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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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#5 ·
What will it cost? [We won't tell you]
When will it be available? [We won't tell you - other than 'fall' and '3 months after']
How long will the battery last? [We won't tell you]

The event WAS hastily arranged. Make no mistake, I work all day in Visual Studio and would LOVE a successful MS tablet so I wouldn't have to learn another ecosystem to write apps for (been tempted to pick up a VB-like language that makes iOS apps).

I just think MS is too late to the party and that the next version of the Kindle Fire will suck up most of the "not-an-iPad" tablet market.
 
#6 ·
P Smith said:
Will see .. the market will judge.
Agree, since we have had very little headway in the the hardware addons that where needed for the Ipad, and with the announcement of this device that actually has what we need the project of replacing all of the palm's in the hazmat enclosures have been put on hold until we can get our hands on a few dozen of these for the R&D people to play with and tear apart.
 
#7 ·
I think the Surface will appeal to Windows Phone and Xbox users. It's supposed to integrate with both. Too late? perhaps to get a lion's share, but it will be welcomed in the Windows world.
 
#10 ·
dmspen said:
I think the Surface will appeal to Windows Phone and Xbox users. It's supposed to integrate with both. Too late? perhaps to get a lion's share, but it will be welcomed in the Windows world.
I am a full on windows user and I am happy to finally to have a Tablet/Laptop Hybrid and that usb connector really helps a lot for add-ons.
I know that it's not going to topple iPad as the tablet king but if priced near the iPad i don't see android putting up much of fight.
I eventually (Jan 2013) will have all Windows 8 devices, Phone, Laptop (maybe get rid of my iPad) ,Desktop and then XBOX as well :D.
 
#11 ·
dmspen said:
I think the Surface will appeal to Windows Phone and Xbox users. It's supposed to integrate with both. Too late? perhaps to get a lion's share, but it will be welcomed in the Windows world.
And, you know, Windows users, because the high end one is...a laptop.
 
#12 ·
I guess the open question for me today is... what are Dell, HP and that crowd going to do. Desktops are a pretty dead market and laptops are heading there too. if Microsoft makes its own tablet it may completely bypass the other manufacturers rather than creating a reference design and letting others build off it.

Microsoft did this for the Zune and it pretty much killed Creative, who used to be the #2 maker of MP3 players (#1 in the WMA player market.) If they put out the Microsoft-branded tablet it may not sit real well for Microsoft's hardware partners and if Google embraces them... that could be interesting.
 
#13 ·
Stuart Sweet said:
I guess the open question for me today is... what are Dell, HP and that crowd going to do. Desktops are a pretty dead market and laptops are heading there too. if Microsoft makes its own tablet it may completely bypass the other manufacturers rather than creating a reference design and letting others build off it.

Microsoft did this for the Zune and it pretty much killed Creative, who used to be the #2 maker of MP3 players (#1 in the WMA player market.) If they put out the Microsoft-branded tablet it may not sit real well for Microsoft's hardware partners and if Google embraces them... that could be interesting.
I'd say it would make sure that they come out with devices that are better than what they have on the market now. They need to be ready to adapt to survive & meet the demands of the market. If they want a piece of that market, they had better prove it. They can make better devices than what Microsoft puts out on the market; The question is if they will; The ball is now in their court, step up and quit pouting or shut up.
 
#14 ·
In my mind, the Surface Pro is a likely winner in the marketplace, particularly if the price is competitive. With a 1920 x 1080 display, mini HDMI connector, USB 3.0, excellent memory options, micro SDXC, Thunderbolt I/O and optional cover with improved keyboard it becomes a worthy competitor to the MacBook Pro. Add to this, MS Office and you have a killer machine.
 
#16 ·
And that's the other part of all of this. All the media reviews say the same thing: they weren't able to use it. If the Pro tablet is really going to be a laptop replacement, it has to have not just a usable keyboard but an excellent one. There are several excellent ones for the iPad and presumably Microsoft will just use an open Bluetooth spec for the keyboard interface (why wouldn't they) so that if their miracle keyboard cover works more like an Atari 400, other people can pick up the slack.

I would love to go all tablet... attach a keyboard and display to it when docked and take it with me when I travel (as I currently do with my laptop.) But of course it has to be usable.
 
#17 ·
Stuart Sweet said:
And that's the other part of all of this. All the media reviews say the same thing: they weren't able to use it. If the Pro tablet is really going to be a laptop replacement, it has to have not just a usable keyboard but an excellent one. There are several excellent ones for the iPad and presumably Microsoft will just use an open Bluetooth spec for the keyboard interface (why wouldn't they) so that if their miracle keyboard cover works more like an Atari 400, other people can pick up the slack.

I would love to go all tablet... attach a keyboard and display to it when docked and take it with me when I travel (as I currently do with my laptop.) But of course it has to be usable.
Yet another interesting gizmo I have no use for. Frustrating.

Rich
 
#18 ·
If you can't get apps developers on board before its released it may be DOA when it does like when HP Palm tablet was released. It will have to be really cheap before many will even try it.

I got rid of my win phone over a year ago because very few apps. I don't see myself leaving android phone/tablets anytime soon.
 
#19 ·
farmerdave4 said:
If you can't get apps developers on board before its released it may be DOA when it does like when HP Palm tablet was released. It will have to be really cheap before many will even try it.

I got rid of my win phone over a year ago because very few apps. I don't see myself leaving android phone/tablets anytime soon.
It runs Windows, so programs...not apps. ;) Like all of the Windows programs that exist today. I doubt it will be an issue.
 
#20 ·
Microsoft makes excellent keyboards, although from what I've seen from pictures of the Surface cover/keyboard this unit may not be in the same category. I've been using an MS wireless keyboard for over four years.

Pricing is the big question mark. How much and is the cover/keyboard extra?
 
#21 ·
hilmar2k said:
It runs Windows, so programs...not apps. ;) Like all of the Windows programs that exist today. I doubt it will be an issue.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it true that only the "Pro" version will run legacy Windows programs, while both versions will run Metro apps? Of which, again correct me if I'm wrong, isn't it true there are about 15 of those in existence?
 
#22 ·
Stuart Sweet said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it true that only the "Pro" version will run legacy Windows programs, while both versions will run Metro apps? Of which, again correct me if I'm wrong, isn't it true there are about 15 of those in existence?
Yeah, I believe that is correct. Only the Pro version would have any interest to me, and only if it could be a laptop replacement for me (which was a desktop replacement itself).
 
#24 ·
During the press presentation, a second, extra cost, better keyboard and cover option was announced. I don't recall the details. There's quite a bit of information about the two models on the TWiT live special #129 from Tuesday.
 
#25 ·
The Pro will be at a significant premium to the iPad and everyone will complain that it is too expensive even thought it will be s technologically superior device. Microsoft is targeting the commercial market because Apple continues to ignore it. Manageability, security things that matter to companies that have thousands of devices with data that matters to their business.

The surface is also Microsoft jumpstarting the Windows 8 tablet space. They want to show what can be done in hopes that Dell, HP and others will create products as well. I think this is the right direction for Microsoft and those that think a new tablet is late to the party are wrong. There is a massive untapped market that would love a device that could actually replace something else rather than just add yet another battery that needs recharging to the ever increasing stack.

I sat next to a high school grad travelling overseas on a summer mission trip. He was fumbling with an ipad, iphone and imac at different intervals throughout the trip. This marketing angle may be something apple can continue to heave onto a new generation but only for so long. At some point everyone will become tired of multiple devices that become obsolete on an never ending 8 month cycle.
 
#26 ·
jdskycaster said:
I sat next to a high school grad travelling overseas on a summer mission trip. He was fumbling with an ipad, iphone and imac at different intervals throughout the trip. This marketing angle may be something apple can continue to heave onto a new generation but only for so long. At some point everyone will become tired of multiple devices that become obsolete on an never ending 8 month cycle.
My iPod Touch is far from obsolete after two years.
 
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