Sorry, color me unimpressed. I think this whole Surface thing is one half-baked disaster waiting to happen. Same thing with Windows 8. The only reason to hold onto MS right now is the familiarity of their software. The Surface and the Metro UI, as interesting as they appear to be, completely mess with this familiarity. Look at some of the recent reviews of Windows 8 in the last few days to get a sense (and this is from the early adopter MS friendly press) of how "you need to take a whole new approach to the OS" and "it takes some getting used to" to know what is coming. While the tech nerds (I count myself aomng them) who populate this site will have no problem with this, the average user (think of your grandma) isn't going to put up with it. To gain a substantial market share, you need to be really better on both the hardware and the software side than Apple. Inertia isn't going to do it--especially when you totally rearrange the familiar. The average person is likely to say: "Apple already worked out all of these UI and user experience issues. Why should I suddenly change everything to go to MS for an incremental advantage at best?" I would be very concerned right now if I held a lot of MS stock.
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Microsoft Announces New 'Surface' Tablet, New Hardware and Software Based on Windows 8
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I think running Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro on Surface is bound to confuse customers and leave them pissed off when they start running into apps that wont run and compatibility issues.
Apple did it right by drawing a line between desktop/laptop and tablet/phone.
Apple did it right by drawing a line between desktop/laptop and tablet/phone.
Won't ever happen. If they're using a Pro, then they've likely bought the machine knowing exactly what to expect. Remember, the Pro isn't going to be widely available, and will cost a goodly bit more than regular tablets.
If they're using RT, they'll know they get their all software through the Store, and go on from there. Having a similar looking Start menu between RT and 8 won't make them think they can run the same programs as their desktop/laptop. After all, iOS is more than superficially similar to OSX, yet you never hear about people bashing a CD into the side of an iPad looking for the slot, wondering why it won't run their favorite Mac apps.
However I believe a big part of that is because iOS devices were never marketed as a "Mac". By using the word "Windows", and the "no compromises" slogan, Microsoft is already setting the expectation for what the devices are for.
Maybe. Though I think it's doubful considering most people will probably see it as Microsoft's tablet, with their expectations of what it's capable of being tempered by their experiences with the iPad.
The Surface RT and Surface Pro does muddy the water more than a bit, but the potential for confusion there is cut off a bit because the Pro won't be advertised all that much (if at all), and won't be sold in every Wal-Mart and Best Buy on the block. You've got the consumer device everyone and their grandma will know about, and the niche power user device only power users will know exists.
Because there's no huge learning curve to learn OS X or iOS.
The biggest market for Surface is business usage for productivity and integration with business enterprise systems.
The iPad is virtually a toy(remedial appliance) used primarily for web browsing, reading and casual gaming.
The two have separate usage but people who like and are familiar with Windows may get the Surface to use for their casual usage instead of the iPad.
Unfortunately for Windows, I don't know if they really have the brand awareness advantage in the general public in 2012, at least in North America. Apple and iPad could possibly be even more household name for non-techy grandmas than Windows as of now.
I think More people know the Microsoft/Windows name than what you think, seeing as its what they see every single time they boot up their computer. Over a billion users, I would say there is a decent amount of brand awareness.
smartphone back in 2007 was a relatively "new" thing for consumers.
7-8% marketshare vs. 92-93% for feature phone.
Let's me ask you this. If Surface "fails" to gain decent market share, what is Windows chance of becoming the third major player in the mobile space behind Android and iOS?
This is MS one and only chance to make a splash. If Surface fails, people would be reluctant to buy a Windows tablet. Not to mention, without the marketshare, Windows will lack developers.
MS would trade 20% market share of tablet in exchange for $2-3 billion loss. It will ensure that Windows will be a major player in the tablet OS space.
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http://www.guardian.co.uk/technolog...rosoft-surface-199-subscription?newsfeed=true
Yes, Microsoft can price the Surface for $199 and make a profit. Here's how
genius!!!
Yes, Microsoft can price the Surface for $199 and make a profit. Here's how
genius!!!
So what's your point? MS shouldn't even try? I think given the responses I've seen everywhere I go, MS has done something they haven't done in a long time, generate excitement in a MS product. That alone tells me they are headed down the right track and have a good chance at being successful.
And MS is too big to say this is their only chance. They could easily fail and come back with a plan B.....but I don't think that will be necessary.
But yes, it appears that they are willing to guarantee success by taking a loss on the product. Since they can afford to do so, I think it's a good idea.
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I think you forgot the sarcastic smiley...
my point is that there might be some truth to the $199 Surface.
Short term pain for long-term gain and all that.
http://venturebeat.com/2012/08/17/prepare-for-300-windows-rt-tablets-says-lenovo/
Prepare for $300 Windows RT tablets, says Lenovo
Ah, we agree on that.
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$200 is a no brainer. I'd pick one up just for fun. $300 will make me debate the purchase for a bit....but might still be doable.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-5...more-than-3-million-surface-tablets-says-idc/
Microsoft to build more than 3 million Surface tablets, says IDC
Microsoft to build more than 3 million Surface tablets, says IDC
I'm not expecting this to be some kind of iPad killer, but I am pretty excited.
This is just ********. Not everything revolves around the iPad. Just about every tablet for a long time now has had on-screen keyboards. It's not "a clear shot at the iPad". It's a clear shot at the standard touchscreen keyboard on just about every tablet.
This is just ********. Not everything revolves around the iPad. Just about every tablet for a long time now has had on-screen keyboards. It's not "a clear shot at the iPad". It's a clear shot at the standard touchscreen keyboard on just about every tablet.
You know I think that the Touch/Type cover could be a huge winner for Microsoft. I can't count the # of times I've been watching something on TV and had to go back to my office to Twitter because I couldn't stand typing on the iPad virtual keyboard. But having a Surface propped up with it's kickstand and the Touch Cover out I can do everything in the same room. At the same time I can flip that cover over and it becomes an iPad.
If the keyboard isn't backlit then It's an Epic FAIL.
Keyboards, remote controls, it's just incomprehensible that any major company would manufacture such a device without illuminating the keys. It cost almost nothing and the concept is like four decades old with phones.
Keyboards, remote controls, it's just incomprehensible that any major company would manufacture such a device without illuminating the keys. It cost almost nothing and the concept is like four decades old with phones.
Microsoft's release of outlook.com is pretty damn beautiful. Finally changed the skydrive webapp to the new look too, and it's awesome. Surface RT or any Windows RT being rumored at around 200-300 dollars will definitely have me waiting.
haha I was gonna pick up the Nexus 7 (would be my first tablet!), but then the rumors of the iPad Mini grew larger so I decided to wait for that. Now we have rumors of cheap RT tablets...definitely going to wait for that too now. Nexus 7, iPad Mini, or RT..good time to be a consumer?
Surface RT definitely has my attention if it is priced at around $300. If it was going to be 500-600, I was honestly just gonna pony up for the Pro if I went Windows.
haha I was gonna pick up the Nexus 7 (would be my first tablet!), but then the rumors of the iPad Mini grew larger so I decided to wait for that. Now we have rumors of cheap RT tablets...definitely going to wait for that too now. Nexus 7, iPad Mini, or RT..good time to be a consumer?
Surface RT definitely has my attention if it is priced at around $300. If it was going to be 500-600, I was honestly just gonna pony up for the Pro if I went Windows.
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And how do you know the Surface will flop? Or Windows 8? People once said the Xbox would fail, and Windows XP would flop...because it was cartoony and no one would like it.
How did that go again?