Sunday, January 5, 2014

New Toy

Microsoft© Surface 2
One of the new toys I received for Christmas was that item in the opening photo. The Nuke gave it to me, knowing that I spend time on the road for my job (hopefully not so much this year) and she thought this guy might prove to be a useful tool.

So far, yes. A very useful tool.

Right now I'm watching playoff football and writing this post. Something that would not have been possible pre-Surface. I'd have been up in the computer room, far away from the TV in the (of course) TV room. Now I can do both without re-arranging the furniture.

It also proved useful on New Year's Eve when I found myself in the hotel in Michigan with time on my hands. The womenfolk were out shopping I stayed behind to goof off rest.

Hhmm, there's a Netflix app on this machine. I wonder what movies are available? Hhmm, Fargo, I haven't seen that in  a while. So I watched that. Kept me entertained it did. Eh, Margie?

The only thing that's getting hard to get used to is manipulating things on the touch screen with my giant fat finger tips.



Yes, something like that.

But I will master this wee beastie. It's convenient and kind of fun to play with.

Good call Nuke. Good call.

20 comments:

  1. Nice. You've got good kids! ;-)

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  2. Looks like a worthwhile thingy. Enjoy!

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  3. Tomorrow we start the deployment of 2000 of them (albeit Dells, not Surface) exactly zero increase in manpower. Suffice it to say, I'm not as enthused as you.

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    1. 2000?!?

      Ouch. I do not envy you. So far it's pretty easy to use. But I've been in this business a long time.

      Good luck!

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    2. Yep, every student in 6-12 will get a Windows Tablet. Their textbooks will be on them, which means they will take them home. Nothing bad will happen with that, we've been promised, and I believe it (/sarc). The nice thing, is because it actually is a computer, all aspects of our network will be available to them, printing, email, storage etc. We evaluated iPads and rejected them for our older students because of that. Students in grades 1-5 will each have an iPad in the classroom.
      The management software works pretty well in testing, but we'll have to see how it does under full load. Scans the device on accessing our network and performs any "repairs" needed. I'm sure we'll be tested, kids being kids, so we'll see how it goes. The no extra bodies will be a biotch, I'm afraid.

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    3. I can just hear the rationale, "Well these are so easy to use we won't need more staff to support them."

      Almost guarantees that you will. And kids being kids, at least one of them will figure out a way past all the safeguards. Hopefully that kid will only use hir or her powers for good!

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  4. One of the reason I have never owned a cell phone (aside from my general dislike of phones) is that I would be driven to distraction by having to hit those little keys. Nice gift, though.

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    1. Obviously, what you have been given is not a cell phone. I was just making a generic comment regarding finger usage.

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    2. Yes, the little keys on a cell phone occasionally drive me to distraction. I feel like I'm wearing oven mitts every time I try to respond to a text message. But the Surface actually has a keyboard (both real and virtual) with keys like a "real" computer. It's trying to go all touch screen that balls me up 9 times out of 10.

      It also has a mouse pad. And those vex me too. But at least my giant fingertips can manage that. (I just have to be careful doing the clicky-thing.)

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    3. Oh yeah. Almost forgot. I too have a general dislike of phones. Though I like being able to call people, the reverse is generally not true.

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  5. Tech lust! Looks like a great gift. Hope it works well with blogger. My Kindle Fire HD works ok, but I have lost track of how many times I've tried to log into a site or account, try to click the password block, and find that I've accidently touched the "forgot password" link below it.

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    1. So far it works well with Blogger. Blogger isn't real happy with Internet Explorer (which I personally hate) but it tolerates it. I haven't been able to figure out how to get Google Chrome on it. The standard Chrome is a no-go. I tried.

      Heh. "Forgot password block." Been there. Done that.

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  6. Nice little present! I like.
    I was away from home and left behind my laptop and just took my ipad. I like it a lot and can read just fine but I'm afraid I just haven't the patience for fumbling around with the virtual keyboard so I didn't comment much during the last week or so. I forgot to take my cool blue tooth keyboard. Perhaps that's just as well. I got away from it all for awhile and that was good.

    They are so cool to watch movies and tv shows with over the wireless intertubes in the house. It's like having a tv and cable outlet in every single room in the mansion!

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  7. Got Missus ORPO a basic one last fall. It has been replaced by the 128 Pro. The first one went to a grand daughter.

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    1. Nice reuse of assets ORPO. Your Missus gets the upgrade and the granddaughter gets a nice tablet. Win-win all the way around. Well, except for the guy writing the check. Which would be you. But a happy wife is well worth it I'm betting.

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  8. Sweet... the touchscreen on most of said devices has not been my friend.
    That said, I know others find them extremely useful and have no difficulty with them.

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    Replies
    1. While the touch screen and I are not exactly enemies, we keep a wary eye on each other.

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