Read some more Internet musings on the folly of Microsoft – not really a hardware shop, RT is doomed, the whole Surface family should be jettisoned, etc. I am reminded of an article I saw a few months ago (apologies to the author, but I have long forgotten where I saw it or who wrote it) that offered up an interesting perspective on the Microsoft venture into the tablet world. In essence, the thought was that Microsoft needed to simultaneously demonstrate the utility of Windows in the emerging world of tablet computing at both the high and low ends of the market. Traditional manufacturers of Windows boxes were probably not going to venture into the low end and get creamed by both Apple and Android. High-end tablets were virtually non-existent. Surface offered Microsoft an opportunity to put its vision of the tablet world in front of consumers without having to explain it or sell it to anybody else.

The RT versions compete nicely with the Apple and Android machines in the consumer tablet world – especially among those who wonder why on earth anybody would pick through hundreds of thousands of single-purpose, one-lung apps to choose a few dozen to load and then have to remember which one does what. All that fuss when Internet Explorer and Office pretty much cover the waterfront. And, speaking of Office, having a reasonably capable version at hand makes the RT versions of Surface competent machines for those who need to do some real work. Sure, there are supposedly apps and work-arounds for the competition, but Office is the real deal.

At the other end of the spectrum, Surface Pro runs Windows 8.1, full-blown Office, and most other software. ‘Nuff said?

I continue to be surprised that more users aren’t keying in on the digital ink aspects of Surface. I don’t know if any studies have been done, but I believe that reading is a far faster and more efficient way to gather information than video or audio. Similarly, I believe that cursive writing (and in some cases printing) are better suited for capturing information than typing. I will freely admit to being a terrible typist – more than two finger, but far from proficient. Born and schooled in those dark days before computers, typing was done on a mechanical typewriter and we tried to learn it because we would need it in college (later proven not to be entirely true). Note-taking, drafts, short reports, etc. were all hand-written. Computers needed cards which in turn required us to use key-punch machines, but decks were small and there weren’t a lot of us waiting in line, so we got by with our meager typing skills. My point is: there must be a lot of people out there who can write faster than they can type. Furthermore, one can write with one hand while holding the tablet (or a cup of coffee) with the other – a feat which defies my typing skills. So, as hand-writing recognition improves, and Surface offers it – along with what I read is a great stylus and writing surface, why are these folks jumping on board? Why aren’t they at least poking around to see if this is what they’ve been waiting for?

A bit of discussion about my wife and her computer use is a useful follow-up to the previous post. As the Director and an active teacher at a small preschool, she does the finances, prepares documentation of school activities, makes display posters, and answers questions. As an adjunct instructor at the local community college, she generates documents, produces PowerPoint presentations, manages her photo library, and works with videos. Add to all of this the requirements of e-mail, calendars, and the internet and you begin to get the picture of a non-technical person who is actually quite reliant on the computer. While I regard her as pretty capable (especially in comparison to some people I know), she does not have the same view of herself.

In her world of computers, change is not good – so, the desktop box runs Windows 7 even though the laptop and now the Surface are at 8.1. Office is a generation or so behind because she doesn’t want to learn new versions of Word and PowerPoint. So, the desktop is the workhorse and the others are niche machines. Portability and Office will be the levers that pry the Surface RT (and the laptop) off the desk and into her hands. The Surface integration of OneDrive will nudge her down the path to the “cloud” and gradual appreciation of the storage and synchronization advantages. The school’s new web site (still under development) will further all of this by giving her reasons to demand more in the way of features: Internet calendars, .ics files, links, vCards, QR codes – all of these things could find application on the site. Will they? I don’t know, but it will be interesting to watch from the sidelines.

Meanwhile, the Surface RT, which drew so many criticisms when it was on the cutting edge of Microsoft’s tablet vision, seems ideally suited for this user.

OK, so I bought my wife a Microsoft Surface RT. Yes, last year’s model – here’s the reasoning: She wanted a tablet computer that she could carry around her preschool, do InterNet searches, make notes, etc. Given her long experience with Windows and Office, Surface seemed like the right idea. When the price on Surface RT dropped dramatically, it became the right answer for her needs/wants.

She will (I fearlessly predict) fall neatly (if somewhat slowly)) into the bullseye of the Surface RT/Surface 2 target group: a tablet user that needs Office but can shift to a desktop or laptop for the heavy lifting. The main difficulty so far seems to be the shift from Winds 7 on her desktop box to 8.1 on the laptop and Surface. Next in line is the learning curve for the touch screen (common to both of her portables). We’ll see how this goes, but so far, so good.