Breaking the Surface

SINGAPORE — Microsoft announced it was going to make its own branded tablet running its touch-friendly Windows 8 operating system last October. Two weeks ago, the Surface RT tablet finally landed in Singapore.

If you think the lines are blurring between PCs and tablets, wait till you try the Surface RT.

POCKET DESKTOP

First off, the tablet comes loaded with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT, which incorporates familiar software such as Word, Powerpoint, Excel and OneNote. Other tablets may give you the option of using apps that simulate or even convert Word documents but there is a certain sense of security when you’re using original software (there was no fear that the document might not work back on my laptop, or that I’d lose chunks of text).

The tablet also makes transferring — and saving — files easy. It has a full USB 2.0 port as well as a microSDXC card slot hidden behind the kickstand. Movies, music and work files can be transferred easily and because the Windows 8 interface on the tablet and PC are similar, it feels as if you’re working off a laptop.

Unlike other tablets I’ve personally worked on, the Surface comes with its own kickstand so you need not splurge on an accessory. Despite having a USB port, a microSD slot and its own kickstand, the Surface maintained its svelte profile at a 9.4mm thick — the same as the latest iPad.

The Surface is touted to be an entertainment machine, according to Microsoft executives at the launch. It’s 10.6-inch ClearType HD Display with 16:9 (widescreen) aspect ratio gives it a cinemascope effect. At 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, the display — while is not the best I have seen — does a decent job of playing movies. Unfortunately, the native stereo speakers are very weak, the movies and music I played on it were generally flat with no mids, lows or highs. I would definitely recommend a good set of headphones to enhance your movie experience.

WORK WARRIOR

The way I see it, the Surface RT seems to be made for travel. Whether you’re on the bus, the MRT or the plane, this is a handy tablet — at 275mm X 172mm — to carry around, It is a little wider and a little shorter than the iPad 4, which makes it easier to handle with one hand. Although slightly heavier than the iPad, it does not weigh you down.

The Microsoft Office means you would be able to work off it and leave your hefty laptop back at the office. Unfortunately, the Surface RT does not come with a 3G option so you will have to tether it to your smartphone to surf on-the-go or load up thumbdrives to bring your files, movies and music. The tablet I had also seemed to have some trouble logging on to Wi-Fi, and even after I managed to, it would lose connection frequently or connect with limited speeds. Some news reports say Microsoft has issued an update to solve the issue.

Adding to its mobility is its great battery life. I was able to on the machine for two days on a single charge, even with some music and video playback, and a slightly higher screen brightness.

KEY OPTIONS

To make work easier, Microsoft has offered two optional external keyboard options: The Touch Cover and the Type Cover. The Touch Cover is a light keyboard made of felt, which feels a little weird at first touch but you will soon be speed typing away after a couple of hours with it. It feels like you are typing on a piece of cloth, which can be quite luxurious for your fingers.

For users who prefer the clackety-clack of the keyboard, the Type Cover offers the tactile feel without the increasing the thickness or noticeable weight. The keyboard is lined with felt on the other side so it makes for a good case for the Surface RT as well. Both keyboards are automaticaly disabled with they are flipped over against the back of the tablet, and are sold separately.

FINE FINISH

There is no denying the premium build of the Surface RT. Its VaporMg casing (say vapour mag) has a nice matt finish that has a premium feel to it. The tablet runs on a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor with 2GB of RAM, which is supposed to be quick but you will notice a slight lag when you launch certain apps. Once the apps have been launched, it’s smooth sailing though.

The Microsoft Surface RT is a well-designed tablet and boasts a nice screen for watching movies on. But the audio is a let down and, while it performs basic functions well, it needs to catch up with competitors in the apps ecosystem. Together with its Wi-Fi connectivity issues, the Surface RT may just be left out in the cold.

The 32GB Surface RT is available at Challenger stores starting from S$668.