What's on your Surface Pro Shopping List?

[MonkeyMickey]

Hi guys,

Given that the Pro is almost finally here, I'm curious how people are intending to use it and what they have bought or are going to buy to support their usage scenarios. The Pro is the device I've been waiting for, in that I'm able to replace pretty much everything I use with the minimum of compromise.

I'll be using it for:

Work - With a portable usb monitor and bluetooth mouse/keyboard while at my desk. Simply unplugging the monitor and using the touch cover/pen for meetings with one note. It will also be my main presentation device when pitching/debriefing to clients.

Entertainment - plugged into the home cinema for movies and music via a mini-dp to HDMI adapter

Photography - plugged into my dell 27" WQHD monitor in the study and using a USB3 1TB hard drive for lightroom (already tested and works very well)

So what I've bought so far:

Dell U2713HM Monitor to connect via DP (and USB 3 hub built in)
Microsoft wedge mouse
Logitech K810 bluetooth keyboard
1TB bus powered USB 3 external drive
USB 3 Flash drives
USB3 7 port hub for when connected to the home cinema
Mini DP to HDMI and VGA dongles
USB3 Card reader (to read my CF cards)
64gb micro sdxc card
A nice crumpler bag that fits all of the mobile kit I need

Things I still need to buy:

USB monitor - I was going to get the lenovo LT1421, but they've just announced a USB 3 version with touch, higher resolution and a wacom digitiser - the LT1423P. I don't think I'll bother with the wireless version as it is not out until June and has considerable lag

Touch cover - given I have the BT keyboard, I'll just go with the touch I think
Bluetooth speaker (maybe the logitech mini boombox) for tunes and presenting on the fly.
Mobile projector (probably the 3M MP410)

It's amazing that all of the mobile kit in my bag will still weigh less than the current laptop I have to lug around for work !

Thought this might help pass the time while we wait for the pre-orders to come available.

Mickey

[Ihmotep]

Wow that is a big shopping list!

For me I am mainly interested in the portability of the unit for basic work and as an art tablet. I have a few 128gb thumb drives, a few external drives, etc. so have the storage mostly taken care of. I also have a few penabled pens (never got an Axiotron, but I do have the Mobile Computing one).

So I will probably just be getting:

USB 3.0 flash drive (128 gb or higher) just for faster data transfer
64gb micro sdxc card
Wacom Bamboo Feel Penabled Pen (they look very nice)
Screen Protector (Still looking at reviews before picking one)


I will be getting the 128 gb Surface pro with a touchtype keyboard (Which I already have).

[dstrauss]

Man, I feel like such a piker! My list is miniscule by comparison. Already have touch cover and displayport to hdmi cable coming. The USB 3.0 HD is here, as wedge keyboard and mouse. I really would like to upgrade to a WQHD monitor, but for now the old Samsung 1920x1080 27" will have to do.

[MonkeyMickey]

Wow that is a big shopping list!

Thanks - The worrying thing is that I've already bought most of it and had to explain to the wife why lots of random technology keeps turning up at the house and can't be used until the Surface Pro arrives !

It was hard enough convincing her that I needed a new computer, but seeing as I've been talking about it since it was announced in June, I think she just wants it to arrive now so I'll finally shut up !

Mickey

[MonkeyMickey]

as wedge keyboard and mouse.

How is the wedge keyboard? I was really close to getting that until I saw the new logitech k810? I still went back and forth deciding for a while before finally deciding. I did like the idea of the case it comes with, but the back lighting on the logitech sold it to me in the end.

Mickey

[Mesosphere]

USB monitor - I was going to get the lenovo LT1421, but they've just announced a USB 3 version with touch, higher resolution and a wacom digitiser - the LT1423P. I don't think I'll bother with the wireless version as it is not out until June and has considerable lag

I want one of these for my workstation (which for my needs can't be replaced by the surface pro). Thanks, I didn't know there was anything like this other than the bulky expensive Cintiq.

[excalibur1814]

I have a 3Tb usb 3 hard drive, a usb 3 64Gb stick, a Dell touch screen (old) monitor and 4 spare stylusesusus's. That's a lot of stylus. I've never really bothered with USB 3 but I suppose that it was time to update. For me it'll be a laptop replacement (HP 8470p already gone), general media device, mild gaming and serious VM testing. Of course, it goes without saying, that I'm wondering about battery life. Time will tell as I need something to do work on.

[dstrauss]

How is the wedge keyboard? I was really close to getting that until I saw the new logitech k810? I still went back and forth deciding for a while before finally deciding. I did like the idea of the case it comes with, but the back lighting on the logitech sold it to me in the end.

Mickey

I don't think the Logitech was out when I bought the Wedge - I really like it because: it has a nice touch feel; the cover doubles as a stand; and when you put it back on it shuts off the keyboard. What I really like is the wedge mouse - very small, very accurate, and the surface accepts scroll input (not Windows 8 gestures, but much quicker scrolling).

[Steve S]

<<...I really like it...>>

Damn you, dstrauss!! I had been successfully ignoring both of these products up to this point. Now I will have to go and take another look at them.

My CC will likely take another hit (grumble, grumble...)...

[jhoff80]

Personally, I already have a VGA cable, HDMI cable, HDMI to DVI adapter, and 3.5mm audio cable in my bag, so in that department, I'll only need a mini-DisplayPort to HDMI and mini-DisplayPort to VGA.

Everything else I would need I already have. My desktop monitor has a DisplayPort connection and I already have a mini-DisplayPort to DisplayPort cable for that. I already have a Type and Touch Cover. I already have a USB/Bluetooth desktop mechanical keyboard (KBtalking Pro,which can switch between up to 10 devices) and USB/Bluetooth mouse at my desk (a Razer Orochi, which comes with me when I travel too). I probably wouldn't use USB for either of those with the Surface, just to minimize the amount of things I have to plug in when I sit at my desk. I also dug out an old Bluetooth A2DP to 3.5mm adapter for the same reason, so I don't have to plug in the audio cable when at my desk. And then I also already have a 500GB USB3.0 HDD, and a 32GB USB3.0 flash drive.

I've also already got a day-to-day backpack (a Kata LPS-116) which is the perfect size for a tablet like the Surface, and a larger backpack for travelling with when I need to bring all of my gear (a Kata DR-466i).

So yeah, other than the video adapters, which I'll probably get from Microsoft just because I find that the the official ones work better with the RT because of the angled tablet edge, I'm covered for anything I could possibly need. Then again, I guess what that really means is I've just spread all these purchases out over the years.

Edit: Oh, and I'll also need to pick up Office 2013. In my testing of the preview and in my use of it on the Surface RT, I find that it makes enough of an improvement to be worth it for me. I just haven't decided if I'll be getting the subscription or the one-time purchase (and single-PC license) version yet.