A misunderstood gem of a product
As an Apple user, I was dismissive of Microsoft's first release 'Surface' tablets. I ignorantly laughed along with seemingly everybody else about kickstands, battery life, weight etc.
Then Microsoft released the second version and I actually thought the Surface 2 looked quite promising, so I bought one to try it out. I was fairly impressed, but with the lack of apps and being heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, I sold the Surface 2 on a few months later, going back to my safe haven of Apple goodness.
Recently, I decided to revise my 'on the road' needs. I had a 2014 11 inch MacBook Air and a large Wacom Intuos Graphics tablet as my carry everywhere rig (portable digital studio), which worked for me, but was cumbersome. The MacBook Air is a great device, but the screen, although it is sharp, isn't the greatest for true colour correction, so it was more of a hit and miss venture when post processing images, combined with my large graphics tablet, I actually wondered if there was a better solution out there, so started looking around. . .
I loved the 11 inch size / footprint of the MacBook Air, so didn't really want to go any bigger additionally, I would like it to have a built in Wacom like pen option, with the option of running my Adobe Cloud Subscribed Lightroom and Photoshop. Apple's 9.7 inch iPad Pro possibly?
At £619.00 for the 128GB version, plus £79.00 for the pencil and a further £129.00 for the smart keyboard, I was looking at @£830 outlay, but it couldn't run my full Adobe editing apps. The search continued. . .
It was pouring down, I was feeling a bit under the weather and was just browsing around eBay, when the Surface popped into my head again. I knew that Microsoft had released updated versions so I started searching for Surface 3, maybe even a Pro 3. That's when I hit on the Surface Pro 2.
The Surface Pro 3 is bigger with a 12" display as opposed to a 10.8" on the Surface Pro 2. Both had pen input support, so you could use both screens as a graphics tablet like device, so for image editing, the pen input was a welcome addition (no more large Intros to carry around). What finally swung the Pro 2 over the Pro 3 though, was the pen support on the Pro 2, was using Wacom pen technology, the Pro 3 used Bluetooth.
Looking at the prices of the Pro 2, I couldn't believe how cheap they were selling. I got a 128GB version with 2 power adapters and 2 keyboards for under £250.00. It even had the pen.
To say I was a little hesitant when it arrived is an understatement. But I opened it up and turned it on, finished setting it up. Fortunately, I had a Microsoft account held over from my early Surface 2 experience, so decided to resurrect that. Within a few minutes, I was looking at the Surface Pro 2 running Windows 10.
I downloaded my Adobe programs, installed my camera software and was up and running with minimal fuss. After 5 weeks use, this is my go to device. The battery life is not exceptional, but on full charge, I can get 6 - 7 hours use depending on tasks being performed. The screen is gorgeous. The colours rich and the display can be properly calibrated using my ColorMunki Photo (unlike iPads and other tablets).
With the keyboard attached, I use this as I did my MacBook Air, with the keyboard off or folded back out the way, I can edit images in Photoshop or Lightroom using the Wacom Pen, accurately and quickly. It does take a little getting used to, but once you do get used to it, it is a fantastic on the road editing studio.
I absolutely love my Surface Pro 2. It's fast, powerful, very reliable, with absolutely no issues so far and as for the weight? Yeah it's a little heavier than a MacBook Air or iPad, but it is very solidly built. I actually appreciate the weight it has. It feels solid, but I know which I would rather have if a wild animal was heading my way looking for lunch. Surface 2 or MacBook Air / iPad? The MacBook Air and iPad would probably bend. The Surface Pro 2 would make the animal stop and think again and when it was off looking somewhere else for lunch, I could get back to editing my images.
When out on the road, my mobile studio now fits in a smaller bag along with my camera gear.
The Surface Pro 2 has been a revelation for my on the road editing needs. A full PC in a small tablet form capable of way more than many of the competition. At the current prices, this really should be a no brainer for anyone wanting something small and powerful.
The Microsoft Surface Pro 2, is a misunderstood gem of a product. I'm an Apple guy, but I absolutely love mine.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: Pre-owned