Microsoft Surface Pro: review - Telegraph.co.uk

It's an audience that appreciates a keyboard big enough to type on properly, and with a backspace and a forward delete button. And it's an audience that will value the flexibility the Surface Pro offers. With this device plus a phone, no trip will be lacking in technology. It can also connect to larger screens.

There is, none the less, plenty wrong with the Surface Pro. At a centimetre thick it is too chunky and too heavy, albeit because of what is packed inside. The model I tested consistently couldn't work out which way up the screen was without some help, which is an irritant.

And Microsoft still declines to pre-install versions of, say, Office, that are just good to go, even if they are trials. Using a new Surface sometimes feels like running a steeplechase over the hurdles placed by Microsoft in the way of its customers. But it is worth slogging to set the thing up in a way that works for you. The stylus, for handwriting recognition, is particularly useful.

All of this is without touching on the more general problems of Windows 8 – it, too, is looking so much towards the future it has forgotten its past. While few users needed the Start Button, ditching this obvious gateway to all applications made Microsoft look arrogant and generated a PR disaster where none was needed. Windows users wanted their Start button, so why take it away?

Windows 8's mixture of lovely tablet interface and traditional desktop still jars somewhat, but on a tablet rather than a touchscreen-free PC it is less painful.

All in all, there is no better all-rounder on the PC market than the supremely versatile Surface Pro. It could comfortably serve as my only computer. But the fact that a conspicuous compromise is the best PC around is a testament not to its brilliance, but to our changing technological times.

Available from May 23

Manufacturer's specifications

• Intel i5 1.7 GHz processor
• 4GB RAM
• Intel graphics
• Detachable keyboard
• USB3
• Mini DisplayPort
• Screen: 10.6in
• Dimensions: 27.4x17.3x1.3cm
• Weight: 0.9kg