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I have a question. And this is an honest question because I truthfully do not understand and would like to.

How is this different than an iPad with a bluetooth keyboard?

Both primarily rely upon touching the screen for navigation (Windows 8 doesn't have touchpad gestures unless they added them after the latest consumer preview). Both support physical keyboards. What is the difference?

I'm guessing this cover/keyboard is connected to the tablet and serves as a keyboard and cover. Whereas with Apple it's a separate item.

If I understand this correctly I like the cover/keyboard idea. But not so much the kickstand. MS basically took the Smart Cover idea, got ride of the roll up feature (that turns it into a 'kick stand'), put a keyboard in it. And added the kickstand to the back.
 
This tablet is pretty cool. Built in stand is neat and the keyboard cover is a fantastic idea. Exciting!
 
They need to be sued for the snap-on magnetic cover..

This is even worse infringement than Samsung has ever done :/

The only thing similar between the touch cover and the smart cover is that they both have magnets.
 
This is not an iPad competitor...it's an ultrabook competitor. This is perpetuation of the only game MS knows...traditional PCs...
They have two versions:

1) Intel-based with i5 core that'll compete with ultrabook
2) ARM-based that'll compete with the iPad & Android tablets
 
A tablet that runs a full OS and Microsoft Office? Yes please. Day 1.

Exactly. I don't see why companies won't pick these up in a heartbeat.

Also what I haven't seen really brought up the pro version directly competes with the air ($1000 to 1600) and even though we don't have all the details, in some cases has better top end specs, it's lighter, runs 1080p, and has a touch screen.

Plus having an ARM version allows companies to support light and pro users similarly whereas right now ipad is pretty goofy in a work environment.

I think Apple will slow on this. But the big losers will be dell, hp and lenovo.
 
Of course, I completely disagree. Microsoft totally understand THEIR ecosystem - and the keyboard IS a killer feature for customers like ME.

Typing on the iPad or any other tablet sucks. Microsoft solved this problem elegantly. It's innovation Apple should have come up with to make the iPad an attractive device for people who have to WRITE a lot. But since Apple is mostly interested in selling content, that was the last thing they worried about.

With the Surface tablet, Microsoft is well positioned to bring tablets into businesses - their concept makes tablets actually USEFUL.

Not really; Microsoft pushing their "innovative" keyboard shows they don't put much trust in their own on-screen keyboard.

This was typed on an iPad and didn't suck.
 
Can somebody explain to me why Microsoft could not match the screen resolution of the iPad 3? To me it's going to be a tough sell when you have the two devices side by side.

I actually disagree. I think most "common folk" can barely tell the difference between the ipad 2 and ipad 3. I fancy myself as having good eyes and i had trouble seeing it until I literally held them side by side. On the iPhone its night and day...but for whatever reason I find it tough to tell on the iPad.


Anyway, I honestly don't think the higher resolution is this huge selling factor for mass market yet. iPhone has had a better dpi for how long? But people are fine with other devices as well.

But to your point, Apple has this tendency to snap up ALL the supplies for parts of their device. I'd imagine not many manufacturers will have that high resolution of a screen for a bit.
 
Er, just wondering. How would this push Apple to release a 7 inch iPad? Even assuming this would push Apple do to anything it would push them to make thinner Macbook Airs (which they're probably doing anyway).

New competition in the tablet space may mitigate Apple's seeming delayed decision to release a smaller form factor, where for now, Android is the only one of any significance. Tablets represent the largest growth market for Apple devices. They need to dominate ALL spaces, including the 7" market.

Remember, I'm all for Apple.
 
Selling two versions of your new platform running incompatible software seems a little odd, but I suppose that's what comes from having to try to please everyone...
The commonality is that Metro apps work on both systems. Plus, the "Pro" version has the traditional Intel processor for all existing Windows programs. I don't think it'll be confusing they market it correctly.
 
I have a question. And this is an honest question because I truthfully do not understand and would like to.

How is this different than an iPad with a bluetooth keyboard?

Both primarily rely upon touching the screen for navigation (Windows 8 doesn't have touchpad gestures unless they added them after the latest consumer preview). Both support physical keyboards. What is the difference?

Maybe, but such a portable device with the capability to run Windows apps is very powerful. It is a real threat to Apple.

Apple has been a leader for a long time, and may continue to be. But this kind of dominance can't last for ever, or at least other dominant companies (IBM anyone?) have failed to extend their reign indefinitely. I'm rooting for Apple because I'm a convert, but having so many companies (Microsoft, IBM, Samsung, etc.) arrayed against you is not something you can expect to withstand forever.... :apple:
 
Genuine question / observation.

I hope microsoft patented the case, because I think Kirf land will surely ensue, with a raft of copycat iPad keyboard smart cases from Chinese third parties.

Assuming in the next 6 months we do see iPad type cases with similar features.

The question is other than the case, in regards to the Windows RT version, if I can't use the full windows and install my existing software, if the store oesnt have the same amount of content as the iPad app store, why would I not buy an iPad 3?

Microsoft showed no killer apps, not even smart glass which as we know is coming to Androud and iOS devices also. So if Office likewise makes its iPad debut, again why would I buy the Surface over an iPad?
 
What this announcement implies is that Microsoft was getting no traction in convincing other vendors to build a tablet for Windows RT. Some may have been willing to put it on hardware designed for their Android tablets, but do nothing special.

The RT version will have to be no more expensive then the iPad 2 and equal battery life, as it has no other (described) features that sets it apart from an iPad 2. To gain any real foothold will likely require pricing more in the $299 - $349 range. If it is $499 or $599 without a retina display it is DOA.

The Pro version may have a shot if the enterprise buyers adopt Win 8. I see this as potential competition for ultrabooks. It will have little impact on MacBook Air or iPad sales.

lol seriously? Did you not pay any attention to Computex two weeks ago?
 
What this announcement implies is that Microsoft was getting no traction in convincing other vendors to build a tablet for Windows RT. Some may have been willing to put it on hardware designed for their Android tablets, but do nothing special.

The RT version will have to be no more expensive then the iPad 2 and equal battery life, as it has no other (described) features that sets it apart from an iPad 2. To gain any real foothold will likely require pricing more in the $299 - $349 range. If it is $499 or $599 without a retina display it is DOA.

The Pro version may have a shot if the enterprise buyers adopt Win 8. I see this as potential competition for ultrabooks. It will have little impact on MacBook Air or iPad sales.

Windows RT - fully featured multi-tasking multi-windows, multi-everything OS can do way more than iOS. iPad is not exactly in the same category as this new tablet.
 
Not really; Microsoft pushing their "innovative" keyboard shows they don't put much trust in their own on-screen keyboard.

This was typed on an iPad and didn't suck.

Agreed, typing on an iPad feels almost as natural as a normal keyboard now. Onscreen keyboards are a quick input method that is always available.
 
What this announcement implies is that Microsoft was getting no traction in convincing other vendors to build a tablet for Windows RT. Some may have been willing to put it on hardware designed for their Android tablets, but do nothing special.

The RT version will have to be no more expensive then the iPad 2 and equal battery life, as it has no other (described) features that sets it apart from an iPad 2. To gain any real foothold will likely require pricing more in the $299 - $349 range. If it is $499 or $599 without a retina display it is DOA.

The Pro version may have a shot if the enterprise buyers adopt Win 8. I see this as potential competition for ultrabooks. It will have little impact on MacBook Air or iPad sales.

If there was no traction among hw vendors, they probably didn't see anything special.
 
Maybe, but such a portable device with the capability to run Windows apps is very powerful. It is a real threat to Apple.

Apple has been a leader for a long time, and may continue to be. But this kind of dominance can't last for ever, or at least other dominant companies (IBM anyone?) have failed to extend their reign indefinitely. I'm rooting for Apple because I'm a convert, but having so many companies (Microsoft, IBM, Samsung, etc.) arrayed against you is not something you can expect to withstand forever.... :apple:

Have you checked out how long MS has been "on top" in PC land? I think you need to couch your definition of "long time" dude...
 
Judging by all the pro Microsoft comments in this Mac forum I think Redmond must have given everyone the afternoon off so they could come post on here lol. Thanks but I think I'll keep my lovely new iPad if you don't mind.

I was gonna say the same thing, LOTTA PRO-MICROSOFT COMMENTS regarding a product with NO SPECS, NO PRICE, or AVAILABILITY..

Something fishy is going on...

Regarding the product.. Its about content and interface.. Not some stupid ****ing keyboard cover.. This has zune and kin one's fate written all over it!
 
They've always done that, for whatever reason. Apple really understands the marketing aspects of announcing and getting people to buy immediately. I'm surprised Microsoft still has not figured this out; or they are just are not prepared as a company to produce units the way Apple is.

This has ALWAYS been how Microsoft operates.

Right back to the 80's, Microsoft's tactics have always been to make grand demos, tell potential customers "You think <competitor>'s got something cool? You just wait and see! Ours will be even better!!" and then scramble to get it done.

By making such grand overtures the tactic is to stall the buyer, get them into wait-and-see mode, instead of buying from the competition right away. Usually the final shipping product is not as grand as they'd hyped, but by then they've already accomplished their goal, which is to stop or slow sales going to the competitor.

Just read any good history of Microsoft or a biography of Bill Gates. This is nothing new.
 
With a billion Windows users worldwide, I think they'll sell a few of these. Even more if it's competitively priced and works well. I think there is a huge market for people who prefer to stick to Windows and don't want to switch to iOS. So far no Android tablet has had any success to talk about. If Microsoft does this right, it could kick Android out of the picture. And when the OEM's start making Windows tablets, Android tablets will be a distant third. People will buy these because it runs Windows. It's a hard swallow for many here, but that is the truth.
 
I actually disagree. I think most "common folk" can barely tell the difference between the ipad 2 and ipad 3. I fancy myself as having good eyes and i had trouble seeing it until I literally held them side by side. On the iPhone its night and day...but for whatever reason I find it tough to tell on the iPad.

lol. That's ludicrous. You can't tell the difference? That's like saying my 4:3 sony trinitron with scan lines is as good as my samsung 3D LED HTDV.

Get your eyes checked perhaps if you can't see the difference between the iPads
 
Why did Microsoft announce this before it's ready to ship?

Because Google is going to announce their "iPad Killer" and Microsoft wants to steal some thunder. Same reason Google announced their new mapping vaporware the day before WWDC.
 
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