If you happen to own Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet, you may have experienced issues with wireless reliability that has so far not been fixed. While most users have still been able to get online, connections are often dropping or giving other errors for some users.

The good news is that yesterday Microsoft officially started rolling out an RT update that fixes the Wi-Fi issues and brings several other performance improvements into the mix as well. This includes driver updates and more.
To get the latest upgrade head to: PC Settings> Settings> Change PC Settings> Windows Update> Check for Updates

Have you snagged the update yet, if so did it fix your Wi-Fi troubles or did you not have any problems with the reliability of the Surface’s WiFi to begin with?

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Microsoft has officially confirmed what many of us have been expecting for a very long time, the Microsoft Surface RT is going to finally start expanding to new retail locations.

The Surface RT will start to arrive in new retailers in the US and Australia starting in mid-December and going into 2013. Additionally, several of Microsoft’s pop-up locations are going to be shifted into full retail outlets.

The idea is that Microsoft will be able to capture some last-minute holiday sales this year, and will be a solid position for 1st quarter 2013 sales.

So what stores are getting the Surface RT? We don’t know the full list yet, but Staples has officially spoke up to say that they will carry the tablet in all of its retail locations starting tomorrow, December 12th.

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We are finally getting solid information about the Microsoft Surface Pro’s pricing. What’s the verdict? Pricing will start at $899 for a 64GB version, or $999 for a 128GB model.

What’s the difference between the Pro and “RT” models of the Surface? Quite a lot, actually. The Surface RT runs on an ARM processor and has a version of Windows called “Windows RT”. This works about the same as Windows 8 does, with the exception that it is missing true desktop application support. With the Surface you get an Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM (instead of the RT’s 2GB), a 1080p display and an overall package that is a little heavier than the Surface RT but still weights less than two pounds. You also get a mini display port jack, a better battery and a full-size USB 3.0 port.

So is this pricing good or bad? It’s sort of neither. It isn’t that much higher than the iPad when you consider that you get the full power of desktop applications. That said, it is a little more expensive than the Macbook Air when you factor in the added cost of a Surface Touch Cover to give the Surface true laptop capabilities.

If Microsoft had targeted even just $100 lower on each model, the competition would have seriously been in trouble. At this price range? Microsoft still has a good shot of finding success, but perhaps not at the same level they might have if they had been willing to lower prices just a tad bit more.

If you like the new Windows Start UI and the design of the Microsoft Surface, you probably are asking in your head, “Should I get a Surface RT or Pro, then?” The answer depends on a few factors. If you have the extra cash around, get the Pro. It might weigh a little more and costs $400 more than the base 32GB Surface RT, but it also packs a bunch of extra functionality that could come in hand. Still, if you are short on cash, the RT is a great tablet and is probably more than good enough if you plan to use it for entertainment and only light productivity purposes.

For those that are looking to ditch their notebooks or even desktops? No doubt about it, you will want the full power of the Microsoft Surface RT. So how about it, which model do you think looks more promising given the pricing range?

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The Microsoft Surface RT is getting yet another update, this time around it is supposed to improve overall battery life, driver compatibility and even performance. If you’ve had audio issues with the Surface, it is expected to fix these problems as well.

Here are the details directly from the changelog:

KB 2756872 Improvements

• This cumulative update includes the following performance and reliability improvements:
• Increased power efficiency to extend battery life
• Performance improvements in Windows 8 applications and Start screen
• Improved audio and video playback in many scenarios
• Improved application and driver compatibility with Windows 8

Have you managed to get your hands on the latest Surface RT update yet? Did it improve your overall experience as promised or do you not notice any actual differences?

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Microsoft Surface is getting a fair amount of attention this week. First we had rumors of 8-13 hour battery life and lighter-than-iPad designs. Now we have a rumor, from sources reporting to Engadget, that suggests the base RT model will launch at just $199. This is in radical contrast to the earlier suggestions that the cheapest Surface RT tablet might be as expensive as $1000.

So where is the truth in all this? It’s really hard to say, though I’ve previously felt that a $400-$550 price point seemed likely. Why would Microsoft sell so low? The most obvious reason is that Windows RT is unproven, so why would people, other than MS fans, give it a chance at a price that’s on par with high-end Android devices and the iPad? By selling at a loss, MS could get this thing into as many hands as they possibly can, and very quickly. There is no doubt that people would buy this thing by the dozens for just $199.

$199 Pricing – A good or bad strategy for MS?

Let’s say MS goes through with this, is it a good move or not? It really depends. The big question here is whether or not Microsoft could make their money back if they sold at such a low price. Unless a currently unannounced lower-powered 7-inch Surface Microsoft Surface RT is coming at $199 that they’ve yet to announce, MS would have to sell at a serious loss to reach this price point. They already do this with their Xbox line, but keep in mind that Xbox games sell for $50-65, not the $1-$5 that most apps are priced at. It’s possible MS could be targeting a higher price point with apps, perhaps $4-10 on average, but doing so could be equally as dangerous- high prices make piracy of apps all that more appealing for consumers. Another very possible idea could be that Microsoft Surface requires some kind of subscription service that gives access to extra features such as Microsoft Office, Xbox Live, and more. Recently, Microsoft starting selling its Xbox 360 for $99 with a 2-year commitment to Xbox Live- such a similar idea could possibly work with the Surface RT tablet and would give them an easy way to make up the lost dough.

Even if MS can recoup its sales through apps or even the possibility of a subscription service, that doesn’t remove the other elephant in the room. Where does this leave OEMS? Windows RT has already seen tons of players bow out from creating RT devices in anger over the Microsoft Surface. There is NO WAY that anyone else could sell higher priced RT devices if MS prices so low. It could be possible though that MS has decided to stop working with partners on RT, instead reserving that for Windows 8, though I doubt that.

Personally I think it’s possible, but I’m not sure if it is wise. To me, selling at a $275-$375 price point makes more sense. This would still be a loss, but not as sharp, and it would still possibly give OEMs a chance to compete. While it might not sell nearly as well as a $199 Surface RT, it would still be an attractive price point for many of those that want a capable 10-inch tablet. I am optimistic about the idea of a Surface RT tablet with 8-13hr battery life, light design and $199 pricing- but it’s hard not to be very, very skeptical.

What do you think? Any possibility this is real, or simply a rumor that can’t possible be true? IF it proves true, would you buy a Surface RT?

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When the Microsoft Surface tablet was first announced, there was a heck of a lot of hype generated, despite the fact that a lot of the details weren’t actually revealed. Now it seems that we are finally learning a bit more about Microsoft’s upcoming tablet. According to the unofficial information about the tablet, it seems that the ARM-based version, called the Surface RT, is aiming to be lighter than the iPad and will have the ability to play HD video for 13 hours consecutively. How much lighter? Ipads weight 652g and are 9.4mm thick, but the Surface RT will have models that start at 520g.

According to this rumored news, the battery in the Surface features “connected standby” mode which means that the tablet will be asleep and yet can still use a little bit of power for things like updates. In “connected standby” you should be able to get about 320 to 409 hours, with actual usage around 8-13 hours for most tasks.

It’s hard to say whether this news is legit or not, but if it proves true, the Microsoft Surface RT model just got a heck of a lot more interesting. What do you think, if the rumors are true, would you consider the Microsoft Surface tablet over the iPad or a high-end Android tablet? Additionally, how much would you be willing to pay for the Surface RT model? Keep in mind the RT version will not run traditional Windows apps and drivers.
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