[PCWorld]

Post your comments for The one fatal flaw of Windows RT here

[djkdawg]

so glad they use anyconnect, just about all the companies i worked for in dallas , uses cisco anyconnect THANKS

[ronin7752]

This is the shape of things to come. If you read the early M$ announcements carefully, you would see that the RT Surface is the prototype of how they what ALL Windows platforms to operate.

M$ created the Surface RT as the easiest and most profitable platform for themselves -- expecting everyone to blindly and willingly follow their requirements. i.e. "My way or the highway."

This does not appear to be happening yet.

[berock212]

If they don't fix this im no going to consider buying one. The main use of the surface rt for me would be to replace my school computer to type out stuff. But if I cannot connect to the network then what's the point.

[rlposselt]

Quote

This is the shape of things to come. If you read the early M$ announcements carefully, you would see that the RT Surface is the prototype of how they what ALL Windows platforms to operate. M$ created the Surface RT as the easiest and most profitable platform for themselves -- expecting everyone to blindly and willingly follow their requirements. i.e. "My way or the highway." This does not appear to be happening yet.

You should stop your crusade - it's getting old by now.

[eye4bear]

Is it just me or doesn't it seem that MS should have tested this very common situation out and gotten with Cisco and had this fixed MONTHS ago before RT launched?

[TsarNikky]

Think Windows-8 RT on a tablet as an expensive toy, and most of Microsoft's decisions make a lot more sense. Clearly, not a serious business productivity tool.

[toothie007]

Quote

Think Windows-8 RT on a tablet as an expensive toy, and most of Microsoft's decisions make a lot more sense. Clearly, not a serious business productivity tool.

And think of the iPad for example as what?

[DBinA2]

Are you guys just clueless who are making these columns and reviews just clueless. This is a "consumer" tablet, not an enterprise one. You supposed IT folks are just a trip not to have figured out that Microsoft's ARM tablet is a consumer oriented device. The VPN client wasn't designed for an enterprise network because this isn't an ENTERPRISE product..

It is not a fatal flaw of Surface because most of the people who this tablet are aimed at (HINT:Not traditional IT markets) are either home users or educational users. Most of which don't need what you are suggesting here in a VPN client and that's very obviously on purpose from Microsoft.

That's simply why Microsoft has a Surface Pro tablet. You guys need to clue in that it's positioning and design wasn't for this. That's why INTEL based Surface Pro tablets are there and Microsoft decided to make more than one TABLET.. This ARM based tablet doesn't run intel products on purpose and doesn't even include an Win32/64 based APIs at all. Heck Windows Media Player isn't even on it. There is no LEGACY hardware and compatibility there with existing software ON PURPOSE. It just runs Windows 8 apps from the App Store. It doesn't log into a Windows Sever and only allows Windows System Center Based Management (in a different way that other admin stuff).

For the home and education market the VPN client is probably fine. If you need enterprise support by the Surface Pro intel tablet like Microsoft is suggesting in the first place..

This is why I am not a PC World fan. You guys constantly for whatever reason talk to your readership about devices and hardware not intended for their market.. Will Cisco make a Windows 8 client that works on both and is in the App Store ? It certainly is an opportunity for Cisco. However Microsoft isn't intending this device for the professional and enterprise markets. So it's not cool when you call this a fatal flaw when it isn't.

Clue in the RT products (like the Windows 8 Phone and RT Tablets) are designed for consumers (like the old XP Home SKU except you don't install an OS here) and sold through a Microsoft Consumer Store much the way Apple sells iPhone and iPads to consumer markets (not enterprise)..

[DBinA2]

Once Again:

The Surface Tablet isn't for IT pros and Enterprise customers who'd use a VPN. It's for the consumers out there buying iPads and IPhones in the Apple retail store environment. Surface is sold through the Microsoft Store.

The Surface Pro Tablet is for IT pros and Enterprise customers who'd use a VPN. It's designed to replace a desktop PC and work with Legacy Microsoft Products and log into Windows Server Domains and supports the level of VPN client that you are asking for.

Surface (ARM) isn't legacy compatible and doesn't support side loading of apps

Surface Pro (Intel) is legacy compatible and supports side loading of Apps..

It's totally unfair to suggest that this tablet is flawed because it wasn't even designed for you as a customer in the first place. That's why they have two tablets.

It is admin friendly though through System Center to protect sensitive company information and assets. But not through older admin functionality found in enterprise products..

[DBinA2]

Apologies for the spelling and sentence construction errors. I was having a bunch of auto correct errors and the web client I am running wouldn't allow me to delete the comment and retype before it posted and I cannot delete the comment..

[waldojim]

So we have an ARM based tablet.
And Built in Windows VPN friendly functions, just like all the previous revisions of Windows.
And Microsoft didn't simply steal the Cisco VPN code....

BLAME MICROSOFT! IT IS THEIR FAULT THAT CISCO DIDN'T PREPARE FOR THIS!

Really people, this is how we are going to be? A company doesn't bother porting software to Windows RT, and it is Microsoft's fault?

[TobyRutter]

I love your comment! I am in IT and was looking forward to the surface tablet and had read up on the specs and had made a clear choice a few weeks ago that the RT version is not the right one for me. The Pro version would be the right one for me, and I wasn't even aware of this VPN conversation! I felt it was "common sense".

I am one who wants to be the first to buy something new, but always hold off until I know all the specifics and have seen whatever it is in action.

On another note, even though I understand perfectly clear the difference between RT and Pro, I feel Microsoft should have done a better job with naming the RT tablet and getting the word out.

Regardless, I think anyone who buys the Surface will get their money's worth. I upgraded my pc to Windows 8 and actually prefer the apps than my desktop programs!

Again, thanks for saying what I was thinking!

Quote

Are you guys just clueless who are making these columns and reviews just clueless. This is a "consumer" tablet, not an enterprise one. You supposed IT folks are just a trip not to have figured out that Microsoft's ARM tablet is a consumer oriented device. The VPN client wasn't designed for an enterprise network because this isn't an ENTERPRISE product.. It is not a fatal flaw of Surface because most of the people who this tablet are aimed at (HINT:Not traditional IT markets) are either home users or educational users. Most of which don't need what you are suggesting here in a VPN client and that's very obviously on purpose from Microsoft. That's simply why Microsoft has a Surface Pro tablet. You guys need to clue in that it's positioning and design wasn't for this. That's why INTEL based Surface Pro tablets are there and Microsoft decided to make more than one TABLET.. This ARM based tablet doesn't run intel products on purpose and doesn't even include an Win32/64 based APIs at all. Heck Windows Media Player isn't even on it. There is no LEGACY hardware and compatibility there with existing software ON PURPOSE. It just runs Windows 8 apps from the App Store. It doesn't log into a Windows Sever and only allows Windows System Center Based Management (in a different way that other admin stuff). For the home and education market the VPN client is probably fine. If you need enterprise support by the Surface Pro intel tablet like Microsoft is suggesting in the first place.. This is why I am not a PC World fan. You guys constantly for whatever reason talk to your readership about devices and hardware not intended for their market.. Will Cisco make a Windows 8 client that works on both and is in the App Store ? It certainly is an opportunity for Cisco. However Microsoft isn't intending this device for the professional and enterprise markets. So it's not cool when you call this a fatal flaw when it isn't. Clue in the RT products (like the Windows 8 Phone and RT Tablets) are designed for consumers (like the old XP Home SKU except you don't install an OS here) and sold through a Microsoft Consumer Store much the way Apple sells iPhone and iPads to consumer markets (not enterprise)..

[waldojim]

TobyRutter, on 02 November 2012 - 07:29 PM, said:

I love your comment! I am in IT and was looking forward to the surface tablet and had read up on the specs and had made a clear choice a few weeks ago that the RT version is not the right one for me. The Pro version would be the right one for me, and I wasn't even aware of this VPN conversation! I felt it was "common sense".

I am one who wants to be the first to buy something new, but always hold off until I know all the specifics and have seen whatever it is in action.

On another note, even though I understand perfectly clear the difference between RT and Pro, I feel Microsoft should have done a better job with naming the RT tablet and getting the word out.

Regardless, I think anyone who buys the Surface will get their money's worth. I upgraded my pc to Windows 8 and actually prefer the apps than my desktop programs!

Again, thanks for saying what I was thinking!

The fair question here, is what would have done that job better? I can surely understand why they would want to maintain the Windows branding across all devices. So how do you retain the Windows branding, maintain that they are all the "same version" (meaning Windows 8 here), and maintain that distance in products? Just curious if you have any thoughts on that.

[abhishek7]

Quote

If they don't fix this im no going to consider buying one. The main use of the surface rt for me would be to replace my school computer to type out stuff. But if I cannot connect to the network then what's the point.

You can connect to networks/wi-fi with Surface RT. Though, You can't connect to a VPN, and I don't think you'll be needing a VPN for any general purpose use. VPN has a quite different use

[abhishek7]

Really, I think this tablet doesn't have a VPN flaw. This is a consumer/home oriented tablet not business oriented. If you want it to be like that, go for upgraded/pro Surface . And by the time Businesses will be adopting Win 8 for them (4-6 months), Cisco and Microsoft would have developed an Application for Windows 8.

[waldojim]

abhishek7, on 02 November 2012 - 11:50 PM, said:

Quote

If they don't fix this im no going to consider buying one. The main use of the surface rt for me would be to replace my school computer to type out stuff. But if I cannot connect to the network then what's the point.

You can connect to networks/wi-fi with Surface RT. Though, You can't connect to a VPN, and I don't think you'll be needing a VPN for any general purpose use. VPN has a quite different use

Correction: You cannot connect to a Cisco VPN. Microsoft VPNs are supported.

[mk1151]

...except the Samsung ATIV tab running WIndows RT and coming out in a few weeks is advertising native Cisco and Juniper VPN connectivity.

I disagree that the RT is a "toy". It is not meant to be an Enterprise computing platform, but the battery life, video out, and other features (including ActiveSync/Exchange support) peg it pretty far away from "kids only".

I use my Surface RT exclusively for work, and it does the job brilliantly. VPN support would only give me access to internal pages and sites that haven't yet been ported through a proxy service with SSO.

I think the point you may be trying to make, which I would agree with if you took this approach, is that the RT is not an Enterprise desktop replacement. This I agree with. But the Surface Pro is also far from it as well. The RT is a beautiful compliment to an Enterprise user's daily workflow when away from the desk. VPN is the last missing element, and even if Microsoft doesn't put it in the Surface, Samsung already has it in the ATIV tab (again, a Windows RT, NOT PRO, product).

[plutoman67]

This entire article is bogus. Maybe Tony Bradley should be working over at MacWorld.

[DirkW]

I get it; Windows RT is not supposed to be a complete desktop replacement (it comes pretty close in replacing my laptop, though). It is still a feasible work-related device that I use daily at work and want to use from home. VPN is essential for this. It shouldn't be too hard to implement it... Even the very first iPhone had the ability to use Cisco VPN out of the box. Surface is definitely more usable for work matters than my iPad or iPhone is. Why shouldn't it get a reasonable VPN support ??