4 ms·

That is actually a pretty big improvement. Kudos to Microsoft. The Surface Pro 2 is a really nice machine if you are looking for a tablet/laptop hybrid however

That is actually a pretty big improvement. Kudos to Microsoft. The Surface Pro 2 is a really nice machine if you are looking for a tablet/laptop hybrid however I still can't get myself away from a nice physical keyboard so settled with the Vaio Pro 13 which is almost a dream machine for me. Although after seeing the new PCIe SSD benchmarks in the new Mac Book Pro's I am a little envious. My wallet is happy I went with the Sony though ;)

pridkett 13y ago
There are two different configurations of the Vaio Pro 13 in the wild. All have on a similar form factor SSD but on some of the "pre-configured" models this is connected via a SATA3 bridge rather PCIe. On the models with the PCIe the performance is equivalent (or close enough, within a few percentage) to that of the new machines from Apple.
- InTheSwiss 13y ago
  Not seen any with SATA3, mine is PCIe and it is fast as hell but apparently the new MBP PCIe models are a little faster.
UnoriginalGuy 13y ago
Have you tried Microsoft's "type" keyboard? Very similar feel to most laptop keyboards. Unlike their "touch" keyboard which has no tactile response (and I personally dislike it).
- InTheSwiss 13y ago
  Yeah the type cover is quite decent but actually using the Surface with the type cover on my lap feels quite unstable at times which is why I couldn't get on with it. I love the idea of a detachable keyboard though and hope to see more innovation like this from Microsoft in the future. A type cover with a physical connection catch/lock would be great. Maybe next generation :)
  - rickyc091 13y ago
    I recommend the type cover as well. I've been able to get 80-90wpm on it where as with an apple keypad I can get 100-120wpm, so its not horrible. The response is pretty good, the trackpad is atrocious, then again, I'm coming from Apple's trackpad. The type cover trackpad reminds me a bit of a netbook's trackpad, but hey, at least its functional. I would definitely not recommend the touch cover as there's a very noticeable typing lag.
gabemart 13y ago
> The Surface Pro 2 is a really nice machine if you are looking for a tablet/laptop hybrid Is there a similar convertible that comes with a real, physical keyboard that tucks behind the screen when not in use? I remember a few being announced but am unsure if any come recommended.
- InTheSwiss 13y ago
  There are. I have only used a Lenovo flip tablet/laptop which was ok. The newer model seems to fix some of the things I disliked about it such as the keys on the keyboard recess into the body when flipped over. Really nicely engineered from the videos I have seen. I worry about the hinges though. They are all very new concepts so I want to wait and see how the hinges last out over a year or two of constantly being twisted all the way round.
- anonymfus 13y ago
  Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga? Nokia Lumia 2520? > come recommended http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/all-pcs http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/all-pcs — under "2-in-1 PCs" category?
- MichaelGG 13y ago
  ThinkPad X touch series are great, as they're ThinkPads (which still seem to be the highest quality, despite Lenovo's efforts). The X series are laptops first, convertible tablets second. There's also a ton of convertible tablets made by plenty of vendors. In 2005, Toshiba made some nice ones. A few years ago Fuji had some neat ones. Nowadays it seems everyone has some lightweight convertible available. On the low end, I've heard great things about the new ~$400 Asus Transformer.

pridkett 13y ago

There are two different configurations of the Vaio Pro 13 in the wild. All have on a similar form factor SSD but on some of the "pre-configured" models this is connected via a SATA3 bridge rather PCIe. On the models with the PCIe the performance is equivalent (or close enough, within a few percentage) to that of the new machines from Apple.

InTheSwiss 13y ago
Not seen any with SATA3, mine is PCIe and it is fast as hell but apparently the new MBP PCIe models are a little faster.

UnoriginalGuy 13y ago

Have you tried Microsoft's "type" keyboard? Very similar feel to most laptop keyboards. Unlike their "touch" keyboard which has no tactile response (and I personally dislike it).

InTheSwiss 13y ago
Yeah the type cover is quite decent but actually using the Surface with the type cover on my lap feels quite unstable at times which is why I couldn't get on with it. I love the idea of a detachable keyboard though and hope to see more innovation like this from Microsoft in the future. A type cover with a physical connection catch/lock would be great. Maybe next generation :)
- rickyc091 13y ago
  I recommend the type cover as well. I've been able to get 80-90wpm on it where as with an apple keypad I can get 100-120wpm, so its not horrible. The response is pretty good, the trackpad is atrocious, then again, I'm coming from Apple's trackpad. The type cover trackpad reminds me a bit of a netbook's trackpad, but hey, at least its functional. I would definitely not recommend the touch cover as there's a very noticeable typing lag.

gabemart 13y ago

> The Surface Pro 2 is a really nice machine if you are looking for a tablet/laptop hybrid Is there a similar convertible that comes with a real, physical keyboard that tucks behind the screen when not in use? I remember a few being announced but am unsure if any come recommended.

InTheSwiss 13y ago
There are. I have only used a Lenovo flip tablet/laptop which was ok. The newer model seems to fix some of the things I disliked about it such as the keys on the keyboard recess into the body when flipped over. Really nicely engineered from the videos I have seen. I worry about the hinges though. They are all very new concepts so I want to wait and see how the hinges last out over a year or two of constantly being twisted all the way round.
anonymfus 13y ago
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga? Nokia Lumia 2520? > come recommended http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/all-pcs http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/all-pcs — under "2-in-1 PCs" category?
MichaelGG 13y ago
ThinkPad X touch series are great, as they're ThinkPads (which still seem to be the highest quality, despite Lenovo's efforts). The X series are laptops first, convertible tablets second. There's also a ton of convertible tablets made by plenty of vendors. In 2005, Toshiba made some nice ones. A few years ago Fuji had some neat ones. Nowadays it seems everyone has some lightweight convertible available. On the low end, I've heard great things about the new ~$400 Asus Transformer.