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Software Uses Almost 1/2 the Storage On 32GB Surface Tablet

Posted by samzenpus on from the all-used-up dept.

First time accepted submitter jigamo writes "Microsoft's newly released Surface tablets are available in 32 and 64 GB capacities. The company has disclosed how much of that space is available to the user. After taking into account Windows RT, Microsoft Office, built-in apps, and Windows recovery tools, nearly 13 GB of the available space is eliminated from user accessible storage. Microsoft's recommendations for adding additional capacity are to use cloud storage, a memory card, or a USB storage device."

13 of 471 comments (clear)

  1. Considering this is Windows... by The+MAZZTer · · Score: 4, Insightful

    13GB is not bad. I made the mistake of getting a 40gb SSD for my Windows 7 partition. I recently upgraded it to a 120GB one, much better.

    1. Re:Considering this is Windows... by Gaygirlie · · Score: 5, Insightful

      13GB is not bad.

      Well, it kind of is when you take into account that it's almost half of all the space on the whole device on a 32GB Surface. In practice you're being sold a 16GB tablet when you think you're buying a 32GB one. In comparison my 32GB Android-tablet leaves 28GB free for use and my 16GB phone leaves 13GB free after the OS.

  2. Re:32 gig sd card is cheap by ArcadeMan · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And don't forget to say that cloud storage is no good in Canada, where uncapped internet doesn't really exist, and mobile plans are absolute garbage.

    Yes, it's so bad that it's worth mentioning twice.

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  3. It DOES accept a MicroSD by timeOday · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It accepts a MicroSD, so who cares? Contrary to the market-segmentation-via-soldered-in-SSD strategy of certain other companies, the fact is, the stuff is very cheap - $1 per gigabyte.

  4. Memory card. by csumpi · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'd rather take a device with 13gb free space and a memory card slot, rather than one with 28gb free and no way to expand.

  5. Re:Full of microsoft by Straif · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And how much is it to add an additional 32gb or 64gb to your iPad if you hit your storage limit? $20 or $49 like the Surface or more? Oh wait...

    Not that I have a Surface or any plans to buy one but my guess is that when you build a device that's meant to be essentially a laptop replacement and you also include expansion slots so people who need more memory can buy it off the shelf at any corner store for relatively cheap, preloading it with everything including the kitchen sink doesn't seem like a bad idea.

    Yeah I'm sure a lot of it will go unused but it's not like storage space is going to be an issue for someone with a Surface, unlike an iPad where what you buy is what you have and if you ever want to store that one extra video on your tablet without deleting something it will cost you another $800 investment to get the next model up.

    --
    Of course that's just my opinion...... you could be wrong!
  6. Re:Microsoft Recommends by Spad · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Apart from "Link your tablet to MS Live account" that's mostly bollocks.

  7. Re:Full of microsoft by Luckyo · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Frankly, ipad comparison is hilarious. Surface has the industry standard microSD port. Just put in another 32 gigs. Costs something around 30€ at the moment.

    With ipad, you're SOL.

  8. Monthly data cap by tepples · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Well since music and movies can all be obtained through the cloud

    The cloud is useless if it can't be reached because A. you have the Wi-Fi-only version and are away from home and open hotspots, B. you have no cellular data subscription, or C. you've already burned through your data plan this month.

    Or of course just keep some media on external network devices

    Which portable external network devices are you talking about?

    or SD cards

    I guess the Surface can, but I wasn't aware the iPad could play movies and the like from an SD card.

    1. Re:Monthly data cap by Psyborgue · · Score: 4, Insightful

      iCloud is also useless if you switch countries. I bought hundreds of apps, movies, and TV content in country A, moved to country b, cancelled my credit card, and changed my account information on my iTunes account. Suddenly there were no more downloads listed. I contacted apple, having had great experience with them in the past, and their response was that if I did not have a physical backup, i would have to repurchase all the content. The next day I sold my iPad, am in the process of selling my 17" MBP, and am about to buy a Nexus tablet. Moral of the story: never, ever, trust the cloud. That being said, all my android apps still work after the move and my phone doesn't seem to mind the new credit card. I get a new store but I can still download my old apps.

  9. Re:Full of microsoft by elashish14 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You mean to say that it's half-full of Microsoft.

    But as an optimist, I would rather say it's half free of it!

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  10. Re:Yes you CAN attach external media with an iPad by Kielistic · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Having to buy and carry around an add-on is functionally the same to you? And only "slightly" less convenient?

    The more misleading drivel I read from you the more convinced I become that you are Slashdot's best troll ever; Poe's law in action. It is solid platform for a Slashdot troll.

  11. Re:Yes you CAN attach external media with an iPad by Kielistic · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Hardly larger than an SD card? Who cares? The microSD card fits inside my phone and any other device that takes an SD card.
    I'm not sure why pointing out that having to purchase a $30 add-on that hangs out of a device (in other words cannot be left in all the time) makes me an "android folk". Android is not even in the discussion so you can relax- the boogeyman isn't out to get you here.

    I am terribly sorry if the truth offends you; a hard life is in store for you I fear.

    Not quite sure what that really means. You seeming like a troll doesn't hurt my feelings at all.

    It's a little hard to understanding[sic*] how pointing out a fact is misleading.

    I'm fairly certain you know exactly why it is misleading but I will spell it out anyway. The Surface has an SD slot. I could plug an extra N gigabytes of additional space into it and forget about it. The iPad does not. The iPad apparently has an add-on called a "camera connection kit" made to load pictures which appears to also allow loading other media as well. This is not plug in and forget. This is: "hope you remembered to bring it when you feel the urge to use it". Most people do not even know this exists; fewer would use it.
    I know somebody poked fun at an iPad's lack of expandable storage but it was not a personal attack against you. You are not an iPad. You know what people mean when they talk about expandable storage. You know the iPad does not have it in the same sense. Nonchalantly claiming the iPad has expandable storage is a lie of omission.