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

It's funny, for a moment I even thought about canceling my retina MBP order and switching over to the MS "ecosystem". This tablet/computer hybrid is so much better than the iPad.

But then I remembered how crappy the windows phone is and decided to stick with Apple for the time being. I'll consider again when I see Windows phone 8.

Edit: Just remembered that I can always install Windows on the rMBP if **** really hits the fan :)
 
Microsoft doesn't care about customers

aurichie said:
The problem is there really isn't a market for tablets in general. There is a growing market for iPads. Consumers aren't interested in anything else. Microsoft Surface changes nothing.
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The thing that I would worry about as a consumer is Microsoft dumping the product if it's not a "hit". At least with Apple you know the iPad is going to stick around. I'd hate to buy the Surface tablet just to see it go the way of the Zune if it doesn't get the kind of consumer adoption they hope for.

Also, why would someone buy the WindowsRT tablet over an iPad or Android? I don't really see any differentiation (aside from a "kickstand"). The WindowsPro version will likely be close to $1000 so if you're going to pay that much you might as well get a real laptop so you'll at least have a real keyboard.
 
Technarchy said:
I don't take it as a reflection on the final product, but clearly the reveal was premature.

In fact, with the product being, say, 3-4 months off, I don't see why the need to do a reveal now when there is clearly so much not ready yet.

A last minute, secret press conference...it just seems so sudden for a product that is so far.
Click to expand...
All the hype will be gone in a month. Bad move on MS part.
 
Technarchy said:
I don't take it as a reflection on the final product, but clearly the reveal was premature.

In fact, with the product being, say, 3-4 months off, I don't see why the need to do a reveal now when there is clearly so much not ready yet.

A last minute, secret press conference...it just seems so sudden for a product that is so far.
Click to expand...

I think they got over excited with its advantaged technology. None of it will matter though if they can't get it to operate smoothly. They showed hardly any of the software functioning. In their cheesy presentation he says "watch me browse" but the device didn't even load the bookmarks and kept failing. He says you can watch movies from Netflix, but he never actually plays it so we can see how smooth the playback is. Then the device froze... needing to be replaced and you see him running to get another one. And don't even get me started on how reflective that screen was.

Anyway I genuinely hope they can get their product to work well since there were some nice ideas there (I especially liked the idea of having the live recording window next to your notes or word document). But one thing they really need to do in the future is prepare their presentations a heck of a lot more. It struck me as incredibly rushed and lacking in polish. It was an amateurish presentation at best.
 
what ecosystem?

Compton said:
It's funny, for a moment I even thought about canceling my retina MBP order and switching over to the MS "ecosystem". This tablet/computer hybrid is so much better than the iPad.

But then I remembered how crappy the windows phone is and decided to stick with Apple for the time being. I'll consider again when I see Windows phone 8.

Edit: Just remembered that I can always install Windows on the rMBP if **** really hits the fan :)
Click to expand...

The problem is that right now the MS ecosystem is basically nonexistent. Apple probably has more "fart apps" than MS has apps IN TOTAL for their mobile OS at this point.

The idea of a tablet/computer hybrid sounds good at first until I start to think about what I'd actually do with it. If I really want to be productive (write code, manipulate spreadsheets, use Photoshop, etc) i'll use a laptop or a real computer with 2x the screen space. If I want to play hardcore games I'll use a desktop or Xbox/PS3. If I want to just check mail, view the web, watch videos, play casual games, video chat....well you can do all that with an iPad so why pay 1.5x-2x as much for a WindowsPro tablet (which is heavier and will likely have crappy battery life)?
 
I have an iPad; however, I have waited for a good windows based tablet, because now I can final get "FLASH" !!!!!!!:D



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! :)
Click to expand...
 
Compton said:
It's funny, for a moment I even thought about canceling my retina MBP order and switching over to the MS "ecosystem". This tablet/computer hybrid is so much better than the iPad.

But then I remembered how crappy the windows phone is and decided to stick with Apple for the time being. I'll consider again when I see Windows phone 8.
Click to expand...

The ecosystem question is a very important one.

Is it really Microsoft's intention to have a 3 piece Ecosystem where there is x86 apps, ARM tablet apps, and ARM mobile apps, and none of the pieces communicate.

I'm just not seeing how Microsoft intends on bringing it all together.
 
Polish and Microsoft?...Don't hold your breath

JohnDoe98 said:
I think they got over excited with its advantaged technology. None of it will matter though if they can't get it to operate smoothly. They showed hardly any of the software functioning. In their cheesy presentation he says "watch me browse" but the device didn't even load the bookmarks and kept failing. He says you can watch movies from Netflix, but he never actually plays it so we can see how smooth the playback is. Then the device froze... needing to be replaced and you see him running to get another one. And don't even get me started on how reflective that screen was.

Anyway I genuinely hope they can get their product to work well since there were some nice ideas there (I especially liked the idea of having the live recording window next to your notes or word document). But one thing they really need to do in the future is prepare their presentations a heck of a lot more. It struck me as incredibly rushed and lacking in polish. It was an amateurish presentation at best.
Click to expand...

That's a good observation. Microsoft products in general have too many odd quirks that get in your way and remind you that it hasn't been well thought out. Take Windows 7, for example: there are some system updates that will only install if you do a "shutdown" and if you try to a "restart" instead they don't install. What's up with that?

I wonder if you're going to have to do "online activation" of your tablet to verify that it's "Geninue Windows"? How about entering long product keys when you install anything on it? Microsoft has screwed consumers over so much in the past I don't have any confidence that they'll get this right. The main problem I think has to do with corporate culture...it revolves less around "making a great product" and more around "profits, markets, and margins". At least at Apple Jon Ive is basically #2 in the company and only the CEO can tell him what to do. Do you think Microsoft gives it's head designer that kind of power?
 
AppleScruff1 said:
Because I have read every post in this thread. And I see fear. Fear of competition. Of all companies, Microsoft has the best chance to take a big chunk of the tablet market. Maybe not as big as Apples, but who knows what the next few years will bring. There are hundreds of millions of Windows users who don't own an iPad or Android tablet. They may be slightly interested in a Windows version. And so many here couldn't stand the thought of Microsoft competing with Apple in this market. Hence the multitude of hating posts.
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Lol - if anything, Microsoft's dog and pony show did two things:

1. Demonstrated that Apple was correct in their vertical integration approach and their presentation style was very reminiscent of Apple's - imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

2. Likely pushed OEM's away from Windows 8 and towards Android for tablet devices.

I don't doubt that windows 8 will be a good tablet OS. I'm thrilled that Microsoft will push Apple to compete and further innovate. Unfortunately surface is a poorly designed device - integrated kickstand?

Microsoft does not understand tablet form factor or use cases, and seems keen on making a tablet a kind of laptop. These will sell the way netbooks did - people thinking they'll get a cheap laptop.

As we learned from netbooks - there is no free lunch.
 
shiseiryu1 said:
That's a good observation. Microsoft products in general have too many odd quirks that get in your way and remind you that it hasn't been well thought out. Take Windows 7, for example: there are some system updates that will only install if you do a "shutdown" and if you try to a "restart" instead they don't install. What's up with that?

I wonder if you're going to have to do "online activation" of your tablet to verify that it's "Geninue Windows"? How about entering long product keys when you install anything on it? Microsoft has screwed consumers over so much in the past I don't have any confidence that they'll get this right. The main problem I think has to do with corporate culture...it revolves less around "making a great product" and more around "profits, markets, and margins". At least at Apple Jon Ive is basically #2 in the company and only the CEO can tell him what to do. Do you think Microsoft gives it's head designer that kind of power?
Click to expand...

The "head designer" who put that kickstand in should be shot!
 
Hope for USB and SD support in the next iPad and so on. Love Mac but... I want what I need. So if they can't deliver - Well so long I will also use Microsoft.
Click to expand...

I can't see Apple including ports in their ios devices anytime soon. The whole idea seems to be take advantage of their itunes/icloud/app store services, which "encourages" people to own even more apple devices to better benefit from this integrated ecosystem. That's probably why they hobbled dropbox as well, so it will not prove a superior alternative to icloud.
 
Technarchy said:
The ecosystem question is a very important one.

Is it really Microsoft's intention to have a 3 piece Ecosystem where there is x86 apps, ARM tablet apps, and ARM mobile apps, and none of the pieces communicate.

I'm just not seeing how Microsoft intends on bringing it all together.
Click to expand...

They're not - it's the age old adage - throw everything against the wall and see what sticks.

This is Microsoft in defensive mode.
 
Form factor

This form factor (ie. one tablet computer used for ALL computing) is the future for the next 10-20 years. No need for a laptop. No need for a desktop.

Plug this surface into an external hub (perhaps with built in graphics card) for a keyboard, large monitor and mouse when in the office.

It might have a slow start but as time goes on it will be the form factor standard.

That's my prediction. Windows 8 all the way.
 
Abazigal said:
I can't see Apple including ports in their ios devices anytime soon. The whole idea seems to be take advantage of their itunes/icloud/app store services, which "encourages" people to own even more apple devices to better benefit from this integrated ecosystem. That's probably why they hobbled dropbox as well, so it will not prove a superior alternative to icloud.
Click to expand...

I'd see SD card support, but no USB. It's a tablet - why tether it with a USB cable? If u need a laptop, get a laptop.
 
shiseiryu1 said:
The thing that I would worry about as a consumer is Microsoft dumping the product if it's not a "hit". At least with Apple you know the iPad is going to stick around.
Click to expand...

Yep, just like

- Ping
- iDVD
- iWeb
- DVD Studio
- iDisk
- iWeb hosting

...

Or not. If the iPad hadn't been a hit, Apple would've dumped it as fast as Microsoft dumps non profitable products. It's called business sense.
 
rturner2 said:
This form factor (ie. one tablet computer used for ALL computing) is the future for the next 10-20 years. No need for a laptop. No need for a desktop.

Plug this surface into an external hub (perhaps with built in graphics card) for a keyboard, large monitor and mouse when in the office.

It might have a slow start but as time goes on it will be the form factor standard.

That's my prediction. Windows 8 all the way.
Click to expand...

Microsoft is banking on that future, because Windows 8 is getting lukewarm reviews with a mouse.
 
Technarchy said:
I don't take it as a reflection on the final product, but clearly the reveal was premature.

In fact, with the product being, say, 3-4 months off, I don't see why the need to do a reveal now when there is clearly so much not ready yet.

A last minute, secret press conference...it just seems so sudden for a product that is so far.
Click to expand...

They're trying to build _YAWN_ excitement!
 
AppleScruff1 said:
Microsoft doesn't make laptops. And what's the difference with the iPad cannibalizing Mac sales?
Click to expand...

I think you took his point too literal. It wasn't saying Microsoft would cannibalize it's own in house lap tops, but their hardware partners who ship laptops running windows.

And I'm sure those partners are a bit miffed. This muddies things ala Android a little bit in the fashion of Google entering the hardware market, because now MS is competing against it's partners with a flagship device. Not that other companies can't make their own Win8 tablets, but still.
 
judging from the number of people in here getting warnings from mods and the like, it becomes blatantly obvious that the very apple fanatics who spew crap about anything that's not made by apple, then ironically can't handle push back from people offering a different point of view (or pointing out the obvious).

most comments here have been "omg the new windows tablet looks so cheap, it's a copy off of the ipad, omg omg it looks like plastic"

then the reply --> it's built solid, it's not a copy off of the ipad in any regard except the generic black bezel that even apple didn't invent, and it offers innovative features that Apple left out of the iPad

sad

at this point, with 54 pages of garbage, can't we all just move on?
 
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