Surface Pro review

So earlier this year, I did a Surface RT review, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of Microsoft's tablet offering, in my biased opinion.  I do work for Microsoft and am thus predisposed to liking Microsoft products so take my reviews with whatever amount of salt you deem appropriate.

The Surface Pro is the best device I've ever owned.  The form factor and usability surpasses basically anything I've ever bought, in my opinion, it's that good.  I wanted a note-taking/sketching tablet that had an active digitizer.  I got that, plus a decent, if not fantastic laptop.  The tech blogs I read criticized the device for not fitting into any category.  It's noticeably heavier than an iPad, to the point of being slightly uncomfortable to use in certain situations where the iPad isn't uncomfortable, though I would argue those situations are few and far between.  Generally I find the iPad is too heavy for most long-term tablet holding tasks anyway.  The Surface Pro also has a smaller screen than any laptop I've ever used, and unlike the iPad criticism, it's hard to argue that the Surface Pro's screen isn't too small to be effective as a laptop.  But it has an active digitizer and runs metro apps!  

This means I don't really need to use it as a laptop.  I turn it sideways and use the dreaded portrait mode to take notes during meetings and doodle off to the side in One Note. I can use it to paint or draw as needed with several fantastic apps available for Windows 8, including Art Rage, Sketchbook Pro, and the free Fresh Paint which is actually an app that runs in Windows RT.

The other really nice thing about the Surface Pro is that you're not limited to Windows RT apps and all your legacy windows 7 apps not only run, but run pretty well.  And if the Surface Pro is a heavy iPad, it's an amazingly thin and light laptop, even with the type cover.  

I've found the battery life to be basically perfect for my needs.  I'll be out of juice by the end of the day, but I don't need to charge during the day with my workload.  Bear in mind that most of the work I do is done on a full Desktop PC, so generally the Surface Pro is relegated to taking notes. I probably get about 5 hours out of it before a charge.  I recently took it on a flight to Los Angeles, and used it to stream music over Wi Fi via X Box music, and paint some pictures, and I still had half a charge when I landed. That's about 90 minutes of heavy use, which I think is highly acceptable.

The device does get extremely hot for a tablet, but not uncomfortably so.  I have yet to hear the fan, though I've felt it blowing air out, so it is very quiet.   I'd rather not need a fan or have the device get hot, but it suits my needs pretty well.  

Overall if the battery life were closer to 10 hours, I think this device would be even better, though I find it incredibly good right now.  Highly recommended for anyone that sees the utility of the active digitizer.  

It's kind of late so apologies for the quick/dirtiness of this, but I wanted to get it out there because I am super happy to have a Surface Pro and if a new one comes out with a Haswell chip, I think you'd have to be a fool not to consider it.