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

[Aidan5806]

So true

Hardly. Have you actually used Windows 8?

So true. Windows 8 sucks on tablets because the os is way to inefficient, and it sucks on desktops because it has a touch interface you have to use a mouse or trackpad for, and also because it lacks desktop functionality.

 

[Piggie]

Mine crashes occasionally. What it does more often is load webpages with lots of graphics on them VERY slowly, some websites don't even load any of the graphics. It's an ipad3, and my ipad2 seems like it loaded webpages much much faster for some odd reason. The web browser does crash a LOT if I'm loading 2 or 3 tabs and one of the pages is graphics intensive.

Indeed, I was just browsing the App store for about 30 seconds, and poof, the app store just closed down and I had to re-run it.

The Calendar app has a bug which has plagued me for months and months, in that when I open it, it's totally blank. When I change the view or the month then all the events come back again.

----------

I wonder if Msoft doing this has, by it's very nature killed off any chance there may of been for Apple to offer an OSX Tablet in the near future?

If they did that now, they would just be seen as copying Microsoft, so in effect now there is probably no way that's going to happen.

It's going to be Proper Laptop Computer AND an iPad to carry around for a long long time from Apple.

 

[r.harris1]

Indeed, I was just browsing the App store for about 30 seconds, and poof, the app store just closed down and I had to re-run it.

The Calendar app has a bug which has plagued me for months and months, in that when I open it, it's totally blank. When I change the view or the month then all the events come back again.

----------

I wonder if Msoft doing this has, by it's very nature killed off any chance there may of been for Apple to offer an OSX Tablet in the near future?

If they did that now, they would just be seen as copying Microsoft, so in effect now there is probably no way that's going to happen.

It's going to be Proper Laptop Computer AND an iPad to carry around for a long long time from Apple.

It wasn't likely to happen anyway. The closest thing to an OS X tablet you're likely to see from Apple is the MBA. Also, Msoft hasn't killed off anything. No one has any clue how the devices will perform (we know nothing about the memory) or if they have any chance of replacing high end laptops.

 

[bawbac]

So true. Windows 8 sucks on tablets because the os is way to inefficient

Can you elaborate on your claim or observation?

 

[Nabooly]

Just watched that clip with the tablet crashing. I found it more funny how the whole demo seems like an HSN commercial lol

But really though it seems really interesting and welcome competition!

 

[StyxMaker]

Apple invented charging more for useful features, steering buyers to shell out the max.

Actually, the auto industry was doing that long before Apple came into existence.

 

[w00master]

Wow, my iPad has never crashed or hung doing simple things like web browsing.

Maybe someday, Apple will get "the cloud" right:

https://www.macrumors.com/2012/06/2...age-services-experiencing-significant-outage/


w00master

 

[Digital Skunk]

To me, it looks more like some kind of insecurity on the part of the more "hardcore" Mac user base.

I've come to expect the usual Mac zealot user base to become a bit queazy when new products are announced. Even a small feature that gives a product an edge over the Apple counterpart must be thrashed. Posts fill with misinformation, FUD, and trolling just so some can feel comfortable in the purchase that they've made.

 

[w00master]

I've come to expect the usual Mac zealot user base to become a bit queazy when new products are announced. Even a small feature that gives a product an edge over the Apple counterpart must be thrashed. Posts fill with misinformation, FUD, and trolling just so some can feel comfortable in the purchase that they've made.

Definitely agree with this assessment. You can pretty much map it out without fail. Additionally, many of the "usual suspects" on this board *always* comes out - almost on cue.

Posted this earlier on this thread, and none of the zealots have answered (nor do I expect them to):

https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/15083755/


w00master

 

[vincebio]

Umm... it's the leading story on iClarified's home page too.

i never said iClarified didnt post these stories...

i said that they were posting stuff first, as macrumors is asleep at weekends mostly.

anyway, the point is why would we give 2 ****s about microsofts new product.

 

[Digital Skunk]

Questions for Fanboys (I'm lumping y'all in this silly word: this includes Apple, MS, Google, et al), I'm betting 99% of these folks are NOT the following:

Programmers
Developers
3D modelers
Animators
Digital filmmakers
Game developers
Stockholder

But are:

Average users.


My question is this: why play sides? Don't you want the best product/whatever for YOU? Why does it matter if Apple or MS or Google or whoever "wins?" you have no financial or real technical reason why you would "want some company to win and destroy another" and sure I "get" the fun in debating which tech company is doing what. But besides this, why do you really care?

This truly astounds me on the chest beating mantra that so many "fanboys" have.

W00master

AGREED! but average users wouldn't even act or sound as silly as many of them. They are just . . . . plain old . . . . zealots . . . . and in the worse case.

Not the G3, G4, G5 PowerMac zealots; or even the Newton, Lisa, GSII zealots. They are these new 2007 and up zealots that don't have a leg to stand on and are just TERRIBLE at defending Apple in any fashion.

I want Apple to work on their faults, so I can have an EASY time defending a product that I love.

 

[Renzatic]

I don't get the hype about the keyboard...they've had keyboards for the ipad pretty much since day one. Android and windows devices always tout features that iOS doesn't have (and yes, there are many bells and whistles missing from iOS), but iOS and the iPad will never be beat until android and windows devices have the BASICS...simple media syncing between all devices, an interface that doesn't lag with every touch, long battery life, and reliability.

Keyboards for the iPad usually come in big clamshells that add a tremendous amount of bulk, or are completely separate, meaning you have to carry two pieces of hardware around with you wherever you go. The neat thing about the Surface's keyboard is that it isn't much thicker than the iPad smartscreen. It adds functionality without vastly increasing the size of the device.

Also Windows Phone and, hell, Windows 8 don't lag with every touch. Even ICS has that problem mostly squared away. The other OSes are 99.9% as silky smooth as iOS these days.

 

[Eidorian]

It looks like Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 are now cross-compatible.

http://vr-zone.com/articles/microsoft-introduces-shared-windows-core-with-windows-phone-8/16352.html

 

[G51989]

i never said iClarified didnt post these stories...

i said that they were posting stuff first, as macrumors is asleep at weekends mostly.

anyway, the point is why would we give 2 ****s about microsofts new product.

Well users must care, otherwise this thread wouldn't be so huge

If you sift through the fud, there are even people on this site willing to buy this tablet.

I own Apple products, it doesn't mean I'm not allowed to buy Non Apple products lol.

Why is this news? This will be the iPads first real competitor, its innovative, its fast, it runs a full OS with a powerful i5 processor, keyboard built in and its small and light.

This could possibly be very popular, Even among Mac User's

 

[Mal]

4 - A 1920x1080 screen. This is huge. Almost unheard of on such a small device. This is a lot of workspace.

Really?

The Retina display on the new iPad features a 2048-by-1536 resolution, 44 percent greater color saturation, and an astounding 3.1 million pixels — in the same 9.7-inch space.

jW

 

[w00master]

AGREED! but average users wouldn't even act or sound as silly as many of them. They are just . . . . plain old . . . . zealots . . . . and in the worse case.

Not the G3, G4, G5 PowerMac zealots; or even the Newton, Lisa, GSII zealots. They are these new 2007 and up zealots that don't have a leg to stand on and are just TERRIBLE at defending Apple in any fashion.

I want Apple to work on their faults, so I can have an EASY time defending a product that I love.

Totally agree.

I love Apple as well - been a user since the Apple II days (still imho, the best computer ever made). I stayed with Apple through the "wilderness" years of Sculley, Amelio, etc. until the return of Steve Jobs. So, it makes me chuckle when I read posts from zealots saying: You're just a MS/Google/whoever fanboy! My first thought it: you really have no idea what you're talking about.

Anyway, I think what the Zealots fail the realize (or maybe they do and this is an insecurity thing) is that this is *good* for Apple. This is *good* for consumers, because it all pushes everyone forward.

w00master

 

[Ay_Zimmy]

That keyboard cover with Microsoft office could be a phenomenal advantage. I trust Microsoft to make a good tablet. That company has partners and was a dominant force in the PC market, so they want to keep those people and this came out of no where. Microsoft gets how it works now, I'm excited to try it out.

 

[vincebio]

Well users must care, otherwise this thread wouldn't be so huge

If you sift through the fud, there are even people on this site willing to buy this tablet.

I own Apple products, it doesn't mean I'm not allowed to buy Non Apple products lol.

Why is this news? This will be the iPads first real competitor, its innovative, its fast, it runs a full OS with a powerful i5 processor, keyboard built in and its small and light.

This could possibly be very popular, Even among Mac User's

Then we should change the name of the site to Macuser-rumors.

I come on here to read about Macs, OSX and Apple products and software in general.

I dont care about Microsofts products or OS or iPad rival products.

maybe thats the problem eh...Im on the wrong site now...

I get the whole relevence factor...but this used to be a Mac site for mac users. Period.

 

[KnightWRX]

Then we should change the name of the site to Macuser-rumors.

Why ? Macrumors sounds just fine to me. Competition for Apple is often times indicative of features we might get from Apple (ie, just for iOS : multi-tasking, wallpapers, folders, better notifications, iMessage, 3D maps, all the little goodies that came about because they were elsewhere and users wanted them on iOS).

I come on here to read about Macs, OSX and Apple products and software in general.

I dont care about Microsofts products or OS or iPad rival products.

Then skip over the threads that don't interest you. You have no obligation to click on the threads that don't. Some of us like to discuss the general direction of features and upcoming products that will compete with Apple. We like to discuss our "options".

maybe thats the problem eh...Im on the wrong site now...

No, you just have the wrong way of approaching this site.

I get the whole relevence factor...but this used to be a Mac site for mac users. Period.

Really ?

http://web.archive.org/web/20000510011926/https://www.macrumors.com/

Scroll down to the 5th story... Yep, a story about Microsoft. May 9th, 2000. A full 12 years ago.

When was this mythical age where Macrumors did not cover Apple's competition ? When this was "a Mac site for mac users. Period.". Maybe you imagined it ?

 

[w00master]

Then we should change the name of the site to Macuser-rumors.

I come on here to read about Macs, OSX and Apple products and software in general.

I dont care about Microsofts products or OS or iPad rival products.

maybe thats the problem eh...Im on the wrong site now...

I get the whole relevence factor...but this used to be a Mac site for mac users. Period.

But if you don't think this article is relevant... then why care to post?

w00master

 

[sireShonBohn]

It looks ok. I don't know why but it just doesn't light my fire from a looks department. The keyboard is neat. But it's not like some company couldn't just make that keyboard for the iPad. I wouldn't be surprised if the iPad ends up with a knock off touch keyboard/cover before this tablet hits the market. I could see using that in a pinch, but I prefer tactile clicky keys if I'm going to be doing lots of typing... most people do.

Ultimately the one advantage this tablet has is the advantage Windows/MS has enjoyed for decades. They have the most applications, the most developers, and the largest install base.

 

[Renzatic]

I wouldn't be surprised if the iPad ends up with a knock off touch keyboard/cover before this tablet hits the market. I could see using that in a pinch, but I prefer tactile clicky keys if I'm going to be doing lots of typing... most people do.

I feel the same way as you do, as do many other people. Hence why there's a slightly thicker clicky key version.

And yeah, if someone released a knock-off for the iPad, I'd practically be first in line to pick one up. The design would have to be a little different though, since the iPad doesn't have a kickstand to lean back on. You'd probably still have to use it in conjunction with some other accessory.

 

[r.harris1]

Well users must care, otherwise this thread wouldn't be so huge

If you sift through the fud, there are even people on this site willing to buy this tablet.

I own Apple products, it doesn't mean I'm not allowed to buy Non Apple products lol.

Why is this news? This will be the iPads first real competitor, its innovative, its fast, it runs a full OS with a powerful i5 processor, keyboard built in and its small and light.

This could possibly be very popular, Even among Mac User's

Everyone should definitely own the product that makes the most sense for them. For all the gazillions of people that need or use Windows, this does offer up an alternative if executed well and it has the RAM to run the full OS + useful programs.

I personally would describe the Surface as a touch-capable deconstructed netbook and more clever than innovative. But that's just me and like everyone on here who is telling me how fast and awesome this machine is, I haven't actually seen, held or used it to see if it really is fast and awesome . Maybe I'll wet my pants when I see it. Who knows?

 

[PeterQVenkman]

This is why artists are excited about Surface tablets:

http://youtu.be/8E1G9p4B9lY

That's an Asus Ep121 tablet. With wacom digitizer built into the screen.

Sketchbook, zBrush, and TV paint directly on your computer. That's awesome. The tiny keyboard thing he's holding? That looks awkward.

The Samsung Slate may be better suited because of better processor and battery life, and Microsoft's product at least looks good... but we'll see.

 

[Sackvillenb]

Now I really wonder what this will be like in person. Will it run well? Will it have good battery life? I like the idea of something you can use as both a laptop and a tablet. Best of both worlds. In theory at least. Usb ports, that convenient. I really like the idea of the keyboard cover. Pretty smart. Only time will tell if this is any good though. I don't think it will be the proverbial iPad killer (will there ever be one of those?)... but, I think it provide some reasonable competition to the iPad, and competition is only a good thing. It'll only make Apple work harder at improving the iPad.