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A Detailed Breakdown of Surface Pro's Storage Scheme

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News Posted: Sat, Feb 9 2013 10:17 AM
Today is the official release date of the Surface Pro, and as such, Microsoft has updated its flagship tablet's product page (or Ultrabook in tablet trim, if you prefer to think of it that way). There are two models to choose from, a 64GB SKU starting at $899 and a 128GB version (currently sold out) starting at $999. There are a bunch of accessories and add-ons available, including Touch Covers ($120), Limited Edition Touch Covers ($130), and a Type Cover ($130).

A side story that's been garnering a lot of attention is the amount of available storage space allotted to Surface Pro owners. The web cried foul when it was discovered that only 23GB of available space would be available on the 64GB model (36 percent of the advertised space), and 83GB on the 128GB (65 percent), but it turns out those figures were based on pre-production models that hadn't been fully optimized. Microsoft cleared the air in a Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything) session, and now that the Surface Pro is available to order, the Redmond company decided to provide a few more details.

Surface Pro

According to Microsoft, the 64GB Surface Pro has approximately 29GB of storage available for user content, and the 128GB leaves 89GB. Here's how it breaks down:

  Surface Pro 64GB
 Surface Pro 128GB
Total Storage as reported by
Windows (binary system)
 59GB
 119GB
Storage space reserved for Windows
recovery tools
  -9GB  -9GB
Available storage reported by File
Explorer
  50GB  110GB
Windows 8 Pro and built-in apps
  -21GB  -21GB
Available storage reported by File
Explorer
  29GB  89GB

If you need more storage than what's available, you can nuke/relocate the recovery partition, uninstall apps, take advantage of the 7GB of free SkyDrive cloud storage that comes with the Surface Pro, take advantage of the microSD card slot, or us plug in external storage to the USB port.

No matter how you slice it, you'll have at least 49 percent of the advertised storage to play with on the 64GB model, and 75 percent on the 128GB SKU.

As previously mentioned, the 128GB Surface Pro is sold out on Microsoft's website, though at the time of this writing, it shows as being in-stock at Best Buy.
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3vi1 replied on Sat, Feb 9 2013 10:34 AM

9GB for Windows recovery tools?!?! You could put an entire Linux install, twice, in that space. That can't be right.

What part of "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn" don't you understand?

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Dave_HH replied on Sat, Feb 9 2013 10:43 AM

Oh, that's correct alright and yes, it does seem excessive but again, this is a full Windows OS we're talking about here. ;)

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ApissedCannuck replied on Sat, Feb 9 2013 1:19 PM

Yea, 3vi1, but who would want to?

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3vi1 replied on Sat, Feb 9 2013 2:48 PM

A full Windows OS... that does.... 'x' more than Linux. X being a number between 2 and negative one million.

What part of "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn" don't you understand?

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3vi1 replied on Sat, Feb 9 2013 2:53 PM

People that don't like DRM.

People that value privacy.

People that don't like lock-in.

People that remember Microsoft in the 90's.

People that want to upgrade their system and not be harassed by WGA popups

People that want to be able to replace their motherboard and not be harassed by WGA.

People that don't like the way MS strangles competition, then lets the product stagnate (ie6 vs netscape).

People that think XNA was great and that it was killed because it enables cross-platform ports to be easier and that Steve Ballmer probably chokes himself with his own belt when no-one is looking.

What part of "Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn" don't you understand?

++++++++++++[>++++>+++++++++>+++>+<<<<-]>+++.>++++++++++.-------------.+++.>---.>--.

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realneil replied on Sat, Feb 9 2013 3:06 PM

Dave_HH:

Oh, that's correct alright and yes, it does seem excessive but again, this is a full Windows OS we're talking about here. ;)

It's more than just an OS. It's a full Office install that's not available until you buy it. It also includes other ready to go software that you have to buy. That's why it's so large.

 

Don't part with your illusions. When they are gone you may still exist, but you have ceased to live.

(Mark Twain)

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sevags replied on Sat, Feb 9 2013 7:29 PM

I don't think I would EVER want to run a Linux distro on any main or current system of mine it's always been an OS to tinker with and bring life to OLD hardware for me.

Again everyone is acting like we aren't the types to format and install the OS fresh with no recovery partitions or anything. My moms 5 year old win7 HP laptop I believe has a 5gb recovery partition.

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SteveHayman replied on Thu, Mar 14 2013 9:42 AM

I use both Windows and Linux, and like both OS's for their various uses. But this comparison is resting on shaky ground. A 600MB LiveCD install of your favorite distro and 2 GB worth of packages, Hardly equates to a FULL WIndows install. Tell ya what, go install Wine and the 4000 thousand dependencies required to get your linux machine to a state where it can actually run all the same programs the windows machine can, and let me know how much space it occupies.

Not to mention the fact that unless you use Ubuntu/Mint you cannot do things like watch videos or play movies until you go about the business of adding additional repos and installing packages. Where Windows can do these things right out of the box.

Features = space. That being said, in the interest of full disclosure I must admit.. my Linux Mint install only requires 4.5GB and that includes libre office...and swap space... but I wouldn't dare to give up my windows machines and use just Linux O_O

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SteveHayman replied on Thu, Mar 14 2013 9:44 AM

I hope the people that "value privacy" aren't using ubuntu with unity shell .... ::Snicker::

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