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

Defthand said:
Every time I hear someone complain of tablets lacking traditional keyboards, I cringe. This example is why Apple forgoes Consumer Focus Groups. Because most people can only imagine existing solutions to challenges--rather than "think differently". Tablets are a first step in redefining how we interface with applications and the Internet. Adding a physical keyboard to the mix compromises the efforts to invent the future.
I suspect that even the virtual keyboard within today's touch devices will go away eventually. It might remain in apps specifically for wordsmiths but won't be necessary for the terse phrases that people use for socializing.
Fortunately, I think the keyboard crowd is a minority; otherwise, Apple would still be selling the keyboard dock and Netbooks would have trumped tablets.

BTW, this reply was accomplished on an iPad with no keyboard.
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You titled your post "tablets aren't meant to be laptops... yet"

then you praise apple for thinking differently

Then you criticize the anyone who's trying to advanced tablets to get them to that point where they can be laptop replacements... I just don't get it. Are they not meant to be laptops until Apple decides they are? That sounds like what you're saying.
 
Defthand said:
Every time I hear someone complain of tablets lacking traditional keyboards, I cringe. This example is why Apple forgoes Consumer Focus Groups. Because most people can only imagine existing solutions to challenges--rather than "think differently". Tablets are a first step in redefining how we interface with applications and the Internet. Adding a physical keyboard to the mix compromises the efforts to invent the future.
I suspect that even the virtual keyboard within today's touch devices will go away eventually. It might remain in apps specifically for wordsmiths but won't be necessary for the terse phrases that people use for socializing.
Fortunately, I think the keyboard crowd is a minority; otherwise, Apple would still be selling the keyboard dock and Netbooks would have trumped tablets.

BTW, this reply was accomplished on an iPad with no keyboard.
Click to expand...

Yeah. Well. I could have typed it in half the time if I had a touch cover!
 
squallkiercosa said:
Did anyone noticed that Microsoft tablet has 1758 comments? Not even the Macbook pro with Retina Display had so many. Kind of weird in my opinion
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Yes. It has been pointed out ad nauseam

And it's not that surprising, because Apple coming out with the new MacBook Pro with an impressive display isn't all that unexpected.
 
squallkiercosa said:
Did anyone noticed that Microsoft tablet has 1758 comments? Not even the Macbook pro with Retina Display had so many. Kind of weird in my opinion
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People realise this could the real deal because after all - we are talking about an actual PC.

Battery will be rubbish but can't expect much from an all in one computer
 
geniusj said:
Currently it's replacing a keyboard with an inferior keyboard.
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How do you know it'll be inferior? No one's touched one yet? As far as any of us know, it could be a horrible failure, or an absolute dream to use.

Though admittedly, if I were to grab one of these for my own, I would get the cover with the physical keys, rather than the perfectly flat option. I like having at least some physical feedback.
 
Why do u people go crazy over a keyboard?? And not only that you get a trackpad along too. This is just like a laptop. So I get it, let's remake a touchpad into a laptop. Problems solved for everyone.

Pathetic design at best. Just because you can does not mean you should. Apple did not make a keyboard into it's cover because that's not how the iPad should be. But everyone is complaining because it does not have a keyboard. Wtf?

This should be copied by 3rd party manufacturers. Apple will never make this keyboard cover because it's not needed.

How about we make a car that runs on electricity. But hey, it's not that great so let's put an engine back in it to generate electricity. Why are we going backwards??
 
geniusj said:
... there doesn't seem to be a suitable replacement yet. Currently it's replacing a keyboard with an inferior keyboard.
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I would argue that a touch device's keyboard wasn't meant to accomplish the same tasks as a physical keyboard and that a virtual keyboard's usability is dependent on adaptation (practice).

The advice goes, "Use the right tool for the job". Tablets (and smartphones) are optimized for consuming content rather than creating content. If the latter is desired, then the apps have to utilize the tablet's abilities cleverly to circumvent the lack of a familiar keyboard.

I recall, too, how awkward it was when I first used a typewriter and then later when I used the iPad's virtual keyboard. Practice eventually made me proficient with both. In fact, I type almost as fast now on my iPad using only a few fingers. That is the key; you can't use the same technique, you have to learn a new one.
 
Renzatic said:
How do you know it'll be inferior? No one's touched one yet? As far as any of us know, it could be a horrible failure, or an absolute dream to use.

Though admittedly, if I were to grab one of these for my own, I would get the cover with the physical keys, rather than the perfectly flat option. I like having at least some physical feedback.
Click to expand...

What youre saying is legitimate, but the Touch keyboard isnt perfectly flat. The touch points are raised very slightly and textured and you can still rest fingers which would be nice because of the pressure sensing. It is still probably much nicer to use the Type Cover or a real keyboard through BT/USB though.

Both will destroy the on-screen keyboard when stationary Im sure.
 
hindmost said:
And how many thousands upon thousands of 'apps' does this little Microsoft wonder have????


...................uhhhhh, I thought so!
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I don't know.
How many specifically made ipad apps did the iPad have months before it's launch?
 
NIKKG said:
What cool about this is that it can probably be a serious pc/laptop replacement for many people, especially the traveling business crowd. Just having a real Microsoft Office on it makes it a winner. Also Windows 8 has flash support. You can probably install real printer drivers on this too and print on any printer. Really, for light users, this is all they need to have. Hopefully now Apple will take this as a serious threat and compete harder.
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Exactly. It requires a flat surface to use its major features - the kickstand and the keyboard.
 
840quadra said:
Great points by both of you.

I do use my iPad for productivity, just not in the sense that it involves much typing. I personally didn't see an issue with typing on the screen, However I am usually limited to posting like this, or a couple paragraphs for a quick website update. If I wasn't so involved with mobile AV work, or Photo editing with my iPad, I guess a Keyboard solution would have been a higher priority.

Sometimes it takes a view from an other prospective to see things more clearly.
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Not a problem, I barely use mine unless I am at the office and punching out an email. Otherwise it's the touch screen keyboard which does me just fine.

That in mind, wonder how long until a 3rd party makes a BT Smart cover for the iPad that includes a keyboard?
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That would be awesome!
 
Defthand said:
I recall, too, how awkward it was when I first used a typewriter and then later when I used the iPad's virtual keyboard. Practice eventually made me proficient with both. In fact, I type almost as fast now on my iPad using only a few fingers. That is the key; you can't use the same technique, you have to learn a new one.
Click to expand...

I'm...decent enough with the iPad onscreen keyboard. Specially now that I've grabbed a smartcover, and can sit it at a relaxed angle. This doesn't do anything to change my biggest problem with it, which is that it eats up half the screen while I'm using it. For quick twitter and facebook replies, that's alright, but if I'm typing up longish documents, I find it gets in the way more often than not.

DingleButt said:
What youre saying is legitimate, but the Touch keyboard isnt perfectly flat. The touch points are raised very slightly and textured and you can still rest fingers which would be nice because of the pressure sensing.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but it's still "flat" because the keys don't depress beneath your fingers. You might be able to identify individual keys by touch, but you're still gliding your hand across an unyielding surface. It wouldn't give you the same clicky tactile feedback as the chicklet key smartcover.
 
Defthand said:
I would argue that a touch device's keyboard wasn't meant to accomplish the same tasks as a physical keyboard and that a virtual keyboard's usability is dependent on adaptation (practice).

The advice goes, "Use the right tool for the job". Tablets (and smartphones) are optimized for consuming content rather than creating content. If the latter is desired, then the apps have to utilize the tablet's abilities cleverly to circumvent the lack of a familiar keyboard.

I recall, too, how awkward it was when I first used a typewriter and then later when I used the iPad's virtual keyboard. Practice eventually made me proficient with both. In fact, I type almost as fast now on my iPad using only a few fingers. That is the key; you can't use the same technique, you have to learn a new one.
Click to expand...

I'd say a touch keyboard *is* meant to accomplish the exact same thing that a physical keyboard is. It is a method of getting words from your head into the device. Part of the problem is simply that the keyboard is on the screen, so it ends up getting in the way and you end up staring down at your tablet in a rather uncomfortable position. Microsoft's cover offers a reprieve from that experience, allowing you to choose your method of input.

I agree that the iPad is a good media consumption device, but it seems like the void the iPad fills is just so small compared to either a smartphone or a laptop/ultrabook. It's obviously selling well enough, but I'd be curious to see how often people use their iPads versus how often they use their desktop/laptop or smartphone.

It's clear to me that tablets are not something that have been figured out. Apple's made probably the best attempt so far, but there's still plenty of work that can be done. I'm interested to see how the Microsoft experiment goes, and how it shapes future devices.
 
geniusj said:
I'd say a touch keyboard *is* meant to accomplish the exact same thing that a physical keyboard is. It is a method of getting words from your head into the device. Part of the problem is simply that the keyboard is on the screen, so it ends up getting in the way and you end up staring down at your tablet in a rather uncomfortable position. Microsoft's cover offers a reprieve from that experience, allowing you to choose your method of input.

I agree that the iPad is a good media consumption device, but it seems like the void the iPad fills is just so small compared to either a smartphone or a laptop/ultrabook. It's obviously selling well enough, but I'd be curious to see how often people use their iPads versus how often they use their desktop/laptop or smartphone.

It's clear to me that tablets are not something that have been figured out. Apple's made probably the best attempt so far, but there's still plenty of work that can be done. I'm interested to see how the Microsoft experiment goes, and how it shapes future devices.
Click to expand...

Your post truly is a diamond in the rough.
Finally...a non-subjective analysis of the benefits by having another competitor to the industry.

You said it perfectly here:

geniusj said:
It's clear to me that tablets are not something that have been figured out. Apple's made probably the best attempt so far, but there's still plenty of work that can be done. I'm interested to see how the Microsoft experiment goes, and how it shapes future devices.
Click to expand...

I wish I could maintain that level of calmness when posting, but the excessive amount of pro-Apple and pro-Microsoft has gone wild here to the point there are 72 pages of garbage has caused me to honestly flip out at some people. So many in this thread have absolutely no idea what they are talking about and it shows.

But you sir, you did a better job than I have done thus far
 
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