Microsoft announces: "Surface" tablet 10.6" display, 9.3mm thin, USB on board

[Magnum Opus]

The only interesting thing I see here is the cover. A rip-off from Apple sure, but you can't deny that the multitouch keyboard built into the cover sounds interesting. I hope Apple rip that off right back at Microsoft.

There appear to be two versions of the Surface too, one is ARM based and runs RT, but the other appears to be an i5 running W8 Pro.

 

[KittyKatta]

This, if the price isn't significantly below the iPad, it's going to fail. Not having a retina-like display is also going to hurt it if it's not priced below the iPad2.

Retina has very little effect on productivity. I know this statement will initially upset people but Retina is more of a "want" than a "need". I love my Retina iPad, but there are VERY few tasks I can accomplish precisely due to a higher resolution on a device that is meant to be a compromise in computing.

So far Im very impressed with the Surface demo. It may not fit my life since I'm all aboard Apple, but it offers a very compelling alternative for people who may favor the world that Windows offers. And it would be silly to act as if that isn't a huge market.

 

[spdntrxi]

that things looks frecken awesome.. game changer if graphics are good.

Ipad4 is going to have to bring it.

 

[ditzy]

The pro version looks like it will cost the same as an ultra book. It also won't be out until months after win 8 comes out. I'm not sure how popular that will be.
But it is still really interesting. I wonder how Microsoft's partners will react?

 

[Peace]

that things looks frecken awesome.. game changer if graphics are good.

Ipad4 is going to have to bring it.

To each their own. Personally I think it's ugly.

 

[MikeFromTexas]

If the software matches the hardware the Surface is a "player".

 

[d4rkc4sm]

zune part deux

 

[Peterg2]

This, if the price isn't significantly below the iPad, it's going to fail. Not having a retina-like display is also going to hurt it if it's not priced below the iPad2.

Have you bothered to even look at the Verge live blog as to what the machine would appear to be about? I doubt it. This appears quite a remarkable piece of work with quite extended capabilities.

 

[PhoneI]

Retina has very little effect on productivity. I know this statement will initially upset people but Retina is more of a "want" than a "need". I love my Retina iPad, but there are VERY few tasks I can accomplish precisely due to a higher resolution on a device that is meant to be a compromise in computing.

So far Im very impressed with the Surface demo. It may not fit my life since I'm all aboard Apple, but it offers a very compelling alternative for people who may favor the world that Windows offers. And it would be silly to act as if that isn't a huge market.

No going back after retina. Can read on my iPad for hours without any type of eye strain. Couldnt do that before. So obviously I disagree with you.

I want to know resolution and price of the Microsoft tablet.

 

[basesloaded190]

Really? No, price and no availability date? Didn't HP lead the way to how that could turn out?

 

[MRU]

The windows RT version should be comparable to the iPad price wise, and hopefully battery wise (no mention of it) but with the price of the pro model being compared to ultrabooks which go from $900-1500 that could be a very costly piece of equipment. And that case / keyboard as lovely as it is, looks expensive too. I'm just not sure at those possible price range that it's going to be mass market. Streaming video winning over blu-ray, mp3 over CD, having the most powerful tablet on the market but a very expensive one doesn't mean it will surpass the cheaper alternatives.

Also have Microsoft just **** on every other manufacturer who was considering bringing a Windows 8 tablet to market??

 

[TLewis]

Retina has very little effect on productivity. I know this statement will initially upset people but Retina is more of a "want" than a "need". I love my Retina iPad, but there are VERY few tasks I can accomplish precisely due to a higher resolution on a device that is meant to be a compromise in computing.

Oh, I completely agree.

However, tablets these days are significantly affected by marketing/coolness, and less than actual tech specs/usability. Retina, the new 3D maps, Siri, etc. are cool demo/showoff features that make the iPad look good, but might not get all that much actual usage.. "Look at what my tablet can do!" It's hard to sell boring business features to the masses -- and make no mistake, the iPad is mainly targeted at mass-market consumers, which is (1) probably a much larger market than the business market, and (2) something that can significantly affect the business market. For example, many businesses are allowing or even encouraging employees to buy their own phones and tablets (it saves the business money). If their family uses iPads, that encourages them to buy iPads for themselves, too (it's certainly not a given, but it certainly pushes them in that direction).

 

[ugopj]

Was the battery life mentioned anywhere?

 

[MRU]

Was the battery life mentioned anywhere?

No. Sadly not.

 

[barjam]

Retina has very little effect on productivity. I know this statement will initially upset people but Retina is more of a "want" than a "need". I love my Retina iPad, but there are VERY few tasks I can accomplish precisely due to a higher resolution on a device that is meant to be a compromise in computing.

So far Im very impressed with the Surface demo. It may not fit my life since I'm all aboard Apple, but it offers a very compelling alternative for people who may favor the world that Windows offers. And it would be silly to act as if that isn't a huge market.

Remote Desktop & better SSH windows (smaller fonts) is nice.

 

[basesloaded190]

No. Sadly not.

A lot of basic specs were left out.

 

[Geekbabe]

Looks sweet, I do wonder how durable that keyboard will be. Can't wait to see pricing & release dates.

 

[TheWheelMan]

Retina has very little effect on productivity. I know this statement will initially upset people but Retina is more of a "want" than a "need"...

Not sure why people insist upon making finite statements about subjective matters. It really depends on what "productivity" means to you. If you are a graphics artist, then the Retina very well has its practical uses.

 

[spdntrxi]

To each their own. Personally I think it's ugly.

honestly what does that have to do with anything... it attractiveness would amount to about 5% of my decision ..if that ? ...and it's not ugly enough to matter.

 

[Abazigal]

The only interesting thing I see here is the cover. A rip-off from Apple sure, but you can't deny that the multitouch keyboard built into the cover sounds interesting. I hope Apple rip that off right back at Microsoft.

There appear to be two versions of the Surface too, one is ARM based and runs RT, but the other appears to be an i5 running W8 Pro.

It seems more 'inspired' by the Logitech keyboard case.

With all the features, I can't see it being cheaper than the iPad.

 

[erawsd]

I have to admit this has def piqued my interest.

For me, the biggest problem with my iPad is that, no matter how hard I've tried, I just can't make it fit into my work flow. Its too limited for work or school, and I'm constantly having to set it aside for my laptop.

If its as good as it looks, then I can def be swayed.

 

[KittyKatta]

Oh, I completely agree.

However, tablets these days are significantly affected by marketing/coolness, and less than actual tech specs/usability. Retina, the new 3D maps, Siri, etc. are cool demo/showoff features that make the iPad look good, but might not get all that much actual usage.. "Look at what my tablet can do!" It's hard to sell boring business features to the masses -- and make no mistake, the iPad is mainly targeted at mass-market consumers, which is (1) probably a much larger market than the business market, and (2) something that can significantly affect the business market. For example, many businesses are allowing or even encouraging employees to buy their own phones and tablets (it saves the business money). If their family uses iPads, that encourages them to buy iPads for themselves, too (it's certainly not a given, but it certainly pushes them in that direction).

Great point and I agree. But here's how the world looks to non-Apple fans.

The Air is the best ultra portable out there.
The iPad is the best tablet out there.

Apple iPad + Apple MacBook Air = Microsoft Surface

To many people out there, the idea that a product functions equally well as a computer AND as a tablet is a pretty solid marketing platform.

Again, it may not be the product for me but I am now VERY interested in Win8 while I could care less just a few hours ago.

 

[Rodster]

Blue keyboard, i'm sold

 

[Winni]

Will it be the first true iPad competitor unlike the Galaxy tablets and the Kindle Fire?

I doubt that Amazon ever positioned or planned the Kindle Fire as an iPad competitor. But that's a different topic anyway.

Now Microsoft's Surface Tablet... That's something different: The "RT" model is competing with the iPad, no doubt. The "Pro" version, however, is a new device class. It's a tablet-sized notebook with a full blown operating system on it, not just a castrated tablet OS like iOS. Apple does not have a device like this.

Also, Microsoft's concept for the surface tablet --IS-- innovative and you could wonder why Apple didn't come up with this. Microsoft solved a major problems of the tablets: Tablets totally SUCK when you need to write something. And MS fixed that.

Let's wait until these things hit the stores and see how well they work in real life. I know that the iPad and all the other tablets so far have NOT worked FOR ME. Maybe this thing will.

 

[lemikam]

Have you bothered to even look at the Verge live blog as to what the machine would appear to be about? I doubt it. This appears quite a remarkable piece of work with quite extended capabilities.

It's the "extended capabilities" that will kill this machine. Apple has proved it time and again: usability and "cool factor" trump features every day of the week. Even if they manage to sell this thing to corporates (dubious), no consumer would ever want a Surface (bad name, by the way) over an iPad. It's just not cool enough.

Of course, there will always be the rabid Applephobes - the type that bought a Zune or a BlackBerry Storm - but a tablet has to be a don't-have-to-think-about-it, pick-it-up-and-touch-all-of-your-electronic-assets slab of gorgeous. This thing is handsome enough, I guess (though nobody's actually touched one yet, and hand-feel is a huge part of the experience), but the kickstand seems ridiculous, and the keyboard/cover seems just a concession that Microsoft can't make a proper touchscreen keyboard. I dunno. I guess I'm just not impressed. It seems like another weak wave at an Apple-killer by a company that's just plain not good at making Apple-killers.