The Surface RT, as it was then known, was Microsoft's first attempt to build a tablet computer.

On the upside, it was a well-built tablet with an attractive screen. It was also a bit more than a tablet—an integrated kickstand was handy for watching streaming video and the like. When paired with one of Microsoft's keyboard accessories, it became a good option for homework, e-mailing, light work, and more thanks to the bundled Office 2013 apps.

Specs at a glance: Microsoft Surface with Windows RT Screen 1920×1080 10.6" (207 PPI), 5-point capacitive touchscreen OS Windows RT 8.1 CPU 1.7GHz NVIDIA Tegra 4 T40 RAM 2GB DDR3L (non-upgradeable) GPU NVIDIA Tegra 4 HDD 32GB or 64GB solid-state drive (of which about 20 or 52 GB are usable) Networking 802.11a/b/g/n with 2x2 MIMO antennas, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports Micro-HDMI, headphones, microSDXC, USB 3, Cover port Size 10.81×6.79×0.35" Weight 1.49 lb (676 g) Battery 31.5 Wh Warranty 1 year Starting price $449 Price as reviewed $449 Sensor Ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, 5MP rear camera, 3.5MP front camera Other perks 24 W charger

On the downside, the screen had a disappointingly low resolution of 1366×768, and the processor, an Nvidia Tegra 3, was easily overwhelmed with even simple tasks. Windows RT 8's touch interface worked well, but it was arguably incomplete since various tasks required the use of the desktop. Office 2013 took this to the next level, having virtually no touch interface at all. Sure, it was nice with one of the keyboard accessories, but those were expensive extras.

And that description was equally applicable to the device itself. At launch, the Surface RT's $499 price meant it cost a comparable amount to an iPad without the rich breadth of the iPad's software ecosystem.

It's perhaps no great surprise, then, that the Surface RT didn't go on to sell very well. Exactly how well (or how badly) it sold remains unclear, but the one thing we know for sure is that Microsoft wrote down $900 million in unsold stock when it cut the price of the tablets to a much more palatable $349. The company reports that since then, the tablet has gone on to sell better (though, again, we're left without specifics).

Iterative development

The Surface 2 is a very pointed, specific response to the criticisms of the Surface RT (which has now been renamed to simply "Surface"). The design and concept of the machine remains essentially identical. It's still a tablet with a kickstand and keyboard attachments, and Microsoft is still positioning it as something that does more than a "traditional" tablet. The purpose of the Surface 2 is not to reinvent Microsoft's entry into the tablet market. It's to refine it. Every change in the Surface 2 bar one is motivated by pain points suffered by the first generation device.

That one exception is, however, the logical place to start, just because it's so blatant. The Surface 2 isn't "dark titanium" (which is to say, black) anymore. It's silver-gray. It still uses the same "VaporMg" casing, and it still feels the same, but it now looks metallic. In use, the difference is minimally noticeable. The all-glass front of the machine still has a black trim surround around the LCD, so it's only the very edges of the system, where the case meets the glass, that betray the change.

The Surface 2 is also apparently an imperceptibly different size and weight to the first generation device. Microsoft claims that the new version is two hundredths of an inch taller, two hundredths of an inch thinner, and at least one hundredth of a pound lighter. Honestly, if it were two hundredths of an inch shorter, I would have assumed that "dark titanium" was one hundredth of an inch thick and that's where the saving came from. As it is? I don't have any measuring devices with the precision to assess the new vital statistics.

The Surface 2 isn't the lightest tablet in its weight class, but to me at least, it's light enough. I've long believed that there's a certain critical density that gadgets need to offer. If they feel too light for their volume, they come across as insubstantial and fragile, almost untrustworthy. The Surface 2 feels satisfyingly sturdy, but it's still light enough to hold comfortably, even in the "lying in bed, holding it in mid-air in front of your face" posture that looks idiotic but is good for watching videos.

The other external part that has changed is that all-important kickstand. Gone is the single 22-degree angle of the original kickstand. It's been replaced by a dual-position kickstand that opens to 24 degrees and 40 degrees. The new angle is meant to make the Surface 2 more comfortable if you're tall or using the device on your lap.

The old kickstand was remarkably crisp, confidently snapping into place. The new edition doesn't feel quite as crisp in its middle 24-degree position, but that's not altogether surprising. Since you can push the kickstand past 24 degrees, it doesn't click into place with the same assurance as the old one. It's not so stiff as to mean that you can't overshoot 24 degrees and open it up all the way by accident, but equally, it's not so flaccid as to make it hard to find the 24 degree notch.

Overall, I'm impressed with the engineering. I did accidentally knock the Surface 2 into the more open position once or twice while using it, but that minor inconvenience is worth the greater convenience of the two angles. Even as someone who isn't tall, the new angle is worth having whenever using the Surface 2 in non-optimum conditions, such as the tray tables on a plane. Because those tables are a bit too low and a bit too close to you, the 40 degree angle is nice to have.