Archive for the ‘Surface’ Category

Video: Surface 3 Pro.. Thinner, faster and greater. :-)

Wednesday, May 21st, 2014

Hello Folks,

the Surface Pro 3 looks to be my upcoming “Laptop” replacement. 🙂

[youtube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1t7rSZT_77E]

 

Cheers

Michael

 

Tip: Where are my Windows Store Apps and Data located on my local Harddisk

Saturday, April 12th, 2014

Hello Folks,

a few times i’ve been asked where the Windows Store Apps located incl. the data for Apps (Savegames, configuration files and so on).

So here are the locations for these files:

Binary Application Data: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps
Configuration Data: C:\Users\*User Name*\AppData\Local\Packages

Check the subfolder names in these directories, it should be easy to identify the App folder that you are looking for.

If you want to backup your configuration data or maybe save games just backup the configuration data folder, you can also copy this folder to an other device, i never got an issue by doing this and I’ve done this a few times for Apps which don’t offer a “Sync” option thru Microsoft One Drive.

Please note: These folders are hidden and you need Administrator permissions to modify these folders. Do also note that you never remove an Windows App by deleting just the folder in C:\Program Files\WindowsApps, this will never be enough and can create major issues for this App.

Cheers

Michael

Tip: How to get free space for your Windows Tablet SSD / Moving Windows Applications to a SD-Card

Saturday, April 12th, 2014

Hello Folks,

maybe you sometimes need some space for your Windows Tablet SSD to install new Apps or whatever but without loosing any other Application. One way is to move an Application to the SD-Card but how?

First of all this will not work for Application installed thru the Windows App Store! So don’t touch the “WindowsApps” folder in the C:\Program Files directory, do also not touch C:\Windows folder or the folder where your Windows OS files are located. Second: I will not take any warranty if you damage you system, you do this modification on your own risk!

Steps (Administrator rights are required!):

1) Create a folder on the SD-Card where you want to move the applications, i’ve used “d:\Program Files (x86)” to identify the location in a simple way.
2) Move the application folder from the “Program Files” directory located on drive C: to the new created folder on D:, in advance make sure that no component from this folder is already running! I recommend to do this directly after a reboot.
3) After you have done this start a Windows command line with Administrator permissions (Important!).
4) Now create a Link with the commandline tool “mklink”, don’t use the “normal” way thru Windows Explorer to create the Link: This way fails during all my tests!. The mklink commandline should look like this “mklink /J “c:\Program Files (x86)\*foldername here* “d:\Program Files (x86)\*foldername here*”, replace *foldername here* with the Program folder name you have moved.
5) Verify that a link for the folder is created in c:\Program Files (x86) and start the Application thru the Start Menu do verify it’s working as it should be.

That’s it, repeat this for Applications you want to move too. If you want to move an application back to c: delete the “linked” folder in c:\program files and move the folder back from the SD-Card to the SSD/HDD drive.

I’ve tested this with VLC Media Player, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Office 2013, Microsoft MapPoint Europe 2013 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2013, in all cases i did not discover any issues incl. the deployment of updates. Moving Apps installed thru the Windows App Store is not possible, once the folder is moved and the link is created the Apps will not start anymore, i’ve tested this a few times and always with the same negative result; no need to waste your time with this.

Cheers

Michael

P.S.: As said… Anything you’re doing in this way is without any warranty!

P.S.: It would be great if Microsoft could add a feature in the Windows App Store to move applications quite simple and without any issues like now.

Release: Windows 8.1 / Server 2012 R2, Windows RT 8.1 Update and SQL Server 2014 are now available in the MSDN

Thursday, April 3rd, 2014

Hello Folks,

you can now download the Update for Windows 8.1 / Server 2012 R2 and Windows RT 8.1 in the Microsoft MSDN (MSDN Account required), also SQL Server 2014 RTM is available now in the MSDN.

Cheers

Michael

P.S.: It’s named as Update and not Update 1 🙂

Release: Microsoft Office 2013 SP1, Microsoft Exchange 2013 SP1 and Sharepoint 2013 SP1

Wednesday, February 26th, 2014

Hi Folks,

yesterday/today Microsoft has release several Service Packs containing Updates, new Features and Optimizations for Microsoft Office 2013, Exchange 2013 and also Sharepoint 2013, you can download the Service Packs here:

Microsoft Office 2013 SP1 32Bit: Download
Microsoft Office 2013 SP1 64Bit: Download
Microsoft Exchange 2013 SP1: Download

Office for Windows RT based devices will also receive an update thru Windows Update which is already available.

There are currently no product ISO Files available on MSDN that already contains the SP1, so currently you are required to download/intall the SP1 seperate or to deploy it thru Windows Update or a WSUS Server.

Cheers

Michael

Tip: Must have Microsoft Surface add-on’s

Tuesday, January 7th, 2014

Hi Folks,

here are some “must” have add-on’s for the Microsoft Surface RT / Surface Pro Tablet, the none Microsoft component’s shown here are used by my own together with the Surface RT/Pro Tablet’s but i can not guarantee that similar none Microsoft components will work; you have to test this by your own.

 

tyüecover

1) Type or Touch Cover Keyboard, must have… Touch Cover is good for “smaller” Keyboard work but i do prefer the Type Cover for longer work.

carcharger

 

2) Car charger, several Versions for the Surface RT (2A) /Pro (3,6A) are available at EBay starting at 17€ incl. Package.

 

mouse

3) A Bluetooth Mouse

64gbsd

 

4) A SDXC extension memory card (up to 64GB)

miniusb30hub

5) A small USB 3.0 Hub for the Surface Pro or a USB 2.0 Hub for the Surface RT

 

microhdmi

6) A Micro HDMI to VGA converter to connect a projector, available at EBay for less than 20€; look out for an Adapter incl. Audio (see picture). Surface RT only!

MiniDisplayPortAdapter

7) A Mini Display Port to VGA and HDMI converter, available at EBay for less than 20€, i recommend this one because it offers two connectors in one Adapter. Surface Pro only!

8) Optional: For the Surface Pro a USB 3.0 to Ethernet Adapter, around 20€ at EBay.

Projector

9) Optional: A (battery powered) Mini LED Projector like the Philips Pico Pix 2480 which is a really cool add-on for Presentations or Multimedia, starting at 270€ (Swiss prize).

Cheers

Michael

 

 

Experience: Why Microsoft Surface (RT/Pro) devices are the best tablets available…

Monday, January 6th, 2014

Hi Folks,

first post of the year and none IGEL related. 🙂

Like promised some time ago in my Samsung/Android article (Article) iam currently kicking out all android devices and this includes also my tablets.

I’ve decided to go with the Microsoft Surface RT and Pro (not Surface 2) running Windows 8.1 for a simple reason, there where sold in Switzerland for a very very good prize (for example less than 250 € for the Surface RT 64 GB incl. Touch Cover Keyboard and a 50CHF Windows Store Voucher) and Apple is not realy an alternative for me.

So what are the reason why i’ve taken the Surface?

1) First of all Windows RT / 8.1 (Pro) is for me the best Tablet GUI ever been done, from my point of view no other OS can compare to it. Of course some people blaming that Office is not really Touch optimized but on the other side… Did these guys always tried to work with an large Excel sheet with Android or IOS? I don’t thing so because it’s mostly crap compared to Microsoft Office and i’ve tested a lot  (Polar Office, Quick Office and other). I also recommend to get an Bluetooth Mouse, it’s really a good add-on for work.

2) The quality of the Surface RT / Pro tablets is very high and can be compared to other high end devices.

3) Very important for me: A native Microsoft Remote Desktop Services Client.. Android and also IOS can not compare with it, sorry but this is the truth. I can deal with all available RDP Features incl. USB device redirection.

4) The optional Keyboards (Touch / Type Cover, i got both) is a must have and both Keyboards are working great for me.. Using a OnScreen Keyboard for Emails or articles like this… No competition.

5) USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 Port (RT/Pro)… Connecting a external HDD/SDD or whatever is working like a charm but you should consider to get an external USB 3.0 Hub (Small one available @ Ebay for less than 25€) or a cheap USB 2.0 hub for the RT. For RT get a look on a RT compatible  logo, x86/64 Bit Drivers will not work and a RT compatible Version must be available. For the Pro Version any Windows 8 compatible Device will work without any issue.

6) Internal SDXC Reader (iam using this to extend the devices with 64GB cards, primary iam having documents/presentations on it) and if you are using real SDXC cards i will promise you that this will beat the read/write times compared to other tablets. For example on the Pro iam running games like Elder Scrolls Skyrim, Civilization and Movies from it and the read time is very good. You can also use SD/SDHC cards but the performance is not so high like a fast SDXC card (Starting at 104MB/s up to 300MB/s which is faster than any other SD card standard (SDHC somewhere around 10MB/s), for example the latest CF Card generation with 600x speed=90MB/s=Slower than the slowest SDXC standard with 104MB/s)

7)  Mini Display Port (Pro) and Micro HDMI Port (RT) Ports to connect a projector or second Monitor, this is a great option and you can get adapters to VGA or HDMI very cheap on ebay (less then 20€). I never got issues with an “none” Microsoft adapter and they are much cheaper as the original ones but you should be aware that a 3rd Party Adapter might not work for you.

8) Very long use time for the Surface RT, in my tests i got more than 8 hours; the Surface Pro could be better but this will also work mostly 3-4 Hours for me; iam not sure what other people are doing with there device but i can’t blame the Surface for a short battery use time.

9) I can run all my Windows applications on the Pro tablet incl. the Hyper-V role, this is very important for me. No app store or similar nonsense… For RT a couple of “features” are missing for me but the most important ones (Archiver, Citrix Receiver and other Tools are available in the Windows Store for free or not much money). One con here is that the Windows Store do not contain a lot of Apps… To be honest, i don’t need 1000 times the same type of app; one good one is enough for me and the App amount is still growing. One Tip… Look out for Project Siena (Beta) from Microsoft, this will allow you to create simple business apps very fast for your company or your demands (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/projectsiena/default.aspx); nothing similar for Android or IOS is available.

10) No “3rd Party” Vendor Update mess, i don’t have to deal with Samsung or Apple and i got the same patch Level on all my devices incl. Office at the same Time “Hurray!”. No feature difference, no “Mobile Providers” which have to “agree” to an update and this is really the important feature for me.

11) Printer support, for the Surface Pro no deal and also for the RT currently all my printers are working fine thru network and USB port. Try to print from an Android to IOS device… Funny thing right? …and if you got it to work (somehow), try to print out a larger document or presentation; do it look like the orginal Document?

12) Features for Office are similar to my Laptops/Desktop/Server System’s, Windows Store Apps are similar between Desktop/Laptops and Tablets (incl. one License/paid App for multiple Devices). Why getting (buying) the same type of  app several times for different Operating System’s? Did you already thing about this?

13) Windows RT based devices are coming with a Windows Companion Subscription License (CSL), this is a clear advantage compared to our Tablet Operating Systems. For example if your User are using a “none” Windows private device to connect to your environment you have to buy a extra License (VDA or CSL). Read more in the Microsoft Blog here: Link

Of course they’re more Pro and also Cons for the Surface Tablets but currently for my mobile use this was the best descission ever done, i write this because some people are blaming the Surface devices (RT and also Pro) but iam not sure if these people have ever really compared it to an other Tablet PC during daily “mobile” work and not only in a Lab (a full blown PC, Laptop or Thin Client is not the competition). For my daily mobile work there is no better tablet available and Android or IOS devices are nice just for fun toys for me now and nothing more. Cons like repairing a tablet are nonsense, did you try to repair a IPAD or Galaxy Tab? Why this is a disadvantage for a Microsoft device? Weight.. Yes, it’s not a cheap plastic device and the weight is still ok. These cons often mentioned are not really serious and i only can recommend: Compare it by your own! For me the descission is quite clear now… 🙂

Cheers

Michael