Customer Ratings & Reviews

I bought the 256 Gb 8 MB Ram version of the Surface 2 Pro, this is my review from a photographers perspective. Having used various Windows and Mac laptops and tablets along with assembling my own desktops over the years I can say the Surface is an ideal laptop/desktop replacement for me. My wife needed a replacement for a laptop that I handed down to her so I got her a Surface 2 non Pro version so I could try it out before committing to getting the Pro for myself because I was so apprehensive about moving from Windows 7 to the Windows 8 OS after looking at it in stores and reading how much most people hated it. After using the Surface 2 that I got my wife and getting used to the RT OS I had to say I was impressed and with Windows 8.1 on the Surface Pro I get back to more familiar territory and functionality for my use. Although the Pro is thicker and heavier that the RT version I don’t find it objectionable considering this is a desktop computer replacement for me and is still lighter/smaller than a laptop. Now that I’ve had the Surface Pro for 2 months now I’m still impressed. I can sit on the couch in the living room and browse the web, check emails then when I go out in the field or the studio I can plug it into my camera to use it as a live view focusing aid (10” screen instead of the 3” on the camera), control the camera functions with it, have the photos transferred to it without a glitch, be able to review the photos and even make edits or compile panoramas on the spot . I have the complete version of Photoshop CS6 , Nikon’s CNX2, Nik-Google plug-ins, MS Office + much more on it so when I get back home I can set it in the Surface dock and process/edit the photos on a 27” wide gamut monitor. It all works seamlessly. I’m not easily impressed and as much as I was impressed initially with this little beauty. After 2 months my opinion is even better. It’s so much more than a tablet. I have had zero problems with it so far. It’s fast (boot up and processing) I had my trepidations regarding an i5 processor, not now. This will handle 90%+ of what I throw at it. I will still keep a desktop around for heavy lifting the really big panorama composites require but from now on the Surface is the go to machine. Battery life is excellent, I get a whole day (3-6 hrs) in the field + an additional 3-6 hrs at home before it needs to be recharged or put in the dock. The screen is excellent. I’ve used i-Pads with the Retina screens, not that much discernable difference. I’m not a MS or Apple fan boy I just use what works for me. I haven’t bothered color calibrating the screen since I do my critical editing with the large monitor. The colors on the Surface screen are pretty good out of the box without any adjustment, a little on the bright side but this works better outside for my ageing eyes. The on board camera isn’t that bad and actually comes in handy at times but won’t replace a full frame 36 Mp sensor. I find I’m more productive now, carrying less around, accomplishing more in the field.

I'm primarily an Apple-product user, but was looking for a dedicated Windows laptop or tablet that was powerful enough to do some software development on. The original Surface Pro lineup didn't have quite the battery life or RAM to sway me, but the 256 GB (flash storage) Surface Pro 2 with Haswell (for much-improved battery life) and 8 GB of RAM was enough. So far, it's completely lived up to my expectations. The device feels very well built, but it is much thicker and heavier than a typical ARM-based tablet. The performance is great–everything is fast and fluid–and the battery life is quite respectable. I think the 8 GB of RAM will help "future-proof" the device as well so that I can reasonably get a few years' worth of usage from it. The full HD screen looks great, and paired with a Microsoft Type Cover I can't say I really miss having a full laptop at all. With the default Windows UI-scaling there isn't a ton of screen real-estate for things like Visual Studio, but it was actually a more comfortable amount of working area than I expected. The Mini DisplayPort connector lets me hook it up to a desktop monitor when I want additional display room. "Modern UI" apps scale well to the high resolution display, movies look great, and frankly, in normal usage I don't notice text to be any less sharp than on my iPad with Retina display. Using the Surface Pro 2 has also made me appreciate Windows 8 a lot more. Many of the UI changes that make Windows 8 annoying to use with a mouse are much more natural to do with touch. The Surface Pro 2 ships with 8.1, and I definitely noticed the additional refinements in 8.1 when I switched over to my company-issued Windows 8.0 laptop. Although the device feels very well built, the price seems a little high–but not nearly as outrageous as the 512 GB version. I was disappointed that Microsoft couldn't throw in a free copy of Office (at least Home and Student, or even a 1 year Office 365 subscription). I had to purchase the Type Cover at full price separately, and it feels so integral to the whole experience that I think Microsoft should either try to include one in the box or at least offer a nice rebate if you purchase them together. If Microsoft could find a way to squeeze in at least one of these extras for the same price, I'd probably increase my rating to 5 stars. The Windows Store doesn't have the depth that Apple's App Store has, though it looks like it has most popular apps covered (Netflix, Facebook, Amazon Kindle, etc.) in "Modern UI" versions. Since this is a full-blown Windows 8 tablet (rather than Windows RT), I can always fall back to desktop programs or web apps. I am not disappointed because I bought this expecting to heavily use desktop applications anyway, but the app selection would definitely feel limiting on a regular, non-Pro Surface. In short: if you want ultrabook-level performance to run desktop Windows applications as well as "Modern UI" applications for reading or media viewing, the Surface Pro 2 lineup is compelling. If you don't mind paying the slight premium for it, the 256 GB version offers good storage space and a healthy 8 GB of RAM. I'd definitely recommend purchasing a Type Cover to go with it, despite the extra cost. However, if you don't plan to heavily use desktop Windows applications, I think the iPad is a better tablet due to its deeper app selection, lighter weight, and longer battery life.

I was looking for a tool to assist me with taking notes, run Windows applications, be touch based, and allow me to develop software, etc. I had a Android based tablet that worked well. However, it lacked the ability for me to replace my notepad and pen for meetings, didn't have an easy to use Office replacement (although Office is now available for Android, it doesn't work quite as well as the native version for Windows), and was not a viable development platform for Windows apps. I have a laptop, but I wanted something more portable. The Surface meet all of these needs and then some. In fact, the handwriting recognition is unbelievable (and I have not-so-good handwriting), speed is easily 2x my laptop or desktop, can easily develop software on it, and I am now even processing photos on it with Lightroom. The audio on it is great, the screen is great, the speed / performance is amazing, Windows 8.1 is awesome (it does take a bit to get used to, but once you are there, you won't want to go back), and it offers a great solution for both work and pleasure use. All in all, the device does everything I want and then some. The only negative that I have for it is the finish on the back of the device can be scratched pretty easily. I try hard to take good care of my devices, but yet I have a couple of minor scratches on the back already. Not a big deal, but enough for me to order a Bodyguardz protector for it.

This is an excellent tablet for any widows power user or general PC enthusiast. The OS runs flawlessly on this device and this being my first touchscreen PC running windows 8 it really brings to life the interface in full 1080p display. The battery life is also terrific, I can generally get between 8 - 12 hours depending on how hard I'm running the processor and how much ram I'm using, an important note here being that I usually run the screen at 25% brightness. With extreme use and full brightness, I imagine the battery life could be reduced to as little as 6 hours. I would say this is perfect for student's like myself, however this isn't necessarily true. I was adamant on getting the pro to run my legacy x86 desktop applications, but most of what I do at school, can be accomplished within the metro interface or in the Microsoft office suite. If you're in a debate about whether to get the Surface 2 or Surface Pro 2 this is something you really need to consider. If you need the legacy desktop applications to run locally on your tablet then the Surface Pro 2 is the answer, but if you can do without then the Surface 2 is much more affordable.

This thing is amazing for lack of a better word. Incredible battery life, amazing, amazing portability; very responsive touch operations; full blown Windows. I am running Visual Studio 2013 with SQL Express on this thing. It is much better than my normal business laptop - and would be head to head with the AlienWare had it had dual nvidias but that's not the point here. This thing is amazing - get the "type" keyboard though. Screen size is not a big deal, because you can connect it to a full blown screen when you want. It's the beauty and functionality of touchscreen + keyboard + mouse operation that is so incredible. Also, I am pretty amazed at how good the sound is. It is better than any other portable device, including my alienware 15x. Very surprised at that. Worth every penny

A great system. I recommend getting the 8G/256G model over the smaller ones. 4G is enough to run Win8 today, but in a year or two it will be cramped and this box can't be upgraded. And with the cloud, 256G of storage should be enough. (If not, get an outboard USB drive.)

I needed tablet or laptop that I could take with me and get my work done. I have a laptop and several tablets. I love having a tablet but it was limited for my needs. I bought surface 2 and thought it really wouldn't be that different but I was totally wrong. It had met all my needs and makes my work a lot easier. Easy to take it with me everywhere. Size and weight is a plus too!

I use the Surface Pro 2 for my personal writing and for my teaching workshops. Actually I would like it a little lighter but the weight worked in my favor while typing in the car.(My husband was driving). I was able to get my lessons done due to it's quick response and ease of use. When I want to play games I switch to the tiles interface and go from there. It is responsive quick and does everything I need. I also connect it to my projector for classes to teach my lessons. I think the best part is the stylus that writes like a pencil or use it as a highlighter. That always amazes students in my presentations.

This little guy is my pc for when I travel for work and for when we go on family vacations. It's small and tucks away in my backpack along with my work pc. I'm getting to like onenote a whole lot. I'm able to write my work notes down using the stylus and have them available on other mobile devices like my phone. I also have Lightroom and Photoshop installed. They perform like a champ. Those two programs are battery drainers though, but awesome that I can use these programs on this little guy. It is a bit heavy for how most people use a tablet. You can only hold it for so long before your hands and arms get sore. I use the kickstand all the time... on a flight, while lying down in bed, reclining in my home chair.... Oh, and I also use steam for pc gaming and it runs all my games. Most of the newer games with heavy graphics need to be dialed back a little, but I'm able to play while on the road. Just all around a great device.

I am a real estate agent on the go all the time. The Surface Pro 2 is mobile, has a touch screen, and allows me to write a contract wherever I may be, and have the customer sign on the spot. If I need to hop on the web, I can pull it out and surf quickly. This is the fastest booting computer I have ever owned. The size is perfect for traveling, or business people on the go. The only downfall is the release announcement of the Pro 3 being released 45 days after I purchased my PC. I have told many of my colleagues this is the way to go in our business.

The Surface Pro 2 took the good traits of the original Surface Pro and improved on the concept, addressing several weaknesses of the first edition. These, IMO, are a a significantly better battery life, the 2-position kickstand, the serious pro-level SSD 512 GB storage capacity accompanied by 8 GB of RAM for the top tier model and the addition of a good docking station and other nice peripherals. This, plus the Win 8.1 update make the Surface Pro 2 a totally credible and very convenient work notebook/desktop replacement, kudos Microsoft.

Really took my time researching and deciding to purchase this. We have a Kindle, Sony e-reader (now defunct) , Asus Transformer, IPad Mini, Mac laptop, Win Laptops and desktops at home (like everyone in the Information age - hehe). I had a Lenovo ThinkPad tablet (with Wacom digitizer) that I was looking to replace - I was one of the first adopters of the Win Tablet + digitizer from early 2000s when the form factor was not ideal for this concept. Not ideal in fact that I ended up using it more as a regular laptop that was almost always docked. The other capacitive touch screen and pens with no touch sensitivity just didn't cut it either. Suffice it to say it was a long wait to risk investing in the next best thing until now. The Surface is really fast (booting, restarting, moving, around using digitizer, running apps). Ironically sometimes frustrating deciding what to do when I am just fiddling around because it can do so much. And because any app not in the app store I can install as a desktop app - there is really no limit. This has realized what I had hoped at the time my old Lenovo ThinkPad tablet would be. A truly beautiful, light and fully working Windows OS that has a digitizer - the portability for so much power still leaves me smiling - no longer tethered inside or in one place. The split screen which at first I thought was gimmicky, ended up becoming something I use A LOT. That it can split into three *jaw drops* just attests to this tools split personalities …I mean, Jack of all trade-ness :) Funny this weekend, my 12 yr. old, after showing her 3D Live Interior Design app running on it, now wants to keep using my Surface instead of her IPad - she really mastered using the app in no time. Its amusing that another shiiny usurped Apple's coolness factor in this house... for now (I am sure Apple is hatching something up theirs sleeves). I took my time buying the Surface keyboard - I thought the dock was more important to purchase first and I believe I made the right decision since I really do use tablet docked 30% of the time and had other usb/wireless keyboards I can use. When I finally bought it (after waiting for Powercover and deciding to nix that for lack of backlight) was a joy to use as well. I didn't purchase a case since I dock fairly often and didn't want the hassle, so the skin (decal-girl) and the keyboard suffice for what I want for protection when I had my tablet out of the sleeve. That fact that keyboard is actually not so rigid on the joint make it easier to use when lounging (compared to my Transformer which keyboard I rarely used), the magnets are REALLY strong which is perfect since it makes it easier to use take off repeatedly. If I had to be nitpicky - I really wish the pen had a dedicated storage place other than latching to the power port, even just an attached loop to hook pen onto would have been better - cause it is so easy to get that creative artistic inspiration going to realize the pen was somewhere else in the house. Also, the power connection is not as easy to attach to tablet (as the keyboard is) - you have to be more precise when trying to plug it in. For such a highly repeated task it can get annoying. Lastly, I am a little annoyed too that two months after buying it, they started giving away freebies like free touch keyboard and controller as enticement to XP holdouts ( but I was an XP tablet holdout for a long time too until Win 7) - so OK I guess I am more annoyed that my timing sucks >_< (I could talk about Surface all day long but my lunch time is only this long - but yeah 5 THUMBS UP, I <3 IT WITH ALL MY <3!)

If you are an artist, don't waste your time on this. I knew the SP2 had corner issues like most tablet PCs do, but the parallax is so obvious you can't draw to save your life. SP2 pales in comparison to competing Wacom Technology (Cintiq Companion and Hybrid). I've tried multiple hard resets, running pen calibration codes, using multiple calibration software, different pens, angles, art software... Ect. It's pleasing computer great for business and computing...stuff. oh, WiFi drivers are weak too, can't pick up a signal even if you're right next to the router. Tried contacting Microsoft, they were of no help. Battery life is good. The machine itself gets really hot. I suppose there isn't a fan inside.

I needed a light weight fully functioning PC for traveling and meetings. I have no need for a limited function tablet and didn't want a second laptop. (I own a 17" HP Elitebook laptop.) The Microsoft - Surface Pro 2 - 256GB is a very portable, full function PC. With the battery backup keyboard and a mouse it does it all.

Everyone's first concern with mobile devices is battery life. Battery life with constant use, I would give around 5-7 hours (I am expecting to get the power cover when released). I use this mainly for work purposes with office 365 and for diagnosing other computers. No complaints on using multiple apps and programs at the same time. the i5-4300U processor and 8GB RAM are plenty enough to run just about everything. The price may seem high for some and this is true. It is not meant for occasional use. This is recommend for business and student use. Win 8 may be a learning curve for most because it is different. Once you get used to the charms and shortcuts then you should have no problem because it runs just like Windows 7.

I love the Surface. It is a great tablet and works well as a laptop replacement. You no longer need to live in the limited world of Android and iOS. Windows Pro allows you do anything your work and personal life requires. I got the 256 GB so that I could get the 8 GB of RAM. I really feel that this is important for running multiple displays like I do for work.

The Surface Pro 2 is a great tablet. It is easy to set up and begin to explore. Switching between the tablet view and a normal desktop view is easy and useful. If I need to do much typing, I prefer to use the keyboard and sit at a table. The on-screen keyboard is O.K. for small typing tasks.

I really like the surface pro 2, though the experience isn't yet perfect. As far as the hardware goes, I absolutely love it. Powerful, solid battery life, very portable. As a tablet, works great but gets a little heavy over time. The windows 8 experience is excellent with a touch screen, except screen scaling is still pretty poor, even after windows 8.1 update 1. Still recommend but the tiny icons/text in some desktop apps may prove difficult for some.

I was thinking of getting the Asus T300 Chi when it came out but then I saw on Windows Central that Best Buy had the 256 GB Surface Pro 2 on sale for $599 so I couldn't pass it up. This has been an awesome tablet. I had a Nokia Lumia 2520 which ran on Windows RT. This runs on full Windows. It's lighting fast, has a great screen, and has pretty good battery life, especially when paired up with the Power Cover.

I got this product because I wanted portability and ease of a tablet but the power of a laptop. I was nervous that it wouldn't be able to run every program I needed especially Mathematica which I use for my research. I was really happy to see Mathematica functioning well on my surface pro! I also needed to use NoMachine to remote login to my office computer and that works well and fast on the surface pro as well! I would have given this five stars but if you are looking for the full tablet experience on this device then I wouldn't recommend it. But for what I wanted it's perfect so overall very pleased.