Surface 2 is supposed to be lighter than the Surface RT, but honestly I couldn't tell.The best buy website says they're both 1.5 pounds.
Is it actually lighter?
Can you actually feel a difference?
You didn't disprove it's psychological. It's the "practical" difference that matters. If you hold it in your hands for hours on end, then an ounce would matter. If not, then the discussion is moot.well for me when switching from my RT to the S2 I COULD feel a difference, also my wife too, so I don't think it's a psychology thing at all, that being said take it as you like but don't let that be just the deciding factor many many benefits to the S2 as compared to the RT which many times it has been posted
Honestly, your best bet is to find an MS store and do the test I said above (or play around with both significantly--not sure they'll let you pick it up). I'm not convinced the differences are that significant when the OFFICIAL specs don't call out the weight loss in a meaningful way.Weight is a big deal to me. My surface rt starts feeling like a brick after awhile.
The technical specs bear out that the S2 is lighter and thinner. But whether that's a practical difference for the OP is another story...Illusory or not, I'd say while the Surface 2 feels lighter, even more, it feels thinner.
Well, given that there is a weight and profile difference which is, at best, marginal (the weight being more marginal than the profile), the OP is advised to look at the other criteria as inputs for a purchase decision - like the benefits of the Tegra 4 chip, which improves performance considerably and the two-step kickstand. Of course, the OP may argue that the deeply discounted price of the RT offsets these (and other advantages), but that is his/ her assessment and there is little that we may say in this regard. Didn't you post something somewhere recently on value and economics etc.?The technical specs bear out that the S2 is lighter and thinner. But whether that's a practical difference for the OP is another story...
Yes, and my point is that we still don't know the OP's use case.Well, given that there is a weight and profile difference which is, at best, marginal (the weight being more marginal than the profile), the OP is advised to look at the other criteria as inputs for a purchase decision - like the benefits of the Tegra 4 chip, which improves performance considerably and the two-step kickstand. Of course, the OP may argue that the deeply discounted price of the RT offsets these (and other advantages), but that is his/ her assessment and there is little that we may say in this regard. Didn't you post something somewhere recently on value and economics etc.?
Hmmm...yes and no. For example, I have a iPad4, which I use primarily as an e-reader. Is it heavy? well, it feels similar in weight to the Surface 2. But for me it is the ideal e-reader because of other considerations, which override the issue of the weight. So, you are right when you point out that a lot about the use scenario needs to be known, which then needs to be augmented with the OP's preferences.Yes, and my point is that we still don't know the OP's use case.
For example, the difference in "practical" weight between two devices can be phrased like this: "Can I hold it for 10 minutes longer before feeling tired or an hour longer?"
Looking outside the box, if OP said his primary use case is actually as an e-reader, the Surface product line is actually NOT an ideal fit.
Well, weight distribution matters. Surface in portrait mode is very different from most other tablets on the market. My mom uses her iPad for reading too, but it's too heavy for her to hold for any length of time so she keeps it propped up in a case. I'm not sure any use case in portrait mode will favor the Surface products, honestly. Besides certain games like pinball.Hmmm...yes and no. For example, I have a iPad4, which I use primarily as an e-reader. Is it heavy? well, it feels similar in weight to the Surface 2. But for me it is the ideal e-reader because of other considerations, which override the issue of the weight. So, you are right when you point out that a lot about the use scenario needs to be known, which then needs to be augmented with the OP's preferences.