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I want a video of people using these as laptops. That's my biggest fear about springing for something like these. Even RT could be tolerable with the right app
by drivebyacct2 14y ago
I want a video of people using these as laptops. That's my biggest fear about springing for something like these.
Even RT could be tolerable with the right apps as a remote machine with that keyboard, similar to what people do with Android+Transformer. I can program on it, work on remote machines.
That having been said, assuming it's somewhat usable on a lap, I'll wait for the Pro too, I have several things that need x86.
- masklinn 14y ago> I want a video of people using these as laptops. Isn't it exactly what he's doing in the videos? edit: the second videos (saving a document in word) also makes many tap target seem laughably small compared to... the guy's fingers to start with. Am I dreaming?
- drivebyacct2 14y agoSorry, I literally mean as a LAPtop device. I want to see him use this in his lap. I have bad habits that leave my fingers a bit nubbier than they should be, but trying to use Office on the RT tablet at Best Buy was barely short of impossible. I'd HAVE to use the keyboard to use it for any amount of time.
- BrentOzar 14y agoBrent the author here. Yes, the Office tap targets are indeed laughably small. I recorded a few versions of these videos trying to get the taps right. I didn't want to upload those because it would look like I'm purposely trying to tap in the wrong places, and then I'd get flamed for that - when in reality, the targets are just too small.
- RyJones 14y agoI've been using Windows RT and the Office preview for months, and I still have to try to hit the click targets very carefully. I usually end up using my pinky, which is still not 100%
- njharman 14y agoWhy not, ya know, use a laptop? There's a reason different form factors exist.
- drivebyacct2 14y agoI think you mistook my question as criticism. To me this is the most interesting new possible form factor, but I revel in the ability to get my MBA out and set it on my knee and use it if I have to. I know I can use the Surface without the keyboard which is an interesting proposition but I want to know just how useful the keyboard is in all types of situations.
- Someone 14y agoI haven't used (or even seen in real life) the Surface, but I would expect using the stand would be a challenge. It just feels to risky to put that tine edge close to your knees; the screen would drop on the floor too easily. That means you will have to move the edge of the screen at least, say, 15 cm from your knees. Also, having that 'one, steep, angle' for the stand would mean that looking at the screen would be a problem. So, I would guess using the stand is out. That leaves placing the screen flat on your upper legs with the keyboard in front of it. In that setup, I am still worried about the keyboard detaching from the screen, and the screen dropping on the floor. The keyboard would have to be attached fairly firmly to the screen for that setup to feel secure. It also would place the screen in an awkward location for reading: too far away, and at an inconvenient angle. So, for that setup, I expect you will want something that wraps both the underside of the keyboard and the back of the screen, and props up the screen by, say, 10 cm. I guess something like that will pop up on Kickstarter soon.