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Microsoft Announces New 'Surface' Tablet, New Hardware and Software Based on Windows 8
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Some of you guys on here are pretty sad. I love apple. I use an iPhone, iPad, and have a new MacBook Pro retina. I also have several windows pcs. Some of you are dismissing this just because it is from Microsoft. First off, it is a very cool product. The windows rt version will hopefully give the iPad a run for its money. We all know the tablet space needs some competition. Right now it's just apple competing with themselves.
If apple would have came out and announced this exact tablet with iOS you would all be talking how incredible and innovative it is.
It doesn't hurt to look at the competition sometimes.
If apple would have came out and announced this exact tablet with iOS you would all be talking how incredible and innovative it is.
It doesn't hurt to look at the competition sometimes.
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...
What I can't for the life of me figure out is what "twice as efficient as typing on glass" means. Is it a surface harder than glass? Because if not, aren't you wasting energy compressing 'keys' or whatever material is used instead? Or is this just a new brilliant way to market smaller-than-standard keyboards (which are of course more efficient because you don't have to move your fingers as far).
What I can't for the life of me figure out is what "twice as efficient as typing on glass" means. Is it a surface harder than glass? Because if not, aren't you wasting energy compressing 'keys' or whatever material is used instead? Or is this just a new brilliant way to market smaller-than-standard keyboards (which are of course more efficient because you don't have to move your fingers as far).
Sick of these patent lawsuits. Use your resources by making a product 100x better than the competition, not trying to ban their products from entering the US. Companies borrow great ideas from each other, this is not a bad thing.
Errr, anyone remember the ORIGINAL Microsoft Surface?
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee692162(v=Surface.10).aspx
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee692162(v=Surface.10).aspx
Looks great hardware wise. Not sure why they did not publish the processor speeds possibly they are still determining what the full hardware will actually be. I guess its going to rest on the laurels of Windows 8 desktop since the Metro widgets are childish at best.
I'm sure as this a Mac forum many people will hate it.. But personally I think they did a great job with the ad, and with Windows 8 + Metro.. I think it'll be a compelling experience on tablets..
I'm not hating the keyboard either, you know on screen keyboards aren't bad, but with this you'll have much more screen real estate since the keyboard is on what looks to me like a cover..
Sure It probably won't be an iPad killer, but who knows, to me the second best mobile operating system is Windows Phone 7 & Windows 8 Metro..
I'm not hating the keyboard either, you know on screen keyboards aren't bad, but with this you'll have much more screen real estate since the keyboard is on what looks to me like a cover..
Sure It probably won't be an iPad killer, but who knows, to me the second best mobile operating system is Windows Phone 7 & Windows 8 Metro..
I watched the press conference blog feeds.
What I don't understand is why they call the device "Surface", but they showed you how to everything with the device except use it's surface. With a name like that it should have been all about the advanced touch screen and the revolutionary gestures.. oh wait.. they don't have that... ummm Why not call it, "KB COVER" the new MS Tablet.
MS didn't really do any live demos of the device kept using CGI video and touting it's cover... phhht, please.
How many of us use our iPads on a table with the cover... there an't no table on my couch, in my car, on the plane, etc.
This device is dead on arrival.
What I don't understand is why they call the device "Surface", but they showed you how to everything with the device except use it's surface. With a name like that it should have been all about the advanced touch screen and the revolutionary gestures.. oh wait.. they don't have that... ummm Why not call it, "KB COVER" the new MS Tablet.
MS didn't really do any live demos of the device kept using CGI video and touting it's cover... phhht, please.
How many of us use our iPads on a table with the cover... there an't no table on my couch, in my car, on the plane, etc.This device is dead on arrival.
Sweet!
Microsoft just replicated the Timex Sinclair's keyboard.
You know, if this came out before the iPad it would have done well...
Microsoft just replicated the Timex Sinclair's keyboard.
You know, if this came out before the iPad it would have done well...
As usual, they hamstring themselves out of the gate by releasing two models with different OSes and capabilities that aren't going to be clear to the average consumer. It'll probably be OK for Pros, however.
Combine that with the fact that they've left out pricing, availability, and meaningful specifications and basically they've left anyone that is interested hanging.
Don't get me wrong, I think the competition is needed. I give them kudos for getting in the game.
I think we all take for granted how awesome it is when a company gets on stage, gives you everything you need to know about the product in an hour, and releases it the next/same day (or a reasonable timeframe like "next week").
Combine that with the fact that they've left out pricing, availability, and meaningful specifications and basically they've left anyone that is interested hanging.
Don't get me wrong, I think the competition is needed. I give them kudos for getting in the game.
I think we all take for granted how awesome it is when a company gets on stage, gives you everything you need to know about the product in an hour, and releases it the next/same day (or a reasonable timeframe like "next week").
Those aren't specs... Where is the RAM? CPU specs/speeds/cores? Screen resolution? (those might exist or have been announced...but they're not listed on the quoted page...)
well good for them
Like others, I would be curious about these on the Pro version:
1. Price
2. Battery life
3. Weight (did I miss that?)
I like the idea of the keyboard cover and having a Pro/Regular versions.
Well, MS you actually made me sit up and take notice rather than curse your name yet again.
LMAO at the kickstand comments.
Competition is very good and I'm all for it.
Like others, I would be curious about these on the Pro version:
1. Price
2. Battery life
3. Weight (did I miss that?)
I like the idea of the keyboard cover and having a Pro/Regular versions.
Well, MS you actually made me sit up and take notice rather than curse your name yet again.
LMAO at the kickstand comments.
Competition is very good and I'm all for it.
After being excited about this tablet by watching the ads and reading the announcements, thinking about it a little more.....Microsoft still has a long way to go.
Firstly, there are two hardware platforms to consider:
* x86
and
* ARM
This means developers would have to either choose what hardware platform to develop for, or develop for both platforms.
This might sway developers away from Windows 8.
Apps can make or break a platform and Microsoft has a long way to go to catch up to the momentum that Apple and Google have with their apps.
Its all about the apps.....
Firstly, there are two hardware platforms to consider:
* x86
and
* ARM
This means developers would have to either choose what hardware platform to develop for, or develop for both platforms.
This might sway developers away from Windows 8.
Apps can make or break a platform and Microsoft has a long way to go to catch up to the momentum that Apple and Google have with their apps.
Its all about the apps.....
Those are specs ?
Where's the screen resolution or the graphics behind it or the Arm core it uses or the memory or the battery life ?
Etc......
I assume this won't even remotely be released until Windows 8 comes out. Because I can't see them making people use Windows 7 on it for a few months. So I wouldn't expect it before then.
Would be nice to see the price before then though. Else people are just going to forget about it.
Would be nice to see the price before then though. Else people are just going to forget about it.