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After toting around a Surface RT for almost a year, replacing it with a Surface 2 RT, and toting it around for about 4 months, I’m really happy with all of those decisions.  Even happier now with my Pro.  I’ve had it for about a month now?

This is the one I have.  I don’t see paying $400 more for the Surface 2 features.

Here is the case I keep it in.  Love it, room for pen, mouse and hotspot.

Typical day for me is to go to the gym for almost 1 1/2 hours.  Surface Pro works great on the exercise bike – ideal workout for me and my bad knees is to take a long slow ride.

I can keep up with Facebook, Twitter and email.  I’ve even been known to do small updates on web pages. 

It’s a great distraction for the long slow rides.  This morning I went through the rest of my Windows Phone Apps and checked to make sure the pricing was right, and even read the new documentation on the ads.  My next step is to make a free version of each of my apps that are ad supported.

It doesn’t add too much weight or bulk – I carry a large zippered tote since I need emergency diabetes and dog supplies.

The other night I left the keyboard behind but was still able to update a client’s website and show her some software.  Now the Wedge keyboard is in the bag.  I like it better than the touch cover.

I also bought a new accessory – a Bidul hub. 

It works very well, though it does cover the volume rocker on the pros.  This one is fine for the first generation, but they have upgraded for the 2’s.  I didn’t like the first one for the Surface 2s, but since this one is out now, get it.

I haven’t figured out why you need a micro USB port on it so I am open to suggestions.

Yes, I am shilling for Amazon, but I need some extra revenue to pay for the technology habit.

I run Teacup Agility – my first Windows Phone app is very specific to it, but I suspect there are some other applications.

It’s called Dog Agility Point Tracker and I wrote it to solve a very specific problem.  There are a group of agility games that require you to get a specific number of points, and different obstacles are worth different points.

Example:  You have to get a total of 30 points, weaves are worth 5, jumps are worth 1, and contact obstacles are worth 3.  You can only do each obstacle once. 

Yeah, made my head spin and I couldn’t find a good way to keep up with it.  So I created an app.  It’s great, because you just touch the right point value and the app keeps track of it.  Hit the reset button and start over again.

I know, I think there is a market of about 3 people in it but it solves a problem for me – anyone know of a different market?

I took the advertising off and am charging for the app.  I plan to make a free version with advertising in a little bit.  I submitted at approximately 3:11 pm on Monday, 4/14

I will publish this when it gets approved so we can see how long it takes.

An email was sent at 4/14 at 3:31 pm telling me that new app was in the windows phone store!

My clicker app allows my phone to double as a box clicker.  I got the idea because someone did it very badly when the Windows Phone first came out.  First, it didn’t look like a clicker nor did it act like one.  So I took a picture of a clicker, did some graphics magic.  I also recorded an actual clicker with a good microphone and did some sound edited.

Thus, it works quite well.  You might have to do a bit of charging, but all of my beagles respond to the app as well as they do to an actual clicker.  Great for those times when your dog starts offering a behavior and you don’t have a clicker handy.

I’m told that Toastmasters use the box clicker.

I also know that dog training is a subset of animal training, and that coaches are using the box clicker.  Again, gets you an emergency clicker for when you want to do some off the cuff training.

Disclaimer:  I have been a fan girl of Microsoft since I got to go on a Microsoft Game Developers Cruise at high school teacher discount.

I have loved every version of the Windows Phone.  I have played with the iPhone (even have an Ipod Touch) and I have played with Android, and have a Nexus 7.  By the way, prefer Amazon Fire HDX to it.

Love the update. 

I really like the driving mode feature – it comes on automatically when the phone connects to the car Bluetooth (had to set it up).

I’m with @tromboneforhire on music.  Slow.  Being able to download music should help. I do think the Apple products do music a bit better.

Office Hub is really great.  It’s much easier to get around to the different online files I have.  Especially One Note.

Cortana and I are having some trouble understanding each other but we’re working on it.

Yes, I’m thrilled and excited.  Not only did I just get a message that SetsAndReps was back in the store, all my other apps are back in the store.

For those of you who don’t have a Windows Phone, here they are:

http://www.windowsphone.com/en-us/search?q=kathweaver

By the way, the updated app was put back in the store within an hour of submitting and the old apps were all back at the same time.

I had a developer account for a while and had several apps on the Windows Phone marketplace.

However, it expired and I didn’t feel like I could afford the renewal fee at the time (it was last month and I swear it was $100).  I could afford XBox Music OR the Developer fee, @tromboneforhire will get why I made the choice.

Well, I’ve been to another Microsoft Boot Camp (Azure this time), and I was looking at the Phone / Windows Stores and the developer fee is $19 now?  Well, what’s not to afford.  Signed up, and working on getting my old apps up and going again.

Now if only Azure was cheaper.

Yeah, where they make money.  In Fort Worth.  Definitely worth going to.

It’s free.  However, both Rich and I were under the impression it was downtown Ft. Worth.  No, it’s just down the road from TMS.  Where I am planning to go on Wednesday.

First, avoid 820 at all costs.  I think they have been working on it forever.

You drive in and have to leave almost everything the car.  They search you, TSA style.  Then you get on a bus and they take you to the facility.  They have museum type exhibits, a movie – which is interesting – and the tour itself.

Oh, and they have two snack machines.

And a gift shop.

The tour is interesting.  They give you a device and  you put in numbers and it tells you what is going on.

Very cool technology, but huge and looks kind of old school.

And there is lots of money.

We both thought it was worth a day trip. 

I forgot to say what I really liked about the Lenovo Yoga – it has a regular sized HDMI plug.  I also have a converter so I can use my VGA devices with it.

I also replaced my Microsoft Surface 2 RT – it is currently on Ebay. 

I have a Microsoft Surface Pro (not the 2 version) 128 – I decided $400 wasn’t worth the upgrade.  Oddly, the Surface Pro seems faster than the Yoga.  Don’t quite get that.

Here is the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 which I also recommend.

I loved the RT, but I really feel better if I have two laptops and didn’t want to have a third device.  The extra size isn’t too much of a burden – I carry my Surface everywhere.  In fact, I usually have Windows Phone, iPod Touch and my Surface.  I often leave my Android device behind.

Yes, of course, I have an Android device – an original Nexus 7.

Back to the Surface, I also have the Touch Type Cover

I like it much better than the cheaper.

I have the adapter to VGA also.

I’ve been consolidating things and trying to figure out the best option for me.  I’m down to two devices, a Lenovo Yoga and a Microsoft Surface Pro.

By the way, if you want my old Surface RT, it’s on sale on Ebay for a few days.  Good shape, a few scratches on the back and it has a professional installed (by Best Buy) screen protector.

I bought the Lenovo Yoga back in the fall, and love it.

Mine came with 4g memory, but I upgraded it to 8g.  It was easy to do, but scarier.  There are lots of links to the upgrade on the internet.  I’d like to add the second HD, but that upgrade is too scary.

I like it as it has a regular sized keyboard and does the tablet thing.  It’’

I also have the case:

I love it, as there are no zippers.  I have a keyboard cover and a screen cover from Amazon.  I’m not completely happy with the screen cover as it is almost impossible for me to get a cover on without trapping a dog hair or two.

I have figured out how to do encrypted email – requested by a client and can now offer that to my clients.