Microsoft Developing Dual-Screen 'Pocketable' Surface Device

[jimmy_uk]

So it'll be a laptop with a software keyboard. I couldn't think of a worse form factor for a computer.

I'd place a bet Apple will make a software keyboard device like this one day as they have a patent for just this sort of thing.
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What problem has this concept design solved?

A tablet in your pocket?
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I often wonder how the Surface sales are doing, are they growing? I read an article that said the Surface will be abandoned in 2019 obviously it is only an article written by reporters so it’s accuracy is left to be desired.

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/10/04/surface/

I dont see it. If anything I see Surface Book 2 grabbing a lot of attention in tech circles especially as Apple are standing still with their computers. Microsoft are playing to win, Apple just like counting money.

The amount of times I've read someone post "If the SB2 ran MacOS I'd buy". Their hardware is innovative. I personally don't have need for just a tablet computer - too much like a large phone and not very productive to justify the expense, but a laptop that can become a tablet and still run desktop software. Fantastic!

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I don’t see what’s wrong with calling a spade a spade.

The tablet and smartwatch markets pretty much belong to Apple. There is really little point in dancing around this point. If Microsoft wants to make a play for that market, they will need something more than just a pretty form factor. Else, you run into the same issues that windows mobile had before - which was that nobody was making UWP apps because the desktop just didn’t need them.

Of course competition is good. Question is - what exactly is Microsoft doing different here to actually be a worthy competitor, rather than it being a case of showing up just for the sake of showing up?

I think Microsofts strength will come from being a software company and innovating in hardware. Allowing full fat Windows and all its compatible software to work across multiple form factors eventually will offer true multitasking power. Meanwhile Apple could do this and win but for now they have no plan to do this as they want you to buy a Mac, ipad and iphone. If they converged the Mac and the ipad into using one operating system the game is theirs but they are a hardware company. The under dog always bites back and right now Apple are the Kings to topple. Microsoft had the crown but got slow and lumbering, sitting on their lorals - Apple are repeating this like before.

 

[Regime2008]

I'd place a bet Apple will make a software keyboard device like this one day as they have a patent for just this sort of thing.
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A tablet in your pocket?
[doublepost=1530563782][/doublepost]
I dont see it. If anything I see Surface Book 2 grabbing a lot of attention in tech circles especially as Apple are standing still with their computers. Microsoft are playing to win, Apple just like counting money.

The amount of times I've read someone post "If the SB2 ran MacOS I'd buy". Their hardware is innovative. I personally don't have need for just a tablet computer - too much like a large phone and not very productive to justify the expense, but a laptop that can become a tablet and still run desktop software. Fantastic!

[doublepost=1530564339][/doublepost]

I think Microsofts strength will come from being a software company and innovating in hardware. Allowing full fat Windows and all its compatible software to work across multiple form factors eventually will offer true multitasking power. Meanwhile Apple could do this and win but for now they have no plan to do this as they want you to buy a Mac, ipad and iphone. If they converged the Mac and the ipad into using one operating system the game is theirs but they are a hardware company. The under dog always bites back and right now Apple are the Kings to topple. Microsoft had the crown but got slow and lumbering, sitting on their lorals - Apple are repeating this like before.

Very well said.

 

[richinaus]

Very well said.

not really, as it goes back to the whole reason why the iPad can be finger operated whilst windows can't, making it reliant on a stylus to use which is simply a pain. Watching someone operate Windows by finger is quite funny and the experience is simply not as fluid as ios. The same would happen if MacOS was on an iPad too.

Anyway, the main reason I am posting is that I am way more excited to see this Microsoft device than the next iPhone. News of 10% increase in speed and a new charger adapter doesnt really interest me at all. The iPhone has now peaked in my view and needs some innovation to move forward. A phone to tablet concept really interests me, especially if it has stylus support.

If MS knock this out the park, I will be done with Apple for all my professional needs, as at present they are getting very wobbly indeed on the tightrope. Just a MacBook at home will probably do it for me, to stay in the loop.

 

[Abazigal]

I often wonder how the Surface sales are doing, are they growing? I read an article that said the Surface will be abandoned in 2019 obviously it is only an article written by reporters so it’s accuracy is left to be desired.

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/10/04/surface/

Going by Microsoft’s hardware sales numbers, sales of surface devices has more or less stagnated. Revenue did increase due to higher ASPs.

Of course, the fans will tell you that Microsoft doesn’t need to sell a ton of hardware as the devices are there to serve as a template for other hardware OEMs but either way, the surface devices don’t appear to be selling in the quantities their apparent popularity in this forum might otherwise indicate.

For most part, they remain a niche product for a niche market.

 

[richinaus]

Going by Microsoft’s hardware sales numbers, sales of surface devices has more or less stagnated. Revenue did increase due to higher ASPs.

Of course, the fans will tell you that Microsoft doesn’t need to sell a ton of hardware as the devices are there to serve as a template for other hardware OEMs but either way, the surface devices don’t appear to be selling in the quantities their apparent popularity in this forum might otherwise indicate.

For most part, they remain a niche product for a niche market.

I think this is correct.
People bash Apple here but really they provide great tools for a lot of people.
Unfortunately the tools are not 'good enough' for some professional needs.
The surface line is actually ideal for me in a lot of ways, but at the same time I firmly believe Apples approach of the right tool for the job is the best direction.

Anything that tries to add functionality always compromises in some way.

Having said that all Apple computers are a compromise. Thin and light etc.

This new foldable tablet will no doubt have issues but at least we need to give credit to MS to be really trying to innovate and develop. The question is do Apple look at all these products in the studio and see that they don't deliver the experience Apple want to provide so they hold back? This is probably most likely true, as they can wait, whilst others need to look like they are 'innovating' rather than actually supplying new hardware that is half baked and doesn't provide a satisfying experience overall.

 

[farewelwilliams]

Pretty much every manufacturer makes a device(s) that utilize stylii. Afaik, none of them require it's use. Not sure why you'd think MS would require it. They don't require it for any of their other stylus accessible devices.

Palm Pilots? Apple Newton? Windows XP Tablets?

 

[richinaus]

Palm Pilots? Apple Newton? Windows XP Tablets?

tried using a surface book in high resolution using fingers only? My friend struggled to operate it even with the stylus......

 

[69Mustang]

Palm Pilots? Apple Newton? Windows XP Tablets?

Sweet merciful Jeebus. You win with that one.

 

[dampfnudel]

Looks really cool. I'm wouldn't mind replacing my iPad mini 4 with something like this from Apple.

 

[Abazigal]

This new foldable tablet will no doubt have issues but at least we need to give credit to MS to be really trying to innovate and develop. The question is do Apple look at all these products in the studio and see that they don't deliver the experience Apple want to provide so they hold back? This is probably most likely true, as they can wait, whilst others need to look like they are 'innovating' rather than actually supplying new hardware that is half baked and doesn't provide a satisfying experience overall.

Truth be told, we have no idea if Apple has considered such a product concept before.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jaymcg...e-could-copy-old-samsung-design/#47324d8875b5

And they do have a patent for such a concept. So who knows - it might not be a matter of if but when. Though when it comes to mobile devices, I generally trust Apple more to get the experience right over Microsoft.

The challenge I see here is that while Microsoft has all the vision they need, they just can't execute, or when they do, it's too early or too late and they show up at the party like a half inflated balloon, or they decide to cripple the product in a small but meaningful way. I mean, when the iPad came out everyone was like "MS did tablets years ago". I remember them. My school had these touchscreen laptop devices with styluses. They *sucked*. Absolutely crappy product. Terrible.

We can all look back at some of the promotional videos and stuff that Microsoft released 25 years ago about connected homes, media center PCs, all that, and it all mostly came true. They saw it. They knew it was coming. And they blew it.

Microsoft is their own worst enemy.

 

[farewelwilliams]

tried using a surface book in high resolution using fingers only? My friend struggled to operate it even with the stylus......

have done so and it's extremely frustrating. even more so when apps like filezilla don't use the metro ui

 

[Dave245]

Going by Microsoft’s hardware sales numbers, sales of surface devices has more or less stagnated. Revenue did increase due to higher ASPs.

Of course, the fans will tell you that Microsoft doesn’t need to sell a ton of hardware as the devices are there to serve as a template for other hardware OEMs but either way, the surface devices don’t appear to be selling in the quantities their apparent popularity in this forum might otherwise indicate.

For most part, they remain a niche product for a niche market.

I did a bit of research online and saw a graph that showed the iPad was outselling the Surface which was a little bit of a surprise even for an Apple fan like myself, considering that the Surface is marketed as a tablet that can replace you’re laptop I would of thought the Surface would of outsold the iPad.

I do think Apple needs to up its game with the Mac, I’m waiting for this years update to decide if I should upgrade from my 2011 MacBook Pro. Would be nice to see Apple redesign the iMac as well.

 

[Abazigal]

I did a bit of research online and saw a graph that showed the iPad was outselling the Surface which was a little bit of a surprise even for an Apple fan like myself, considering that the Surface is marketed as a tablet that can replace you’re laptop I would of thought the Surface would of outsold the iPad.

Price could be a main factor. The Microsoft surface devices are essentially laptops, and priced as such (some are even more expensive than equivalently-specced MacBooks). Conversely, you can have an iPad for as little as $300, so it’s kinda a no-brainer to pick one up for the basic stuff or to complement your existing laptop.

No surprise the iPad sells more.

 

[Dave245]

Price could be a main factor. The Microsoft surface devices are essentially laptops, and priced as such (some are even more expensive than equivalently-specced MacBooks). Conversely, you can have an iPad for as little as $300, so it’s kinda a no-brainer to pick one up for the basic stuff or to complement your existing laptop.

No surprise the iPad sells more.

True and i guess the 2018 iPad will appeal even more now that it's been given Apple Pencil support. Some people may disagree but i think that the BIG advantage Apple has over Microsoft is MacOS, personally i love it and since owning my first Mac in 2011 i haven't had any issues with it, i love some of the new features that Apple add every year such as picture in picture, split view and so on.

I think Mojave will be the biggest update in a few years with what looks like some great features coming to the Mac, i just wish Apple would update the Mac since my 2011 MacBook Pro won't get support for Mojave.

 

[Abazigal]

I think Mojave will be the biggest update in a few years with what looks like some great features coming to the Mac, i just wish Apple would update the Mac since my 2011 MacBook Pro won't get support for Mojave.

I am confident that Apple will continue to support the Mac moving forward, but at the same time, I do feel that existing Mac users need to be realistic about how much attention Apple will devote to the Mac henceforth.

The MacBook Pros and iMac were just updated last June, and a new iMac Pro released at the start of the year. Plus Apple has committed to a Mac Pro next year.

I think that Apple may end up moving to a 1.5 year or even 2 year update cycle for these Mac devices. Don’t be surprised if we don’t see a new iMac Pro until late next year or even in 2020.

 

[Dave245]

I am confident that Apple will continue to support the Mac moving forward, but at the same time, I do feel that existing Mac users need to be realistic about how much attention Apple will devote to the Mac henceforth.

The MacBook Pros and iMac were just updated last June, and a new iMac Pro released at the start of the year. Plus Apple has committed to a Mac Pro next year.

I think that Apple may end up moving to a 1.5 year or even 2 year update cycle for these Mac devices. Don’t be surprised if we don’t see a new iMac Pro until late next year or even in 2020.

I think they will continue to support it i just think many people want regular updates, for example someone like me is in limbo because if i buy a Mac now i'm buying last years, waiting for this years is also a difficult one because we don't know when they will come out. If i buy one now they could release new one's via press release this month (they have updated silently in July before).

The iMac Pro probably won't get an update until next year but the normal iMac might, i wouldn't mind a redesign as the current one i'm using as my desktop is 2012.

 

[M.PaulCezanne]

That thing’ll break after 50 hours of use.

 

[Cesar Battistini]

Thats going to be a flop!

As cool as it might be, no apps and optimization, will kill that device very fast.

As all mobile initiatives by microsoft.

And I doubt it will be nothing but novelty.

The future is AR.

 

[Abazigal]

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/201...-means-microsofts-andromeda-may-never-arrive/

Calling it now.

 

[wegster]

I'm indifferent in that I won't buy one if/when it releases but am interested as it's interesting tech and might soak a fire under Apple's ass. As others have mentioned, if it isn't also a phone, I suspect the niche is tiny of people who want yet another device.

For the first time ever, I'm traveling with the work 'laptop' and not my MBP. Why? The work laptop is a Dell Surface clone, and travels very nicely. As a 2in1, it's great for interactive meetings and for travel while it can still drive multiple displays in the office, and while smaller, still managed to keep a single USB-A port, which I've used for ethernet and serial at work and for SD cards when traveling. The stylus is magnetic and has a thin tether to the laptop itself. The OS and some apps need work before it's as seamless as I'd like going between tablet/stylus and laptop modes. Apple could certainly do it better and I hope they do one day, assuming they can innovate more than watch bands and emojis these days. Oh, and it has an actual real ESC key for when I do in fact need it to use vi logged into embedded devices.

In the same light, I hope this thing releases to light a fire under Apple, who will hopefully make something useful as a result. I'd be pretty down with a foldable iPhone 11 consolidating phone and tablet, and certainly something consolidating tablet and laptop.

 

[jimmy_uk]

Thats going to be a flop!

As cool as it might be, no apps and optimization, will kill that device very fast.

As all mobile initiatives by microsoft.

And I doubt it will be nothing but novelty.

The future is AR.

Like VR was the future. Like 3D displays were the future etc etc......

Pretty sure Microsoft have access to a few apps in the Windows world.

 

[JGIGS]

What does folding and separating get you exactly? And Apple would never put out a piece of hardware with no purpose. Adding a toaster to your phone, or a fold out table really doesn't move anything forward. You must realize that just being able to do something doesn't make it a good idea, right?

Ummm it makes a longer wider screen device more compact? Like you could have act as a double sided phone and fold out to a tablet.

 

[Black Magic]

I'd place a bet Apple will make a software keyboard device like this one day as they have a patent for just this sort of thing.
[doublepost=1530563520][/doublepost]
A tablet in your pocket?
[doublepost=1530563782][/doublepost]
I dont see it. If anything I see Surface Book 2 grabbing a lot of attention in tech circles especially as Apple are standing still with their computers. Microsoft are playing to win, Apple just like counting money.

The amount of times I've read someone post "If the SB2 ran MacOS I'd buy". Their hardware is innovative. I personally don't have need for just a tablet computer - too much like a large phone and not very productive to justify the expense, but a laptop that can become a tablet and still run desktop software. Fantastic!

[doublepost=1530564339][/doublepost]

I think Microsofts strength will come from being a software company and innovating in hardware. Allowing full fat Windows and all its compatible software to work across multiple form factors eventually will offer true multitasking power. Meanwhile Apple could do this and win but for now they have no plan to do this as they want you to buy a Mac, ipad and iphone. If they converged the Mac and the ipad into using one operating system the game is theirs but they are a hardware company. The under dog always bites back and right now Apple are the Kings to topple. Microsoft had the crown but got slow and lumbering, sitting on their lorals - Apple are repeating this like before.

Surface Books at my job have all failed with most of them ending up with crack screens from the hinges. Fanboys were jumping off the cliff to snatch them up when they were an option while folks with experience opted for Lenovo. Surface Books are no longer an option at my job needless to say.

 

[jimmy_uk]

Surface Books at my job have all failed with most of them ending up with crack screens from the hinges. Fanboys were jumping off the cliff to snatch them up when they were an option while folks with experience opted for Lenovo. Surface Books are no longer an option at my job needless to say.

How much is that down to users not looking after work equipment because you know, it's not their money that bought them?

That said Lenovo is 100% the better choice for business due to sturdy build and repairability. My boss just had a whole keyboard replacement in her Lenovo laptop, super easy and not to expensive. Done in the office. How many other laptops can you do that with?

 

[Black Magic]

How much is that down to users not looking after work equipment because you know, it's not their money that bought them?

That said Lenovo is 100% the better choice for business due to sturdy build and repairability. My boss just had a whole keyboard replacement in her Lenovo laptop, super easy and not to expensive. Done in the office. How many other laptops can you do that with?

They treated them with care. That hinge has a design flaw at least that is what I was told. I opted for the Lenovo and had my keyboard replaced recently as well. Took about 15 minutes for the IBM person to perform the task on-site.

I'll take my MacBook Pro over all of them. For business, I'd consider the Surface Laptops as well.