Samsung Bashes the iPad, Microsoft Surface and Kindle in New Ad

[bawbac]

You can't be serious - or, you have serious vision problems.

The difference between the iPad2 and 3 screens is night and day (for anyone with decent eyesight). There is simply no comparison.

This, however, doesn't mean the elevated dpi of the Samsung tabs would be useful - the dpi of the Retina iPads is sufficient. As I've pointed out above, it's not because of the higher dpi that Samsung screens are vastly superior to at least the Retina Mini screens (but not the Air / iPad3/4 ones): color gamut. In which rMini's suck really hard.

We went from two iPad1 to two iPad4.
The difference in display/pixel resolution is minuscule using them at a normal viewing distance of about 10-12".

We leave our iPad's out for guests/friends to use all the time and when we switched from the iPad1 to iPad4, no one has even mentioned anything about how much better the screen looks viewing pictures, video's or the web.

Retina is probably only useful for those who use their iPad's at 6" or less and like to get retina burn.
Most people who mention retina display do it for bragging rights, which is sad.

 

[2IS]

We went from two iPad1 to two iPad4.
The difference in display/pixel resolution is minuscule using them at a normal viewing distance of about 10-12".

We leave our iPad's out for guests/friends to use all the time and when we switched from the iPad1 to iPad4, no one has even mentioned anything about how much better the screen looks viewing pictures, video's or the web.

Retina is probably only useful for those who use their iPad's at 6" or less and like to get retina burn.
Most people who mention retina display do it for bragging rights, which is sad.

I had a Retina and non-retina iPad at one point to. My anecdotal evidence is the exact opposite as yours. No one I know who used both could NOT tell the difference between them.

 

[TangerineFloyd]

No one I know who used both could NOT tell the difference between them.

Ok, again, both bawbac and I are saying exactly the same thing. We're not saying the difference cannot be seen. I said 'barely seen' and bawbac said the difference is 'minuscule'. We're not lying to win an argument here, that's what it feels like to the untrained eye.

In the same way, a friend of mine who is a sound engineer cannot even listen to songs in 128kbps, whereas to me this is absolutely fine. But most people I know are not sound engineers.

 

[LordVic]

Another reason MS screwed up not releasing an Atom surface. My windows tablet (atom) charger is just as small as any android/apple tablet's charger.

with the performance of the newest atom's and haswell based CPU's, the RT line of Windows is dead in the water.

There is virtually zero reason to be making them anymore. it just segregates their own market, adds confusion and puts a limitting product in peoples hands.

The surface should be Atom and running full windows. Continuing to sell, support and push the RT as a "high end" tablet is an embarassment for Microsoft.

 

[Renzatic]

The surface should be Atom and running full windows. Continuing to sell, support and push the RT as a "high end" tablet is an embarassment for Microsoft.

I still think they'll end up keeping the RT around simply as a way to maintain a foothold in ARM space. If something weird happens, and ARM ends up becoming the dominate architecture some time in the future, they've already got the platform weaned to it.

 

[gnasher729]

Isnt that Apples usual response?!

Only when you're doing it wrong.

 

[gnasher729]

It's bullying, plain and simple.

When you don't have anything good enough to say about yourself, the only recourse is to put others down for your benefit.

Attempted bullying. Everyone here is either laughing about Samsung or desperately trying to defend them and desperately trying to detect "anger" in anyone laughing about Samsung and their stupid adverts.

 

[Renzatic]

Attempted bullying. Everyone here is either laughing about Samsung or desperately trying to defend them and desperately trying to detect "anger" in anyone laughing about Samsung and their stupid adverts.

There's a third group: those of us who don't care all that much, and are responding both to the not-really-angry laughers and the desperate defenders just because.

 

[spinedoc77]

with the performance of the newest atom's and haswell based CPU's, the RT line of Windows is dead in the water.

There is virtually zero reason to be making them anymore. it just segregates their own market, adds confusion and puts a limitting product in peoples hands.

The surface should be Atom and running full windows. Continuing to sell, support and push the RT as a "high end" tablet is an embarassment for Microsoft.

Yep, that's exactly the case. RT is just weighing them down, and the longer they support it they larger that anchor becomes. Even other mobile hardware companies are moving away from ARM, and many of them towards Intel/Atom. I just can't see confusing the consumer so much just to keep ARM in their back pocket.

 

[Renzatic]

Yep, that's exactly the case. RT is just weighing them down, and the longer they support it they larger that anchor becomes. Even other mobile hardware companies are moving away from ARM, and many of them towards Intel/Atom. I just can't see confusing the consumer so much just to keep ARM in their back pocket.

It has its uses, obviously. In fact, if it had decent developer support, I'd be tempted to get one.

Though you are right about potential customer confusion. They haven't done nearly enough to differentiate between it and the more PC-Like Surface Pro. You'd think one is simply a more souped up version of the other, but they each represent two entirely different platforms capable of doing two entirely different things.

 

[Mockenrue]

My family owns 3 iPads, and 0 Android tablets, but some compelling Android advantages are starting to make me second-guess it. Most have to do with device level integration and interoperability between apps - not the gimmicks you see in commercials like this.

The latest case in point for me is deep LastPass integration into native apps and Chrome browser. So my Macbook Air, Windows desktop, and Moto X phone all can auto-fill usernames and passwords without doing anything. On the iPad I have to switch to LastPass, manually search for the site and select View, copy username, switch to app, paste username, switch to LastPass, copy password, switch to app, paste username. But I don't see Apple allowing this any time soon.

It's also getting more and more frustrating that web site links have to open in Safari. I want the choice to make Chrome or something else my universal browser. iPad still wins for me right now for just two reasons: more tablet-optimized apps/better use of screen real-estate and AirPlay. But iOS7 frustrations and these limitations are quickly narrowing the gap...

 

[2IS]

Ok, again, both bawbac and I are saying exactly the same thing. We're not saying the difference cannot be seen. I said 'barely seen' and bawbac said the difference is 'minuscule'. We're not lying to win an argument here, that's what it feels like to the untrained eye.

In the same way, a friend of mine who is a sound engineer cannot even listen to songs in 128kbps, whereas to me this is absolutely fine. But most people I know are not sound engineers.

I'm not saying you're lying, I'm saying not everyone sees things through your eyes and what might be nearly imperceptible to you could be quite noticeable to others.

 

[LordVic]

It has its uses, obviously. In fact, if it had decent developer support, I'd be tempted to get one.

Though you are right about potential customer confusion. They haven't done nearly enough to differentiate between it and the more PC-Like Surface Pro. You'd think one is simply a more souped up version of the other, but they each represent two entirely different platforms capable of doing two entirely different things.

The costs are also a bummer. There's no reason that the RT should cost the same as an iPad for example.

The fact that Microsoft still can't move the first RT off the shelves (all stores here are discounting the original RT to 299 or lower now because of excess stock) and the new RT is 499!

when it comes down to it. If I was to (and I'm in the market) to spend 499 on a tablet. Would I buy the iPad air or the Surface RT 2? The iPad air purely because of design and ecosystem.

However, if you sold a bare "pro" with an atom CPU, that ran full blown windows at the 499 price? even if it was an Atom or I3, it would instantly become a great purchase over the iPad.

But it sounds more like MIcrosoft doesn't want to legitimately compete in this space.

as for these commercials. I thought it was tactless and tasteless when Apple did bashing commercials, and I find it just as lame as when Samsung does it.

paraphrasing an old quote
one does not appear taller by cutting off the heads of others.

 

[Renzatic]

The costs are also a bummer. There's no reason that the RT should cost the same as an iPad for example.

The fact that Microsoft still can't move the first RT off the shelves (all stores here are discounting the original RT to 299 or lower now because of excess stock) and the new RT is 499!

when it comes down to it. If I was to (and I'm in the market) to spend 499 on a tablet. Would I buy the iPad air or the Surface RT 2? The iPad air purely because of design and ecosystem.

However, if you sold a bare "pro" with an atom CPU, that ran full blown windows at the 499 price? even if it was an Atom or I3, it would instantly become a great purchase over the iPad.

But it sounds more like MIcrosoft doesn't want to legitimately compete in this space.

If the RT had the apps, I would probably consider it over an Air. WinRT is arguably better than iOS7 in a lot of ways, and would make for a better getting-things-done tablet. For all the flak Win8 gets, Metro on a touch enabled device is a joy to use.

But the OS itself isn't enough to make it stand out from the rest of the competition. It doesn't have the support and perks of the iPad, and it isn't a decent less expensive alternative like most of the Android tablets. It's just kind of there, stuck in an unhappy medium. I can see a lot of potential in it, but no real reason to run out and buy one right this second.

 

[Dave.UK]

Only when you're doing it wrong.

Like holding it?

 

[TangerineFloyd]

I'm not saying you're lying, I'm saying not everyone sees things through your eyes and what might be nearly imperceptible to you could be quite noticeable to others.

Perfect! I'm glad we agree, then.

 

[spinedoc77]

It has its uses, obviously. In fact, if it had decent developer support, I'd be tempted to get one.

Though you are right about potential customer confusion. They haven't done nearly enough to differentiate between it and the more PC-Like Surface Pro. You'd think one is simply a more souped up version of the other, but they each represent two entirely different platforms capable of doing two entirely different things.

Meh, I think it as NO use personally, it's far from obvious. What can you do on RT that you cannot do on a regular windows tablet? What CAN'T you do on RT that you can do on a windows tablet? What advantages does it offer? Size? Battery? Apps? It's just an ipad wannabe without any apps, which is exactly what makes the ipad so powerful for consumers.

If anything MS has gone out of their way to NOT differentiate it, they even dropped the "RT". MS seems to be content to fool customers into buying RT, thinking they are buying windows. I think you summed it up saying "more PC-Like", when consumers have to differentiate between which device is "more PC-Like" the battle has already been lost. Hopefully the new CEO fixes junk like this, time to admit failure and just cut RT loose and start again strong.

 

[rowspaxe]

You can actually have more than one app on screen in Metro mode. Just to reiterate, I'm not talking about desktop mode, but in Metro mode you can have multiple windows, and they are resizable.

Yes--I specifaclly acknowleged that in my comment--i called it "multipaning". You have the option to devide the metro screen in halfs or thirds. Its much less flexible than traditonal windowing. Metro apps will appear in desktop windows in Win 9. But who cares--they are all awful

 

[spinedoc77]

Yes--I specifaclly acknowleged that in my comment--i called it "multipaning". You have the option to devide the metro screen in halfs or thirds. Its much less flexible than traditonal windowing. Metro apps will appear in desktop windows in Win 9. But who cares--they are all awful

I disagree, I think many of the Metro apps are pretty awesome. Having the flexibility to use the desktop when it suits me, or Metro is pretty freakin awesome.

Anyway, I was primarily responding to what you said "what is metro/modern but shoving full screen apps down users throats?" which was weirdly followed by knowledge of the multipaning. The multipaning is sizable as well, it's a nice solution for mobile. I don't see how they are forcing users into full apps, certainly not even close to what iOS does with it's fake multitasking.

I don't envy Microsoft, they had to keep the desktop but also have to do something for the mobile space. I admire them greatly for keeping it all as one OS (let's ignore the atrocity that is RT for a second here) instead of having a toy OS like Apple.

I also agree on that nauseating feeling when cutting and pasting and having to actually changes screens like that. I never thought I would be doing that in 2014, or even 2004.

 

[Septembersrain]

Seriously though, just like with our president of the USA, sometimes words are empty. Sell your products with actions not by bashing your competition.

It's getting lame. Focus on your own stuff will ya?

 

[Renzatic]

I don't envy Microsoft, they had to keep the desktop but also have to do something for the mobile space. I admire them greatly for keeping it all as one OS (let's ignore the atrocity that is RT for a second here) instead of having a toy OS like Apple.

I used to like the idea of the One OS Fits All design of Windows 8, but I've since started thinking that MS needs to tailor the UI to the main input method. They can continue using the same underlying OS and APIs for the most part. After all, it'd b ea huge hassle requiring everyone to program two entirely separate versions of the same app to support two different UIs. But tablet apps, especially on devices below 12", need to be built around touch.

 

[spinedoc77]

I used to like the idea of the One OS Fits All design of Windows 8, but I've since started thinking that MS needs to tailor the UI to the main input method. They can continue using the same underlying OS and APIs for the most part. After all, it'd b ea huge hassle requiring everyone to program two entirely separate versions of the same app to support two different UIs. But tablet apps, especially on devices below 12", need to be built around touch.

Interesting, but personally I disagree. Windows gets in trouble when it fragments itself. It works for a computer versus a cell phone, but people expect "windows" when they buy a tablet. I think Microsoft thought people got dumbed down by iOS so much for these past few years that they needed to bring a dumb version of Windows out, but they didn't.

I think we will all be pleasantly surprised at Windows 9. I honestly think MS just didn't have enough time to solve the riddle of merging the desktop and Metro together. Personally I don't see the big deal, it doesn't take that many brain cells to shift to desktop when I have my tablet docked with a mouse/keyboard, and to shift to Metro when I'm on the subway. I get confused at times at just how dumb the average consumer has become.

 

[Renzatic]

Interesting, but personally I disagree. Windows gets in trouble when it fragments itself. It works for a computer versus a cell phone, but people expect "windows" when they buy a tablet. I think Microsoft thought people got dumbed down by iOS so much for these past few years that they needed to bring a dumb version of Windows out, but they didn't.

I'm not saying dumbed down, just more focused. And it wouldn't necessarily be fragmenting the platform if they do it right. I mean they already have the groundwork in place with Windows 8. All MS has to do is strengthen WinRT so it's just as capable as Win32, and you'll have an API that can handle both touch and keyboard and mouse applications. All a developer would have to do is design two sets of UIs, which isn't that terrible, considering they're already doing that now. MS would just make it a more streamlined process.

I think we will all be pleasantly surprised at Windows 9. I honestly think MS just didn't have enough time to solve the riddle of merging the desktop and Metro together. Personally I don't see the big deal, it doesn't take that many brain cells to shift to desktop when I have my tablet docked with a mouse/keyboard, and to shift to Metro when I'm on the subway. I get confused at times at just how dumb the average consumer has become.

It's not necessarily about having to make a big mental switch between one or the other. The differences between a touch UI and a mouse driven one aren't really all that pronounced.

What it's about is comfort and design. Playing to the strengths of both UIs in their own environments, rather than trying to shoehorn them together and exacerbating the weaknesses of both in the process.

It's not that having both together makes it entirely unusable and horrible. But it's not as nice as it could be.

 

[spinedoc77]

I'm not saying dumbed down, just more focused. And it wouldn't necessarily be fragmenting the platform if they do it right. I mean they already have the groundwork in place with Windows 8. All MS has to do is strengthen WinRT so it's just as capable as Win32, and you'll have an API that can handle both touch and keyboard and mouse applications. All a developer would have to do is design two sets of UIs, which isn't that terrible, considering they're already doing that now. MS would just make it a more streamlined process.



It's not necessarily about having to make a big mental switch between one or the other. The differences between a touch UI and a mouse driven one aren't really all that pronounced.

What it's about is comfort and design. Playing to the strengths of both UIs in their own environments, rather than trying to shoehorn them together and exacerbating the weaknesses of both in the process.

It's not that having both together makes it entirely unusable and horrible. But it's not as nice as it could be.

Great discussion, even if I completely disagree. It will be interesting to see what indeed does happen, especially with Balmer gone. My prediction, windows RT will bomb just as badly as it did last time and further splinter the delicate windows tablet market. Even though hindsight is 20/20 I had this same exact stance when RT was announced, there just is no saving grace to RT. The surface Pro will sell decently, but continue to be a niche product in line with previous years sales of ultrabooks. The windows atoms tablets will flounder due to a lack of leadership from Microsoft, lack of Microsoft hardware, lack of marketing, and the general ineptness of the OEM's in releasing Atom tablets. Microsoft failed miserably to take charge of the middle ground with the Atom tablets, they could have competed in price, size/weight/thinness, battery life, etc etc pound for pound with Apple and Android AND offered the full version of Windows/Office, quite a powerful opportunity to squander and will heavily contribute to them losing the war.

Windows 9 may indeed turn the tide, but without the proper leadership in hardware it may not mean much. Then again Microsoft has deep pockets and can be tenacious, but it will be a long, expensive uphill battle against the ipad the way they are doing it.

Anyhoo sorry for the detour, we should get back on topic.

 

[roasted]

Android sheep or Apple sheep? Amazon sheep or MS sheep? They're all represented on this site.

All sheep are bad sheep. The overly relentless sheep are really, really bad sheep. The sheep comments on this site is unusually difficult to bear in nearly every case.