to other tablets

I had just recently bought an ipad mini and I liked it all but it wasn't any difference than my iphone 5 but only bigger screen. There wasn't nothing wow about it. Then just browsing online I come across the window surface and I was seeing that it was a tablet and laptop in one which seemed to me brilliant and something I had to have. So I return my ipad mini and get the window surface with the red keyboard cover which is great and love the color. But anyways the surface is pretty sick. Windows did an awesome job with windows 8 and im pretty satisfied with it and all the things you can do with it. I love the display and the speed it has. Its awesome. Just that they need to make more apps for it and let you download software to your desktop like iTunes, spotify, youtube, and so forth. But overall I love it and if your looking for a tablet/laptop that is reliable, lightweight and you can take anywhere this is it!

I purchased the Surface original model to use as an extension of my laptop when traveling. The laptop is heavy and cumbersome. The Surface fits well in my back pack and the battery life is long enough so I don't have to worry about finding an outlet while in an airport or other location. I use it to store my photos from a camera until I can transfer them to my PC. All of my computers are windows based so its a breeze to use with my files. I only download what I need. It has good speed and reliable on the internet. I like the apps that are installed. As I get more familiar with the computer its easy to navigate.

I wanted a tablet to replace my aging netbook for personal use. I just couldn't buy in to the "fruit" product line. The Microsoft Surface provides so much more for the money. I really like that the MS Office Suite is preloaded and ready to go! And, it has a USB port for additional versatility. I am a keyboard typist so I purchased the keyboard cover and really like the ability to fold it back for tablet use--no disconnect needed. I'm looking forward to many many hours of enjoyable use.

The Surface RT is s great alternative to the IPad for not only someone who wants to save some cash an get the tablet experience, but for anyone. The interface takes a bit to get used to, but after a few days you'll be surfing the web and using apps in no time. Which leads me to the apps. The Windows Store has recently started to get more populated, but compared to the Apple App Store or Google Play it is David amongst Goliaths. The apps that are on the available will serve most common needs, but anyone hoping for numerous random helps will be disappointed. The screen is only 720p, but with a 10.6" screen that 's fine. One problem I found was that the rear camera is lacking, so this device isn't for taking pictures like people seem to do with their Ipads, but the front facing camera is excellent and is perfect for Skype and other video chatting. Also, the performance does seem to lag slightly when running multiple apps. Overall, the Surface RT is great for any entering the tablet make, and with a starting price of $350 who can argue?

Pros: More portable than a laptop and still has a fair processor. Windows is familiar and it comes with office pre-installed (and not the trial-version either). it can import settings and apps from other Windows 8 computers (using your Microsoft ID, if you tell it to during initial set-up). The screen is Hi-def. with a 16:9 ration for a great video experience, but if the video format is not supported by the native video app, it may be difficult to find a good free app). the best feature is the full-size USB port, my biggest annoyance android tablet was moving things onto and off of a micro-SD card to go between a computer and the device, this just plug in a USB drive and away you go. The Bluetooth is cool too, but I don't use it much. Cons: The keyboard-covers are $70 or $120 depending on if you get the cheap-o one or the nice one and $40 for a basic sleeve (I just use two padded mailing envelopes); it would be nice if the stand could be adjusted (rather than one-size-fits-all); if you glance at the manual (which you have to download, not included) you'll get it quickly (especially if you have/use windows 8 elsewhere). Also, it’s hard to hit the close "x" in the corner of the windows in the desktop mode. The biggest issue I have with it is that.it kind of forces you to get everything from the windows store app downloaded programs like Chrome, VLC, etc. do not install.

I bought this specifically to be able to use for school since I have a huge and heavy laptop. I love that it's small, light and easy to carry. I also like that it has a full keyboard you can attach and use also as a screen cover. The screen quality is really good and the new windows is unique.

I returned a Nexxus 7 for this because it seemed limited in what it offered and it was unpredictable. I have been for pleased with the Surface RT. Added benefits are the Microsoft Office (basic) suite and the choice of a soft touch or key pad keyboard cover. It's very much like having a full functioning computer in a compact case.

Got this for my daughter to use at her college. Very handy, especially with Microsoft Office pre-loaded. Only issue so far has been difficulty in loading web homework. Light and easy to use in class for taking notes etc, plus easy web access on or near campus.

I got the tablet for an excellent price ($200) on Black Friday. Was looking to get a computer for my teenage son, but was sold on the Surface RT because of the price and for all of the options this baby has. The snap-on keyboard pairs perfectly with this table. Having the USB port is just an excellent idea: I am able to attach an external Mouse, Hard Drive, Printer, or CD-ROM Drive. Plus, having the Micro Soft Office suite gives me an excellent set of software tools to work with. Finally, having the option of plugging in a 32 GB Micro SD Card gives me plenty of storage for my documents.

I purchased this tablet for my high school student. It will be used in class and at home. Excellent value, easy to use, excellent battery life. Getting MS Office software was a big plus. We also purchased the physical touch keyboard. He was up and running in no time. It will get lots of use. So far the only real negative is the somewhat limited access to apps through the MS Store. Overall, an excellent choice. No regrets.

I am a student and I wanted something smaller than a laptop but still had the some of functionality of one. That's when I saw the Surface Rt. Since I am a student I constantly have to do reports and make presentations, the Surface has Windows on it which makes doing those assignments easy when I am out and about. Another thing I love about the Surface is the screen quality. Playing games and watching videos and movies never looked better on tablet than this. I can't forget to mention the USB port on the surface, that is a humongous plus. Overall I have not regrets on buying the Surface RT, I simply love it.

I bought this for myself during Black Friday because the price was really great and I was in the market for a new tablet. I had a Kindle Fire that I handed down to my sister because this Surface was a HUGE upgrade. It has many more features is a great tablet all around. PROS: Great for the price (if you purchase at the right time) and was very easy to set up. I had to download quite a few updates including the large 8.1 which took awhile but I was patient since I knew the "final product" would be worth it. I loved how I could personalize everything about it. Apps are easy to install and uninstall. I use it alongside my smart phone and laptop and exchanging content between my three devices is very easily. I jokingly tell others that my laptop is now my desktop and my Surface is now my laptop because that's basically how I use them. The portability of the Surface makes it great for school and travel. It has all the functions anyone would need for a device on the go. It also has a plethora of useful accessories in addition to numerous apps (both free and cheap ones). CONS: This is a huge mistake people make when they buy this--it is NOT a replacement for a laptop or desktop. It is still limited in many ways to act as one of those. The first disappointment I experienced with it was that Internet Explorer is the only browser that can be used on it. I love Firefox and Chrome and hate that I can't use them on the Surface. Also, you'll NEED to create a Microsoft account to use the device. I didn't like having to do this because I HATE how the account will want to tether itself to other accounts involved with certain apps like Skype, Xbox Live, etc. I prefer to keep all my accounts separate. The responsiveness of the device can be variable. I have difficulty bringing up the side menu in my apps for some reason and this is frustrating because that's the only menu to access app settings.

I use another brand Windows 8 pro tablet for business use, I fill out forms for work with that one(it works great too). I wanted a Windows 8 tablet with great battery life, light, great screen and compatible with my Windows 8 phone and my Windows 8 Pro tablet. This is a perfect fit. The only thing I would like to see in the next models is built in Verizon Wireless 4g. My windows 8 phone has internet sharing and it works great with this tablet when I'm out of the house and need internet on the tablet. The battery is great, I use this tablet all day long and charge it about every other day. I got the touch cover and it is amazing. Great purchase. Now to get one for my girls.

The Surface RT is an excellent device whether the entry level user or an advanced user. The screen is a crystal clear touchscreen. You get the full version of Office 2013. Since it is limited to installing Microsoft store applications only, you wont accidently install malware when browsing. But don't worry the Microsoft application store has all the free apps you normally use like facebook,.. It has USB ports so you can attach a USB hub or other devices and a display port you can attach an adapter to use on a full size computer monitor. This blows the Ipad out of the water. It is more practical, easier to use, business capable, and safe for the entry level to advanced user. If there are any problems with the system you can reset it back to factory defaults with a few steps. So no costly reloading by a professional. Only negative is the lack of aftermarket cases and Keyboards. However Microsoft just came out with a nice backlit keyboard with real click features that works great. You will want to by a stylus.