Thursday, January 17, 2013

Surface RT (not) useless for business users.

So, my boss bought a new MS Surface RT to use for work.  Since it has an RDP (Remote Desktop) client that allows you to choose settings for an RD Gateway server (to connect securely from anywhere on the net) all the sales people and myself included assumed it supported RD Gateway.  However, I learned the hard way that it doesn't.  Now, just to make sure you all understand my frustration, I have a Windows XP laptop, Win 7 laptop, a Win 7 desktop, an HTC 8x phone with a $1.99 app, a Kindle Fire with a $14.99 app and an Android phone with a $14.99 app that connect just great.  No problems.
I did have an issue with Windows 8, however.  With Windows 8 it took me a couple days to find out that you have to change the group policy settings for RDP connection method to "TCP Only" to get it to work. Now it works great.  With Windows RT there is no group policy editor.
So, the Surface RT is not usable for our business needs.
Again, this is because Windows RT does not support connecting through a WINDOWS 2008 R2 server RD Gateway.   I mean, the iPad works. Android works...   WTH Microsoft?
Way to drop the ball.
------Update:
MS Support was wrong.  You can install the  group policy snap-in using mmc on Windows RT.  Then you can edit the settings for RDP connection method.  If anyone needs this information, post and I will include it.

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