If you thought a $500 Microsoft Surface RT with 32GB of storage was too good to be true (compared to the iPad’s 16GB for the same price) then we’re here to say you’re right. If that was your dream then you may want to start amassing memory cards because Microsoft had to use half of that 32GB for Windows RT, Microsoft Office, and other software.
Microsoft broke the news in a new post titled, “Surface disk space FAQ”, outlining exactly how much space on the Surface RT is available for apps, music, videos, and photos. According to the FAQ, the 32GB version has 16GB of free space and the 64GB version will have 46GB free. We are hoping this isn’t a universal issue for all Windows RT devices, but keep it in mind next time you read about a Windows RT device with an attractive storage size.
Another part of the FAQ explains that 32GB is actually 29GB when using it in the real world. Silly us for trusting the quoted storage sizes. Here’s the official explanation:
The advertised local disk size is shown using the decimal system, while Windows displays the disk size using the binary system. As a result, 1 GB (in decimal) appears as about 0.93 GB (in binary). The storage capacity is the same, it’s just shown differently depending on the how you measure a GB (decimal or binary).
At least Microsoft was kind enough to feature expandable memory through microSD cards that can hold up to 64GB of extra data. There’s also a standard USB port if you are in need of something in the terabyte range for a massive media collection.
Still, Microsoft routinely boasts that the Surface has double 16GB of storage when only 16GB is available to users. Windows RT has enough uncertainty surrounding it with its basically useless classic desktop and nearly empty app store. It doesn’t need this storage drama added to the mix. The Microsoft engineer quoted last month saying Surface RT users would have 20GB of space available only makes things more uneasy.
With iOS and Android optimized for mobile storage sizes, we kind of expected Windows RT to be relatively svelte in terms of gigabytes. It wouldn’t be surprising if Microsoft addressed the size of Windows RT in a future update. Perhaps it will prune it down as time passes and eventually — fingers crossed — phase out the legacy features and classic desktop altogether.
What do you think of Microsoft’s misstep? Is expandable memory enough to make up for less internal storage?
Where’s Sherlock Holmes? He needs to solve the 2GB mystery.
32GB total – 16GB available = 16GB is used.
64GB total – 46GB available= 18GB is used.
Who took 2GB???
Seems like all of MS op sys are memory hogs!
This article is a steaming pile of bias and slant built around a small kernal of truth.
Here’s a few of my least favorite quotes from this article:
“Silly us for trusting the quoted storage sizes”
- Have you never bought a harddrive before in your life? Yes there are two units of measure for capcity, no they are not the same. Soda is sold in one liter bottles and 12 ounce cans… I wouldn’t buy a 12 ounce can and expect it to be 12 times more soda than a one liter bottle.
What do you think of Microsoft’s misstep?
- How is this a misstep? The device has storage, it also comes with software that uses some of the storage. They explain the max capacity and the amount of usable space. Its up to the consumer to decide if the amount of available storage is enough for their needs.
“At least Microsoft was kind enough to feature expandable memory”
- The passive aggressiveness of the author is killing me. Micrsoft isn’t being kind. They are offering a feature… if they didn’t have expandable memory I wouldn’t assume they were being “mean.” There’s no emotion to this… it is what it is.
“Still, Microsoft routinely boasts that the Surface has double 16GB of storage”
- Yes, yes it does. 32 is double 16… it doesn’t say anything about how its used. I’m 6’2″ tall, but alas most of that is just legs :( When I buy the surface pro, I expect the operating system to be the most useful piece of software on the device, I wouldn’t consider it waste of usable space.
“Windows RT has enough uncertainty surrounding it with its basically useless classic desktop and nearly empty app store. It doesn’t need this storage drama added to the mix”
- What uncertainty?? The number of apps does not directly correlate with user satisfaction. Apple’s app store has hundreds of thousands of apps…. but no Microsoft Office which I expect to be my most needed and loved application.
- What storage drama?? You mean the drama you’re trying to create. Again… the device uses onboard storage. It has storage. Some of that can store the user’s stuff. There is no drama here.
“we kind of expected Windows RT to be relatively svelte in terms of gigabytes”
- You expected wrong. They dealt with the size of the OS by including more storage. If they offered 16GB’s of total space and used 16GB’s and erroneously claimed you have 16 GB’s of usable space then you have an argument. None of that happened.
Lets wait for reviews and everyday experiences. Until then everything coming from MS is just marketing.
Remember Windows Phone 7 – MS had the exact same marketing speeches and look what a bummer it turned out to be.
windows phone 7 was fantastic, i love my phone, it works all the time, when its supposed to with simplicity, thats all anyone can ask for on a phone, I’ve used android in the past, doing things wasn’t as easy on android than windows phone and it took more time to do things on android compared to windows phone, but just an opinion
I did review the Surface RT. Right here: http://www.digitaltrends.com/tablet-reviews/microsoft-surface-windows-rt-review/ . I may have to make an update to the specs portion of the review to reflect this info.
Buy, wipe, Install Ubuntu, be happy.
What the problem? Buy a $20 32 gb sd card and all your problems are solved.
Simple fix to this non problem. Slide a 64gb mini sd card in when you need it. Lets not make a big deal about these things
I bought one of these and it rocks
Getting ripped off 16 GB of SSD storage is a big deal. An expansion slot for flash memory is fine, but most SD cards are A LOT slower and do not have the RAM cache. This is an important distinction, especially so when considering the Surface is a productivity device.
16GB is a ridiculous amount of data for a portable OS to take up. It just shows that Microsoft really hasn’t eliminated as much bloat from Windows and Office as it needs to.
Honestly I’ve never checked but how does this compare in terms of how much usable space iOS and Android has? According to their little chart the OS only uses 8GBs but there is 5GBs allotted to recovery. I wonder if one can unlock that recovery sector an reallocate that space for usage?
That’s what I was wondering too! In theory it should work, but who knows. Apparently 32GB is actually 29GB so we can’t rely on common sense here. Ha.
Well, the 16 GB iWhatever would require a usage of some of that space for programs, so the Surface is still a better deal, just not as good as some hoped. I’m just glad it’s no longer a ‘big F*ing table.’
well played!
Well this certainly sucks but it always sucked. They have had the ability to put far greater storage into units for years, and often fairly cheaply as well. Its like the PS3 and X360 coming with shit HDD sizes and then charging premium cash for larger ones. Every one could put a Terrabyte sized drive in and have it only very slightly increase the cost, but they don’t. They instead put in sub par drives and charge $$$ for them. Its a market rip off that the consumers just accept. We don’t get what is available to us.
Soo true!:-)’
What do you expect from Microcrap.
I have no idea if my comments are being posted.
I wanted to like Surface I really did. This and the news of “bad” cameras. Maybe I’ll grab a Google Nexus tablet until Windows RT gets more apps.
Sigh. I really wanted to like Windows RT. But I think I’ll end up grabbin a Google Nexus tablet until there are #1 more apps and #2 more tablet selection. Hopefully Surface pro holds better news.
wtf is RT
So many fucking Apple fanboys on this page….
That includes Office, to be fair.
That is very diplomatic of you! I appreciate the attitude.
Shocking
put linux on tablets, its a far better o/s and you can do more with it. I’ll still take my laptop over a tablet any day, and I run ubuntu on mine…
too little, too late to the marketplace…plus the OS is trash for now at least SP 2 comes…but when??
Not going to adopt Windows RT – but might consider the Pro version of the surface…
FAIL
iPad wanna be.
lol…wtf
So if you’re buying the 32GB Surface, you’re actually getting the 16GB Surface. And if you want to boost it you need to drop more coin on a SD card that we need to lug around? Do we get the SD card for free?
You are never going to get 32 gigs of actual storage. Even on a 16 gb flash drive i get betweeen 14-15 gb of actual storage. SD cards are dirt cheap, especially when compared to the price of the tablet.
I agree that it’s ridiculous that the OS and software take up 16GB out of the box.
Lug around an SD card that is laughable! Its a real burden to carry a 1″ card…At least these and the Android Tabs have the option of using an SD card unlike say an iPad. I think it sucks that so much space is allotted to the OS but I still have to wonder if you can’t trim it down a bit like most Windows installs.
A direct comparison of installed Apps and features would be nice for some perspective. If you have to download and add a bunch of stuff to another tablet to get the same you get out of that 16GBs on the Surface then it would balance out. If not then IMO it’d be a bit bigger deal.