Life with Microsoft Surface: Day 6
Thursday, November 8, 2012 by Frogboy | Discussion: Personal Computing
Yesterday I mentioned that there's no Metro version of the Windows essentials utilities. This remains a baffling issue as a Live Movie Maker and a Live Writer would be very nice to haven.
I will say that the Metro version of Skype is nice. Which brings me to today's observation: Microsoft has got to come up with a distinct classification for WinRT apps because it's impossible to do a decent search on the terms Modern and UI. As in, what is the best Modern UI Facebook client.
The nice thing about the term Metro is that it's distinct. Like iOS or Android, it lends itself to being easily searchable and instantly recognizeable as being different from a normal Windows app. Modern UI won't cut it. We need a term or else we'll end up stuck with something like WinRT which in itself is problematic. I think Microsoft should have just bit the bullet and paid whatever they had to pay to keep referring to these apps as Metro apps.
Surface isn't competing against my iPad for use right now. Instead, it is competing for use with my MacBook Air. It's ironic that Surface shines the most as a notebook rather than as a tablet. I can, and have, used it as a tablet but I find it most useful in using the upgraded keyboard with it. Frankly, if it didn't have so many rough edges (not the hardware, but the software) I'd be tempted to recommend it over any ultra portable out there. It's that good.
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Reply #21 Monday, December 24, 2012 5:32 PM
I have really been enjoying my Surface, and as I learn more about it the more I like it. Today I realized that by plugging my printer into the USB port the drivers would automatically download. I can now print either via USB or wirelessly straight from the tablet.
Neither my iPad or Android tablets that can do that (at least not with my Canon A-I-O printer).
I didn't go with the upgraded keyboard, I kind of like the Touch Cover and can type on it quite well.
I'm not looking at the Surface as a laptop replacement, but rather as a much better tablet. And that full width kickstand rocks.