Great tablet that's been abandoned by Microsoft

The Microsoft Surface 2 is the worthy successor to the original Microsoft Surface RT tablet. Using a form of Microsoft Windows (Windows RT) designed for ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) processors, the kind of processors typically seen in smart phones and Android tablets, the Surface 2 is responsive and sensitive. The screen is a 1080P capable screen, an improvement over the original RT's screen. Also the Surface 2 features a USB 3.0 port as well. Finger gestures on the Surface are far superior to gestures on an iPad or Android device. Simply swiping the display down minimizes a program very intuitively; swiping it down and holding it for a second closes the program completely. The browser works well for web surfing, and the incorporated kickstand in the back has two positions, making it easy to find a good working angle to see the screen. Where the Surface 2 has trouble is in the lack of apps. Not many regular Windows apps have been ported for use in Windows RT for an ARM processor. Microsoft also locked down the tablet, making it nearly impossible to run apps that haven't been obtained through the official Microsoft store. There were workarounds for Windows RT 8.0, but those workarounds don't function in Windows RT 8.1. As of 2017, if you buy a Surface 2, it's pretty much good for web surfing, some simple word/spreadsheet processing using Windows Mobile Office (included) and listening to various media (video, music, other audio). Sadly, the Amazon Kindle app was withdrawn from the Microsoft Store for RT devices, so there's no app for Kindle. However, it's still possible to read your Kindle library both online and offline, as long as you first are able to connect to Amazon. Battery life is good, though still short of what you can get with an iPad. In terms of value, the RT products appear to be a dead-end for Microsoft, with no further updates expected. Microsoft is working on a various "cloud" devices which some rumors state are simply updated versions of Windows RT. If true and if the products appear, one can hope that perhaps an upgrade path will be made for these truly great, if not well-known/high-selling, tablets.Read full review

Verified purchase: Yes