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

[2IS]

The heat I'm feeling is from sitting on this chair typing out all of these posts and not getting thru to you and your windows 8 entourage. I swear you guys must be MS paid trolls coming here to see what we apple guys feel about your gadget in the works.

Well you can swear all you want, you'd still be wrong.

 

[KevinN206]

So you want to throw in a 2007 laptop to debate about how well it runs your workload with only 2.5GB ram? How about I boot up my 486DX2 with OS/2 using only 4MB ram? Productive, nope - but if you insist on using your dell, good for you!

Of course I am productive, productively entertained, by you. You claim that I don't run more than one program. I countered and said I am running three programs at the same time, and Windows Media Center is a very hardware intensive program. So yes. I am using my "outdated" computer to counter your claim.

 

[faroZ06]

Then stop acting like one.

I updated my post. Anyway, I'm not one of those people who just buys @#$%-loads of Apple products. I got my iPhone 4 for Christmas unexpectedly and found the iPhone 1 in the trash. All I really care about is the Mac. And I choose with good reasoning, discounting MS stuff because of its 0% satisfaction rate with me but carefully inspecting Apple stuff too (which has a 50% satisfaction rate with me, still an 'F').

 

[AppleScruff1]

Here's a preview for you:

it sucks.

Keep digging. I'm starting to feel embarrassed for you.

 

[Technarchy]

I hate to be a debbie downer but do you honestly think that apple will continue to be as innovate as they have been since steve took back over? I mean sure, he left a basic roadmap that should guide apple for a few more years, but the tech industry is highly unpredictable, as was steve's decisions.

I mean think about it... 5 years ago would you honestly believe we would be where we are now?

I don't know. No one does.

Apple just needs to stay Apple, in the Steve Jobs sense. They might lose market share, and be smaller, but that doesn't really matter as long as Tim Cook stays the course of being Apple and never an also-ran.

 

[2IS]

Well the fact is the iPad wouldn't have vents since it would not run a bloated desktop operating system with a touch screen ui over it.

But if it did have a vent... It would be a macbook air? That's certainly what you implied, I'm trying to figure out if I misunderstood you or if you should be grouped into the senseless fanboy group?

 

[saintforlife]

A touchscreen is annoying to use when the device is standing up like that. Now, a MacBook Air with 4G and a Nintendo DS-style screen arrangement...

Umm....how do you think the MS Surface looks when it is propped up on its kickstand or when the iPad is propped up using the smart cover? Just because Steve Jobs said touch screens don't work on laptops or all in one PCs doesn't mean they don't or are not ergonomic.

A MacBook Air with touchscreen will be the best computing device ever!

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

 

[reluttr]

Wait... did someone seriously say you could only run 1 windows program at a time? Seriously?

Have you EVER used windows? You can even multitask in the metro UI by using the sliding panels.

Also Anti-Lucifer, you do realize your precious has been using the same hardware as windows for quite a while now, right?

 

[faroZ06]

Other than the thousands of apps already coded for windows... and the many,many, many others that are being coded RIGHT NOW for metro.

I think mozilla has had the devkit for the RT windows 8 for several months now.

This will have a rather large library of applications at launch. I could almost bet you that the major games are already ready "angry birds and ect".

iOS will still lead in apps. It's also not all about numbers. Apple has done a good job of making iOS THE platform for app developers.

 

[kiljoy616]

I'm not sure if that's sarasm or not, but FYI it's actually thinner than the iPad, by .... 1mm I think?

Although yes, the pictures do make it look thick.

You think, what does that mean? It either is or is not? MS fangirls talk about Apple been guarded but now we have MS not putting out specks.

I did find finally the spec and it shows that its .1mm thinner than an iPad 3.

and this

"Unfortunately, the Touch Cover wasn’t working, but it simply attaches to the bottom of the tablet and turns itself on. The keyboard feels rubbery, but because it is all based on touch it doesn’t actually have any give."

Lets see when it finally actually comes out what it has for the consumer. I don't think MS cares about the consumer this is all for Corp. IT which is fine by me.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technol...-surface-tablet-first-impressions-and-photos/

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Don't talk about the design infringement on the magnetic hinge. Microsoft made a serious mistake on the Touch Cover design.

1. You need to find a flat and hard tablet in order to use the keyboard entry.

2. if you use the tablet by holding it. either tear out the cover or flip it around to the back. Tearing out the cover creates separated part......you need to find a place to store it and it is easy to loss it. Flipping it around to the back has great chance to accidentally touch the key and create wrong entry.

I haven't seen such stupid design

If you put the keyboard around the back, Windows detects that and disables it, so there's no accidental input. And yes, you do need a flat surface. But to be fair, how often do you not have a flat surface? This might not be good for in bed, but it will be great for boardrooms, coffee shops, and desks.

Who says the iPad doesn't multitask?

I can work on a document while talking to someone on Skype, while the mail app is getting my email, while GoodReader is transferring a file in the background, while several other apps send me event notifications. Isn't that enough for a tablet?

Now if you are referring to having two apps showing at the same time on the a 10" display, you gotta be kidding! I rather do a four finger swap and switch between apps than trying to fit two apps at the same time.

But if you must surf the web and take notes at the same time, there's an app for that already.

I was simply using hyperbole to respond to anti-Lucifer's claim that Windows can only run 1 application at a time. Although I do believe that the iPad's multi-tasking could be greatly improved.

 

[faroZ06]

Who says the iPad doesn't multitask?

I can work on a document while talking to someone on Skype, while the mail app is getting my email, while GoodReader is transferring a file in the background, while several other apps send me event notifications. Isn't that enough for a tablet?

Now if you are referring to having two apps showing at the same time on the a 10" display, you gotta be kidding! I rather do a four finger swap and switch between apps than trying to fit two apps at the same time.

But if you must surf the web and take notes at the same time, there's an app for that already.

The iPad screen is bigger than two iPhone screens combined. Space is not a problem. Multitasking between Safari and Pages among other things would be great.

----------

I was simply using hyperbole to respond to anti-Lucifer's claim that Windows can only run 1 application at a time. Although I do believe that the iPad's multi-tasking could be greatly improved.

Yes! Side-by-side apps please! Hopefully MS will do that, putting pressure on Apple to also do it. I don't think the iPhone would have ever gotten video recording if it weren't for the Droid.

 

[Bernard SG]

No word about price, battery life...
How about screen resolution?
Yet another typical Microsoft-esque vaporware announcement.

 

[wovel]

[url=http://images.macrumors.com/im/macrumorsthreadlogodarkd.png]Image[/url]


Microsoft today unveiled a major tablet initiative to compete with Apple's iPad, Google's Android, and its own PC hardware partners.

Image


The Microsoft Surface is a 10.6" tablet powered by Windows 8, coming in two distinct versions -- both equipped with touch screens. One will be powered by an ARM processor and will be more like a traditional tablet running Windows RT. The other will be powered by Intel's 22nm Ivy Bridge chips running the desktop version of Windows 8.

As reported by The Verge:

YouTube: video​

In addition to the tablet itself, Microsoft will sell two Smart Cover-like devices that attach magnetically to the Surface. Unlike Apple's add-on, which serves only as screen protection and as a stand, Microsoft's Touch Cover and Type Cover turn into a full-sized keyboard complete with a built-in trackpad. Microsoft says using the Touch Cover is "twice as efficient as typing on glass", a clear shot at the iPad's on-screen keyboard.

Microsoft did not share any information on pricing or availability, saying both the ARM and Intel editions would be price competitive with like products.

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

Watched the ad, I wonder if it turns on or does anything.

 

[faroZ06]

Umm....how do you think the MS Surface looks when it is propped up on its kickstand or when the iPad is propped up using the smart cover? Just because Steve Jobs said touch screens don't work on laptops or all in one PCs doesn't mean they don't or are not ergonomic.

A MacBook Air with touchscreen will be the best computing device ever!

Exhibit A:
Image

Exhibit B:
Image

I should have worded that better. A touchscreen would be annoying on a propped up tablet that has a keyboard attached that you are using like a laptop keyboard.

 

[AppleScruff1]

You think, what does that mean? It either is or is not? MS fangirls talk about Apple been guarded but now we have MS not putting out specks.

I did find finally the spec and it shows that its .1mm thinner than an iPad 3.

and this

"Unfortunately, the Touch Cover wasn’t working, but it simply attaches to the bottom of the tablet and turns itself on. The keyboard feels rubbery, but because it is all based on touch it doesn’t actually have any give."

Lets see when it finally actually comes out what it has for the consumer. I don't think MS cares about the consumer this is all for Corp. IT which is fine by me.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technol...-surface-tablet-first-impressions-and-photos/

Good find.

 

[Anti-Lucifer]

Only Microsoft can bring this kind of fear to an Apple forum. People are thinking, what if Steve was wrong. Again.

Steve-o has past on. I don't think you can put any blame on him or credit him for the current/future products released.

The entire topic is about these new tablets from Microsoft. What exactly did microsoft showcase today? NOTHING. A non functioning keyboard cover, a kickstand that looks like it's holding up an iPad 1 sized toshiba laptop, and the fact you will see windows 8 on a tablet.

Other than that, there is NO point in talking any further about this tablet. No way to gauge how good it is against an iPad that is selling millions and millions. The hundreds of posts are just witty and not so witty comments about how sucky this thing is. The truth is, it's not even going to be out in a month, two months, nor three. That's an eternity. Not to mention, what apps? What ecosystem? Xbox live integration? That's for the geeks. No one cares because if they did, they wouldn't of gotten iPads.

So you MS clowns are just throwing feces up against the wall trying to draw a huge windows logo. Please don't lose sleep over this tonight because you are excited about these non-existing gadgets you can't buy in months. I suggest you guys pull up your iPads and enjoy a netflix show or two. Then maybe read a national geographic magazine about endangered dolphins in japan on the iPad. All while playing music in the background. After that, go to sleep and when you wake up, you will forget this thing was ever announced.

 

[faroZ06]

How about screen resolution?
Yet another typical Microsoft-esque vaporware announcement.

Does Apple ever announce their specs early? I can't even find the refresh rate for the 24" cinema display, and that is already discontinued at this point!

 

[KevinN206]

How about screen resolution?
Yet another typical Microsoft-esque vaporware announcement.

720p for ARM-based
1080p for Intel-based

ARM-based is expected in October 2012.
Intel-based is supposedly 3 months after ARM-based.

Is iOS 6 vaporware as well?

 

[boilingpoint]

WOW. Just WOW

What I am astonished is the number of comments. Everyone including Apple fanboys seems to have great interests on the MS surface.

Good bye, iPad~

 

[DocBenway]

Yo mama got a tablet with a kickstand. (Sorry!)

Seriously though, this *could* be interesting.

 

[faroZ06]

Wait... did someone seriously say you could only run 1 windows program at a time? Seriously?

Have you EVER used windows? You can even multitask in the metro UI by using the sliding panels.

Also Anti-Lucifer, you do realize your precious has been using the same hardware as windows for quite a while now, right?

Haha, it's called "Windows" for a reason. It uses window multitasking.

 

[slapple]

The fact that this topic has gotten so many posts so fast shows that Microsoft must be doing something right. No Android tablet has been able to draw nearly this much attention.

Seriously, the fanboys feel threatened.

 

[kiljoy616]

No word about price, battery life...
How about screen resolution?
Yet another typical Microsoft-esque vaporware announcement.

Don't think this is vaporware but it may take some time to come to market as for bloatware now that I do believe will be the end result.

 

[faroZ06]

720p for ARM-based
1080p for Intel-based

ARM-based is expected in October 2012.
Intel-based is supposedly 3 months after ARM-based.

Is iOS 6 vaporware as well?

We don't have much info on iOS 6. This MS tablet is not vaporware. The only problems I have with it are that it's unoriginal in design and will most likely suck overall. I won't buy an iPad, so anything worse is not an option.