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Microsoft Surface

13K views 110 replies 32 participants last post by  naijai 
#1 ·
Microsoft reveals its own Windows 8 tablet: meet the new Surface for Windows RT

Microsoft announces Surface for Windows 8 Pro: Intel inside, optional pen input

Microsoft Surface tablets: the differences between Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro models

Surface for Windows RT tablet
•Processor: NVIDIA-made ARM chip
•Weight: 676 grams
•Thickness: 9.3 millimeters
•Display: 10.6-inch ClearType HD capactive touch panel
•Battery: 31.5Wh
•I/O: microSDXC, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
•Software: Windows RT + Office Home & Student 2013 RT
•Accessories: Touch Cover, Type Cover, VaporMg Case & Stand
•Capacity: 32GB / 64GB
•Availability: 10/26/2012
•Pricing: Starting at $499

Surface for Windows 8 Pro tablet
•Processor: 3rd Gen Intel Core i5 Processor with Intel HD Graphics 4000, 4GB RAM-Dual Channel Memory
•Weight: 903 grams
•Thickness: 13.5 millimeters
•Display: 10.6" ClearType Full HD Display, 1920x1080 pixels, 16:9 (widescreen), 10-point multi-touch
•Battery: 42W-h
•I/O: microSDXC, Full-size USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, 2x2 MIMO antennae
•Software: Windows 8 Pro
•Accessories: Touch Cover, Type Cover, VaporMg Case & Stand, Pen with Palm Block
•Capacity: 64GB / 128GB
Cameras and A/V: Two 720p HD LifeCams, front- and rear-facing with TruColor, Microphone, Stereo speakers
•Availability: "Three months after" the Windows 8 launch this fall
•Pricing: To be determined
 
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#27 ·
You know, I've never had my iPad crash and I've never had a Windows machine that didn't.

But Microsoft didn't make the hardware. This could be interesting for an old guy who reluctantly gave up TRS-DOS for MS-DOS and has used a Microsoft OS ever since.
 
#30 ·
Another thought about the Surface Pro: at roughly a half inch thick and weighing close to two pounds, it's more likely to compete against Ultrabooks than the iPad.
 
#31 ·
If the Surface Pro was available in the next month, I may be considering it... but the fall?

The hinge hardware on my laptop display is starting to fail, to the point where I can't flip the display down now without the case separating at the seams around the display. The laptop is 4 years 1 month old (and I upgraded it from XP to Win7 Ultimate) and I'm definitely overdue for an upgrade, but do I want another laptop?

I'm an Android guy and love my Ice Cream Sandwich tablet, but I still need a Windows machine primarily for Quicken and MS Office plus Visio and some other development software, so the Surface Pro with the add-n keyboard could be a really nice option. I just hope my current laptop display lasts until the fall ...
 
#34 ·
jdskycaster said:
The fact that you are still using an ipod touch after two years and not an iphone or ipad or both is explanation enough.
I never mentioned an iPad in my post, but I do have an iPad2. I do not own a smartphone at all. iPod fits in my pocket; iPad does not. Nuff said...
 
#35 ·
phrelin said:
You know, I've never had my iPad crash and I've never had a Windows machine that didn't.

But Microsoft didn't make the hardware. This could be interesting for an old guy who reluctantly gave up TRS-DOS for MS-DOS and has used a Microsoft OS ever since.
phrelin, Knock wood, However I can't recall the last time I had one of my windows machines crash.

My work Windows XP Pro computer did crash, I replaced the bad memory and it works reliable every day too.

The two Point of sale computers here run XP and they run 24 hours a day. The last time one of them went down was a hardware failure, I replaced the bad capacitors on the motherboard and it was back up and running an hour later. The other one never went down but I replaced the power supply since the fan was getting noisy.

I blame the the fact that they are reliable on shutting them down, except the point of sale computers and the servers (run 24 -7, no problems), each night, quality components and brands, blowing the dust out and only using Intel CPUs.
 
#36 ·
Drew2k said:
If the Surface Pro was available in the next month, I may be considering it... but the fall?

The hinge hardware on my laptop display is starting to fail, to the point where I can't flip the display down now without the case separating at the seams around the display. The laptop is 4 years 1 month old (and I upgraded it from XP to Win7 Ultimate) and I'm definitely overdue for an upgrade, but do I want another laptop?

I'm an Android guy and love my Ice Cream Sandwich tablet, but I still need a Windows machine primarily for Quicken and MS Office plus Visio and some other development software, so the Surface Pro with the add-n keyboard could be a really nice option. I just hope my current laptop display lasts until the fall ...
Curious. Is it an HP laptop? I had an HP that did the exact same thing.
 
#37 ·
TBoneit said:
phrelin, Knock wood, However I can't recall the last time I had one of my windows machines crash.

My work Windows XP Pro computer did crash, I replaced the bad memory and it works reliable every day too.

The two Point of sale computers here run XP and they run 24 hours a day. The last time one of them went down was a hardware failure, I replaced the bad capacitors on the motherboard and it was back up and running an hour later. The other one never went down but I replaced the power supply since the fan was getting noisy.

I blame the the fact that they are reliable on shutting them down, except the point of sale computers and the servers (run 24 -7, no problems), each night, quality components and brands, blowing the dust out and only using Intel CPUs.
I'm overstating it - these aren't total system crashes, just software "not responding" and occasionally crashing Windows Explorer. We do more ctrl-alt-del to run Windows Task Manager than we should. I'd like to blame the problems in our household on components. But it is the combinations of old versions of software, hardware settings, registry problems, etc., that we use.

And actually, after one OS upgrade my iPad Safari would just close on me.
 
#39 ·
Drew2k said:
Yes. An HP Pavilion. I'm happy I had 4+ years out of it, but I was hoping to pass this on to someone else in the family and with the display panel/hinge area as weak as it is I might just scrap it.
That actually sounds fixable. TBoneit should be able to give you an idea if it's fixable.

Rich
 
#40 ·
IHMO, Microsoft is already making mistakes. First, if they have something to sell, then sell it. The presentation had no pricing information and no definitive release date. At least with Apple, they tell you how much it's going to cost and when it will be available. Microsoft really needs to get their ducks in a row when it comes to marketing.

On top of all that, the device crashed during the presentation.



The Surface looks pretty cool and I will definitely be looking at one, but as of right now, I'm very cautious.
 
#42 ·
Scott Kocourek said:
I feel sorry for that guy, it looked like it froze up when he was showing the first screen shot.

Pathetic.
I would be annoyed but at least we know it's a pre-production model with RC version of Win 8. Hopefully they have all the bugs worked out prior to release. Same thing happened on my iPad, right in the middle of my game :(
 
#43 ·
So did anyone pre-order one or is anyone planning on getting one ?
www.surface.com
 
#47 ·
naijai said:
So did anyone pre-order one or is anyone planning on getting one ?
www.surface.com
Boss-boss preordered two, one for him and one for me.

I'm the new-gear-testing guru for the university. :D
 
#48 ·
I'll pass on it for now, I'm not convinced. Of course I wasn't impressed at all with the first iPad either.

To me it seems that the RT version simply doesn't have the app support with about 1% of the apps that iPad runs, and the full Win8 version is quite expensive. Overall I feel like Win8 won't get real adoption for 2-3 years. It's simply not a good value proposition for businesses, due to its steep learning curve and reliance on touch (which isn't really a big seller for desktops.)

Microsoft has made things harder for themselves by calling Windows RT by that name, because it doesn't run any current Windows apps. I know, Windows Phone doesn't either, but there aren't two visually identical devices, one that runs Win7 programs and one that doesn't. Big concern there.

Finally, until I read a review that says, "the touch cover actually works well enough to use it every day," I must presume that it doesn't.
 
#50 ·
Stuart Sweet said:
Finally, until I read a review that says, "the touch cover actually works well enough to use it every day," I must presume that it doesn't.
I think the "Type" cover might be a winner for touch typists, but you're either going to pay $629 for a 32GB model with an optional Type cover, or $829 for a 64GB with a Type cover. That's because you can't order a 64GB Surface for $100 less without a Touch cover, like you can with the 32GB. D'oh!

And if the keyboard is that important, $629-$829 can get you a really nice laptop. :shrug:
 
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