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

[mrmarts]

How is the MacBook Pro retina overpriced and how is a full laptop exactly competing against the Intel version of the Surface ?

Microsoft is saying that seeing the Surface is the first tablet to feature a full version of an os, it is not only targeted for the tablet market but also for the ultra book and even PC market.

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EXACTLY, even the advertsiement is poorly conceived, dated & ultimately meaningless.

If they can't even get that right, what chance do they stand of having designed an inovative product? Is there so little of worth saying about it that they've had to resort to cliched videography & fx to create an ad that could quite literally have featured a car, a razor or a television sat in the midst of that rubbish?

Welcome to Miicrosoft's world of the banal and derivative...

lol just look at Steve Ballmer he never smiled at the conference, and the conference was not as lively as a apple conference, it was more like the companies own funeral

 

[Piggie]

Simple question..........

How long before Apple release a tablet device that will "optionally" run OSX ?

 

[KnightWRX]

Microsoft is saying that seeing the Surface is the first tablet to feature a full version of an os, it is not only targeted for the tablet market but also for the ultra book and even PC market.

Wait, what ? I doubt Microsoft is saying that the Surface is the first tablet to run a full OS, their own Windows XP Tablet Edition OS begs to differ, same as HP's TC1100...

Second, how is the Surface competition for the MBPR exactly ? We don't have specifications yet, we don't have pricing. The PC market is vast. There are 200$ PCs, there are 8000$ PCs. 200$ laptops don't compete with 8000$ workstations.

So without specs, how can you be so sure this competes against the MBPR ?

 

[crs.one]

I've got a camera and two hot girls ready. My number is 555-555-5555. I'm located in the dark alley of 54th and Red Light street.

Nice. How big is the macro zoom lens?

 

[KnightWRX]

Simple question..........

How long before Apple release a tablet device that will "optionally" run OSX ?

Depends how fast genetic engineering evolves.

 

[APlotdevice]

Simple question..........

How long before Apple release a tablet device that will "optionally" run OSX ?

Never. Perhaps iOS and OSX will eventually become one, but I practically guarantee that they're not going to release two different operating systems on a tablet.

 

[Tsuchiya]

I like the Windows 8 version. I think we'll always have an iPad in the house, but I can see myself using a Surface tablet a heck of a lot more for work.

Arguably it's the next step that ALL tablets need to take.

 

[Piggie]

Actually, I still think all BIG NAME tablets are a hard sell for many families.

They are paying their mortgage on their house, running a car, looking after 2 kids, keeping them clothed and fed, and at some point the child says they need a computer to help with their school work.

At the moment they can go down the road and pay out £400 in the UK for the bottom of the range iPad tablet, or they can pay under £300 for a fully functional brand new windows Laptop running windows 7.

Tablets still really need to come down a good 50% really given what you can do on them against a proper full computer.

I'm sure this will happen in time, but will be a few years yet, once they have maxed out the speed and battery life then there will be so many of similar spec it will start to price crash like most things to when they become a commodity product.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Wow, people are so anal on here! They dont even want to see any positive in this new tablet. The more the best I say. Actually this one look more like the Asus eee slate (also with i5) than the ipad. The Asus eee slate is a really cool beast as it include a wacom digitizer. You get very precise pen input with it, perfect for using stronger app like Zbrush, maya, photoshop and other sketch tools. I believe the i5 Surface will be the same.

Ipad is great because it's cheap and it work well with media if you use some third party apps to play AVI and MKV. Still I cannot work on it. The microsoft Surface might give me that little extra power I need for that.

I agree, both about people being complete wads when it comes to seeing the usefulness in another product that's not Apple, and in the Surface being a tablet that users may actually be able to work on from day one.

I am still tickled pink about that smart cover keyboard. One of the BIGGEST pieces of innovation to come out of Redmond in a long time, and something that Apple or some 3rd party vendor needs to copy and implement in an iPad smart cover.

 

[RoelJuun]

Don't know whether someone posted the pic already, I am not going to read all the 1900 posts but…

 

[Bernard SG]

Ipad is great because it's cheap and it work well with media if you use some third party apps to play AVI and MKV. Still I cannot work on it. The microsoft Surface might give me that little extra power I need for that.

I'm not sure what sense you're giving to the word "power" here, but as far as I can say that is not what the iPad is lacking.

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I agree, both about people being complete wads when it comes to seeing the usefulness in another product that's not Apple, and in the Surface being a tablet that users may actually be able to work on from day one.

I am still tickled pink about that smart cover keyboard. One of the BIGGEST pieces of innovation to come out of Redmond in a long time, and something that Apple or some 3rd party vendor needs to copy and implement in an iPad smart cover.

There are already tons of iPad cases with a physical keyboard...

 

[gba2000]

Type Cover

Maybe it was mentioned but how does it connect? Bluetooth, magnetic data transfer, a port etc?

 

[840quadra]

I agree, both about people being complete wads when it comes to seeing the usefulness in another product that's not Apple, and in the Surface being a tablet that users may actually be able to work on from day one.

I am still tickled pink about that smart cover keyboard. One of the BIGGEST pieces of innovation to come out of Redmond in a long time, and something that Apple or some 3rd party vendor needs to copy and implement in an iPad smart cover.

It is interesting how they used a magnetic connection similar to a Mag Safe connector to power / connect the cover, and magnets to hold it on (similar to the iPad smart cover).

Apple had all the pieces, Microsoft just put them together first!

There are already tons of iPad cases with a physical keyboard...

I don't believe any of them are a simple magnetic cover with an integrated keyboard. The units I have seen / tested all used the dock connector, and were full on cases.

That said, I doubt I have seen all examples out there.

Maybe it was mentioned but how does it connect? Bluetooth, magnetic data transfer, a port etc?

It uses Pins and magnets to hold them in place. Similar to Mag Safe, but in a larger format

 

[G51989]

I'm not sure what sense you're giving to the word "power" here, but as far as I can say that is not what the iPad is lacking.

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There are already tons of iPad cases with a physical keyboard...

The iPad lacks power, big time. Its quick for a tablet, but its no match for an i5.

An i5 tablet with a full OS, i5 processor, detachable keyboard, and hopefully a decent amount of ram would really be something I could go for. Right now the ipad just doesn't have the power, or a capable OS.

There are people who are going to want this.

What some of these fanboys don't understand is that a iPad isn't useful for everyone

And, most of those ipad cases with keyboards suck. I'm hoping this will motivate someone to make s good ipad case with keyboard.

 

[Bezetos]

This actually seems to be the first tablet that I will want to buy, provided that Microsoft keeps all its promises and the price is right.

 

[Digital Skunk]

It is interesting how they used a magnetic connection similar to a Mag Safe connector to power / connect the cover, and magnets to hold it on (similar to the iPad smart cover).

Apple had all the pieces, Microsoft just put them together first!

Redmond essentially took two concepts that have been played out in the tablet space since 2001 and made form and function fit. That's something I've been waiting for Apple to do since 2006.

Sadly I am still waiting.

There are already tons of iPad cases with a physical keyboard...

No, not like the keyboard smart cover thing that the Surface uses. The others need their own power supply from a battery or AC adaptor, connect with bluetooth, and are are frankly quite large.

Redmond took the concept of a flexible keyboard (been around for ages)
The smart cover (Apple first) and
The magsafe (Apple first)

Put them together and made what power tablet users have been wanting since the little fold up keyboard from the Palm TX days.

 

[Digital Skunk]

This actually seems to be the first tablet that I will want to buy, provided that Microsoft keeps all its promises and the price is right.

I have a feeling the price for the tablet that most user may want will be upwards of $799. It is essentially a tightly packed ultrabook with a touch screen that runs a full blown OS (an OS which unlike Apple is built to run on all both types of platforms) which really means a tablet that's built for business, enterprise, and essential anyone that wants no compromises.

Now, I am still sold on the iPad and iWork, but I do make compromises with it.

Don't know whether someone posted the pic already, I am not going to read all the 1900 posts but…

View attachment 344234

Moot, the 11" Air and an iPad with a keyboard case have similar specs as well.

Then you have the Asus Transformer prime which is more to what you are alluding to in the images.

With that in mind it's easy to not see where you're going with the image.

 

[Roessnakhan]

it would not be a Microsoft demo without a few crashes

I can think of a few Apple keynotes with some less than stellar demos.

 

[clukas]

Don't know whether someone posted the pic already, I am not going to read all the 1900 posts but…

View attachment 344234

Microsoft revolutionised the industry... By turning the laptop upside down .

 

[Digital Skunk]

I can think of a few Apple keynotes with some less than stellar demos.

Same here, and both times I remember it being an OS demonstration.

 

[JAT]

Remember we are, I think 5 months from Launch and this is, in effect Microsofts iPad1. Lets see what their 3rd tablet is like before we say it's all doomed. No-one gets it right on their 1st attempt, Apple make dramatic design changes between it's 1st and 2nd models.

For hardware, they simply added cameras and the latest speed processors. Software is what makes or breaks these products. And Microsoft has been doing software for tablets for over a decade, with little success. They really need to step up if they want to be a viable competitor.

 

[derbladerunner]

When was the last time a non-Apple, non-current events news topic got close to 2000 responses here at Macrumors?

At least Microsoft generated buzz. I can't remember when I was last interested in an MS product, only two products come to mind (the Xbox360 and the Courier prototype), this is the third time.

PS: MS Windows8 phone event is later today. Maybe some news how their smartphones and Surface will work together

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/19/microsoft-windows-phone-liveblog/

 

[the read]

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.

Maybe for the way applications currently work, but this is because they have been developed for the limitations of current laptops. A touch screen on a laptop would enhance the device and user experience and functionality once applications were evolved for the experience of using the optimum interface for the right interaction. If you need a real keyboard then you have one, if you want to click a link on the screen without the complexity of a mouse and trck pad, you could tap the screen.

Open your eyes you will bang your head if you don't. Or can you not see past the big apple logo sticker stuck to your forehead.

It must be great being you. Every day you must wake up and find the most mundanity evolutions amazing... Like a fridge, Ohhhhh it keeps things cold, but if it had an apple logo it would be cool!

 

[JAT]

Crazy! 76 pages! In all my time, I never saw a thread get this long before, and waddaya know, it's nothing to do with an Apple product!

I think surface looks pretty interesting. At least there's now some 'sensible' competition...

Apparently you missed the Bluray thread.



What I don't understand is how all the Microsoft proponents that are wetting themselves use the present and past tense to describe these announced tablets. Y'all do understand that you haven't actually touched one, yet. Right?

 

[earwax69]

1 - The Surface (windows RT) will have good battery life. The Surface Pro (windows 8), less so. Maybe 3-4 hours. Which is still very good for an i5 in a tablet. The Samsung slate do 3h30 on i5.

2 - I'm afraid the amount of RAM will be too low. 4gb?? I hope at least 4gb. 8 would be best. I would not care 2gb if upgradable.

3 - The fact that they include a pen mean they are serious about work. Touch is for light usage only. This is good news. No lag? I guess not because Microsoft just patented a new "no lag" touch screen technology.

4 - A 1920x1080 screen. This is huge. Almost unheard of on such a small device. This is a lot of workspace. However I think they should have give the i5 version a 12inch screen.

5- To the people who complain that the commercial is only cosmetic... the irony! You are on a site dedicated to mac computers!

6- As much as I would like OS X to run on the surface, Win8 is good news to me (compare to android or iOS). Windows 7 is a really neat system and people who say otherwise clearly have absolutly no clues.

7- I love my ipad. I really really do. And the ipad will probably still be superior to the RT version. However the i5 and full OS is somewhat of a game changer.

8- Beer time!