I agree with this. All or nothing on that keyboard. it's either awesome or terrible.
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Microsoft Announces New 'Surface' Tablet, New Hardware and Software Based on Windows 8
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I agree with this. All or nothing on that keyboard. it's either awesome or terrible.
"Of course, they're not on the market today either,...
Microsoft still isn't ready to let Joe Public get their grubby little hands on Surface. At the press event, we were given a number of demonstrations, shown a number of non-functional demo units, and given scant few seconds to touch real working devices. The Intel Core i5-powered Surface for Windows 8 Pro devices were not on display, either; only the ARM-powered Surface for Windows RT was available"
Peter Bright, http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2012/06/a-first-look-and-feel-of-microsofts-first-pc/
Because it isn't a PC.
Get a MBA if you want a PC. Two totally different animals my friend.
Looks interesting. Looking forward to see the price. However, I am more interested in a full Windows 8 x64 laptop with removable tablet display. Don't think Microsoft will be making those.
I like my iPad, but I will probably want a Windows 8 tablet as well. I will look into a Windows 8 laptop/tablet for work when they become available. Both Microsoft and Apple are incredible technology companies.
I like my iPad, but I will probably want a Windows 8 tablet as well. I will look into a Windows 8 laptop/tablet for work when they become available. Both Microsoft and Apple are incredible technology companies.
No. Apple weren't the first to have accessories attach by magnets. They patented the segmented design of the cover, not the magnetic attachment. They may have also patented the magnet to sleep/wake, but I'm not sure on that one
Quick Clearup for some people here:
There are two versions:
ARM
Pro (Intel)
Each can use either the Touch Cover Keyboard or the Type Cover Keyboard
Touch Cover
Type Cover
There are two versions:
ARM
- Runs Windows RT (new Metro Apps and Microsoft Office RT dekstop apps. Doesnt support "legacy" desktop apps otherwise. Has Office RT built in.)
- NVIDIA Tegra
- 9.3mm
- Vapor magnesium body
- Under 1.5lb
- 768x1366
- USB 2.0
- No fans
Pro (Intel)
- Runs Windows 8 (all Windows Desktop and Metro Apps)
- Intel Core i5
- 13.5mm
- Vapor magnesium body
- Unblockable edge fans
- 1080p
- USB 3.0
Each can use either the Touch Cover Keyboard or the Type Cover Keyboard
Touch Cover
- 3mm
- Pressure Sensitive
- Accelerometer
- Tap-able touchpad
- Pressure sensitive so it doesnt fire keys when resting your fingers
- Textured surface and slightly raised keys
Type Cover
- 5mm
- Real keyboard keys that depress
- Accelerometer
- Click-able clickpad
Last edited:
Ah, I love the consistency at MacRumors. When anything new from Google or Microsoft is announced, 1) eight-thousand Captains Obvious arrive to remind us that Competition Is Good, and 2) anyone who dares point out any potential or perceived flaw in said Google or Microsoft product is instantly down-voted.
This place is becoming a lot like Engadget.
This place is becoming a lot like Engadget.
you could, except iphoto is free, has robust support/integration and is certainly not "feature deficient" for the general populace when compared to third party apps. Bloatware is usually a trial with no support and has bad support.
I actually open garageband about once a month to make free ringtones. A lot of kids at my old high school who have bands use garageband to mix songs.
Riddle me this:
When Apple creates a keyboard cover, and releases it for purchase in September 2012, BEFORE the keyboard cover for the Surface is available to purchase....
Who is copying who?
LOL
They currently exist for the iPad via 3rd party. Perhaps not as elegant, but they are in the wild.
http://www.officedepot.com/a/produc...pe=pla&mr:ad=22395426956&mr:keyword={keyword}
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007C0Y8NQ...nd=9333676541810984655&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=
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This is a dream come true. Ever since I picked up a mobile windows handheld device and hacked it with a 1xrt sprint CF card and made a phone out of it I've always wanted to carry around some kind of windows experience.
Apple makes incredible hardware, and I'll always remember them as the incredibly genius company who released the ipad. But in terms of software they've never been my cup of tea, making things too simplistic for no good reason in iOS. They've made a huge amount of money from keeping iOS hamstrung and stuck in the past and it's good to see Microsoft give them a kick in the pants. I will bet that with a full version of Windows on a tablet Apple is going to finally realize they need to beef up iOS. The surface reads like a long list of the obvious stuff that Apple refused to put into the ipad, stylus and handwriting recognition, a keyboard solution, a full OS, USB, microSD, etc., all in a hardware package which so far is being reported to be as good as the ipads.
My only concern at this point is battery life, that would definitely be the make or break for me. I have quite grown used to 10+ hours and not having to worry about battery life anymore and don't think I could ever go back to the laptop days when I'd always be hunting for an outlet.
Apple makes incredible hardware, and I'll always remember them as the incredibly genius company who released the ipad. But in terms of software they've never been my cup of tea, making things too simplistic for no good reason in iOS. They've made a huge amount of money from keeping iOS hamstrung and stuck in the past and it's good to see Microsoft give them a kick in the pants. I will bet that with a full version of Windows on a tablet Apple is going to finally realize they need to beef up iOS. The surface reads like a long list of the obvious stuff that Apple refused to put into the ipad, stylus and handwriting recognition, a keyboard solution, a full OS, USB, microSD, etc., all in a hardware package which so far is being reported to be as good as the ipads.
My only concern at this point is battery life, that would definitely be the make or break for me. I have quite grown used to 10+ hours and not having to worry about battery life anymore and don't think I could ever go back to the laptop days when I'd always be hunting for an outlet.
I'm not saying that an On Screen keyboard isn't a compromise, I'm just saying that the thin one built into the cover is not that much better other than not taking up screen real estate. The thick one might be marginally better, but at what point do you just carry around a real BT keyboard.
Battery life is listed at 7 hours, only the Pro version requires a vent because Intel Chips get hot, the Tegra version does not need a vent. ARM Windows 8 tablets will be power efficient.
I guess Apple removed all those options from it's iPOD, too, for the same reasons?
A toaster and an oven can do the same things, but I'd like to have BOTH in my kitchen. Same with an iPad and a laptop - I'd like BOTH for different reasons.
Making me toast bread in my oven is just wrong, and that's what Microsoft is doing.
7 hours for the Pro one, or the RT? I'd be surprised if they were had the same battery life. 7 hours for the pro would be great, I'd be curious if that's 7 hours of really pushing the hardware. The ipad seems to still have great battery life even when it's being pushed.
Entitled to your own facts. Clever turn of a phrase!
You are the only one who has not admitted any subjectivity
And no, nobody has done a study on whether the Zune or ping hemmoraged more money. You're absolutely correct.
But humor me and take an educated guess
This Microsoft device will fail. It runs microsft OS.
To be fair the iPad also has so many limitations across the device, it's become a tool I play with but cannot depend on.
The Mac air still is the best tool for around portability, performance and flexibility.
To be honest I'm also disappointed with the new apple line up. I was expecting the new Mac pro and air not only to increase in screen res, but also have touch screen ability built in. Disappointing to see apple only managing to put a bigger screen on the 15" pro.
Lame...
To be fair the iPad also has so many limitations across the device, it's become a tool I play with but cannot depend on.
The Mac air still is the best tool for around portability, performance and flexibility.
To be honest I'm also disappointed with the new apple line up. I was expecting the new Mac pro and air not only to increase in screen res, but also have touch screen ability built in. Disappointing to see apple only managing to put a bigger screen on the 15" pro.
Lame...
Very informative retort...
There is still no answer about apps working between x86 desktop, x86 tablet, ARM tablet and ARM phone.
A full OS on a portable device is the past, not iOS or Android. The past has proven that a full OS on a tablet device is not a great fit, and also causes issues that you are concerned about. Battery life.
They may be in the wrong, but Google (Android) and Apple (iOS) have bet on a system that has primary full screen applications, with their own version of task switching. Full windows OS tablets have and do exist alongside these options, however that model isn't selling as well. Perhaps Windows 8, and a slightly different outlook on the historic Microsoft operating system will be the ideal hit. Only time, and testing will tell us.
I too will be curious to see how well these devices do, and how well they work. I welcome the competition, and also, a potential option for my mobile computing needs. Having VAG-COM (A automotive diagnostic tool) on a tablet such as the slate would be a nice addition to the shop I help support (IT Services).
Recall that the G5 iMac and white Intel iMacs used magnets to store the remote control on the side of the screen.
I don't know who used magnets to attach accessories before that. Not saying nobody did, just I don't know who.
If you were expecting that, then you were deluding yourself. A desktop OS is not optimized for touch input, and you get gorilla arms trying to use it. Even on a laptop. Touch works better for devices you hold.
That might not be a bad thing. I have a new iPad and struggle to find applications for it. Certain apps like Flipboard flourish on it, but for many apps, the iPad feels trapped in no-mans land for me. That is, it's not portable like a smart phone, nor is it nearly as functional as a laptop. Given a choice between, say, a MacBook Air and and iPad, the choice would be an obvious one for me.
So, I'd like to see Microsoft and whoever else explore this middle ground and see if they can find the right formula to make it work. One other nice thing about this device is that one of them is able to run full on windows apps if needed. That's a nice bonus. The major downside to the device though, is that there aren't a ton of metro apps out right now.
The words of a man who has obviously never been the tech support source for his elderly parents.
If I could install iOS on their iMac, I would. Even OS X somehow manages to mystify them, but their eyesight is failing so the iMac screen is a must. Their VCR blinks 12:00 too. I got rid of it once, but they just bought another. These people are out there. There are millions upon millions of them. And they want to use the techy-slick-gizzy-doos but simply wouldn't know where to start in terms of learning what they need to know to use them. My two-year-old can use an Apple TV with ease, but her grandmother struggles to get it to do anything. ("Where's the clicker? How do I put on channel ten?")
I don't think it's possible for technology to be so simple that there's no good reason for it to be.
I don't think so. This whole "3rd device" or whatever Jobs called it wasn't optimal IMO, it was to sell more devices and not infringe on their PC business. I'd rather have a tablet that WAS my laptop when I sat down, than a tablet with a completely different OS which required me to still have a laptop.
The era of watered down OS' such as Android and iOS to me seems like it was a temporary solution while hardware caught up with software. If Microsoft can pull off a full OS, and make it work as a touchscreen tablet, and keep the battery life close to today's tablets I think people are going to flock to it. There is just WAY too much that I cannot do on the ipad, as much as I completely love it, it's still a compromise.
But as you say, competition is great. What I expect to see is Apple realize they need to give iOS more functionality. In the end this is most definitely a good thing for the next ipad.