Microsoft Surface

[porkiewpyne]

Microsoft Surface was previously the name of some kind of touch technology placed in tables that could be used for restaurants and the like. Now it's an overside tablet with a detachable keyboard? I'm not sure I follow the logic that degraded such an innovative product into just another overpriced tablet.

That's what I thought too when I saw this post. I actually did like that concept even if it was not going to be affordable.... I remember the ads were insanely cool. If this tablet thing has some features transferred over (like the NFC pic transfer and what not), then count me impressed.

Anyway, Microsoft better prepare for an inevitable lawsuit from Apple LOLOLOL Nahh I kid.

 

[Foxi4]

For a tablet, heck yes.

For a PC, hell no.

IMO, Windows 8 looks horrible for a PC.

That thing looks promising, but 1.5 pounds is heavy (I'm already complaining that the new brickPad is heavy enough and it's 1.4 pounds).

Windows 8's fatal flaw for most users is the Metro UI, which in fact is not a flaw here considering it's touchscreen-equipped. In fact, it's a strong quality of the product.

 

[Ericthegreat]

This tought me that computers and magnets go together.

 

[ShadowSoldier]

Wow, this looks fan-freaking-tastic. This might actually be the reason why I buy a tablet. It's the little things that make such a big difference for this.

 

[Bladexdsl]

Just saw this on another website and I have to say that it looks really cool, but I hope Microsoft does not over price it like they do some things.

they will

 

[The Milkman]

If it was x86 based, FFFUUUUCCCCKKKK YEAH SON.
But its Arm based. Meaning its just going to end up as a powerful tablet. Which means little to nothing for anyone with an actual computer (or who don't need to carry one with them all the time). Plus, if windows 8 runs anything like Windows mobile then coffee tables shall be flipped!!

 

[Quietlyawesome94]

If it was x86 based, FFFUUUUCCCCKKKK YEAH SON.
But its Arm based. Meaning its just going to end up as a powerful tablet. Which means little to nothing for anyone with an actual computer (or who don't need to carry one with them all the time). Plus, if windows 8 runs anything like Windows mobile then coffee tables shall be flipped!!

They actually have two different versions coming out.

This explains: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/microsoft-surface-tablets-the-differences-between-rt-and-window/

Too tire to explain myself.

 

[Ghostyis40]

SOLD!!! I thought it was something to compete with Wii U boy was I wrong I didn't know it had USB ports or was Microsoft's Windows 8 tablet kudos on one upping Apple once again! Man I want one now I love Windows 8 I'm using it now as my default OS.

 

[The Milkman]

If it was x86 based, FFFUUUUCCCCKKKK YEAH SON.
But its Arm based. Meaning its just going to end up as a powerful tablet. Which means little to nothing for anyone with an actual computer (or who don't need to carry one with them all the time). Plus, if windows 8 runs anything like Windows mobile then coffee tables shall be flipped!!

They actually have two different versions coming out.

This explains: http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/microsoft-surface-tablets-the-differences-between-rt-and-window/

Too tire to explain myself.

FFFFUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCKKKKKKK YYYEEEEEAAAH SON!
MICROSOFT. TAKE ALL MY MONEY.

 

[Joe88]

uh lots of tablets have usb ports right now, nothing new

 

[Quietlyawesome94]

uh lots of tablets have usb ports right now, nothing new

Lots of tablets have micro USB ports. These are full ports. Only tabs I know of that have full USB ports are the Asus Transformer and Toshiba Thrive. Which is two...

 

[Bladexdsl]

this thing is just a ripoff of the asus transformer anyway and will cost twice as much plus it won't use android

 

[Izen]

This may be a tad off-topic, but can anyone explain the full downside of ARM? Will no applications that run originally x86 not run on ARM unless totally rebuilt? For example, would I be able to run, say, the Windows x86 version of VLC Media Player, or would the fine folks at VideoLAN have to recode/port it (granted, they would probably do this anyways). What about WinRAR or 7-Zip? I apologize for my lack of understanding, but my previously conceived notions were that the OS was what really mattered, and the processor was just the brute force.

On-topic, this thing is absolutely gorgeous. It gives the iPad a serious run for it's money in the looks department, and it seems like as far a features go, it's not lacking at all. Apple really needs some serious competition, for their own innovation's sake and for the sake of the tablet world, in general.

EDIT: Also, I love that it has a USB port, but honestly, I think Microsoft should have gone the extra mile and thrown a second on there. Maybe I'm just treating this too much like it's a laptop PC.

 

[Joe88]

uh lots of tablets have usb ports right now, nothing new

Lots of tablets have micro USB ports. These are full ports. Only tabs I know of that have full USB ports are the Asus Transformer and Toshiba Thrive. Which is two...

Acer A200, A500
Acrhos 101
hp slate
a few generic branded epad tablets have full usb ports

 

[Foxi4]

this thing is just a ripoff of the asus transformer anyway and will cost twice as much plus it won't use android

The fact that it has a deatachable keyboard does not mean it's a rip-off - it just means that it has this particular feature. It won't use Android, it'll just use a far superior OS, oh geee!

 

[FireGrey]

If I go to Curtin University I should get this, just cause I can't stand macs.

 

[raulpica]

So...

Surface = iPad clone with a keyboard in the magnetic cover stuff (first marketed by iPad 2 one year ago, well except the keyboard part)
Surface Pro = Acer Iconia W500 clone with a keyboard in the magnetic cover stuff

SUPERCOOLSTORYMS

 

[Foxi4]

So...

Surface = iPad clone with a keyboard in the magnetic cover stuff (first marketed by iPad 2 one year ago, well except the keyboard part)
Surface Pro = Acer Iconia W500 clone with a keyboard in the magnetic cover stuff

SUPERCOOLSTORYMS

Except it's not an iPad (also known as iPhone that drank a lot of milk when it was a little chip) and it's not made by Acer (also known as a suicidal piece of hardware that works only when it really feels like it) - two qualities that automatically make it interesting.

 

[raulpica]

So...

Surface = iPad clone with a keyboard in the magnetic cover stuff (first marketed by iPad 2 one year ago, well except the keyboard part)
Surface Pro = Acer Iconia W500 clone with a keyboard in the magnetic cover stuff

SUPERCOOLSTORYMS

Except it's not an iPad (also known as iPhone that drank a lot of milk when it was a little chip) and it's not made by Acer (also known as a suicidal piece of hardware that works only when it really feels like it) - two qualities that automatically make it interesting.

Well yeah My only concerns are the prices. I'm sure the Surface will price along $400-500 (which I'm sure will be the price for every decent W8 arm tablet out there... expect chinese clones to be around $200-$300), and the Surface Pro along $600-700.

They should sell it on a loss initially to create an userbase for it, imho.

 

[Foxi4]

They should sell it on a loss initially to create an userbase for it, imho.

Seeing that it runs Windows 8 - an operating system that's available for every hardware developer out there to buy and use, I'm not particularily sure if they really need to create a userbase - the userbase will come to them.

We can all praise Linux distros, MacOS or any other operating system out there, but truth to be told, the general public uses Windows. It has spread better than anyone could expect and I think it's safe to assume that the average user will choose a Windows tablet out of a bunch of other choices simply because he or she will be able to use the same applications (provided that they get their ARM updates or that the system will simply launch them via a compatibility layer).

The only thing that bothers me is how the ARM processors will handle x86/x64 applications, but seeing that Microsoft was perfectly capable of writing the WOW64 overlay for x64 architectures, surely they can pull off something similar for our beloved ARM's... at least I hope so. Otherwise using an ARM seems utterly pointless.