While I continue to think that 8.1 is a massive improvement over 8.0 especially on the RT platform, however, I also find - now after some very unscientific testing - that there is definitely a hit on the battery. I estimate that the hit is to the tune of about 15%. Now, I am not sure why this is happening. The following is my scenario:
Surface RT running 8.1 (updated from 8.0 via the Windows Store)
WiFi on; BT off
Screen brightness between 40-45%
I have been testing - if you can call it that - the battery life in the following conditions:
Mail app - installed and uninstalled 3 times. Continuously syncing 3 accounts (including one Gmail account with over 4GB worth of mails)
IE 11 running all the time (with a minimum of 3 tabs open all the time)
Frequent dipping into the Store to check for apps etc.
SkyDrive App open all the time
One Word document open all the time.
With this, I seem to be getting a cumulative battery life of about 6 hers 30 mins, which is less than what I normally used to get when I was running 8.0.
There is one point, however, on which I should probably pay a bit more attention: The screen brightness. I don't quite remember whether I had it up as much as I do now. Maybe I'll reduce it a bit and see what happens. Also, when I was on 8.0, the Mail app was not syncing all the time - maybe it did when originally set up, but later, when everything had stabilized - which is what I am comparing to - it was not. So, maybe it could be these two things that are reducing the battery life to the extent that it is.
There are some noticeable improvements that I can see now after the first couple of days.
First, typing (using the Type cover) has become more fluid - this is both in the browser (like on this site) and in Office. Most welcome!
Second, something has happened to the font - I can't exactly explain what, but it seems crisper and more clean - again this is both in the browser and in Office. Again, most welcome!
Third, IE 11 has proved to be a mixed bag for me - at least as of now. The problems with how results etc. are rendered on Google remain - but I expect that is a Google problem; Some sites seem to lag heavily - I have no idea why? The same sites performed quite smoothly on IE10. I have tried mucking around with the security and permissions, but to no avail. All in all, IE11 still is a bit rough around the edges for me. Perhaps updates from MS over the next few weeks may fix certain things.
Fourth, the Modern UI seems smoother. The ability to customize the tiles, sync across devices etc. gives, if nothing else, an illusion of control and personalization, which I like. My Surface looks a hell of a lot more elegant now. And, THAT I like.
Fifth, while I have mentioned this before, I continue to remain amazed by the SkyDrive integration. I also learnt how to mirror-save local files, which is going to be a big help when I travel, which will be in the next 12 days!
So, this leads me back to the question on which I have been droning on and on for the past few weeks - Will I now opt for the Surface 2?
First things first. If I do, then I will buy it in later November or early December (after I get back from my travels). I can only imagine what the experience of using the Surface 2 will be given that it will come with 8.1 preinstalled + having the Tegra4 Soc! That said, there are now three basic attractors that the Surface 2 has for me. In order of importance: (1) Battery life (and the possibility of extending the same later next year with the Power cover - leaving aside the added weight issue for the moment); (2) The 2-step kickstand; (3) Lighter weight/ higher res screen (these two issue sties with each other - but if I had to single out one reason, I'd probably point to the weight issue rather than the screen because the current Surface RT's screen is not bad at all at least for my purposes).
