Surface Pro Digitizer

Does anyone know where, or if, the pen snaps into the tablet at all? I'm not seeing any holes on the sides where the pen would slide into. Does it snap into the top or something? I can't see the pen just having to sit on a desk.

5 minutes ago, Harlequin wrote

Does anyone know where, or if, the pen snaps into the tablet at all? I'm not seeing any holes on the sides where the pen would slide into. Does it snap into the top or something? I can't see the pen just having to sit on a desk.

I'm guessing it magnetically attaches to the side. The Surface designers seemed to have a thing for magnets, after all.

It magnetically attaches to the power connector.

All these magnets...

Does anyone know how much risk there is in wiping a credit card magnetic strip if it comes in close proximity with any of these magnets?

It always freaks me out whenever I use any item that has a magnet attached to it. I tend to keep it far away form my wallet. But maybe I'm just being too paranoid about it...?

Here it seems I can guess. Can't find an actual photo of it attached.

@BitFlipper: I don't think so.  Last time I checked magnets and electronic components were not the greatest of friends.  However, I haven't taken a magnet to any components recently.  Maybe there is so much plastic and shielding it isn't as big an issue anymore.

4 minutes ago, davewill wrote

@BitFlipper: I don't think so.  Last time I checked magnets and electronic components were not the greatest of friends.  However, I haven't taken a magnet to any components recently.  Maybe there is so much plastic and shielding it isn't as big an issue anymore.

I'm not talking about electronic components, I'm talking about the magnetic strip on a credit card, which by definition can't be magnetically shielded.

Well the keyboard snaps to the bottom with several magnets.

Here is a better view of the ride-side interface. It seems to line up with the 5-hole thing on the stylus.

@Harlequin: I saw a note somewhere that on the Pro they made that indentation a bit deeper to improve the hold of the power plug and pen. Perhaps they'll make that change on a future revision of the Surface RT.

@kettch: I heard they also changed the angle of the web cam based on people's experiences with the RT. It's almost as if Microsoft sold Surface RT into a test market to get data on making improvements on the Surface Pro.

So that indentation is for power? And that power plug has a connection on the outside that the pen itself also clicks into?

Kind of like one of those passive USBs where you can plug another USB into the back.

18 minutes ago, Harlequin wrote

So that indentation is for power? And that power plug has a connection on the outside that the pen itself also clicks into?

Kind of like one of those passive USBs where you can plug another USB into the back.

That doesn't sound right, though maybe I'm just not understanding you. Let me try and explain it. Like the Surface RT, the Surface Pro has a magnetic connector for the power supply. Rather than "plugging in", the connector just needs to make contact, and the plug is then held in place via magnets.

The pen has a magnet that's the same size as the power connector. When the power supply isn't connected you can "connect" the pen instead.

I could have sworn I saw an image with the pen connected, but I can't find it now.

I don't think that is a good idea. I have had an Asus R1F tablet for 6 years now and have never lost the stylus because it has a dedicated silo and is stored there securely (one quickly gets into the habit of putting it back there as opposed to just putting it down on the table). I have a feeling people would lose the Surface stylus constantly if it you need to keep removing it to connect the power. You would probably need to connect it to the Surface with a piece of string to prevent loss. Stylish...

@wkempf - Gotcha...

@BitFlipper - Same with me, my Motion Computing Tablet PC (bought January 2006) has a slot the pen goes into and clicks to lock. Push, click to unlock and it springs out. Hope the digitizers are cheap. Don't want to lose it and have to spend $120 to get a new one.

@Harlequin: If they put so much effort into designing the case, why couldn't they have put in some sort of physical clip to complement the magnets.