Surface For Dummies E-Book

Andy Rathbone

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Seitenzahl: 427

Beschreibung

Make Microsoft's Surface work--and play--just the way you want it to Microsoft's Surface tablet has the features and personality you're looking for, with a robust environment for business computing that doesn't skimp on fun. Surface For Dummies, 2nd Edition explains how Windows 8.1 Pro and Windows RT differ, and helps you decide which Surface model is best for you. Step by step, this book walks you through both the hardware and software features of the Surface, including the touch cover and type cover, Windows RT and Windows 8.1 Pro operating systems, and the coveted Office Home & Student 2013 software suite that's bundled with the Surface. Written by bestselling author Andy Rathbone, this easy-to-access book is filled with information on how to use the tablet, figure out the operating system, navigate the app environment, and take advantage of your exciting new Surface. The book is your personal guide to one the fastest, sleekest, and most powerful tablets on the market. Surface is designed to be thin, light, and with hours of battery life so you can power through your day with ease. With this handy reference, you'll be able to make quick work of your to-do list and have fun all at the same time! * Create: release your inner artist with Fresh Paint, a touch-based art app * Share: Multiple accounts offer privacy and security so you can share your Surface, but not your stuff * Enjoy: Snap apps side by side to multi-task on the vivid HD screen * Discover: New apps in the Windows Store so you can work efficiently and get more done With Surface For Dummies, 2nd Edition you can navigate and enhance your entire Surface experience!

Leseprobe

Microsoft® Surface™ For Dummies,® 2nd Edition

Published by: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, www.wiley.com

Copyright © 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Trademarks: Wiley, For Dummies, the Dummies Man logo, Dummies.com, Making Everything Easier, and related trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of John Wiley & Sons, Inc. and may not be used without written permission. Microsoft and Surface are trademarks or registered trademarks of the Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book.

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2014931351

ISBN 978-1-111-89863-5 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-118-91661-2 (ebk); ISBN 978-1-118-89875-8 (ebk)

Manufactured in the United States of America

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Microsoft Surface For Dummies

Visit www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/surface to view this book's cheat sheet.

Table of Contents

Introduction

About This Book

How to Use This Book

Foolish Assumptions

Icons Used in This Book

Beyond This Book

Where to Go from Here

Part I: Introductions

Chapter 1: Which Microsoft Surface Do You Need?

Why Buy a Microsoft Surface?

Understanding the Unique Features of a Surface

Deciding between the Microsoft Surface Tablets

Surface 2

Surface Pro 2

Summing Up the Differences between the Versions

Identifying a Surface Model

Understanding Your Surface’s Storage Space

Chapter 2: Getting Started with Your Surface

The Grand Unboxing

Charging the Battery

Figuring Out What’s Included and What’s Missing

Identifying the Parts of Your Surface Tablet

Attaching the Keyboard

Positioning the Surface

Finding Microsoft Website Support for the Surface

Chapter 3: Setting Up Your Surface

Turning On Your Surface for the First Time

Downloading Software Updates

Activating Windows

Setting Up Your Free OneDrive and Skype Accounts

Setting Up User Accounts

Turning Off Your Surface

Chapter 4: Introducing Your Surface’s Start Screen and Controls

Unlocking and Signing In

Managing Windows’ Start Screen

Finding, Opening, Closing, and Switching between Apps

Finding and opening an app

Closing an app

Switching between apps

Installing and uninstalling an app

Understanding the Charms Bar

Search

Share

Start

Devices

Settings

Organizing the Start Screen

Browsing Files from the Start Screen

Using the Start Screen with a Mouse and Keyboard

Chapter 5: Typing, Touching, and Drawing on the Surface

Controlling a Touchscreen with Your Fingers

Tap

Double-tap

Press and hold

Pinch and/or stretch

Rotate

Slide

Swipe

Typing with the Click-On Covers

Typing on the Touch Cover keyboard

Typing on the Type Cover keyboard

Using Surface trackpad gestures

Typing on the Onscreen Keyboard

Summoning the onscreen keyboard

Switching between the different onscreen keyboards

Typing special characters

Typing smileys (emoticons)

Predictive typing

Editing text on a touchscreen

Typing on a Detachable Keyboard

Drawing and Writing with a Stylus

Opening the Handwriting panel

Correcting handwritten mistakes

Part II: Connections

Chapter 6: Connecting to the Internet, Printers, Monitors, Storage, and More

Connecting to the Internet

Connecting to Networked PCs

Connecting to a Printer

Connecting to Portable Accessories

Connecting a mouse or keyboard

Connecting Bluetooth accessories

Connecting a digital camera and importing your photos

Connecting to a scanner

Connecting to a Monitor, an HDTV, or a Digital Projector

Connecting your Surface to a monitor

Sending the display to the attached monitor

Making your monitor recognize your Surface

Adding Portable Storage

Connecting to built-in memory cards

Connecting to portable hard drives

Connecting to flash drives for file transfers

Connecting to the Cloud with OneDrive

Uploading files from your Surface to OneDrive

Making OneDrive files available offline

Chapter 7: All About Apps

Making the Most of Apps

Customizing apps to meet your needs

Organizing your apps

Downloading new apps from the Windows Store

Uninstalling or changing an app

Working with Two Apps on One Screen

Installing Desktop Programs

Chapter 8: Browsing the Web

Opening Internet Explorer

Opening the Start Screen’s Internet Explorer app

Opening the desktop’s Internet Explorer

Opening the Start Screen Browser’s Menus

Navigating a Website with Your Fingers

Visiting Websites

Managing Several Sites in Tabs

Making Sites Available with One Tap

Sharing Sites and Their Information

Downloading Files and Photos

Changing Settings

Sending a Site to the Desktop’s Browser

Chapter 9: Reaching Out with Mail, People, Calendar, and Skype

Adding Your Social Accounts to Windows

Sending and Receiving E-Mail

Switching between the Mail app’s accounts, folders, and e-mail

Composing and sending an e-mail

Reading an e-mail

Sending and receiving files through e-mail

Managing Your Contacts in the People App

Adding contacts to the People app

Deleting or editing contacts

Managing Appointments in Calendar

Talking with Friends through Skype

Setting up Skype for the first time

Adding a friend to Skype

Calling a friend

Calling a landline

Part III: Play

Chapter 10: Photos and Movies

Snapping Photos or Videos

Viewing Photos

Sharing or Printing Photos

Watching Movies

Chapter 11: Listening to Music

Understanding the Music App

Listing to Your Own Music

Adding your own music to the Music app

Playing your music in the Music app

Listening to the Radio

Exploring and Buying Music

Part IV: Work

Chapter 12: Visiting the Windows Desktop

Making the Desktop Finger-Friendly

Mastering Basic Window Mechanics

Managing Files and Folders by Touch with File Explorer

Selecting files and folders with a fingertip

Copying or moving files and folders

Launching Desktop Programs

Snapping an App Alongside Another App

Chapter 13: Working in Microsoft Office 2013

Opening, Saving, and Printing in Office 2013 RT

Opening a document

Starting from a template

Saving your work

Printing your document

Taking Notes with OneNote

Adding E-Mail Accounts to Outlook

Chapter 14: Changing Settings

Tweaking an App’s Settings

Customizing Your Surface through PC Settings

PCs and Devices

Accounts

OneDrive

Search and Apps

Privacy

Network

Time and Language

Ease of Access

Update and Recovery

Chapter 15: Troubleshooting and Repair

Checking for New or Missed Updates

It Won’t Turn On!

It Won’t Turn Off!

Fixing Problem Apps

Backing Up Your Surface

Refreshing Your Surface

Resetting Your Surface

Servicing Your Surface through Microsoft

Part V: The Part of Tens

Chapter 16: Ten Essential Tips ’n’ Tricks

When Lost, Swipe in from the Screen’s Left Edge

Search for Items by Typing Directly on the Start Screen

Select Onscreen Items within Apps

Take Screenshots

Stop the Screen from Rotating

Tweak Your App’s Settings

Make a Recovery Drive

Find a Lost Start Screen App

Increase Your Surface’s Storage Space

Add Your Contact Information to Your Surface

Chapter 17: Ten Handy Accessories

Power Adapter

Touch or Type Cover Keyboard

Memory Card

Portable Mouse

Portable USB Hub

Case

Flash Drive

Portable HDMI Cable

USB-to-Ethernet Adapter

Portable Hard Drive

Portable Car Charger

About the Author

Cheat Sheet

More Dummies Products

Guide

Table of Contents

Begin Reading

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Introduction

Welcome to Surface For Dummies, 2nd Edition! This book helps you wring the most out of Microsoft’s Surface, the combination work/pleasure tablets that turn heads in coffee shops, classrooms, and lunch rooms.

This book doesn’t explain everything you can do with the Surface. That would take at least ten volumes. No, this book explains everything you need to know to set up your Surface, introduce it to yourself and your social networks, and transform it into a natural extension of your lifestyle and work routine.

This book covers all four Surface models: the original Surface RT and Surface Pro, and the newer Surface 2 and the Surface Pro 2 models. It also covers more Official Surface Accessories than anybody could possibly afford.

About This Book

Today, most people think of desktop PCs as workhorses for creating: They create documents, spreadsheets, and whatever other boring files their boss requires. And they usually require a mouse and keyboard.

Tablets, by contrast, work best at letting you consume: videos, music, the Internet, and e-mail. And you often do it on the couch by using your fingertips.

But what if one tablet straddled both worlds, letting you both consume and create?

That’s the promise of a Surface tablet. Its finger-friendly Start screen lets you watch videos, listen to music, read e-books and e-mail, and browse the web. And, come Monday morning, you can switch to the Windows desktop, click on one of the Surface’s many keyboards, and put on your working cap.

How well does it hold up on that promise? That’s where this book comes into play. I describe how it works in both work and play mode, as well as how to give it a few little tweaks to make it fit into your life a little more easily.

How to Use This Book

Instead of bundling a user manual with the Surface, Microsoft tossed in a single strip of paper with Ikea-like diagrams of how to fold down your Surface’s kickstand. That’s it.

This book takes over from that ignoble start by explaining exactly what you can and can’t do with your Surface. And when it points out things you can’t do, it offers some workarounds for going ahead and doing them anyway.

The book comes separated into basic parts, each dealing with what you need to do with your Surface at certain times: setting it up, connecting it to things, letting it entertain you, and buckling it down when work beckons.

Jump to the section you need at that particular moment in your life, absorb what you need to know, and move on. There’s no need to read the entire thing from cover to cover. Everything is presented in easily digestible nuggets.

Each of this book’s step-by-step instructions works with a strategically placed tap on your Surface’s touchscreen. On those rare occasions when you need to type information on a keyboard, you see easy-to-follow bold text like in this sentence: Type Sarcophagus into the Search box.

If you’re reading this book as an e-book, you’ll find that all the websites are listed as active links, ready to direct you to the page with a tap of your finger.

Foolish Assumptions

Because you’ve purchased this book, I’m making one logical assumption about you: You’ve bought a Microsoft Surface tablet, or you’re thinking about buying one.

So, you should know that everything in this book covers all four models of Microsoft’s Surface tablet:

The original Surface RT and the Surface Pro: After you’ve taken advantage of their free upgrade to Windows 8.1, all the instructions in this book apply to them.The new Surface 2 and the Surface Pro 2: These two new models come with Windows 8.1 installed.

This book describes how the four models differ, and I place a special icon next to material that applies only to the Surface RT and Surface 2.

If you haven’t yet purchased a Surface, this book helps you understand how the models differ and which model works best in which situations.

I also cover the Surface’s famous click-on Touch and Type Cover keyboards, as well as their replacements, the new Touch Cover 2 and Type Cover 2 keyboards. Because they’re functionally the same, I refer to them both as simply Touch and Type Cover keyboards.

Icons Used in This Book

This book includes five basic icons, little symbols placed next to paragraphs of particular import. Here’s what to expect when you see any of these icons:

Keep an eye out for this icon, which alerts you to time-saving tricks that immediately leapfrog you ahead of other Surface owners.

Avert your eyes from paragraphs marked with this icon if technical information isn’t your thing — the text contains details that appeal to only a few nerdy souls.

Remember these few key tidbits, and you’ll pick up things much more quickly.

Tread carefully with the steps in this paragraph. The information may lead to serious problems if things go wrong.

The Surface 2 and the Surface RT (when upgraded) run Windows 8.1 RT. That means they differ from the Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 in some fundamental ways. This icon calls out information that explains those differences.

Beyond This Book

The Microsoft Surface has so many cool features that I couldn't fit them all into this book. You can find additional content at the following places:

Cheat sheet: Here you can find information on how to keep your Surface updated so that it runs smoothly, how to work with apps (what those in tablet-land call programs) and keep them updated, and how to use the Charm bar (if you're unfamiliar with this feature introduced in Windows 8).

www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/surface

Extras: Visit here for step-by-step tutorials on how to play songs directly from a flash drive, as well as how to drop websites onto the Reading List app for later reading at your leisure.

www.dummies.com/extras/surface

Where to Go from Here

New Surface owners should definitely start with a read-through of the first four chapters, with a special emphasis on Chapter 3. The walkthrough steps in there apply not only to you but to everybody with an account on your Surface.

If you don’t have an attached keyboard, spend some time with Chapter 5; that chapter explains the subtleties of your Surface’s built-in keyboard, which pops up when no other keyboard is attached.

Gadget hounds should jump to Part II to see exactly what will and won’t work with their particular Surface models, as well as how to set up their apps and social networks.

After that, jump to your choice: the Play (Chapters 10 and 11) or Work (Chapters 12 through 14) part of the book.

If you’re reading this as an e-book, use your reader’s Bookmark and Search features to find what you want.

And with that, enjoy your Surface! It’s a bold move by Microsoft that heralds the future of Windows, and you’re at the forefront.

Part I

Introductions

Visit www.dummies.com to read more helpful online tips and step-by-step instructions from this book and hundreds of other For Dummies books.

In this part …

Find out why you should consider buying a Surface and which of the four models best meets your needs.Recognize each Surface model and identify the various buttons, ports, and sensors.Discover how to attach a keyboard and charge the battery.Turn on your Surface for the first time and set it up for your language.Download available updates, including security updates and updates for the bundled apps and programs.

Chapter 1

Which Microsoft Surface Do You Need?

In This Chapter

Choosing between a Microsoft Surface and other tablets

Selecting the right Microsoft Surface

Understanding the difference between the regular and pro Surface models

Identifying the different Surface models

Understanding your Surface’s storage space

Many people stay tied to a desktop PC at work. They sit in front of a deskbound workhorse that lets them create documents, spreadsheets, and whatever other humdrum files their boss requires that day.

When it’s time to relax, however, many of those same people reach for a tablet. Lightweight and portable, tablets make it easy to watch videos, listen to music, browse the web, and check e-mail.

But what if you had a tablet that did it all? You could create files when work called but consume files during your leisure.

That’s the promise of a Microsoft Surface tablet. Its finger-friendly Start screen lets you switch between videos, music, e-books, e-mail, and the web. And, come Monday morning, you can switch to the Windows desktop, fire up Outlook, Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, and get to work.

This chapter explains Microsoft’s four models of Surface tablets: The two older models, Surface RT and Surface Pro, and the two new models, Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2. I describe them each in detail, highlighting their features, their strengths, and their weaknesses.

Why Buy a Microsoft Surface?

Most computer manufacturers create computers, including Windows tablets, as cheaply as possible. By coming up with the lowest price tag, they hope to undercut their competitors. Instead of taking the same road to the bottom, Microsoft created its line of Surface tablets as a showpiece, designed to show off Windows tablets at their finest.

To do that, Microsoft designed the Surface in-house with a large budget and engineering team, a luxury not available to most computer manufacturers.

Competitors cut costs by wrapping their tablets in cheap plastic. Microsoft Surface models, by contrast, come sheathed in a magnesium alloy. The rugged but lightweight casing gives the tablet a solid feel.

The Surface includes a built-in kickstand, shown in Figure 1-1. An optional attachable keyboard doubles as a cover when not in use.

Photo image provided by Microsoft

Figure 1-1: Every Surface model includes a kickstand to prop it up at a comfortable viewing angle.

Why not just buy an iPad? Well, they’re attractive tablets that excel at what they do, but they’re limited. Without a built-in USB port, iPads don’t let you transfer files easily between your tablet and desktop PC. Every Surface tablet, by contrast, includes a full-sized USB port, making it easy to swap files through flash drives or even portable hard drives.

When iPad owners need to work, they usually reach for their laptop. Surface owners simply flip their keyboard into place, load the familiar Windows desktop, and head for the mainstays of Microsoft Office: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote.

When you’re ready to hit the road again, flip back the keyboard and run, taking all of your files with you.

Your Surface strips computing down to its essentials, creating a lightweight and mobile workstation that lets you add on accessories when necessary:

Fingers: Your fingertips may be the only accessory you need. Touchscreens simplify many mobile computing tasks. It’s easy to scroll through large documents with a flick of your finger, for example. Plus, touchscreens often seem more natural, especially when paging through digital books, maneuvering through maps, or resizing digital photos.Keyboard: A pop-up touchscreen keyboard works well for light typing. For heavier work, the optional keyboards add about a half-pound of weight and double as screen covers.Monitor: When you plug a monitor into your tablet’s video port, you’ve created a two-monitor workstation. You can view your notes on your tablet but compose your document on the second, larger monitor. (I explain how to manage two monitors in Chapter 6.) Or, you can extend your Windows desktop across both monitors, doubling its size.

Understanding the Unique Features of a Surface

Microsoft Surface tablets introduce several features not found in other tablets:

Kickstand: Place a tablet on the desk, and its screen faces the ceiling, not you. To solve the problem, each Surface includes a built-in kickstand that lets your tablet sit upright like a laptop’s screen. The kickstand on the newest models, the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, adjusts to provide two viewing angles, handy for typing in different situations.Keyboard cover: Most tablets don’t include a case or a keyboard. You can buy them as accessories, but they’re two more items to carry around. The Surface, by contrast, offers a keyboard that doubles as a cover. When you’re done working, flip up the keyboard, and it becomes a cover to protect the screen.USB port/memory card slot: These items come built into every Surface tablet, but you won’t find them on any iPad. Ask any iPad owners how they move information to and from their iPad. Most of them get an uncomfortable expression on their faces while explaining their workarounds.Windows desktop: Nearly everybody has grown fairly used to the Windows desktop, a staple around offices for two decades. All Surfaces include the Windows desktop, but with one caveat: You can’t install traditional desktop programs on the Surface RT or Surface 2.Microsoft Office: The Surface RT and Surface 2 include a copy of Office Home and Student 2013 RT. That gives you Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, ready to create your own documents or touch up those that arrive in e-mail. (Microsoft Office isn’t included on a Surface Pro or Surface Pro 2, but you can purchase and install it yourself if you want.)

Deciding between the Microsoft Surface Tablets

Microsoft has sold four types of Surface tablets that look and behave very similarly. (A fifth Surface, available sometime in 2014, will have cellular Internet access.) All of them share many features:

The tile-filled Start screen introduced in Windows 8The Windows desktopDownloadable apps from the Windows StoreA USB port and memory card slot for adding storageThe ability to create different accounts for different users

Yet the tablets differ in subtle ways that let them each serve different niches.

The following sections explain how the models differ so that you can figure out which Surface meets your needs.

Not sure which Surface you’re looking at? Look for this chapter’s “Identifying a Surface Model” section. It explains how to tell each model apart simply by flipping it over and reading the wording hidden on the back cover.

Note: I describe the first two Surface models, the Surface RT and Surface Pro, in the adjacent sidebar, “Upgrading first-generation Surfaces to Windows 8.1.”

Upgrading first-generation Surfaces to Windows 8.1

Microsoft’s first two Surface models, the Surface RT and the Surface Pro, didn’t fare well in the market. The Surface RT boasted a long battery life but ran at a fairly sluggish pace. The Surface Pro was speedy and powerful but lacked a long battery life. And Windows 8 was too new to gather much enthusiasm.

Microsoft replaced the two older Surface models with the much more capable Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2.

If you own the Surface RT or Surface Pro, by all means, take advantage of Microsoft’s free upgrade to Windows 8.1. To upgrade, visit the Store app with your Surface (as explained in Chapter 7), search for Windows 8.1, and choose to download and install the upgrade.

After you upgrade your Surface RT or Surface Pro to Windows 8.1, nearly all of the instructions in this book will also apply to your older Surface. (The older tablets just run more slowly or with less battery life.) If you own a Surface RT, look throughout this book for the Windows RT icon. That icon points out where the Surface RT and Surface 2 work differently than the Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2.

Microsoft no longer sells the Surface Pro, and Microsoft’s website now refers to the original Surface RT as simply “Surface.” You might find the “Surface” still available on Microsoft’s website or at some stores for an exceptionally low price.

Surface 2

The Surface 2 works best during your leisure time, letting you watch movies, listen to music, browse the web, and connect with your friends.

Should you need to work, open the Desktop app. There, the built-in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote apps should carry you through until you can get back to the office.

The minimalist Surface 2 doesn’t run Windows 8.1 but an operating system called Windows RT 8.1. In plain English, that means that the Surface 2 can’t run traditional Windows desktop programs. Like the iPad, it’s limited to apps, small programs downloaded from the Windows Store.

Although it can’t run traditional Windows programs, the Surface 2 offers these perks:

Low price: The Surface 2 comes in a 32GB version that costs $429; adding a Touch Cover keyboard adds another $79. (The newer Surface keyboards cost more, and I describe the differences between all of the Surface keyboards in Chapter 5.)Long battery life: Depending on its use, the Surface 2 averages between eight and ten hours of battery life.Thin and light: The Surface 2 weighs less than 1.5 pounds and is 8.9mm thin. That makes it easy to toss into a backpack or keep by the bedside table.Better camera: The Surface 2 sports a 3.5-megapixel camera in front and a 5-megapixel camera in back. (The Surface RT also includes that camera, but the Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 include only 1.2-megapixel cameras for the front and back.)USB 3.0 support: The Surface 2 works well with natively recognized USB gadgets. That means you can plug in storage devices (flash drives, portable drives), USB hubs with more USB ports, mice, keyboards, cameras, some headsets, and some USB printers. Because it uses the new USB 3.0 standard, your information transfers much more quickly with USB 3.0 gadgets.Bluetooth support: Nearly anything that connects wirelessly through Bluetooth works well with the Surface RT and Surface 2. Your wireless headsets, mice, keyboards, and other Bluetooth gadgets should work without a hitch.Memory card slot: To add storage, slide a memory card into the built-in microSDXC slot. That slot works with microSD, microSDHC, or microSDXC cards, which let you add up to 128GB storage space.Microsoft Office RT: The Surface RT and Surface 2 include Microsoft Office RT, a suite of programs including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote. That’s one less thing to buy to stay productive.OneDrive: Your Microsoft account gives you 7GB of free storage on OneDrive, an online cubby hole for files. (OneDrive was called SkyDrive until early 2014, when Microsoft changed its name.) The Surface 2 contains a certificate to increase your OneDrive storage to a whopping 200GB, free for two years.Apps: The Surface 2 can run only apps downloaded from the Windows Store. The Store doesn’t have as many apps as Apple and Google offer, but the stock grows larger every day.

The Surface 2 differs from the Surface Pro 2 version in many subtle ways too numerous to mention here. If you own a Surface 2 or Surface RT, keep an eye open for this Windows RT icon, like the one in the margin. Paragraphs with this icon explain other ways Windows RT differs from traditional Windows.

What can’t the Surface 2 handle?

Because the Surface 2 runs Windows 8.1 RT instead of Windows 8.1, it brings some unique compromises. Those compromises will be deal breakers for some people. Other people will say, “Who needs that, anyway?”

Here they are, in no particular order:

No desktop programs: Surface 2 can run only apps downloaded from the Windows Store. You can’t install desktop programs like you can on a desktop PC.No Windows Media Center: Unlike Windows 8 computers, Surface 2 won’t let you install Windows Media Center for viewing DVDs and watching or recording TV shows.No Windows Media Player: The Surface 2 desktop doesn’t include Windows Media Player. To watch movies and listen to music, you must use the built-in Music and Video apps or download replacement music and video apps from the Windows Store.Can’t start a homegroup: When connected to a network, the Surface 2 can join homegroups and access files from other networked computers. However, those computers can’t access your files. To share your files, you can upload them to OneDrive, copy them to a portable flash drive (or hard drive), or send them through e-mail.No driver support: Windows RT relies on its own set of built-in drivers — special software that lets it communicate with plugged-in accessories. Because you can’t install drivers, the Surface 2 won’t work with some USB gadgets such as TV tuners, barcode readers, GPS units, and other devices that require you to install a program.No GPS: Lacking a GPS chip, the Surface 2 relies on Wi-Fi to estimate your location. That narrows down your location to within a few hundred feet. (Surface 2 with a built-in 4G LTE cellular data plan also lacks a GPS.)No NFC (Near Field Communication): Too new of a technology to disappoint many, NFC lets two devices exchange bursts of information when they bump into each other, a feature much-welcomed by business-card swappers.

Surface Pro 2

Whereas the Surface 2 aims to meet the consumer’s needs, the Surface Pro 2 gives you the power of a desktop PC in a rugged tablet. You could say that it’s two computers in one. On one hand, you have the Start screen apps for casual, on-the-go computing and staying connected while traveling.

And, when work calls, you can load the full-powered Windows 8.1 Desktop app to run the same Windows programs you run on your desktop PC.

Windows 8.1 Pro also lets you pony up an extra $15 for the Windows Media Center Pack. This pack lets you play DVDs if you plug in a USB DVD drive. Plug in a TV tuner, connect a TV signal from cable or an antenna, and you’ve turned the Surface into a complete digital video recorder, ready to record TV shows for watching later.

The Surface Pro 2 comes with all the perks given to Surface 2 owners, including the 200GB of free OneDrive storage for a year.

I won’t list all the advantages here because the Surface Pro 2 is basically a powerful desktop PC flattened into a tablet. Any software that runs on a Windows 8.1 desktop PC runs on a Surface Pro 2.

The same holds true for gadgets you plug into the Surface Pro 2’s USB port: network ports, bar code readers, scanners, MIDI gadgets, and other specialty items.

But all that power brings a few compromises:

Battery life: You can expect six or eight hours of battery life, perhaps more, depending on your use. But the battery probably won’t last as long as it does on the Surface 2.Higher cost: Surface 2 pricing begins at $449 for a model with 2GB of memory and 32GB of storage. The Surface Pro 2 begins at $899 for 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage.No Microsoft Office: Unlike the Surface 2, the Surface Pro 2 doesn't include Microsoft Office. If you need that program, you must buy and install it separately.No connected standby: When the tablet’s asleep, it’s really asleep. It won’t collect your e-mail in the background.

Summing Up the Differences between the Versions

Sometimes numbers mean more than words. To satisfy the other side of your brain, the specifications in Table 1-1 show exactly how the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 differ from each other.

Table 1-1 Differences between the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2

Item

Surface 2

Surface Pro 2

Operating System

Windows RT 8.1

Windows 8.1 Pro

Processor

NVIDIA Tegra 4 (T40) 1.7 GHz Quad Core

Fourth generation Intel Core i5-4200U Processor with Intel HD Graphics 4400

Memory

2GB

4GB or 8GB

Weight

1.5 pounds

2 pounds

Thickness

0.35 inches (8.9mm)

0.53 inches (13.5mm)

Display

10.6 inches, 16:9 ratio, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 5-point multitouch, 1080p resolution

10.6 inches, 16:9 ratio, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 10-point multitouch, 1080p resolution

Battery

31.5 watt hours

42 watt hours

Ports

USB 3.0 slot, micro-HDMI port, microSD slot, 1/8-inch headphone jack, microphone, stereo speakers

USB 3.0 slot, Mini DisplayPort version 1.2, microSD slot, 1/8-inch headphone jack, microphone, stereo speakers

Wireless

Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0

Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0

Storage capacity

32GB or 64GB

64GB/128GB with 4GB of memory model; 256GB/512GB with 8GB memory model

Cameras and microphones

Two 720p cameras and two microphones (one each in front and back). The front camera is 3.5 megapixels; the back is 5 megapixels.

Two 720p cameras (one in front and one in back), and one microphone on top. Both cameras are 1.2 megapixels.

Price

$449 for 32GB, $549 for 64GB. Touch and Type Covers sold separately.

$899 for 64GB, $999 for 128GB, $1,299 for 256GB, and $1,799 for the 512GB model; Touch and Type Covers sold separately

Start screen

Yes

Yes

Office RT

Includes RT versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook

No; Office must be purchased and installed separately

Stylus

Not included, but supports capacitive stylus

Digital stylus included, with built-in charger

OneDrive/Skype

Includes 200GB of free OneDrive storage for two years, one year of Skype Unlimited World calling to landlines in over 60 countries, and unlimited Skype WiFi at over 2 million hotspots

Includes 200GB of free OneDrive storage for two years, one year of Skype Unlimited World calling to landlines in over 60 countries, and unlimited Skype WiFi at over 2 million hotspots

Sensors

Ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass

Ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass

Power supply

24 watts (included)

48 watts, with 5-watt USB port for charging accessories

Table 1-2 shows differences between the two original Surfaces, the Surface RT and the Surface Pro.

Table 1-2 Differences between the Surface RT and Surface Pro

Item

Surface RT

Surface Pro

Operating System

Windows RT, with free upgrade to Windows 8.1 RT

Windows 8, with free upgrade to Windows 8.1

Processor

Quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3

Third-generation Intel Core i5 Processor with Intel HD Graphics 4000

Memory

2GB

4GB

Weight

1.5 pounds

2 pounds

Thickness

0.37 inches (9.3mm)

0.53 inches (13.5mm)

Display

10.6 inches, 16:9 ratio, 1366 x 763 pixels, 5-point multitouch

10.6 inches, 16:9 ratio, 1920 x 1080 pixels, 10-point multitouch

Battery

31.5 watt hours

42 watt hours

Ports

USB 2.0 slot, micro-HDMI port, microSDXC slot, 1/8-inch headphone jack, stereo speakers

USB 3.0 slot, Mini DisplayPort version 1.1, microSDXC slot, 1/8-inch headphone jack, stereo speakers

Wireless

Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0

Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0

Storage capacity

32GB or 64GB

64GB or 128GB

Cameras

Two 720p cameras, front and rear

Two 720p cameras, front and rear

Price

$349 for 32GB, $449 for 64GB and Touch Cover

No longer sold

Start screen

Yes

Yes

Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote)

Yes, includes Home and Student version

No, Office must be purchased and installed separately

Stylus

Not included but supports capacitive stylus

Digital stylus included, with built-in charger

OneDrive/Skype

Includes 7GB of free OneDrive storage space with your Microsoft account, but no Skype credits

Includes 7GB of free OneDrive storage space with your Microsoft account, but no Skype credits

Sensors

Ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass

Ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass

Power supply

24 watts (included)

48 watts, with 5-watt USB port for charging accessories

Identifying a Surface Model

Not sure which Surface model you’re viewing? You can find out by lifting the kickstand on the back of the tablet and peeking underneath. There, you see the word Surface, as well as this identifying information:

Surface RT: These all-black, first-generation models list the term Windows RT beneath a Windows logo. You’ll also see the amount of storage listed as either 32GB or 64GB. The kickstand’s visible side shows a Windows logo.Surface Pro: These first-generation models list the term Windows 8 beneath the Windows logo. You’ll also see the amount of storage, 64GB or 128GB.Surface 2: These look much like the Surface RT tablets, down to the term Windows RT listed beneath the Windows logo. However, these second-generation tablets have a black front with a silver back. Beneath the kickstand, the amount of storage is listed as either 32GB or 64GB. Models with a 4G LTE data plan have a SIM card slot on the left edge below the volume rocker.Surface Pro 2: These second-generation models list the term Windows 8.1 beneath the Windows logo. You also see the amount of storage, 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB.

The serial number of your Surface, needed for warranty and service information, is printed directly beneath the word Surface under the kickstand.

The serial number of a Surface keyboard is printed on the right edge of its spine — that raised edge that clicks onto the Surface when attaching the keyboard.

Before buying a used Surface on eBay, make sure the seller posts a clear photo of the information printed beneath the kickstand. That way you know exactly what’s being sold.

Understanding Your Surface’s Storage Space

Microsoft sells its various Surface tablets with up to 512GB of storage space. However, Microsoft tosses some of its own software onto the tablet, which reduces storage space for your own files. Windows consumes some of that space, for example, as do the bundled apps and troubleshooting tools.

That means you can’t copy 32GB of music onto a 32GB Surface. So, how much information can you store? Table 1-3 explains exactly how much storage space you’ll have on each Surface model.

If you need more storage, you can always slip a microSDXC memory card into the microSD memory slot of any Surface.

The Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 come with 200GB of free OneDrive storage for one year. I describe how to activate it in Chapter 3.

Table 1-3 Surface Storage Space

This Surface Model …

… Contains This Much Storage Space

Surface RT, 32GB

15GB

Surface RT, 64GB

45GB

Surface Pro, 64GB

30GB

Surface Pro, 128GB

89GB

Surface 2, 32GB

18GB

Surface 2, 64GB

47GB

Surface Pro 2, 64GB

37GB

Surface Pro 2, 128GB

97GB

Surface Pro 2, 256GB

212GB

Surface Pro 2, 512GB

451GB

Chapter 2

Getting Started with Your Surface

In This Chapter

Removing the packaging

Charging the battery

Looking for missing items

Identifying your Surface’s parts

Attaching the keyboard

Positioning the Surface for use

Whether your Surface arrives in the mail or in a shopping bag from your local Microsoft Store, the fun doesn’t start right away. No, first you need to remove your Surface from its packaging and charge the battery — tasks I cover in this chapter.

While you’re waiting for the battery to charge, take some time to identify all of your Surface’s ports, slots, and attachments, all pointed out in this chapter. Some of them sit in plain sight; others hide in mysterious crevices.

But no matter where they hide, this chapter points them all out so you know what each one does. That way, you can either impress your friends or bore them to tears with your Surface port acumen.

The Grand Unboxing

The Surface comes artfully packed in a black box, shown in Figure 2-1. Look at the top-right corner, and you can see a white box protruding from inside. It’s either an artful display of design creativeness or a waste of paper, depending on your mood.

Figure 2-1:The Surface comes packaged in a white box that’s been pushed inside a black box.

To unpack your Surface, follow these steps:

Remove the small strip of clear plastic tape holding the white box to the black sleeve.Slide the white box out of the black sleeve.If your Surface included a keyboard, remove the Touch Cover keyboard and its black cardboard packaging from beneath the box.

Microsoft bundled a Touch Cover keyboard with some early Surface RT models. Now, none of the Surface models include a keyboard; it’s considered an accessory to be purchased separately.

Remove the small strip of plastic tape holding the white box shut and then open the lid.

The lid opens, with the hinge along the right edge. As the lid opens, you see the Surface resting peacefully inside, as shown in Figure 2-2, complete with its power adapter.

Remove the Surface from the box and remove its plastic wrapper.Remove the manual and paperwork from the box beneath the Surface and remove the charger.

And that’s it. The Surface’s battery comes partially charged, but before turning it on, you should plug it into the charger, as described in the next section. When you’re ready to turn on your Surface, flip ahead to Chapter 3.

Figure 2-2:All Surface models include a power adapter, thankfully. If they didn’t, you’d be powerfully annoyed.

As you remove the Surface from its packaging, take note of these things:

The Surface’s manual, if you can call it that, contains illustrations with IKEA-inspired instructions: single sheets of paper with line drawings and arrows. Microsoft supplements it with a downloadable user guide available at its website: www.microsoft.com/surface/userguides. Pounce on the two blue cards, found as soon as you lift the Surface 2 or Surface Pro 2 from the box. One card has a password for 200GB of OneDrive (formerly known as SkyDrive) storage space, free for two years. The other card offers a year’s worth of Skype WiFi and Unlimited World. I explain those services and how to redeem them, as well as their fine print, in Chapter 3.Your Surface’s serial number is listed on the box’s UPC code sticker. (It begins with the letters S/N.)Your Surface’s serial number and amount of storage space also appears hidden beneath the kickstand.

If your Surface needs to be returned for service, you need to enter its serial number on Microsoft’s online support site.

The serial number for the optional keyboard appears on the right edge of its spine.Okay, if you can’t wait, feel free to use the Surface while it’s charging. But flip ahead to Chapter 3, where I walk you through the process of turning it on for the first time.

Charging the Battery

The Surface’s bundled charger is lightweight, smaller, and flatter than many adapters, making it easy to carry. In the North American version, the outlet’s prongs make sturdy little clicks as they fold in and out.

The charger plugs into the wall easily, politely leaving room to plug something into the adjacent outlet. The charger's other end has five little metal pins that line up with the five little metal pins recessed into a gap along your Surface’s right edge.

When attached correctly, a little light begins glowing on the charger’s end. If you don’t see that little light, try wiggling the charger until it seats more firmly in the slot.

Follow these steps to charge your Microsoft Surface:

Unfold the prongs from the charger’s long end, if necessary, and plug them into an outlet.

On North American models, the prongs fold in for easy storage and out for plugging into a wall. Plug the charger into the wall so it doesn’t cover the second wall outlet, and you’ll leave room for plugging in other gadgets.

On the Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2, you need to plug the charging cable into the charger. It’s easy to see which end fits into which spot.

Place the prong’s small end into the charger on your tablet’s lower-right side.

The five magnetically charged metal ports on the end of the charger cable should mesh with the five magnetically charged ports on your tablet’s lower right side. The connector fits in either way, shown in Figure 2-3, with the cord pointing up or down your tablet’s edge.

If the connector doesn’t snap tightly into the groove, it won’t charge — even when it feels like it’s in place. The key is to look for the little light on the connector (shown in Figure 2-4). Keep rocking the connector from side to side until the light glows. When it glows, it’s charging.

On some newer chargers, the glowing light surrounds the plug’s tip; on others, it’s a tiny pinpoint of light, like the one shown in Figure 2-4.

Wait for the Surface to charge.

Figure 2-3:The symmetrical connector fits into the charger socket either way.

Figure 2-4: When the connector’s light glows, you’ve successfully fastened it, and the Surface begins charging.

Your Surface takes between two and three hours to charge completely. It may charge in less time, depending on how low its battery has drained. You can use your Surface while it’s charging, but the charging time will take longer.

For such a simple device, the charger leads to a long list of stipulations:

You can’t charge the Surface from another computer’s USB port.You can charge your phone or other USB gadgetry from the USB port of any Surface. If possible, though, plug your Surface into the wall first to avoid draining its battery.In a pinch, you can charge any Surface with the charger from any other Surface model. However, the Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 charge much more quickly when using their own Pro chargers.