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Microsoft's Prototype Multi-Touch Tablet/Booklet

MovieCutter said:
Apple will have an ACTUAL shipping device in Q1/10
Click to expand...

Really!?! Where is the press release?

I do not believe Apple have made any announcements of a tablet product launch for Q1/10. There have been rumours of a product, but until you see it, it is not a product.
 
iMat77 said:
1. Who is going to manufacture it? Will the shown quality match the real life quality?
2. Will this new Microsoft strategy of building their own products create problems with their Windows "partners" OEM?
3. Will they license the software OEM so that Dell and others can build a specced down, crappier and cheaper version of this?
4. Will OEM partners feel bypassed by Microsoft and hence look further in Linux or Chrome OS? This is happening in smartphones and I guess the next step is computer OS.
5. Will this concept be like Microsoft Surface? Full of promises which never came true?
6. Is Microsoft slowly changing attitude and shifting towards the Apple model of business (control every step of the user experience)?

My guess is that point 6. is true and that Microsoft stores will sell exclusive products such as these. I wonder how long it will take for OEM manufacturers to see that this is bad for them, and start looking for alternative OS. This, more than anything, will hurt Microsoft badly, because a lot of their revenues come from their monopoly of the OS.

Apple, on the other hand, must not forget their business users (Aperture, Logic, etc).

Tablet is not for me. But a concept like the shown one could be interesting for a lot of users. Remember, it is just a concept, and the product might be available in more than one configuration. Still, the question about where Microsoft is going, and how this choices affect their overall bottom line remain open.

Microsoft is realizing that Apple has a good strategy in place and are trying to copy it as much as they possibly can (because it allow bigger margins). Let's see how long it takes before Dell, HP and so on look for something else than Windows for their PCs
Click to expand...

1.- The same guys that make the MBP with the screen bent or the breaking hinges for MBA.

2.-No, as long as they don't make exactly the same. Anyway, the computer manufacturers put windows on their machines because the other options are not possible or wanted by the vast majority. I know some of them put Linux and the like, bur honestly, which percentage actually orders that?

3.- Who knows?

4.- No way. Vast majority of sales are to regular costumers that want windows. Personally, I would never buy a PC without it, especially knowing I can get the others for free if I'm ever interested.

5.- I haven't heard MS announce this. I do remember Jobs promising G5 MBPs and 3.0 GHz G5 processors.

6.- You mean cripple every step of user experience with lack of choices?.

I seriously doubt you can get bigger margins than MS. They just make and sell software. Hardware is a little bit more problematic (repairs, manufacture, shipping, etc). MS charge $300 for a DVD that costs $1. And they sell millions.
 
MovieCutter said:
Doesn't mean squat until I can actually use it. Still don't have access to a "Surface" dining room table. Apple will have an ACTUAL shipping device in Q1/10...until then, Microsoft can create mockups of unicorns and it'd be just as real.
Click to expand...

Last I heard the ACTUAL shipping device was coming in Sept 2009.... no one has any idea when it coming, what makes you so certain its coming in Q1/2010 when Apple has said jack about it. The truth is you have no idea when Apple will release it, cause Apple loves the whole secrecy approach, for all we know it might not ship till Q4/2010.
 
Whoever made the prototype, obviously likes Apple products, as many ideas are developments of exisiting Apple products, technologies or methods.

For example;

- When she flicks the address to the Google Map, the pin it creates looks a lot like the one on iPhone / iPod Touch, with a right arrow to get more info, etc. It is more like the Apple version that the Google one provided on the maps.google.com website.

- When she scrolls her address book, it looks very similar to the address book on iPhone / iPod Touch. Main difference is that the index is on the left, not right as on Apple products.

- When actions are taking place, such as when she flicks an address to the maps, there is a rotating icon to say the machine is busy, not an hour glass.

- Pinch, swipe and other gestures are on other products now, but the demo does make me think Apple, not MS.

- The way objects 'animate' when moved, flicked, turned over, etc, is very like the Apple Genie effect.

So I wonder if the person who did this, once worked at Apple?
 
Having had a couple more hours to reflect on this, I am quite excited to see the final product. I think that rather than it being a wannabe, me too product like the Zune was it may be a sign that MS has cracked why Apples iPods/iPhones have been successful and that they are going to be making their own products that appeal in the same way without being copies of ideas that work for Apple.

At the end of the day that must be good for us as consumers.
 
Terminally Perky Music and Narration

Makes me feel like I'm a zombie in an elevator with freshly-scrubbed Microsoft sales people. Slowly, I feel the rising need to eat B-R-A-I-N-S !!!!!!!!! :apple:
 
Whats up with Microsoft, they seem to be on a roll of late. I wouldn't get a Zune but people seem quite happy with them, some people seem to really like Windows 7 too.
I guess we won't be seeing such conservative updates from Apple in the upcoming year.
 
thumbs up!

seems like some group at microsoft knows how to make user interfaces. how come, they didn't add this visual look to vista/windows7? would have been much better. and about the device itself: it seems to be so logical and practical. i am curious when apple will release something like this! this concept is way better than the "normal" tablet, because it also protects the screen when foldet and is only half the size.
 
I would read this topic but I know it's going to be full of three things:

1) People saying "It's by Microsoft so it must be crap".
2) People accusing Microsoft of copying Apple.
3) People accusing other posters of being Microsoft shills because they say somethign vaguely positive about the device.

So I don't think I'll bother.

The devcice looks nice though.
 
peterdevries said:
I personally wouldn't buy it, but have you taken a look at what it can do and what it would mean for gaming?

And Project Natal is just a working name..
Click to expand...

Umm, every gimmick has to come to the reality that people play games to blow off some steam. Not to flail around breaking objects. Until we can get true VR in a suspension chamber Im not particularly interested in wasting money.

I suggest people watch this http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/779-The-Second-Annual-E3-Hype-Massacre
 
Bodypainter said:
seems like some group at microsoft knows how to make user interfaces. how come, they didn't add this visual look to vista/windows7? would have been much better. and about the device itself: it seems to be so logical and practical. i am curious when apple will release something like this! this concept is way better than the "normal" tablet, because it also protects the screen when foldet and is only half the size.
Click to expand...

Don't know why but I can only guess the millions of Apple already out use the current interface. They have to do something like this to introduce something totally new. Look at the Zune HD and the Surface Tables and you will get an idea which team at MS worked on this.

I am very impressed with what they have done..... I will still want to use a keyboard though no writing for me.
 
MovieCutter said:
Apple will have an ACTUAL shipping device in Q1/10...until then, Microsoft can create mockups of unicorns and it'd be just as real.
Click to expand...

Really!!!! you must be one of those guys that works in one of the Chinese manufacturing plants somewhere in asia!!!

Listen can you please let us know if Apples device is going to be in a tablet format or is it going to resemble something like what the Microsoft booklet looks like? Also if possible and with out having to put you like in danger, can you snap some pics of it and send it to us. Just please be careful I heard apple will send their death squad if you get caught leaking info.

Wow this is amazing why are the people at macrumors ignoring this post Hello!!!!!!!!!:confused:
 
MovieCutter said:
Doesn't mean squat until I can actually use it. Still don't have access to a "Surface" dining room table. Apple will have an ACTUAL shipping device in Q1/10...until then, Microsoft can create mockups of unicorns and it'd be just as real.
Click to expand...

Its people like you who give apple mac fans a bad name.:rolleyes:

Although just a concept, I see nothing wrong with that device.
 
I think it's pretty neat and we'd all be wetting ourselves with excitement if it was from Apple. :) However;

How much is this likely to cost bearing in mind it's got two screens?
How dependent is its operation on the pen? My handwriting/drawing it diabolical.
Does it run yet another OS?
Will it ever happen?
 
With current technical limitations this is a impossible device, you can't write that many text on a 7' screen.

Having a camera on the back and taking pictures with the booklet open is also ridicules, having a front facing camera would be perfect for chat en then open the device 360° to take pictures with the 'back' facing camera is a much better option imho.

Like many Mac users i have 2 screens and the concept of a booklet device is very inspiring but for some time to come, it will stay a concept.

Is this idea currently possible? Make a leather wallet to put 2 ipod Touches in side by side and have them act like it is one device. ?
 
WOW.

I want.


and to think I purged my house of MS products except my work laptop; but it sits in the corner when I am not at work :p
 
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