Unlock your Surface RT tablet's hidden superpowers

September 12, 2013

With the second generation of Surface tablets looming in the near future, it’s time to give the first generation some due respect. As a portable Microsoft Office machine with plenty of battery life, the Surface RT hardware earned a devoted fan base. Nevertheless, sales lagged until Microsoft slashed its prices, in large part because users balked at being trapped within the limited (though improving) microcosm of the Windows Store. The free Office RT software bundled with the RT tablets offers just partial consolation. The Surface RT tablet may be dismissed as a weakling, but it has its hidden superpowers—if you know how to unlock them. You can add functionality to a Surface RT (or other Windows RT-based tablets) through smart use of its connectivity—and by exercising some hidden app gems in the Windows Store. With a few minutes of effort, you can transform your RT tablet from a bargain-bin impulse buy into a truly useful piece of tech. The Windows RT operating system that runs on Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet is handicapped by its incompatibility with standard Windows applications. Smart connections: USB, MicroSD, and wireless One of the smarter design decisions Microsoft made with the Surface RT and Windows RT was to include a standard USB port and drivers that are compatible with pretty much everything. Not only can that USB port be used to transfer media to and from the device or to expand the Surface RT’s overall storage capacity, but it’s compatible with USB printers, keyboards, and mice. Surface RT features a MicroSD card slot and a standard USB port, which can be used to significantly enhance the device’s functionality and storage. If you have a consistent workspace on which to use your Surface RT, invest in a powered USB hub so you can keep a mouse, keyboard, external storage drive, and printer attached via a single cable. Think of it as a makeshift docking station. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Link: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2048262/unlock-your-surface-rt-tablets-hidden-superpowers.html#tk.rss_howto