Feedback: Church attendee using the (original) Surface Pro/Logos 5 during the Sunday Sermon

With apologies to anyone who may notice that I have posted something similar somewhere, I wanted to begin a new post for those who are using the MS Surface Pro in Church with Logos 5.0.

I tried this morning. Here are my initial observations (I have had the machine one week and I am new to 5.1 as well):

I was pleasantly surprised I could read the screen and had all of my Windows Logos functionality.
I was not happy it was slow (I have the 128gb version and I think this is supposed to be an I5) and windows did not grow as easily or as quickly as they do at home when I use the software.
I was - yup - appalled at how I could NOT save a layout I liked as the onscreen keyboard would not pull up automatically (I left my keyboard home) despite the cursor blinking and needing input from me.
My workaround was to write over an existing Layout I created months ago called "Joshua's Bible Study."

For the life of me I could not figure out why Surface Pro didn't recognize the onscreen field and keyboard input I tried....just not happening.
Lastly - and everyone feel free to groan and roll your eyes - the back of the Surface despite my having adjusted the power settings etc...was so hot, I felt like I was being radiated right down to the bone! My wife even refused to hold the hot brick (that's what I originally called The Surface Pro and that's what I am calling it again). She reminded me "You knew it was hot....you wanted it".

I wonder if anyone can take the time to explain the best way to optimize the Surface Pro when using Logos so that the fan comes on more often and the back of this thing doesn't fry your palm please?

As this is a Logos forum? Shouldn't I expect that when I click on a blinking cursor in a Logos field that the onscreen keyboard would come up automatically, especially when there is no external keyboard attached?

And oh yes, re the famous touted underlining using the Digital Pen - it works but begrudgingly and with a lot of tinkering. Sometimes it thinks you are looking for the definition of a word instead of trying to highlight something you are reading. That's a major nuisance item.

Occasionally I had to stop and start Logos again for the window to main screen to load properly. Ever had this happen on your tablet or desktop pc? You open Logos and its so far off to the left of your screen you wonder if the "grow" button (that's what I call it anyway) will work and restore your Logos window to its right size and location.

All of this is a nice way of saying: Logos 5.0 on a Windows Surface Pro works but be prepared to exercise a lot of patience.

Oh...my new replacement Surface Pro is on order. The audio jack stopped functioning two days after I bought it. Swapping out the speakers or using headphones didn't help. Neither did control panel tweaks which clearly showed it was getting a signal...it just insisted on ONLY sending it through the tiny Surface Pro speakers only. FAIL! I am awaiting a new Surface Pro replacement. I would guess extreme heat from the SP fried the headphone connector....I can only imagine how its radiating my hand bones as I hold it (shudder).

Also, for no apparent reason a thin line of text across the top of the Logos Screen appears as though Strongs is on - which never appeared before (like when I have it plugged in at home). There didn't seem to be anyway to turn that off. It kept appearing the top left corner of the Logos screen and just refused to go away. Not even an X to let me get out of it. This is a nuisance item and is, in my opinion, without explanation. Strongs should not come on magically in the top left Logos main screen just for fun, right?

Why did I buy the "hot-brick patience-tester"? It was on sale and I imagined that $500 might actually buy me something that doesn't double as a hotplate while its been on for more than 30 minutes.

Sigh.

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Comments

Paul C

Lastly - and everyone feel free to groan and roll your eyes

[8-)]

Bill Anderson

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570625#Comment_570625

Josh,

In another thread I posted instructions for adjusting the power settings so that the screen is dimmer and the CPU throttles a bit. Did you try those settings? It's the only way I know to cool the Surface Pro down. These tweaks will help, but the SP will still run warm. It is the trade-off on this first generation product. The Surface Pro 2 runs much cooler.

Lynden O. Williams

I tried this morning. Here are my initial observations (I have had the machine one week and I am new to 5.1 as well):

Logos 5.2 has aleady shipped.

Mike Childs

Josh,

I am so sorry that you are having these frustrations and problems with your Surface Pro 1. I hope you get it all worked out.

I cannot imagine why Logos would not run exactly the same at church as it does at home on the same computer. That baffles me.

How much RAM memory does your Surface Pro have? Is it 4 Gig or 8 Gig? If 4, that might partly explain some of the problems.

Graham Criddle

Also, for no apparent reason a thin line of text across the top of the Logos Screen appears as though Strongs is on - which never appeared before (like when I have it plugged in at home). There didn't seem to be anyway to turn that off. It kept appearing the top left corner of the Logos screen and just refused to go away. Not even an X to let me get out of it. This is a nuisance item and is, in my opinion, without explanation. Strongs should not come on magically in the top left Logos main screen just for fun, right?

Can you post a screenshot showing this?

I don't quite understand what you mean.

JoshInRI

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570678#Comment_570678

Thanks everyone. I am running 5.2 and all the latest surface updates. Mr. Anderson, I did all the tweaks and will report soon after re-examining all of the changes after I try it out all again soon. I did the tweaks before I went to church . I used the (original) SP during a nearly 2 hour sermon my pastor gave on The Beatitudes (peacemakers).

to all those following along patiently....I do NOT recommend an original surface pro at any price.
It runs extremely hot and it scary to use as a result. My wife will not even hold it and its very warm on my thigh when I rest it there.
I could not hear a fan running - ever. Sadly there seems to be no way to trip one on either.

I will try a screen shot of the long Strongs number thing that popped up as if by magic another occasion too.

Willard Scott

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570667#Comment_570667

Is it 4 Gig or 8 Gig? If 4, that might partly explain some of the problems.

I'm not sure I concur.I have an older Lenovo netbook (Atom Processor with SSD) It only has 2G Ram and yet runs L5 surprisingly well. Microsoft often releases products before they have been tested. (Think Vista) It's cheaper to let the unsuspecting customers do "Beta" testing ... under the guise of a road ready product. I am still a PC user, but I do see the "a-peel" of Apple.

David Thomas

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570718#Comment_570718

I have the original, 128GB SSD with 4 gig RAM and have no problems using Logos in worship. Here is the layout I use for following along with a teacher/preacher.

Here is the "portrait" layout I use when reading/highlighting a resource (I did the screen capture in "landscape" because the keyboard and mouse make it easier to capture and copy) but when it is in portrait orientation, the panes rescale to vey readable dimensions

I hope these suggestions move you toward a pleasant user experience with the 1st Gen Surface Pro.

JoshInRI

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570803#Comment_570803

Thanks. I made the mistake of sermon-related-emailing my Pastor while he was preaching (yup - dumb move) so I will not be using the SP Original in the sanctuary during Worship any longer. Its ok to laugh....live and learn.[:)]

(online) Divinity School student hoping to set a better example going forward - so self censoring usage of SP (in the sanctuary anyway) going forward,

Joshua
(the overzealous SP user in the backrow pew in RI)

David Thomas

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570972#Comment_570972

An even DUMBER move is forgetting to turn off notifications when using the Surface to preach. Few things are more distracting than transitioning from your 2nd to 3rd point when an alert pops up that you have a new email. Unless the email is from a guy in the back pew and you ask "Do I need to clarify point 2 before we move on?"

Todd Phillips

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570972#Comment_570972

so I will not be using the SP Original in the sanctuary during Worship any longer.

I thought that was why you bought it. I'm not sure exactly what the problem with sending the email was, but why not just restrain from using email during the service?

Paul C

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570984#Comment_570984

I'm not sure exactly what the problem with sending the email was

Nor do I ...As long as the fire insurance is paid up. [:)]

JoshInRI

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/570984#Comment_570984

Its bad form (silly really) to email the Pastor while he is preaching. Makes it appear I am not paying attention as I am busy emailing, looking up stuff, etc. Paying rapt attention is an act of worship too.

Lets face it - if any of us were preaching we might not like looking out at the congregation, not seeing a Bible and people looking like they are diverted from what we are saying. We like and strive for eye contact. It would not be good to look out and wonder if everyone is doing their shopping list, playing games, and generally were NOT paying attention, right?

I will open a Bible (everyone can see its just a Bible then) and pay rapt attention - taking notes to look up later. Afterall, the sermon is captured on audio and I put it up on the website later so I can research to my hearts content later if I want or feel the need to.

I mean, is there really an immediacy about using Logos 5.x while the sermon is going on? Not really.

Dave Thomas, thanks for the humor and smile. (I shudder to think what anyone might do if someday if I walked into the pulpit with my Surface.)
Not going to even try....Thin actual-bound Bible and notes (sorry I need notes....still green here) only.

This all give you or anyone pause?
When should we use Logos and to what end?
Is it really ok to use it as a spectator or worshipper right in the middle of a service?

I have learned - no!

p.s. Todd....I want to set a good example. Some actually think I am playing games on my Surface probably. I could refrain from email but having goofed...better I try going forward without it for now. Knee jerk reaction? maybe...but I am trying to be deliberately circumspect. I will miss using OneNote to take notes though..that proved very useful.

David Thomas

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/571017#Comment_571017

Dave Thomas, thanks for the humor and smile. (I shudder to think what anyone might do if someday if I walked into the pulpit with my Surface.)
Not going to even try....Thin actual-bound Bible and notes (sorry I need notes....still green here) only,.

Well if somebody is building pulpits to accommodate iPads then some preachers have already broken the ice for you. - http://www.littlemountainproductions.com/ipodium/home.html Of course in RI (all of the New England states for that matter) I understand things are a little more conservative.

Todd Phillips

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/571017#Comment_571017

p.s. Todd....I want to set a good example. Some actually think I am playing games on my Surface probably. I could refrain from email but having goofed...better I try going forward without it for now. Knee jerk reaction? maybe...but I am trying to be deliberately circumspect. I will miss using OneNote to take notes though..that proved very useful.

Okay, I understand...it wasn't clear from your original post.

I use my iPad in the service, but I try to have the iOS Logos app open to a Bible before it starts, with the screen at a moderate brightness (I don't want it to be any brighter than a page of paper). I'm self-conscious if anything non-textual pops up on my screen--I'm even hesitant to use the passage guide or library too much because it looks like I'm not paying attention, so I try to do it quickly when I do. I'm not a note taker, but it does seem that typing is more distracting than writing with a pen.

Mike Childs

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/571017#Comment_571017

Lets face it - if any of us were preaching we might not like looking out at the congregation, not seeing a Bible and people looking like they are diverted from what we are saying. We like and strive for eye contact. It would not be good to look out and wonder if everyone is doing their shopping list, playing games, and generally were NOT paying attention, right?...

This all give you or anyone pause?

When should we use Logos and to what end?

Is it really ok to use it as a spectator or worshipper right in the middle of a service?

I have learned - no!

I encourage my young adults and youth to use their cell phone, tablet, or other electronic Bible if that is what they normally do. We are small town Mississippi, and most of my young adults, and some senior adults use their cell phone or iPad Bibles, and I highly approve. I do ask that they be put on silent.

I certainly use my Surface Pro 2 when I attend a service to hear another preacher, and I use Logos with OneNote. I find this very effective, and I haven't noticed anyone being bothered.