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Here's another use case for it: Contractor. I've got a Surface Pro 1, got it secondhand for £600. It runs Visual Studio very well. I'm also running IntelliJ ID

Here's another use case for it: Contractor. I've got a Surface Pro 1, got it secondhand for £600. It runs Visual Studio very well. I'm also running IntelliJ IDEA for Android development. Its light so easy to take when I visit clients. Through the single USB3 port I can connect a USB hub and run VGA, ethernet, mouse and keyboard, so when I'm at a client site I dock into the screens/keyboards they have on site. When I'm at home I dock into my own setup. When I'm in-between I can use the touch cover to get stuff done on the train. The 96GB or so that I have on the SSD is fine for everything I need. Its not like I'm storing DVDs or music on this thing. When I'm in meetings the stylus and one-note is awesome. As for the Surface Pro 2, obviously faster and better battery sounds good. Also the two-stage kickstand would definitely help.

LaSombra 13y ago
Which VGA and Ethernet adaptors do you use?
- rickyc091 13y ago
  I tested the Surface Pro 2 with an Apple mini displayport VGA adapter and it works without any issues.
- codeulike 13y ago
  I did get the mini display port to work with a generic mac adapter - this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002WUVAVE http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002WUVAVE But actually as I was plugging a USB hub in anyway, it was easier to just use a cheap USB to VGA adapter. Similarly, there are loads of cheap USB to Ethernet adapters around. You can get away with USB2 devices, they dont need to be USB3 standard. Basically, its a windows laptop so pretty much any USB thing will work with it. I notice that people make 'usb docking stations' (a docking station that connects via one usb port) but they all have separate power supply. I think there's a gap in the market for an unpowered all-in-one usb docking station, because such things can clearly be made to work.
teyc 13y ago
Can it support two screens?
- Intermernet 13y ago
  It has a Mini Display port so "technically" it can support 4, but I've heard of people successfully using 2 with a splitter.
  - benjojo12 13y ago
    Hey, can you inform me what kind of splitter you would need to do this?
- codeulike 13y ago
  I haven't tried more than one external screen, but presumably between the display port and the USB hub you should be able to connect several. USB-to-display adapters are basically outboard graphics cards, right?

LaSombra 13y ago

Which VGA and Ethernet adaptors do you use?

rickyc091 13y ago
I tested the Surface Pro 2 with an Apple mini displayport VGA adapter and it works without any issues.
codeulike 13y ago
I did get the mini display port to work with a generic mac adapter - this one: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002WUVAVE http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002WUVAVE But actually as I was plugging a USB hub in anyway, it was easier to just use a cheap USB to VGA adapter. Similarly, there are loads of cheap USB to Ethernet adapters around. You can get away with USB2 devices, they dont need to be USB3 standard. Basically, its a windows laptop so pretty much any USB thing will work with it. I notice that people make 'usb docking stations' (a docking station that connects via one usb port) but they all have separate power supply. I think there's a gap in the market for an unpowered all-in-one usb docking station, because such things can clearly be made to work.

teyc 13y ago

Can it support two screens?

Intermernet 13y ago
It has a Mini Display port so "technically" it can support 4, but I've heard of people successfully using 2 with a splitter.
- benjojo12 13y ago
  Hey, can you inform me what kind of splitter you would need to do this?
codeulike 13y ago
I haven't tried more than one external screen, but presumably between the display port and the USB hub you should be able to connect several. USB-to-display adapters are basically outboard graphics cards, right?