Microsoft Surface Windows RT retails at $199?

[Santee]

the Surface for Windows RT tablet will be launching October 26th -- no surprise there -- at a compelling price of $199.

http://www.engadget....ft-surface-199/
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/260889/microsoft_surface_coud_be_a_huge_hit_at_199.html
http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-microsoft-surface-199-20120814,0,1498017.story

I didn't really want it before, but at that price I'm finding it hard to resist, I can't even begin to imagine the modding community that will sprout up.

 

[Kioku]

Talk about competitive pricing.

 

[Joe88]

should be labeled as rumor

also there is pretty much no software/developer support atm, I feel it will turn into another zune fiasco

 

[Santee]

should be labeled as rumor

also there is pretty much no software/developer support atm, I feel it will turn into another zune fiasco

Windows phone 8, the RT (ARM version), and the regular desktop version all share the same code, meaning that if something gets developed for one it will most likely be compatible with the other. Which to me is the most compelling part, (possible) price aside.

 

[FireGrey]

should be labeled as rumor

also there is pretty much no software/developer support atm, I feel it will turn into another zune fiasco

Windows phone 8, the RT (ARM version), and the regular desktop version all share the same code, meaning that if something gets developed for one it will most likely be compatible with the other. Which to me is the most compelling part, (possible) price aside.

Windows RT and Windows 8 have different architectures so this isn't really true...

 

[Santee]

snip

Windows RT and Windows 8 have different architectures so this isn't really true...

Although Windows RT cannot run traditional third-party Windows applications, Microsoft designed the new Metro-style apps platform to support both Windows 8 and RT. And according to the company, over 90 percent of the apps in Windows Store support Windows RT, too.

http://www.windowsit...-devices-143980
I don't really know what Microsoft considers apps , but seems as though some things will be compatible.

Read up on it a little more, seems as it can't run anything involving x86/x64, but the compatibility for apps is still there.

 

[Rasas]

Is this speculation and if this is true wonder how much the pro version will cost.

 

[Santee]

Is this speculation and if this is true wonder how much the pro version will cost.

Apparently they have an inside source, although if it is true, I can't imagine the pro version going much higher than $599, $699 at the most.

 

[Issac]

This is great news if it is true! Since they said that pricing would be like ultrabooks on the pro version, I feared that it would be very expensive since ultrabooks here in sweden costs around $2000. Now, I don't think the pro version will be 10 times more expensive than the RT version
If the pro version is expensive however, I will probably get this RT version just because of the price!

 

[Lastly]

Great price, but I'm interested in the Pro version.

Is this speculation and if this is true wonder how much the pro version will cost.

Apparently they have an inside source, although if it is true, I can't imagine the pro version going much higher than $599, $699 at the most.

We're talking about full-fledge OS here. A normal i5 Laptop is at least $500. Now add in a touchscreen plus more.

 

[Centrix]

I am intending on buying one but the Pro edition and I'm guessing it will around cost 300+ for that if the RT is only gonna cost 199$ at launch, here's guessing lol

 

[Shuji1987]

Although Windows RT cannot run traditional third-party Windows applications, Microsoft designed the new Metro-style apps platform to support both Windows 8 and RT. And according to the company, over 90 percent of the apps in Windows Store support Windows RT, too.

http://www.windowsit...-devices-143980
I don't really know what Microsoft considers apps , but seems as though some things will be compatible.

Read up on it a little more, seems as it can't run anything involving x86/x64, but the compatibility for apps is still there.

How is that even possible? You can't just slap an x86/x64 program expecting it to work on ARM based devices or the other way around. That is just impossible seriously. Seriously if you don't know the difference between the two architectures don't make wrong assumptions and even saying others are wrong when in fact they are right.

I would say they are talking about the current app store for their tablets and phones. If 90% was already compatible that would be a nice feat, but still nothing to brag about seeing how they're appstore is pretty much empty unlike the ones from Google and Apple.

 

[Santee]

I never said anyone was wrong, I simply posted what I found and what has been said. If what Microsoft has said is indeed true then it looks like they have managed to make the apps compatabible with the other versions. Never implied that x64/x86 would work either, just stated that they wouldn't.

I'm not trying to lead anyone astray just posting facts bud.

Guess its success all depends on Microsoft supposed cross platformish compatability .

 

[Jamstruth]

Windows RT will run all Metro applications (in theory). There's probably a requirement somewhere in the Windows Store which says your app must be RT compatible or Metro runs Bytecode (i.e. Java or similar) instead of Native Code (i.e. C, C++, etc.) so they just need to code a virtual machine for both x86_64 and ARM and all Metro Apps will run.

Edit: After a quick Google it seems that Metro does indeed run on bytecode (Javascript, HTML, etc.) so unless your Metro app needs native code in it somewhere you should be able to work across the 2 platforms. I'm sure its possible to compile the native code for the 2 different platforms as well since the programming language needs to be converted into the instruction language for the processor to understand.

 

[RupeeClock]

For a device that is designed to make the best use of Windows 8 with the Metro UI, sounds good.

It's just that Windows 8 shouldn't have been exclusively developed with Surface in mind...

 

[chris888222]

Windows 8 with adequate power on a tablet.

$199 sounds very juicy.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

For a device that is designed to make the best use of Windows 8 with the Metro UI, sounds good.

It's just that Windows 8 shouldn't have been exclusively developed with Surface in mind...

Windows 8 is designed with every Windows product in mind.

Also, budget tablets are the hip new thing these days, so having a budget model and a high-end model isn't too surprising. There's rumors of Apple making a budget iPad as well so this does have some credibility.

 

[RupeeClock]

For a device that is designed to make the best use of Windows 8 with the Metro UI, sounds good.

It's just that Windows 8 shouldn't have been exclusively developed with Surface in mind...

Windows 8 is designed with every Windows product in mind.

Also, budget tablets are the hip new thing these days, so having a budget model and a high-end model isn't too surprising. There's rumors of Apple making a budget iPad as well so this does have some credibility.

If you ask me, Windows 8 is designed at the expense of the desktop experience.
They've done away with the Start button and the standard start menu, gone are the days you can click the button and click a program in the list. Or alternative, hitting the Win Key, typing in (part of) the program name and hitting enter.
Now you have to navigate through the Metro UI which is much more time consuming than it needs to be, and consumes your entire display before returning to Windows.

UI design should not be taking steps backwards like this. These are suitable designs for a touch-only interface but for a full desktop experience using keyboard and mouse, this hampers productivity.

 

[Gahars]

Looks like Microsoft is getting serious about these tablet doodads.

 

[RupeeClock]

Looks like Microsoft is getting serious about these tablet doodads.

They need to, it's where the market is shifting to.

People are finding that they don't need a large machine to web browse or enjoy music and video any more.

I think iPads still need to be connected to a computer of sorts for the initial setup, but things like firmware updates and media library management are now features of iOS, forgoing the need of a PC or Mac to perform these tasks.