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Microsoft Reportedly Scheduled to Introduce Tablet Today
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Stealing Thunder
As has already been mentioned, nearly everyone is trying to steal Apple's thunder. Now, whether or not they succeed depends on the features and capabilities of the current round of offerings as compared to what Apple releases--assuming that what Apple's announcing is a tablet of some sort. This also means that Apple has managed to significantly influence innovation by effectively forcing all these others to try and not only predict what the new product will be, but its capabilities as well. We'll just have to see how well they do it.
In my own case, I'm not a strong fan of what Microsoft previewed a few months ago; to me it's simply too limited, though I admit I like the dual-screen folding 'book.' On the other hand, the drawback with that concept is that it may still be too clumsy to use while standing or walking if you're wanting to take notes. The other devices seem to have their limitations too, though I won't say for sure until the official announcements and demonstrations. If you think about the old slate-style chalkboards used in the old one-room schools or the paper tablets once used by doctors in hospitals (before the laptop computer became so ubiquitous) then you'll understand what a tablet really needs to be--not just a media device, not just a reading device, not even a basic web device; all those already exist--it needs to be a productive device that can do all of the above, and more. In many ways, it could completely change how the average person uses a computer.
Yes, desktop computers will be needed in one form or another for a long time, but portable computing today is nothing but making the desktop go where you want to go; it's not efficient. Notebooks, Netbooks, smart phones, all try to give some sense of mobility to computing; but they all fail in one aspect or another. Smart phones just don't have the power or usability needed for on-the-go computing, while the -book computers don't have the simplicity or the mobility--you have to put them down on something to use them. At the moment, the new round of tablets look more like enlarged smart phones; that may not be enough. We'll simply have to wait and see.
As has already been mentioned, nearly everyone is trying to steal Apple's thunder. Now, whether or not they succeed depends on the features and capabilities of the current round of offerings as compared to what Apple releases--assuming that what Apple's announcing is a tablet of some sort. This also means that Apple has managed to significantly influence innovation by effectively forcing all these others to try and not only predict what the new product will be, but its capabilities as well. We'll just have to see how well they do it.
In my own case, I'm not a strong fan of what Microsoft previewed a few months ago; to me it's simply too limited, though I admit I like the dual-screen folding 'book.' On the other hand, the drawback with that concept is that it may still be too clumsy to use while standing or walking if you're wanting to take notes. The other devices seem to have their limitations too, though I won't say for sure until the official announcements and demonstrations. If you think about the old slate-style chalkboards used in the old one-room schools or the paper tablets once used by doctors in hospitals (before the laptop computer became so ubiquitous) then you'll understand what a tablet really needs to be--not just a media device, not just a reading device, not even a basic web device; all those already exist--it needs to be a productive device that can do all of the above, and more. In many ways, it could completely change how the average person uses a computer.
Yes, desktop computers will be needed in one form or another for a long time, but portable computing today is nothing but making the desktop go where you want to go; it's not efficient. Notebooks, Netbooks, smart phones, all try to give some sense of mobility to computing; but they all fail in one aspect or another. Smart phones just don't have the power or usability needed for on-the-go computing, while the -book computers don't have the simplicity or the mobility--you have to put them down on something to use them. At the moment, the new round of tablets look more like enlarged smart phones; that may not be enough. We'll simply have to wait and see.
It won't work like that in the short term though....
This late in the game, Apple's product is fixed. If the MS tablet turns out to do cool things that Apple didn't think of, it'll be the superior product for the length of the next product cycle.
I agree though.... competition means consumers win. But honestly, I find it really hard to imagine that Microsoft has spent years developing a tablet like this themselves, parallel with Apple. I'm 99% sure this is just a bad attempt at jumping on the train before it pulls completely out of the station.
Microsoft doesn't want to be left out of a whole new market segment, in case tablets become the new device everyone wants to own.... But their history of version 1.0 products is .... well..... pathetic.
This late in the game, Apple's product is fixed. If the MS tablet turns out to do cool things that Apple didn't think of, it'll be the superior product for the length of the next product cycle.
I agree though.... competition means consumers win. But honestly, I find it really hard to imagine that Microsoft has spent years developing a tablet like this themselves, parallel with Apple. I'm 99% sure this is just a bad attempt at jumping on the train before it pulls completely out of the station.
Microsoft doesn't want to be left out of a whole new market segment, in case tablets become the new device everyone wants to own.... But their history of version 1.0 products is .... well..... pathetic.
Whats really fuel on the fire for me is that I think Apple's handle on the iphone world has been arrogant, and irresponsible. I dont know what makes people think that they can lie and say things like "...we lock it down to be more stable..." and then proceed to inform us on how they intend to take 30% of app prices.
This model wouldn't fly anywhere else (except maybe the music industry), because its asinine. Android is taking off, and while I dont think its flawless in any sense of the word, I do think that its a much nobler approach to hardware/software for a mobile device.
I dont know why apple guys are so creaming themselves over the un-announced apple tablet, because you know apple will be up to their old tricks if and when it does hit.
And to top it all off, they will just walk away from it like they did with the iphone.
So I say... welcome competition! I hope MS makes apple work a little harder at their game. They are business people, but somehow give me that "...we aim to take every last penny from you and in return we'll give you the feeling you are in control, and you have decisions..." impression whereas companies like google give me the whole "... we have the products and power to take every last penny from you, but care more about the greater good and thus we charge REASONABLE fees for our products" impression.
This model wouldn't fly anywhere else (except maybe the music industry), because its asinine. Android is taking off, and while I dont think its flawless in any sense of the word, I do think that its a much nobler approach to hardware/software for a mobile device.
I dont know why apple guys are so creaming themselves over the un-announced apple tablet, because you know apple will be up to their old tricks if and when it does hit.
And to top it all off, they will just walk away from it like they did with the iphone.
So I say... welcome competition! I hope MS makes apple work a little harder at their game. They are business people, but somehow give me that "...we aim to take every last penny from you and in return we'll give you the feeling you are in control, and you have decisions..." impression whereas companies like google give me the whole "... we have the products and power to take every last penny from you, but care more about the greater good and thus we charge REASONABLE fees for our products" impression.
Will the new device have instant on or do we wait for 3-5 minutes while windows boots, we make a note and then 2 minutes for it to shutdown?
But the masses can afford the device and then when they sell a bunch, more are produced, more copied, more users, more, more, more and if my $300 computer is broke then I get a new one.
At $1000 its a flat macbook air with a target market and few users compared to the netbook and limited changes, few choices and just another expensive toy verse a utility that you can use day-to-day.
The Courier doesn't compete with the Apple tablet
The Courier demo that was leaked a few weeks ago looked like a replacement for a smartphone.
Apple's product is rumored to cost $1000, which means it has to be more of a replacement for a notebook computer.
If Microsoft reveals the Courier this week, it could be a successful product and not compete at all with Apple's new offering.
The Courier demo that was leaked a few weeks ago looked like a replacement for a smartphone.
Apple's product is rumored to cost $1000, which means it has to be more of a replacement for a notebook computer.
If Microsoft reveals the Courier this week, it could be a successful product and not compete at all with Apple's new offering.
This reminds me
This whole tablet land rush reminds me of the MP3 player gold rush around the time the iPod was introduced. Now, the term iPod has become part of common language like Xerox and Kleenex. Here's hoping Apple can pull off the same thing. To do so, however, they're going to have to have software that kicks ass as much as the hardware. I have a Creative Labs player before I bought a iPod. The hardware kicked ass because it was smaller, had way better battery life, and a Firewire interface. But the software wasn't annoying on the iPod like it was on the Nomad. And eventually, hardware makers will rev the product to include the latest buzzword features so Apple has to do what it does best: make the user experience a pleasure.
This whole tablet land rush reminds me of the MP3 player gold rush around the time the iPod was introduced. Now, the term iPod has become part of common language like Xerox and Kleenex. Here's hoping Apple can pull off the same thing. To do so, however, they're going to have to have software that kicks ass as much as the hardware. I have a Creative Labs player before I bought a iPod. The hardware kicked ass because it was smaller, had way better battery life, and a Firewire interface. But the software wasn't annoying on the iPod like it was on the Nomad. And eventually, hardware makers will rev the product to include the latest buzzword features so Apple has to do what it does best: make the user experience a pleasure.
Actually sounds completely logical to me. Why not get your product out ahead of a competitors?
But there is some truth behind the rants. Microsoft will throw something out there just to appear like they are still in the game. Apple will get it right and test it before anything is released. Sure there are some exceptions, the cube for one. However, with the cube it proved a computer can be smaller. MS has far more failures than most companies because they want to be in the game. If they would just stop trying to act like they are on top of things and actually create something that is worth wild, then they would have a game changer.
I think that whatever MicroSoft comes out with tonight (wether it will be good or bad) will be overshadowed by the mere anticipation of "What can Steve Jobs and Apple do?" Apple has got a certain self perpetuating momentum in the media right now that MicroSoft will have a hard time trying to catch up with.
Having said that, I'm glad that MicroSoft is out there making an effort. It will force Apple to try even harder.
Having said that, I'm glad that MicroSoft is out there making an effort. It will force Apple to try even harder.
What the hell are you talking about?
Let the other guys take the "nobler" approach (whatever that's supposed to mean), while Apple will take the approach that actually works, and has been working wonders so far.
Exactly. They take a product that's out there, but not necessarily executed well, or high in consumer "headspace", and they make it into the hot product that everyone and their grandma wants.
1977: Computers? Those massive things only used by scientists and big businesses? Sure, there are a few geeks soldering up their own boxes with switches and lights, but what would I ever do with one?
1984: Personal Computer? Oh, you mean those IBM 8088 compatible devices running DOS on black and amber monitors. You type commands in with the keyboard. Graphical interface? "Mouse"? That's science fiction!
2001: Playing mp3's? That's kid stuff. You can only fit a couple of songs onto one of those little 64 MB players, and at crap bitrates. Sure you can get one of those Nomad things, but what's the point of storing gigs of music if you can only play them for 4 hours on a battery charge? Nah, I've got my Discman, I've got my case of CDs, that's all anyone needs.
2007: Smart phones? You mean Blackberries? Those are only for business executives. What would a regular guy like me ever do with a smart phone? All I ever do is make phone calls and send text messages. Besides, I've got my Palm PDA.
2010: Tablet PCs? Yeah, right, we've all seen how well those are selling...
Well, I have an HP 2730P Tablet with Windows Seven Enterprise on it and I must say the thing is amazing. Tablets have been around almost 10 years now and Microsoft has been at the Forefront of integrating it with Office and Windows. To say Microsoft would be copying Apple would be a joke. Again, Apple is just innovating an idea that has been in place for years. Thats what they do.
I'd have to say you're wrong, here. Rather than "... mass-market saturation point... " Apple has been taking things that are being essentially ignored by the mass market and making them desirable.
Consider USB -- Before Apple, USB was created as a new connectivity standard that was essentially ignored by users and manufacturers alike. Apple made it the standard and default connection on the iMac, and everyone scrambled to manufacture devices and adopt it for the PC market in general.
Consider the iPod -- I don't deny that Creative, Sony and others had MP3 players out, and most of them were pretty good, though not necessarily easy to use. In fact, MP3 player sales appeared to have already peaked and were falling when Apple introduced the iPod to the Mac community. Because of its ease of use and even easier method of loading through iTunes, demand skyrocketed--to the point that even Windows users wanted it. It was the proof of simplicity and functionality that sent the iPod to the top of the heap, not just the name or the software.
The iPhone? Again, Apple produced a product that was being ignored by the mass market. They produced a smart phone for the masses rather than a business phone for the enterprise. Interestingly, despite its lack of enterprise acumen, business people wanted it over supposedly-superior Blackberry devices already readily available. Why? Because it was easier to use and did what the majority of its buyers wanted it to do.
And now we have the tablet. Yes, for years Microsoft has offered a 'tablet-ready' version of Windows, and different manufacturers have built tablet PCs that use it. The problem is, Windows isn't really a tablet-ready OS. The only difference between tablet-ready vs regular Windows was the fact that you used your finger as a mouse pointer. You really couldn't do anything differently than you did with a simple mouse. Apple realized a long time ago that for a tablet to be fully functional, the UI had to be intuitive and easy to use; like a pen on a sheet of paper. The iPhone OS seems to be at least a forerunner of what Apple's tablet is likely to have. I can only guess that the tablet will take it several steps farther ahead.
27" iMac, 10.5.0, 10.6.0+, 10.4.5 and under, OS 9, 8, 7, iMac 17/20 Non ALS, etc etc etc.
Apple is susceptible to the same issues as everyone else.
I remember when MS came up with project Natal at E3 and nobody really knew before what it was and how it would work. And everyone was surprised when they had a nicely working prototype. Sony looked pretty pissed at their press conference the day after because they had nothing to compete against it. Some shock and awe...
Also MS has probably one of the best handwriting recognition software out there included in OneNote. And it's been out for almost 6 years now. And with MS Speech Recognition Server they also have experience with that and it is working really niceley for business users.
If they really show Courier tonight and if it actually does what it is said to do, I'm sure every competitor is at least a bit worried.
(And don't forget the iSlate is rumored to be only more or less a bigger iPod touch with iPhoneOS4)
Also MS has probably one of the best handwriting recognition software out there included in OneNote. And it's been out for almost 6 years now. And with MS Speech Recognition Server they also have experience with that and it is working really niceley for business users.
If they really show Courier tonight and if it actually does what it is said to do, I'm sure every competitor is at least a bit worried.
(And don't forget the iSlate is rumored to be only more or less a bigger iPod touch with iPhoneOS4)
The Handwriting recognition in Windows Seven is amazing. It recognizes my horrible English writing and my remedial Korean writing.
I'm really trying to like Microsoft these days after many years using nothing but Linux/MacOS/OSX/IRIX (maybe put it down to age) but somehow I doubt they'll deliver here.
The irony now is that with the Google-Apple bond well and truly broken I see an Apple-Microsoft tie-in more and more likely. Maybe that is what's making me want to like MS?
The irony now is that with the Google-Apple bond well and truly broken I see an Apple-Microsoft tie-in more and more likely. Maybe that is what's making me want to like MS?
Well said. I just cannot imagine Steve Balmer being as strict, determined and simply as much of a product visionary as Steve Jobs. Canceling concept after concept for many years to ensure perfection as Apple is believed to have done.
I suspect the MicroSoft approach is rather to throw obscene amounts of money at the problem to get something out quickly before they miss out on whatever market Apple is planning to carve out.
Yup, cause that's how it works.
like the Cube. and the apple tv.
both HUGE successes, because apple people just buy the logo and say it's great.
unless, of course, you've ever been on these forums. then you might be aware of SLIGHTLY more bitching. slightly.