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

Stevamundo said:
Yeah, the iPad made a whole new category of computing, what's so innovative about that? :rolleyes:

You nor anybody else (outside of Microsoft) haven't seen the Surface Pro working. So don't count your chickens before they're hatched.

Hell, we even don't know the price or the battery life for those things yet.
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A whole new category of computing? What? What new category? Tablets existed WAY before the iPad. Hell, I had a tablet PC in 2005 that was not only a touch screen, ( not a great one, using the pen was a much better option. but it was 2004 ). Would detach from its real keyboard, oh yeah, and it ran Windows XP. Not a limited mobile OS like an iPad.

I wouldn't call an iPad " computing " as I would " giant iPhone that can't multitask ".
 
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Stevamundo said:
Yeah, the iPad made a whole new category of computing, what's so innovative about that? :rolleyes:

You nor anybody else (outside of Microsoft) haven't seen the Surface Pro working. So don't count your chickens before they're hatched.

Hell, we even don't know the price or the battery life for those things yet.
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How was he "counting his chickens" ? He described attributes of the Surface we already know.
 
fertilized-egg said:
Except that picture is very misleading. "Tablet PC" was a completely different animal from iPad. iPad did create the modern capacitative tablet market driven by mobile OS with "ecosystem" optimized for ARM and other low power CPUs, which is exactly what Surface WinRT is. WinRT tablets have little in common with the older Windows tablets with stylus except in the name "Windows" only.

This is no different from saying Windows Mobile and Palm had touchscreen devices before iPhone, similar on paper, but very different implementation.
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I think the point of the picture is to show that Microsoft were the ones to delve into the full-form tablet form factor (as opposed to the more limited PDAs, which were common) first- on a large scale, commercial basis that is. There were definitely forerunners- such as the PenPad and the GRiDPad. Some people seem to think that Apple invented the tablet form factor, which isn't the case.
Granted, the picture definitely isn't accurate, it's simply poking fun at the situation and showing that the iPad didn't spring fully-formed from Steve's mind in a moment of genius or divine inspiration. Like Xerox's GUI and Mac OS, there was a forerunner- Apple gave tablets a facelift and marketed them better, but they didn't invent them.
 
What would Microsoft have to do to be called innovative? Most things done now days cannot hold up to that, I just think it is nice that there is a windows based tablet running a full os with useful things like USB and can run flash (yes I use flash).

G51989 said:
A whole new category of computing? What? What new category? Tablets existed WAY before the iPad. Hell, I had a tablet PC in 2005 that was not only a touch screen, ( not a great one, using the pen was a much better option. but it was 2004 ). Would detach from its real keyboard, oh yeah, and it ran Windows XP. Not a limited mobile OS like an iPad.

I wouldn't call an iPad " computing " as I would " giant iPhone that can't multitask ".
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A lot of these gadgets are not super innovative, just making them more mainstream, I have a tablet PC, no touchscreen since it is older, still a tablet. I like that it runs a FULL os and has wacom which is great for some types of work. If this Surface Pro had Wacom it would be perfect. (I know it does not, just wish it did)
 
Renzatic said:
Why are you even picking nits? Crap happens with beta software on prototype hardware. Doesn't look good for MS, no. But since the final product won't have hugely severe issues (well, I hope not), it doesn't really matter in the long run.

Other than going "olol company I hate cuz I buy stuff from other company can't make good stuff cuz stuff mess up" anyway. Guess you win an internet.
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I think you are coming in halfway through a conversation. Frankly, I couldn't care less about any fails at a Microsoft event. Sadly, after decades of watching them, I half expect them to either include a flub or the product to simply amount to eternal vaporware (ex. Courier, which I really liked but thankfully I get to enjoy somewhat in FiftyThree's Paper). Go back and you'll see I was simply attempting to clear up what was a misunderstanding between three people. Whatever OS floats one's boat is their business, be it Mac, Linux, Windows, WebOS, Android, iOS, UNIX, etc. If memory serves, Linux2Mac is a recovering Windows-user like myself. Is he not allowed to express his opinion? Are we only allowed to rage at Apple in the MacRumors forums (If so, that would be a bit odd)?
 
Renzatic said:
Okay, computer history aside, I'm not even gonna talk about that. Instead, I'm going to attack your argument directly.

Lets say Genius Baker makes a recipe for some of the best tasting cookies anyone has ever tasted. He isn't big on marketing. Could care less about it really. So he doesn't have any problem handing off the recipe to someone willing to do something with it.

Enter Apple Baking Company. They take the idea, remove some of the unnecessary ingredients, add raisins, and release it to the world. Since you happen to like Apple Baking Company. Shine on you crazy innovators of the cookie world!

Then Micro Baking Standards comes in. Tastes these cookies, likes them, and wants to make some of their own. They take the basics, throw in some oatmeal, brown sugar, and release it to the world.

...THOSE BASTARDS JUST TOOK WHAT APPLE BAKING DID AND ADDED OATMEAL AND BROWN SUGAR TO THE MIX! THEY'RE RIPPING THEM OFF!

How does your argument make sense? You're giving one company a pass and blasting another for DOING THE SAME THING!
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Again, if it wasn't for APPLE there wouldn't be an icon base operating systems period certainty not back in the 80's. Xereox wasn't going to market their invention.

Fact: it was Apple and nobody else that introduced the GUI to the world. Fact: Microsoft just copied Apple's GUI that created Windows. Fact: Apple has created the table market. Fact: Microsoft is trying to copy Apple AGAIN.
 
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I will agree that having an event like this and waiting months is not always the best move.

Renzatic said:
It has a digitizer and stylus support. I'm guessing it might be Wacom, since they pretty much have a hand in everything that involves...well...styluses and digitizers.
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True, it does need pressure sensitivity for art released projects, that would be amazing!
 
If this Surface Pro had Wacom it would be perfect. (I know it does not, just wish it did)
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The Samsung Slate and the eee Slate use a wacom digitizer. Very very neat to work with. I hope it will be the same. Here a video comparing the Ipad pen to the eee pen, see at 2min20.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oty4ukjSIjg&feature=related

We know the surface pen will have a 600dpi resolution.
 
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Stevamundo said:
Snip
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Copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy.

You get paid per usage or something?

Apple didn't invent the GUI. Xerox already had a couple of products on the market by the time the Lisa and the Mac came on the scene and popularized it. MS did the exact same thing as Apple did, working off their innovations as much as Xerox's while adding a bit of their own. Apple popularized the tablet and greatly expanded the market, but hardly invented it. MS is copying Apple as much as Apple copied MS with the tablet back in 2002. In other words, they're not copying each other so much as building off each others ideas.

The copying argument is stupid. Stupid. STUPID!
 
Renzatic said:
Copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy copy.

You get paid per usage or something?

Apple didn't invent the GUI. Xerox already had a couple of products on the market by the time the Lisa and the Mac came on the scene and popularized it. MS did the exact same thing as Apple did, working off their innovations as much as Xerox's while adding a bit of their own. Apple popularized the tablet and greatly expanded the market, but hardly invented it. MS is copying Apple as much as Apple copied MS with the tablet back in 2002. In other words, they're not copying each other so much as building off each others ideas.

The copying argument is stupid. Stupid. STUPID!
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While obviously Apple wasn't the first, they have had tablets on their mind since long before Microsoft introduced the Tablet PC....

(the Knowledge Navigator concept from 1987)

And

bic1.jpg

(the unreleased "Newton Bic")
 
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Stevamundo said:
Again, if it wasn't for APPLE there wouldn't be an icon base operating systems period certainty not back in the 80's. Xereox wasn't going to market their invention.

Fact: it was Apple and nobody else that introduced the GUI to the world. Fact: Microsoft just copied Apple's GUI that created Windows. Fact: Apple has created the table market. Fact: Microsoft is trying to copy Apple AGAIN.
Click to expand...

Fact: Apple didn't invent the GUI
Fact: Apple did not create the tablet
Fact: "microsoft is trying to copy Apple AGAIN" is actually your opinion

I'll bet when you first posted here, you thought you'd be the voice of reason and you were going to come up with some sort of irrefutable argument. Didn't really work out that way did it?
 
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G51989 said:
Here's the thing.

Windows is great for business's, big enterprise, and R&D ( which is what I do, the company I work for runs some pretty crazy simulation software, I've said this so many times, but my Workstation is worth almost 20K, good thing I didn't pay for it! ), OSX would literally crash and burn with this software ( it can only read 96gb of ram, not enough for us ). Its super great for power users to, and gamers.
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Depends on your business of course. Can definitely see your point for your particular use case. All the heavy lifting where I work is Linux and where OS X works for me is that it's a great environment to work effectively in a Linux world, while interacting with exchange servers for the limited windows world with which I interact. I've got windows 7, 8 and various Linux VMs running on parallels so not missing out there.

I write software for a living on multiple platforms and it's a very, very costly effort to maintain backwards compatibility across versions of operating systems and still introduce new functionality. And then maintain it. So I'm coming at it from a different perspective.:D

And to one additional point you made that I didn't reference - while Grandma doesn't need Windows 7 mega super premium plus plus, she doesn't know that so I have to spend time with her deciphering what all of it means. Relatives who have gone with Mac I have almost no "support time" involved, with windows, unfortunately, it's not so true. I'm not trying to generalize here to say that's everyone's experience but...it's mine. ;)
 
Yes I can.

bawbac said:
Can you elaborate on your claim or observation?
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One of the best things about apple is that they understand how to make operating systems run efficiently enough that you don't need a quad core to run them, which is proven by their mobile devices. That's why they didn't upgrade the processor in the new iPad: because it runs incredibly quickly without it. Android on the other hand is very inefficient and spec heavy, without any real life speed advantage over IOS. The same is true with the windows 8 operating system. It obviously has software issues, and that is based on the fact that the press release demo crashed. When I run the consumer preview on boot camp, my Mac, simple tasks like using the Internet and browsing non-CPU intensive websites like macrumors, my computer just starts getting really hot. Transfer that to a tablet, and you understand why surface needs a fan. Which is ridiculous in a mobile device.
 
Aidan5806 said:
One of the best things about apple is that they understand how to make operating systems run efficiently enough that you don't need a quad core to run them, which is proven by their mobile devices. That's why they didn't upgrade the processor in the new iPad: because it runs incredibly quickly without it. Android on the other hand is very inefficient and spec heavy, without any real life speed advantage over IOS. The same is true with the windows 8 operating system. It obviously has software issues, and that is based on the fact that the press release demo crashed. When I run the consumer preview on boot camp, my Mac, simple tasks like using the Internet and browsing non-CPU intensive websites like macrumors, my computer just starts getting really hot. Transfer that to a tablet, and you understand why surface needs a fan. Which is ridiculous in a mobile device.
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You make me laugh.

The amount of misinformation, ignorance and glad out lies in this post is amazing.
 
Aidan5806 said:
One of the best things about apple is that they understand how to make operating systems run efficiently enough that you don't need a quad core to run them, which is proven by their mobile devices. That's why they didn't upgrade the processor in the new iPad: because it runs incredibly quickly without it. Android on the other hand is very inefficient and spec heavy, without any real life speed advantage over IOS. The same is true with the windows 8 operating system. It obviously has software issues, and that is based on the fact that the press release demo crashed. When I run the consumer preview on boot camp, my Mac, simple tasks like using the Internet and browsing non-CPU intensive websites like macrumors, my computer just starts getting really hot. Transfer that to a tablet, and you understand why surface needs a fan. Which is ridiculous in a mobile device.
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You really should read up a little before posting completely false information. Nobody is willing to listen to you after teh first extremely obvious false piece of information. (Hint: check the New iPad's processor)
 
Huh...?

smoledman said:
Apple had the luxury of completely starting over in 1997. Microsoft has had to juggle their gigantic legacy business while also trying to be innovative, a far harder task. They look like they are just about to pull it off too.
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Luxury? You mean when the company almost went bankrupt? That luxury?
 
2IS said:
Fact: Apple didn't invent the GUI
Fact: Apple did not create the tablet
Fact: "microsoft is trying to copy Apple AGAIN" is actually your opinion

I'll bet when you first posted here, you thought you'd be the voice of reason and you were going to come up with some sort of irrefutable argument. Didn't really work out that way did it?
Click to expand...


Fact: Apple products "just work" better. That's why everyone wants them. The fact that they look elegant is an added bonus.
 
linux2mac said:
Fact: Apple products "just work" better. That's why everyone wants them. The fact that they look elegant is an added bonus.
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Which is totally why 90 percent of desktop and laptop computers run windows?

And more people use android. Than iOS~

AND if OSX " just works " how come it can't run any decent sized simulations that the company I work for makes? Why does it just hit its 96gb of ram read limit, and then crashs? If windows sucks so bad, how come it can handle massive simulations, and OSX can't?
 
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