Monday, October 29, 2012

Teardown Reveals Microsoft Surface’s Insides

surface teardown

The folks at iFixit have torn yet another gadget to bits — this time, it’s Microsoft‘s recently launched tablet Surface.

The device scored just 4 out of 10 on iFixit’s repairability scale, due to the trickiness of removing Surface’s rear panel and an LCD that’s very hard to access. The rear panel is fastened to the device with 17 Torx screws, and a special label makes it evident that you’ve tampered with Surface’s innards.

Luckily, once you’ve gone through the pains of removing the back panel, the battery is easily removed, which can’t be said for most of the device’s other parts.

SEE ALSO: 9 Things You Didn’t Know About Microsoft Surface

Check out the entire teardown over at iFixit.

BONUS: A Peek Inside Our Surface Review

Hands on With Microsoft Surface

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http://cdn.as7.org/22_MicrosoftSurfacePoweredUp.JPG

This is the Surface tablet with Touch Cover in place.

Microsoft Surface Powered Up
1
http://cdn.as7.org/14_MicrosoftSurfaceBoxTop.JPG

Microsoft's boxing is as clean and well-designed as anything from Apple.

Microsoft Surface Box Top
2
http://cdn.as7.org/0_MicrosoftSurfaceBoxBottom.JPG

Details about Surface can be found on the back. Notice that our unit is the 64 GB model.

Microsoft Surface Box Bottom
3
http://cdn.as7.org/71_MicrosoftSurfaceBoxWhatsInside.JPG

This is all there is inside the Surface box: A Tablet and AC power adapter.

Microsoft Surface Box What's Inside
4
http://cdn.as7.org/85_MicrosoftSurfaceInstructions.JPG

Underneath the Surface is this tiny instruction booklet.

Microsoft Surface Instructions
5
http://cdn.as7.org/38_MicrosoftSurfaceKickstandandKeyboard.JPG

It has just enough instruction to get you started.

Microsoft Surface Kickstand and Keyboard
6
http://cdn.as7.org/10_MicrosoftSurfaceInstructionDetail.JPG

A closer look at the instruction booklet.

Microsoft Surface Instruction Detail
7
http://cdn.as7.org/15_MicrosoftSurfaceFreshOutoftheBox.JPG

Removing the Surface for the first time.

Microsoft Surface Fresh Out of the Box
8
http://cdn.as7.org/63_MicrosoftSurfaceACAdapter.JPG
Microsoft Surface AC Adapter
9
http://cdn.as7.org/16_SurfaceBackwithKickStandOpen.JPG

The metal kick stand flips open with a flick of the finger.

Surface Back with Kick Stand Open
10
http://cdn.as7.org/67_SurfaceUSBPortMicroHDMIJackandSpeaker.JPG

This USB 2.0 slot works with most of your Windows peripherals. Here, I stuck in a Bluetooth connector for my Microsoft Arc Mouse.

Surface's USB Port, Micro HDMI Jack, and Speaker
11
http://cdn.as7.org/79_SurfaceMagenticPowerPortandMicroSDSlot.JPG

The magnetic power jack is convenient, but the magnetic plug doesn't always click in that smoothly. Also, is this really the best spot for a micro-SD slot?

Surface Magentic Power Port and Micro SD Slot
12
http://cdn.as7.org/61_SurfaceTouchCoverChannelandConnectors.JPG

This tablet is built with a keyboard in mind. Both the Touch Cover and Touch Keyboard snap into this channel with a resounding "click!"

Surface Touch Cover Channel and Connectors
13
http://cdn.as7.org/23_SurfaceBackCamera.JPG

Front and back cameras shoot 720P video and just above 1 MP stills.

Surface's Back Camera
14
http://cdn.as7.org/45_SurfaceFrontCamera.JPG
Surface's Front Camera and Flash
15
http://cdn.as7.org/75_SurfaceSpeakerAudioJackandVolumeRocker.JPG

The volume rocker has an interesting trick: Press up or down volume twice and the volume will zoom all the way up or down on its own.

Surface Speaker, Audio Jack and Volume Rocker
16
http://cdn.as7.org/67_MicrosoftSurfaceTouchCoverinBox.JPG

We got the $699 64 GB Surface and Touch Cover bundle. This is what the Touch Cover looks like in the box.

Microsoft Surface Touch Cover in Box
17
http://cdn.as7.org/64_MicrosoftSurfaceTouchCover.JPG

The Touch Cover, which is the same width as the Surface tablet, easily accommodates my two largish hands.

Microsoft Surface Touch Cover
18
http://cdn.as7.org/66_MicrosoftSurfaceTablet.JPG

This is the welcome screen. A swipe up or tap on the space bar brings up the log-in. Just like traditional Windows, Windows RT supports multiple user profiles.

Microsoft Surface Tablet
19
http://cdn.as7.org/87_ComposingEMailinWindowsRTwithVirtualKeyboard.jpg
Composing E-Mail in Windows RT with Virtual Keyboard
20
http://cdn.as7.org/33_CustomizeWindowsRT.jpg

You can alter Windows RT just as much as you can Windows 8 and its predecessor, Windows 7.

Customizing Windows RT
21
http://cdn.as7.org/43_FreshpaintonWindowsRT.jpg

While I had some trouble finding a decent drawing app in the Windows app store, Fresh pain is a powerful, virtual media app.

Fresh Paint App on Windows RT
22
http://cdn.as7.org/79_FreshPaintArt.jpg

Yes, you can draw on this tablet with your finger, but it did not work particularly well with a stylus.

Fresh Paint Art
23
http://cdn.as7.org/27_GameplayonWindowsRT.jpg

This racing game's start screen was far more impressive than the actual game.

Gameplay on Windows RT
24
http://cdn.as7.org/82_InternetExplorer10FrequentlyVisitedPages.jpg

IE 10 in Windows RT is, like IE in Windows 8, a full-scale, touch-friendly redesign.

Internet Explorer 10 Frequently Visited Pages
25
http://cdn.as7.org/96_KinldeAppinWindowsRT.jpg

Amazon has built a native app for Windows RT. Of course, if you build an app for Windows 8, it should work for everything from Windows Phone to Windows 8 to Windows RT.

Kindle App in Windows RT
26
http://cdn.as7.org/57_MicrosoftSurfaceTouchCoverInstructions.JPG
Microsoft Surface Touch Cover Instructions
27
http://cdn.as7.org/30_MicrosoftSurfaceWindowsRTStartScreen.jpg

Windows RT Start Screen looks and works exactly like Windows 8

Microsoft Surface Windows RT Start Screen
28
http://cdn.as7.org/32_PeopleinWindowsRT.jpg

If you want to share in Windows RT, you have to dig under People to find Twitter and Facebook.

Share Under People in Windows RT
29
http://cdn.as7.org/67_PrintingfromWindowsRT.jpg

I love how easy it is to connect to a Homegroup printer and print right from within Windows RT.

Printing from Windows RT
30
http://cdn.as7.org/68_Shooting720pVideoonMicrosoftSurface.jpg
Shooting 720p Video on Microsoft Surface
31
http://cdn.as7.org/28_WindowsRTAppSearch.jpg

Search is ubiquitous and contextual.

Windows RT App Search
32
http://cdn.as7.org/46_WindowsRTContextualSettings.jpg

So are settings.

Windows RT Contextual Settings
33
http://cdn.as7.org/63_WindowsRTFileFoldersinWindowsDesign.jpg

RT has a file system that's quite easy to navigate.

Windows RT File Folders in Windows Design
34
http://cdn.as7.org/9_WindowsRTFileSearch.jpg

Searchable across files is easy, too.

Windows RT File Search
35
http://cdn.as7.org/64_WindowsRTFileSystem.jpg

Underneath RT is a very familiar Windows Desktop and Explorer like file manager.

Windows RT File System
36
http://cdn.as7.org/76_WindowsRTInternetExplorer10BrowserWindowControl.jpg

A swipe down at the top of the screen reveals all your open browser windows (in thumbnail form).

Windows RT Internet Explorer 10 Browser Window Control
37
http://cdn.as7.org/56_WindowsRTMailControl.jpg

A swipe up from the bottom opens a contextual control bar, in this case for email.

Windows RT Mail Control
38
http://cdn.as7.org/91_WindowsRTPhotos.jpg

You have your photos on the device and those you're sharing with the Skydrive cloud,

Windows RT Photos
39
http://cdn.as7.org/6_WindowsRTTaskManager.jpg

The Task Manager is simplified, but still there in Windows RT (so is the Registry).

Windows RT Task Manager
40
http://cdn.as7.org/76_ZoomingOutonWindowsRTStartScreen.jpg

Got too many tiles? Pinch and Zoom to get 30,000 ft view.

Zooming Out on Windows RT Start Screen
41
View As One Page »
View As Slideshow »
Microsoft Surface Powered Up

This is the Surface tablet with Touch Cover in place.


Microsoft Surface Box Top

Microsoft's boxing is as clean and well-designed as anything from Apple.


Microsoft Surface Box Bottom

Details about Surface can be found on the back. Notice that our unit is the 64 GB model.


Microsoft Surface Box What's Inside

This is all there is inside the Surface box: A Tablet and AC power adapter.


Microsoft Surface Instructions

Underneath the Surface is this tiny instruction booklet.


Microsoft Surface Kickstand and Keyboard

It has just enough instruction to get you started.


Microsoft Surface Instruction Detail

A closer look at the instruction booklet.


Microsoft Surface Fresh Out of the Box

Removing the Surface for the first time.


Microsoft Surface AC Adapter

Surface Back with Kick Stand Open

The metal kick stand flips open with a flick of the finger.


Surface's USB Port, Micro HDMI Jack, and Speaker

This USB 2.0 slot works with most of your Windows peripherals. Here, I stuck in a Bluetooth connector for my Microsoft Arc Mouse.


Surface Magentic Power Port and Micro SD Slot

The magnetic power jack is convenient, but the magnetic plug doesn't always click in that smoothly. Also, is this really the best spot for a micro-SD slot?


Surface Touch Cover Channel and Connectors

This tablet is built with a keyboard in mind. Both the Touch Cover and Touch Keyboard snap into this channel with a resounding "click!"


Surface's Back Camera

Front and back cameras shoot 720P video and just above 1 MP stills.


Surface's Front Camera and Flash

Surface Speaker, Audio Jack and Volume Rocker

The volume rocker has an interesting trick: Press up or down volume twice and the volume will zoom all the way up or down on its own.


Microsoft Surface Touch Cover in Box

We got the $699 64 GB Surface and Touch Cover bundle. This is what the Touch Cover looks like in the box.


Microsoft Surface Touch Cover

The Touch Cover, which is the same width as the Surface tablet, easily accommodates my two largish hands.


Microsoft Surface Tablet

This is the welcome screen. A swipe up or tap on the space bar brings up the log-in. Just like traditional Windows, Windows RT supports multiple user profiles.


Composing E-Mail in Windows RT with Virtual Keyboard

Customizing Windows RT

You can alter Windows RT just as much as you can Windows 8 and its predecessor, Windows 7.


Fresh Paint App on Windows RT

While I had some trouble finding a decent drawing app in the Windows app store, Fresh pain is a powerful, virtual media app.


Fresh Paint Art

Yes, you can draw on this tablet with your finger, but it did not work particularly well with a stylus.


Gameplay on Windows RT

This racing game's start screen was far more impressive than the actual game.


Internet Explorer 10 Frequently Visited Pages

IE 10 in Windows RT is, like IE in Windows 8, a full-scale, touch-friendly redesign.


Kindle App in Windows RT

Amazon has built a native app for Windows RT. Of course, if you build an app for Windows 8, it should work for everything from Windows Phone to Windows 8 to Windows RT.


Microsoft Surface Touch Cover Instructions

Microsoft Surface Windows RT Start Screen

Windows RT Start Screen looks and works exactly like Windows 8


Share Under People in Windows RT

If you want to share in Windows RT, you have to dig under People to find Twitter and Facebook.


Printing from Windows RT

I love how easy it is to connect to a Homegroup printer and print right from within Windows RT.


Shooting 720p Video on Microsoft Surface

Windows RT App Search

Search is ubiquitous and contextual.


Windows RT Contextual Settings

So are settings.


Windows RT File Folders in Windows Design

RT has a file system that's quite easy to navigate.


Windows RT File Search

Searchable across files is easy, too.


Windows RT File System

Underneath RT is a very familiar Windows Desktop and Explorer like file manager.


Windows RT Internet Explorer 10 Browser Window Control

A swipe down at the top of the screen reveals all your open browser windows (in thumbnail form).


Windows RT Mail Control

A swipe up from the bottom opens a contextual control bar, in this case for email.


Windows RT Photos

You have your photos on the device and those you're sharing with the Skydrive cloud,


Windows RT Task Manager

The Task Manager is simplified, but still there in Windows RT (so is the Registry).


Zooming Out on Windows RT Start Screen

Got too many tiles? Pinch and Zoom to get 30,000 ft view.


This is the Surface tablet with Touch Cover in place.

Microsoft's boxing is as clean and well-designed as anything from Apple.

Details about Surface can be found on the back. Notice that our unit is the 64 GB model.

This is all there is inside the Surface box: A Tablet and AC power adapter.

Underneath the Surface is this tiny instruction booklet.

It has just enough instruction to get you started.

A closer look at the instruction booklet.

Removing the Surface for the first time.

The metal kick stand flips open with a flick of the finger.

This USB 2.0 slot works with most of your Windows peripherals. Here, I stuck in a Bluetooth connector for my Microsoft Arc Mouse.

The magnetic power jack is convenient, but the magnetic plug doesn't always click in that smoothly. Also, is this really the best spot for a micro-SD slot?

This tablet is built with a keyboard in mind. Both the Touch Cover and Touch Keyboard snap into this channel with a resounding "click!"

Front and back cameras shoot 720P video and just above 1 MP stills.

The volume rocker has an interesting trick: Press up or down volume twice and the volume will zoom all the way up or down on its own.

We got the $699 64 GB Surface and Touch Cover bundle. This is what the Touch Cover looks like in the box.

The Touch Cover, which is the same width as the Surface tablet, easily accommodates my two largish hands.

This is the welcome screen. A swipe up or tap on the space bar brings up the log-in. Just like traditional Windows, Windows RT supports multiple user profiles.

You can alter Windows RT just as much as you can Windows 8 and its predecessor, Windows 7.

While I had some trouble finding a decent drawing app in the Windows app store, Fresh pain is a powerful, virtual media app.

Yes, you can draw on this tablet with your finger, but it did not work particularly well with a stylus.

This racing game's start screen was far more impressive than the actual game.

IE 10 in Windows RT is, like IE in Windows 8, a full-scale, touch-friendly redesign.

Amazon has built a native app for Windows RT. Of course, if you build an app for Windows 8, it should work for everything from Windows Phone to Windows 8 to Windows RT.

Windows RT Start Screen looks and works exactly like Windows 8

If you want to share in Windows RT, you have to dig under People to find Twitter and Facebook.

I love how easy it is to connect to a Homegroup printer and print right from within Windows RT.

Search is ubiquitous and contextual.

So are settings.

RT has a file system that's quite easy to navigate.

Searchable across files is easy, too.

Underneath RT is a very familiar Windows Desktop and Explorer like file manager.

A swipe down at the top of the screen reveals all your open browser windows (in thumbnail form).

A swipe up from the bottom opens a contextual control bar, in this case for email.

You have your photos on the device and those you're sharing with the Skydrive cloud,

The Task Manager is simplified, but still there in Windows RT (so is the Registry).

Got too many tiles? Pinch and Zoom to get 30,000 ft view.


Source : feeds[dot]mashable[dot]com

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