Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Microsoft Announces New 'Surface' Tablet, New Hardware and Software Based on Windows 8

more hands on:
http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/hands-on-with-microsoft-surface-for-windows-rt/
Hardware

None of this might make sense until you touch one yourself, but it's our job to at least help you understand: the Surface really is as rigid and lightweight as Microsoft's executive team promised us it would be. The magnesium casing makes it wholly inflexible, and we mean that in the best possible way. As thin and light as it is (9.3mm / 1.5 pounds, to be exact), there isn't a hint of give in the whole chassis. Were it not for fear of scratching that 10-inch, full HD display, we wouldn't have too many qualms about accidentally dropping it: the magnesium is as smooth and scratch-resistant as it is sturdy. Heck, even after dozens of tech writers picked it up, we didn't notice any fingerprints.

The kickstand, too, is as thin as they say (3mm thick on the RT model). It folds out in a controlled, reassuring motion; we're not worried about this snapping off. It also seems like it'll take a little more than a breath of air to make the whole thing knock over. Our first thought was that the stand looks like the fold-out back to a frame, but unlike a frame, which might fall face-down on your shelf, the tablet stayed put, even after rigorous handling from all the press here.

Display
After seeing so many 1366 x 768 Windows 8 tablets at Computex, we were all too pleased to lay eyes on a 1080p panel. It is indeed crisp, but you know what's even more impressive? The viewing angles. Try following along with a demo, standing off to the side while someone else has his turn taking photos from dead-center. Turns out, it's no so hard. Factor in that kickstand and you've got the ingredients for some easy movie watching between friends.
Click to expand...
 
gibstros said:
Have you ever tried to use their app store? It takes 20 minutes of searching just to find the thing. And yeah, that Microsoft movies and music store is really stiff competition to iTunes, crappy software that it is.
Click to expand...

Oh cool just giving your opinion.

Zune video is second behind iTunes...pretty good for a crap product. And Zune pass really is the best music solution i've used. Wish it was opened up to other platforms honestly.
 
mcsenerd said:
No hate...but no Anti-Apple blind love either... It looks nice and interesting. Awesome? No more so than the "new" iPad's resoltionary display... It's just at best incremental and nothing more...
Click to expand...

I'd say it depends on your needs. I don't care much for keyboard on my tablets so it's more of a curiosity to me, especially given that it doesn't have the ecosystem nor the display of iPad. However for those who really want a physical keyboard on their tablets it could be a very attractive purchase.


marcusj0015 said:
So, Microsoft Courier isn't dead? That's good news! I doubt it'll get much market share, but I'm glad Microsoft's at least trying.
Click to expand...

It's about the furthest thing from Courier on a tablet except they have a pen on the Intel x86 version.
 
AbyssImpact said:
This device is way better than the new iPad.
Click to expand...

Not quite sure why you got voted down..hilarious comment.


The commercial isn't so bad..and competition is a good thing, but I can't see many (especially on here) ditching their iPads for it.

It would be nice to see a realistic alternative to the iPad though, I still think the iPad2 is the second best tablet on the market (at least available in here in Japan.)
 
Avicdar said:
Battery life? Will be interesting.

I'm a little surprised in a good way. Didn't think Microsoft had this in them. They spent way too long in their presentation talking about the keyboard though. They still don't understand ecosystem, content, apps.

We'll see.
Click to expand...

That is comparing iOS to...? Windows Mobile? Ok.
How about comparing Windows OS to... iOS or Mac OSX? Now, I know is not 2004...
 
theelysium said:
13.5 + smart case at 3.5 = 17mm

You stop trolling...
Click to expand...

You never specified which one of the two tablets you were talking about, nor did you specify if it was with the cover or not, all you said was that it was 17mm (which you said was all you saw from the liveblog) so you jumped at a chance to say something negative about it.

Then another member comes along and notes the total thickness of the pro version with the case is 17mm, and you try to use that as if you knew what the hell you were talking about.
 
The pro version, at the moment, looks intriguing. I'll probably pick one up for work when they are released.

The greatest thing about this announcement, however....is that this ensures that Apple will have 128 GB in the next iPad.....
 
DougB541 said:
Oh cool just giving your opinion.

Zune video is second behind iTunes...pretty good for a crap product. And Zune pass really is the best music solution i've used. Wish it was opened up to other platforms honestly.
Click to expand...

Zune video is second (if that's true) only for riding on the coat tails of an OS that everyone gets on their PCs by default. That's akin to braggin' that IE is the king of browsers...yeah...with the head start who wouldn't be?

Zune pass was a good idea though...I'll give you that one. Apple is really obtuse about not doing the true subscription thing... They're not perfect...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back