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

Microsoft's hardware partners must be really pissed right now...

But that's not unfair. This Surface tablet is now the most innovative tablet after the iPad. I'm glad to see Microsoft trying, because other manufacturers haven't brought much to the market.

They proved with the Zune line that they can make quality hardware, but what they offered was too little too late both on the hardware and software side. Now the fact that this runs Windows (including x86 Windows 8) makes it different enough from the iPad and Android tablets and makes it a pretty compelling option.

I have a feeling this is going to cost twice the price of an iPad and get half its battery life while having a much lower-res display, but considering it can be considered a laptop replacement, it's a pretty nice surprise from Microsoft.
 
rick98761 said:
It does nothing ground breaking but improves on a lot of tablets out there today. Admit it, if apple made the smart cover with the keyboard you would be singing it's praises. It looks like a very solid peice of hardware.

Windows 8 looks pretty cool for tablets also. The 80/20 feature is really pretty neat. Allows you to use the left or right 20% of the screen for another app. So you could keep a chat windows or something else up there. A great way to utilize the 16:9 AR of most non iPad tablets. And yes it is breaking microsofts models. When is the last time besides the Xbox they have fully designed the hardware and software for a product? They are going about it a very apple way and I hope it pays off for them.
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I don't use the existing smart cover, so no...I wouldn't be "singing" its praises as I consider the tablet itself and not "accessories". There's absolutely nothing stopping any third party manufacturer from offering something similar for Android or iPads IMHO anyway...there's nothing "groundbreaking" here.

It seems like a nice Tablet PC. Perhaps like the evolution of the original Tablet PC concept...but a true iPad or even Android killer/competitor? No...more of a netbook/ultrabook market diluter...
 
This looks great! For me, the digital ink is a great feature. Of course, we have yet to see how well it performs. Even so, this has potential. In ways, this makes the iPad look like a toy. And, by the way, I love my iPad.
 
Other than focusing too much on the keyboards - I mean covers - I mean keyboard covers, there were a couple of things said during the presentation that indicated that even Microsoft doesn't know how to market or sell this device:

"Putting a kickstand in this product breaks seamless lines, but we needed to do it. We couldn't take chances. Take a look at these three hinges you see on the product. They are custom, and they were spec'd to feel and sound like a high end car door."

First of all, a kickstand screams "toy" to me. It's just not the type of thing I'd integrate into a tablet device. While the Smart Cover/Smart Case from Apple (and third-party covers/cases) accomplish the same function, it's optional for the end user, rather than mandatory. As for the second part of that quote, the LAST thing I want a tablet to remind me of is a car door. How is that a selling point?
 
Congratulations to Microsoft for introducing the first tablet that even stands a chance at competing against the iPad. You have effectively killed any hope for future Android tablets. It looks nice, appears useful, and it looks like you took the design and R&D seriously. Great work. Really.

Now, let's predict the future...

The "Pro" version of this table will either never ship, or will ship and not sell. If I want Intel chips and full PC performance in a tiny package. I will buy an ultrabook--assuming I were unwilling to buy a Mac. This concept is DOA.

The ARM based version is the one that offers competition. If priced at $499 or lower it will sell. If priced at $399 or lower, it will sell more. If it's got LTE built in and is subsidized by wireless carriers, it could sell a lot.

The keyboard cover is a nice gimmick. If it comes with the tablet people will get a kick out of it. If it is sold separately--which I imagine it will be--and priced over $50, it will disappear quickly. It's not a keyboard. It's a multitouch virtual keyboard on a cloth like surface. It's totally flat and unergonomic and has no tactile feedback. People who want a real keyboard will not be satisfied.

It has to compete on the tablet only front, which means it needs to compete on price. Apple has been smart in their distribution strategy for the iPad. It's sold everywhere--just like the MS tablet will be. The iPad has a great reputation. People love it. Windows has a reputation as being the OS that runs on your computer. You don't love it, you don't hate it, you just use it.

In the end, I think this machine will be successful. It won't take a major bite out of iPad sales, but it will gobble up all the sales of Android tablets.
 
bitsoda said:
So, to recap, no price, no demo of what it can actually do or why I would want one ... Still, I can't fault them for trying; they're future rests on sales of Office and Windows.
Click to expand...

To me Microsoft is telling us that it's really all about the keyboard and the fact the RT version comes with Office. I think that's a pretty smart bet from an underdog (as hard to call Microsoft as an underdog) in the tablet market.

But if the price is same as iPad's, I don't know... I like the keyboard but I'd rather have a killer display over a half-hearted middle device with a funky keyboard, especially when iPad has a significant ecosystem advantage at this point.

Speaking of the keyboard, Microsoft could probably make a fortune if they make an iPad version of that keyboard! (although, the kickstand is really essential)
 
Whattayawanna bet that MSFT shoots up a whole 50 cents tomorrow based on this announcement?

That will put them back at the same stock price they were at in Feb 2000. And May 2002. And nearly all of 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. And 2009, 2010, and 2011. Pretty much for over a decade, in fact.
 
jleon213 said:
that's true! it will be a major failure like zune or the XBOX!!!... compared to the huge success of apple with the iPod Shuffle without buttons, the round mice and the "game changing" social network Ping.

the good thing about fanboys is that they're always showing off their infinite stupidity.

I want to believe this tablet will be a true competitor to the iPad... the world full of sheep following every apple command is becoming sooo boring.

Let's bring something new for a change.
Click to expand...

How much money has the XBOX division made for MS in its lifetime (we won't even go into how much money they lost on the Zune)? Go educate yourself and then we'll see who's the real "fanboy"...
 
pgiguere1 said:
Microsoft's hardware partners must be really pissed right now...

But that's not unfair. This Surface tablet is now the most innovative tablet after the iPad. I'm glad to see Microsoft trying, because other manufacturers haven't brought much to the market.

They proved with the Zune line that they can make quality hardware, but what they offered was too little too late both on the hardware and software side. Now the fact that this runs Windows (including x86 Windows 8) makes it different enough from the iPad and Android tablets and makes it a pretty compelling option.

I have a feeling this is going to cost twice the price of an iPad and get half its battery life while having a much lower-res display, but considering it can be considered a laptop replacement, it's a pretty nice surprise from Microsoft.
Click to expand...

mcsenerd said:
I don't use the existing smart cover, so no...I wouldn't be "singing" its praises as I consider the tablet itself and not "accessories". There's absolutely nothing stopping any third party manufacturer from offering something similar for Android or iPads IMHO anyway...there's nothing "groundbreaking" here.

It seems like a nice Tablet PC. Perhaps like the evolution of the original Tablet PC concept...but a true iPad or even Android killer/competitor? No...more of a netbook/ultrabook market diluter...
Click to expand...

I see people are still missing the fact they have an ARM version and the x86 version which they are calling Surface Pro.
 
I really hope it does well because Android is not having much effect on the tablet market, and as many have already stated, competition is good.

The metro tiles in their UI is an interesting element. Apps are going to be fairly far and few between for a while, although presumably Windows RT will run anything from the WP7 side? ...Since they are both ARM based
 
People are getting too wound up in the "Competition is good for us!" BS.

Apple innovates regardless, its shown time and time again. What would ACTUALLY benefit the consumer is if Apples competition decided to innovate instead of constantly releasing copycat products that are 1 - 2 years behind.
 
AustinIllini said:
You want Apple to innovate? This tablet could be what pushes it. This tablet has "Success" written all over it

Edit: I spoke too soon. If this isn't priced competitively, I'll eat my words.
Click to expand...

How does it has "Success" all over it?

I agree it looks nice, but I don't see many different things from the iPad. The only thing great about it is that Microsoft is behind it. Which, judging by their latest mobile releases, might not be that good.
 
Really want this thing to be a big success, it looks awesome! But I want it to be a big success because it's Microsoft it should not be to costly and make Apple feel the pressure to lower there prices and also so they will add some features that maybe the iPad or iPhone or iPod touch don't have, that Microsoft has listened to the consumers. I'm sorry Apple, stop giving us stuff that you think we want. Give us what we want! If this thing turns out great, do what you have too, to stay afloat.
 
rhinosrcool said:
This looks great! For me, the digital ink is a great feature. Of course, we have yet to see how well it performs. Even so, this has potential. In ways, this makes the iPad look like a toy. And, by the way, I love my iPad.
Click to expand...

Agreed however disappointingly the specs announced on stage make this comparison a reality..

Wacom 2580ppi sensitivity, MS Surface 600ppi sensitivity.

That's an important difference for real tablet usage with painter / photoshop etc. It won't be replacing designers cintiqs anytime soon.
 
Judging by all the pro Microsoft comments in this Mac forum I think Redmond must have given everyone the afternoon off so they could come post on here lol. Thanks but I think I'll keep my lovely new iPad if you don't mind.
 
1920 x 1080, I'll take it! :)

This fills my need for a device that is as portable as a tablet, but hopefully can give me my laptop applications as I need them. Since not all my app's have an ipad companion version yet.

Then I can stop taking my laptop to work everyday.
 
Windows 8 actually has a nice interface for the Pad platform; it's different, clean and not a ripoff of iOS (a bad ripoff i.e. Android). I think that this'll be the first actual competitor in many respects to the iPad.
 
Avicdar said:
Battery life? Will be interesting.

I'm a little surprised in a good way. Didn't think Microsoft had this in them. They spent way too long in their presentation talking about the keyboard though. They still don't understand ecosystem, content, apps.

We'll see.
Click to expand...

Looks like Microsoft finally figured things out!

1. Their own control on Hardware and Software
2. ORIGINAL software. Can't stress this enough!
3. Decent components, and a good Touch UI

I hope this thing crushes all the Android Tablets, and becomes healthy competition to the iPad. :)
 
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...

What does it cost? How long does the battery last? What apps are available? when will it ship Sounds like you don't know **** yet.
 
I think it's obvious what they didn't point out...

Price
Date available
Specs (Battery life, CPU speed, memory, Screen Resolution, etc)

***EDIT****Looks like a 1366 x 768 display according to The Verge on the RT version

I didn't get to watch it live, but there are few things I found ironic...
The biggest one is the fact that their first one crashed on stage and they had to get a new one.
They spent most of their time talking about a cover. I have to admit it looks cool, but why not talk more about the lifestyle of their product and why it's so great. How it fits in to their ecosystem. This is really where Apple and their keynotes are almost perfect. They spend enough time to cover the specs, but don't dwell on them. Then they give you glimpses of what else it can do. What happens if the cover/keyboard is terrible to type on? What happens if some 3rd party developer releases a cover like it for the iPad? Then what? I also wonder how well it is to type on while sitting on your lap?

Didn't we experience something like this when they talked about the HP slate? I remember so many people were all over it talking it up. Nothing really changed in the end. So it will be really interesting to see how everything is implemented even though we know nothing about when that may occur. I hope the end result is that there is enough success to where the next direction for Apple is to turn the macbook air into touchscreen as well that runs iOS. The weight of the high end tablet is close to the weight of the 11" Macbook Air.
 
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