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

theelysium said:
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. :rolleyes: 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.
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lol your tears....they are feeding the internet.
 
The big question

Did Microsoft just take a large Cleveland steamer on the chest of any other third party manufacturer considering bringing a Windows 8 tablet to market?
 
rick98761 said:
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.
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Cool? Explain what is "cool" about it? Is it a new category? No... Does it have features that other tablets don't have? No... Is it breaking MS's existing model in any way? No... Cool? No...not cool. It might be a nice tablet...but it's no cooler than when your little brother puts on your clothes and tries to recite your old pickup lines. As soon as MS does something unexpected...then I'll bite but until then...they're trying WAY too hard to be "cool"...
 
Peace said:
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......
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I said "some" specs...and if they wrote HD and FUll HD i'm assuming its 720p and 1080p.

They are allowing hands on demos so maybe we'll hear more shortly.
 
I Truly Hope This Is Successful

We the consumer NEED Apple to have competition.

Here is hoping that this offering from Softy does better than The Zune...
 
If that keyboard is anything like those rubber type Bluetooth ones for the iPad, then no dice. I wonder how close they will get to the $500 price point with the tablet itself.
 
SeattleMoose said:
We the consumer NEED Apple to have competition.

Here is hoping that this offering from Softy does better than The Zune...
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TO be fair, Zune 80 was a damn good piece of hardware...the iPod and iTunes was just far too entrenched to make up any reasonable ground.
 
I really like the looks of the Surface. If nothing else it really gives you more options to consider when purchasing a Tablet, which I think is a good thing. This plus the new Google Tablet plus the new Kindle Fire, is really going to give Apple more competition which is good IMO. I will be looking to purchase a replacement for my iPad 1 this Fall and right now the jury is still out as to what I may get.
 
Certinfy said:
Exactly the reason I've waited years for a tablet. Said it before that a Windows 8 tablet would be the first tablet I buy and keep and this is definitely it. Everything about it seems amazing! :)
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There is also that Acer Windows 8 Tablet with a Thunderbolt port...

So many ideas with that one.


Macwick said:
Errr, anyone remember the ORIGINAL Microsoft Surface?

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee692162(v=Surface.10).aspx

Image
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You will never play Axis & Allies on one of those ;_;
 
mrpither said:
how soon til Mountain Lion is running on this thing???
then setup a bootcamp partition for windows 8...
:cool:
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Great idea. But does OSX run on the chipset that is in the tablet?

Also, OSX interface is not designed for touch - no onscreen keyboard etc..

Would need a keyboard and mouse / trackpad to make it work.
 
rick98761 said:
If apple would have came out and announced this exact tablet with iOS you would all be talking how incredible and innovative it is.
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Not really. Knowing people here on Macrumors, they'd mostly be complaining how this is another useless smartcover that tries to copy ASUS Transformer and Apple has lost its way by including an ugly design atrocity like a kickstand.

The keyboard idea looks pretty cool. But I don't think Apple wants encourage use of keyboard. If anything they've been trying to dissuade their users from keyboards with Siri and dictation.

Two things I thought interesting since they were very telling it's a Microsoft product:

1) the presentation was really mostly about the keyboard and how the tablet has a kickstand to go with it. That's their unique selling point and Microsoft, for better or worse, is sticking to their "try to offer everything" ethos.

2) The device crashed/froze during the presentation and they had to grab another one. Some things just don't change.

One different thing though, in a way it's a big F-U to their faithful OEMs. With Android trying to carve their market on tablets, Microsoft probably felt they need to do something different to differentiate themselves. To be honest I don't know if this is really a much better solution that the Asus Transformer if you need that sort of thing but more importantly, how do OEMs feel?
 
Looks like Microsoft put an iPad and a Dell ultrabook in a cage together, forced them to breed, and this is the offspring.

I will reserve any predictions of mine until after M$ announces the price, availability and the real specs on this thing. Otherwise, it looks like it would make a good ultrabook if its battery life falls into the 8+ hours category.
 
kazmac said:
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. :p

LMAO at the kickstand comments.

Competition is very good and I'm all for it.
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They did announce weight... Depending on model about 1.5 lbs or 1.9 lbs for the "Pro" version...
 
gkarris said:
One of the few iPad complaints for me is lack of trackpad/mouse support to make it easier to use on a desk (with a trackpad your hands never leave the keyboard and your fingers never have to touch the screen).

At least Microsoft seems to be listening...

:rolleyes:
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How the hell can you use a trackpad with iOS? What's the point in having a touch device if you're not planning on touching it?
 
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I really wish this was a challenge for Apple but it's not

This is just more proof that Microsoft doesn't get it. They say all the right things but don't produce. Example: 4 INPUT DEVICES!!!! How is this simplicity?? 2 versions. Intel chips and ARM chips? I agree with previous comment that this isn't so much an iPad competitor as it is an ultra book competitor.

Congratulations, Microsoft hardware partners. You get to compete with Microsoft.

Until they announce pricing and a shipping date, this is just vaporware.
 
DougB541 said:
I said "some" specs...and if they wrote HD and FUll HD i'm assuming its 720p and 1080p.

They are allowing hands on demos so maybe we'll hear more shortly.
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Thanks.

That's the difference between Microsoft and other tablet makers and Apple.

When Apple does a show off they tell you what it costs and other pertinent info not just " the price will be announced some time in the future"
 
How truly awesome.

I can't wait to have to put it down and open a kickstand so I can type.

Then, I have to close the kickstand, angle the back lens by 22 degrees, and remember to remove the keyboard so it doesn't swat me in the face when I take a spontaneous photo.

And I have to remember to not block the cooling vents. Since it HAS cooling vents (thus indicating high power use), I must not forget my wall wart charger.
 
DiSTURBED-oNE said:
Props to Microsoft for designing something different instead of just copying, unlike other manufactures. ;)
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That's what I noticed straight away.
Actually, just seeing that ad makes me consider buying one. Time will tell, but I think it looks just great.
Oh, and I %$#%-ing DESPISE Microsoft.
 
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