Microsoft Surface Pro 2

I recently bought the Surface Pro 2 256 GB (7NX-00001). I wanted to convert my experiment note-taking into a digital form.. That way, I dont need to print all my data processed graphs and stick it into my notepad.

I did not buy the keyboard (yet). I think the Touch/Type Covers are bloody expensive for a keyboard. Plus it will only last as long as the Surface pro lasts. Even the bluetooth Logitech K810 is cheaper!!

That said, I am thinking of getting either a second hand unit of a Type Cover 2 instead of the K810. Since I would need a cover and for portability, I am leaning towards Type Cover 2.

>> Update: I decided to buy a used Type Cover 2 for about 7000 yen. It is in very good condition and it was a good decision. I think it is better than getting a bluetooth keyboard since it allows maximum mobility (for carrying the tablet) and at the same time, acts as a good cover.

At the moment, I only attached a screen protector for my surface.

So far, I am using it without a keyboard to see how it goes..

>> looks like I can survive without a keyboard for a couple of days but it is rather irritating to use the on-screen keyboard in landscape mode. The viewing area becomes very limited..

That said, here are my comments and changes I made to the system to make it more user-friendly.

Review

  1. It is a kinda heavy in the hands. Writing while suspending it in the air using only your hands (i.e. without supporting it on your tummy), can tire your hands out. Then again, we normally write on books placed on a hard surface right? >> Surface Pro 3 is lighter
  2. The 16:9 ratio of Surface Pro 2 in portrait mode is not comfortable for writing/reading (for me at least). But of course, 16:9 is perfect for movies right? >> Surface Pro 3 ratio is 3:2
  3. The last thing I would want to be troubled with is technical problems to take down experimental notes. So far, it has met all of my expectations!! It was so good that I forgot I was using a digital pen and a tablet. I actually tried to wipe away some mistakes using my finger (like on a whiteboard). That shows how good it is that I can actually forget about it being there.
  4. However, the accuracy of the pen at the corners are, ehmm.. not so accurate.. >> I heard Surface Pro 3 is better!
  5. It gets a bit warm at times. Putting it to sleep when it is not in used is a good step to cool it down.
  6. The sound quality are simply awesome for such a small device. I love using it to watch movies/listen to songs.

Problems/Incompatible Programs

  1. Bitdefender Free Antivirus crashes when the screen orientation changes.
  2. Google chrome app in "Relaunch Chrome in Windows 8 mode" does not support the pen well.
  3. (hopefully i dont add anything here).

Things You Should Learn About Windows 8

  1. The swift from edge (top, bottom, right, left).
  2. Multitasking using a Surface Pro.
  3. Right-clicking using the pen:
    1. Long tap
    2. Press the button and tap the object
  4. Rearrange groups of icons in the Start menu
  5. Pinch the screen. Drag and drop the groups as you wish.
  6. When the type cover is attached, the screen rotation is locked. You can flip the type cover backwards and disable the keyboard as well as unlocking the screen rotations.

OneNote Useful Tips and Tricks

OneNote pen-features. In case you didnt know, here are some tips:

● Customize the quick access toolbar.

With the stylus on the surface pro, sometimes you would need to access a few commands in one tap. Here's mine:

From the left:

  1. [OneNote icon]
  2. Undo
  3. Redo
  4. Page Width (view)
  5. Favorite Pen 1
  6. Favorite Pen 2
  7. Favorite Pen 3
  8. (Separator)
  9. Favorite Highlighter 1
  10. Favorite Highlighter 2
  11. Favorite Highlighter 3
  12. (Separator)
  13. Favorite Pen 5 (same colour as Pen 1 but wider)
  14. Favorite Pen 6 (same colour as Pen 2 but wider)
  15. Favorite Pen 7 (same colour as Pen 3 but wider)
  16. (Separator)
  17. Eraser (drop down menu)
  18. Colour & Thickness
  19. Shapes (drop down menu)
  20. Touch/Mouse mode (drop down menu)

● Select objects using the pen.

Hold down the button and circle your objects.How to "clip the screen" using the icon in the taskbar (Send to OneNote) or Windows Key + S or Windows.

● Changing ink colour of your pen after you wrote it down.

Select the object using your pen. Tap the selected object once using your finger. A pop-up will appear and click on "Pen Properties". There you can change the colour and width of the drawn object/stroke.

● Arrange two folders or desktop programs without keyboard (not multitasking with apps)

I usually use the "Windows keys + arrows keys" combo.. But now, I dont have a keyboard. So, to put the folders/desktop program windows, drag the window all the way to the left/right edge. You'll see a transparent-bevel appearing. Release and it will arrange.

● Cropping images

For some reason, Microsoft did not add the feature to crop images after adding them from screen clips. Omer Atay, an engineer from Microsoft OneNote team developed his own program to do exactly that. Find it from his website.

● Screen Clipping without Timestamp

Each time you clip part of the screen and paste it into OneNote, by default, it adds a time and date stamp. Now, that is rather irritating (at least for me). I did some googling and found out how to disable it. Sorry but I forgot my source but

this is how you can disable it:

  1. Open OneNote desktop program
  2. Open "File"
  3. Click "Send to OneNote"
  4. Under "Other contents", open the drop menu for "Screen clippings" and choose "To clipboard only"

Useful Changes / Tweaks for Windows 8

Tweaks that I did. Some tweaks that you should consider doing for a new surface pro. Others, just my old habits. I think these should work for Surface Pro 3 too

  1. [Old Habit] Split the HDD into two partitions (without reformatting). I always keep my data in another partition. Always.
  2. Installed a new driver for the pen from us.wacom.com/en/feeldriver. It increases the accuracy of the pen. Calibrated the pen in both portrait and landscape mode.
  3. Install my common programs and customize the start menu.
  4. [Old Habit] Change folder clicks to single tap
    1. Open any folder in desktop mode
    2. Click "View"
    3. Click "Options"
    4. Under "Click items as follows", select "single-click to open an item"
    5. Select "Underline icons titles only when I point at them"
  1. Install the full (desktop version) of MS Office and use the OneNote desktop version as my default (instead of the app).
  2. Remove login after waking up from sleep mode.
  3. It is a hell of a hassle to type the password everytime (Reference).
  4. This is how you do it:
    1. Click Start, Slide down to Apps, and find for "Run"
    2. Type "netplwiz" >> a popup will appear
    3. Select the user that you use.
    4. Uncheck "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer".
    5. It will request for your password. Enter it twice.
    6. Restart the comp.
  5. Adjust the timing for a double click and long click for the pen and touch.
  6. Prevent the left bar from disappearing after lifting up finger (Reference):
    1. Caption: Finger lifted from screen but sidebar remains.
    2. Slide open the right bar
    3. Click "Settings"
    4. Click "Change PC Settings"
    5. Click "PC and Devices"
    6. Click "Corners and Edges"
    7. Under "App switching", turn off the second one ("When I swipe from left edge, switch between my recent apps instead of showing a list of them").
  1. Removed "recently opened programs". I always use this in Windows 7 and earlier but now, since i can arrange them in the Start Menu, these are redundant.
  2. Adjust power options to keep the temp down.
  3. [On battery] Turn off display: 1 minute
  4. [On battery] Sleep: 3 minutes
  5. [On power] Turn off display: 3 minute
  6. [On power] Sleep: 15 minute
  7. Changing Japanese language to English.
  8. I am using a Japanese surface pro (with a Japanese keyboard). But I prefer an English environment.
    1. Under "Control Panel", clik on "Language".
      1. Click "Add a language" > Find for "English".
    2. To enable Japanese IME keyboard in an English environment, under "Language",
      1. >> At the sidebar, click "Advanced Setting",
      2. >> Change to "Japanese - Microsoft IME" under "Override for default input method"
    1. To change the login screen, click on "Region" in "Control Panel".
    2. Go to "Administrative" tab and click "Copy settings".
  1. (more to come)

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