Boxing day special - $223
Get it for $193 if you have the AMEX HN $30 off $120 registered on your AMEX card
Further $5 off with newsletter voucher making it $189 which is the cheapest ive seen to date
Microsoft Surface RT $223 ($136 off) @ Harvey Norman (or $193 with AMEX HN Deal)
470
Related Stores
closed Comments
Windows RT will likely be killed off or replaced with WP8 in the very near future. Microsoft has a desktop and mobile platform, so there's really no need for a third, in-between platform.
that "near future" might happen in couple years nobody knows when. The fact that MS has released the Surface 2 that still run RT so they wont likely kill it soon after.
This still a pretty good tablet for the price, and that's also a fact.Agreed - I bought the parents one when this deal was around in November - they absolutely love it and I've had a play with it and will probably buy one for myself. You won't find a better tablet for anywhere near this price.
You get two years warranty in Australia, and Microsoft have stated that RT will remain supported until 2017. You will be onto the next big thing by the time 2017 rocks around
Windows RT comes with the full range of Store apps as well as a full version of Office.
"full range of Store apps"?
Well so long as you done need Chrome, iTunes, Photoshop, Picasa or various older device drivers etc.But sure, it has Office.
I have a Mac and never even open ITunes, don't mean to be a hater but really iTunes is kind of the worst lol
Its a tablet, not a laptop. Capice?
what people still don't get is that RT is a tablet not a laptop. It's like saying your iPad won't run steam
By that definition are the surface pro, ativ pro, transformer books a "laptop" since they run steam, along with the games in it.
Thats what I was trying to say. This is a tablet, not a Windows machine. Calling it 'Windows' leads to certain assumptions. I've had a few sales guys at HN and JB try to sell me this instead of a laptop. Even they don't seem to understand what ARM means.
I was just trying to compare it to the x86 Surface Pro (which can run Steam and everything else I mentioned).
What is AMEX HN Deal?
American Express Harvey Norman.
What is
Oops should have read it carefully, never post a comment on ozbargain just after you wake up, haha.
Thanks Forgot69
same deal @ JB Hi-Fi $223
Yeah just bought my from JB, got the type cover 2 as well all together $320, not bad.
How come you got type cover 2 for $100?
Which JB? Sounds like a good deal for the type 2 cover.
or perhaps post a receipt for all of us bargain hunters :)
I love my rt, i can plug my usb hd with movies and just watch from there. It is a good tablet.
So people this or the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8" for $233 Bing Lee?
with a lot of these gadgets, it's more about what you are using it for and what features/need/ budget fit or are more important to you..
eg tab 8 is obviously more portable/lighter
This one has bigger screeen and has full version of Office….
…I started out just looking for an ereader as my el cheapo chinese android tab died recently and my wife hates me using her new ipad mini 2. So I went out looking for a Kindle Paperwhite. Seeing they were $160 I was like for $50 more I can get a fully fledged tablet and browse the net, play games, watch movies etc.
So then saw that deal at Bing Lee for $233 which looks like a bargain as everywhere else they are $300+ but the tab3 8" has very poor reviews. Throw in the new Nexus 7 32gb for $279 also at Bing Lee (less with OW pricematch) and things are getting confusing when for a little over $300 you can get the ipad mini 1 (my wife has ipad mini 2 and I love it.
Then ozbargain confuses me further with this Surface tablet for $223 - I know its overkill as an ereader but hey its the cheapest option and I could also always use it for work as well and I can plug in my portable hdd to watch movies.
TL:DR - the options are overwhelming.
If you use it mostly as a ereader, I think yes this maybe too much…at least too heavy and big to hold and carry around
(I think the tab 3 is only about 300g and this surface RT is 900g!)If you are mainly reading books, go the ereader. Kindle paperwhite is only about 200g and I don't think there is much that beats it for reading (apart from a real book!). Nexus 7 is great to use, but as a book reader I find it too heavy, slippery, have to charge it more, etc. I find the screen is just too bright as well in dark room (even with it dimmed). A crap tablet you just aren't going to use, after the initial honeymoon period so I would not shop just on price. Nexus 7 and the Surface have great screens, so I think either is good, just personal preference (ie. go to store and play with both). I do find I miss the larger screen though since the iPad died, so you might want to consider whether you want to be more than a foot away from the Nexus when watching movies!
Similar question: this or the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10" at Good Guys for 279?
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/128243I bought the Galaxy Tab 3 "8 and absolutely hated it. It's laggy and feels cheap, I ended up selling it and getting a refurbished Nexus 7 2012 model which was significantly cheaper and much better. I'd go with the Surface if you're just going to use it around the house.
Bought one at JB a month ago and I love it! Very well built tablet for the price. Not bad at all!
Excellent tablet. Well built, fast and responsive, and even includes Office.
Yes, you can only go with apps from the Windows Store… but honestly it has all of the major apps needed, and it lacks the vast quantities of rubbish that floats around the Apple and Android stores. And seriously, most apps are redundant when you have a full-fat web browser (and simply pin sites to your start screen).
any deals for the type or the touch cover?
I bought the RT today from JB Innaloo and got the type cover 2 for $88. I just asked a shop assistant for an offer on the cover and after a little persuasion they offered it to me for that price. It wasn't too difficult but it might have helped that I was buying the RT at the same time. Maybe you could try asking at your local JB?
Bought 2 at JB Springvale HM Center
Very good tablet pc for the price. The touch cover is overpriced and not very good for touch typing while the type cover is godly overpriced. I'm using my Logitech K400R touchpad keyboard which works very well with it. I would recommend this for students as a lightweight alternative to laptops for things like browsing and word processing.
Thank you, I was interested in alternatives touchcovers, especially as the one we looked at as a demo in HN was falling apart (splitting at the seams)
Could someone tell me if this comes with a keyboard (type cover)? Or do you have to purchase that separately?
you need to spend $100+ plus for a keyboard cover.
Or eBay has chep knock-offs for around $20 my nephew was telling me today.
This tab seems to be either loved or loathed. Reading lots of mixed reviews and opinions. I'm really curious about this tab because of the price but then you see it has an nvidia tegra 3 chipset, which offers quite ordinary performance on android. I know specs aren't everything but if the performance similar on windows rt as it is on android, then I wouldn't want it. So is windows better optimised and performs significantly better than the android tabs using same chipset?
Another thing people keep repeating things like plugging external hd or keyboards etc into the tab like you can't do the same thing on android tabs. The only advantage I see you get a full size usb port instead of using an adapter.
Well you're either going to be a loyal:
- MS Windows,
- Apple iOS,
- Google Android or
- 'all-rounder'
fanboy/girl.
I already have devices that use all them on. And I doubt too many people don't have a m$ device.
I suggest you check out Sean Ong's videos on YouTube to see some of the perhaps surprising things that Win RT is capable of, starting with this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VYf5MWyTn8
From my experience, the Surface with Win RT 8.1 leaves Android in its dust, but I guess your intended usage might differ from mine (the pre-installed Office suite is a big feature for me). For $223, I think the Surrface RT is an extraordinary bargain.
It's more the apps. RT is in the "android/ios" catregory ie. it's not x86. For the price it sells now, i think its a decent tab. But the MS store shudder.
All 3 stores have gems hidden in what seems to be endless crap…its just a pain browsing for the good ones.
If it has the app that does what you require it to your needs (half decently) then that's good enough right?
Hi easternculture, please forgive my ignorance but what is the newsletter voucher you are referring to here? "…Further $5 off with newsletter voucher…"
That is if you sign up to HN newsletter and you get a $5 welcome code for you when buying via online.
Harvey's have the coloured (ie. anything but black) covers for $68. :)
is it touch or type?
Touch. Type ones are between $95-110.
I just got mine for 220(RT) + 115(type cover 2)=335 from JB Hi-Fi(Enex, Perth city).
nice, the lady at JB Bourke St Melbourne won't budge on the price, $149. i say, no thanks.
yeah I bought this when it was on sale for same price from jb hi fi… I got the last one. It had a repackaged sticker on it but opened it up and it was all brand new. Anyway sales rep dropped it to $200 because of that and gave me the type cover 2 for $100 so all up $300 pretty happy.
That's damn good deal! Nice job.
Got the RT for 212 at jb parramatta. Can upload invoice if anyone wants
Got it from JB, paid with the gift cards ~23% off, nice.
Got mine today awesome. Saw it in the morning and then went to jb hifi almost straight away.i love Oz bargains lol. Great for price. except keyboards where like $150 almost.so ill shop around for keyboards
picked one up today from HN Springvale home maker (JB sold out). The guy offered $80 for touch cover with my surface purchase. couldnt justify it though when you can get sometime like the k400 for $45.
Can't resist this great deal anymore and bought the last unit at HN Old Geelong Road. Decided not to get the touch cover 1 though it is on sale for $68, getting a pouch instead and using the screen keyboard. If I really need to do serious typing on this, I'll plug in a usb keyboard and mouse. Try that iPad users! :)
Got my surface today from JB and then went to Harvey Norman, they have the keyboards for $68 in either pink,white,red or blue.
Arghhh, tempted but still holding for a better Surface Pro deal…