Anybody looking forward to seeing how these things are priced?
I think these tablets with kickstand and keyboard cover will really stir the market.
I think the ipad is pretty decent, but it's really a lay on sofa look at granny porn/facebook type device.
The surface might truly bridge the gap between laptop and tablet and not only be a leisure device but a pretty decent productivity device.
What you think?
Microsoft Surface
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Dr Lobster*
- Posts: 2107
- Joined: Sat 30 Aug, 2003 20.14
With a keyboard case, it really does look quite an attractive proposition. In fact, I might have to pick one up when it comes out. I really do adore my iPad, but it looks like the Surface, with a Keyboard case, and the ability to run Windows 8 properly, could be very useful.
I can't wait to finally find out one of these puppies will cost. It's immensely frustrating that Surface was announced four months ago, yet we're still waiting to find out full details of pricing and availability. It's amazing that no-one even seems to have a ball-park idea of how much it will cost - some think it'll be a premium device priced above the iPad; others speculate that Microsoft will subsidise the hardware cost by tieing it to an Xbox Music, Video and/or LIVE subscription.
All just guesswork for now.
It's an absolutely beautiful device though. I had only the briefest of hands-on time with a switched-off unit at the LA launch event in June, but even that short time was enough to make me want one. Even with that early pre-production hardware, I was really impressed by how solid and well built it felt; no flex, no creaks, no flimsy bits to be found.
The Touch Cover keyboards are lovely too, and a great way to differentiate from Apple's covers while offering something genuinely useful; the cover with a physical keyboard (rather than the touch-sensitive keys on most covers) is thicker of course, but perfect for those who can't do without real keys.
My personal frustration (and I suspect I won't be alone in this) is that the Windows 8 version won't be released for another few months; only the Windows RT version - which can only run apps from the Windows Store along with special versions of Office designed for ARM - will be released this month, with Microsoft promising the Windows 8 version 'around 90 days later'.
I don't think Surface is the 'iPad killer' that most headline writers desperately crave - but that's because there's plenty of room in the market for both a brilliant content-focused tablet like the iPad (great for browsing, watching, reading, listening) and a device that can do all that while still facilitating the kind of productivity and all-round ability that Windows is famous for.
I want one. NOW!
All just guesswork for now.
It's an absolutely beautiful device though. I had only the briefest of hands-on time with a switched-off unit at the LA launch event in June, but even that short time was enough to make me want one. Even with that early pre-production hardware, I was really impressed by how solid and well built it felt; no flex, no creaks, no flimsy bits to be found.
The Touch Cover keyboards are lovely too, and a great way to differentiate from Apple's covers while offering something genuinely useful; the cover with a physical keyboard (rather than the touch-sensitive keys on most covers) is thicker of course, but perfect for those who can't do without real keys.
My personal frustration (and I suspect I won't be alone in this) is that the Windows 8 version won't be released for another few months; only the Windows RT version - which can only run apps from the Windows Store along with special versions of Office designed for ARM - will be released this month, with Microsoft promising the Windows 8 version 'around 90 days later'.
I don't think Surface is the 'iPad killer' that most headline writers desperately crave - but that's because there's plenty of room in the market for both a brilliant content-focused tablet like the iPad (great for browsing, watching, reading, listening) and a device that can do all that while still facilitating the kind of productivity and all-round ability that Windows is famous for.
I want one. NOW!
I'm glad to hear Microsoft are focussing more and more on their own hardware.
Everything I've had from them hardware-wise has been great; I'm very fond of their ComfortCurve keyboards and matching mouses/webcams; the Xbox and Xbox 360 were/are brilliant (although if I were a gamer I'd probably see the 360 as life-expired and cumbersome); and the Zune was just fantastic, chronically under-rated.
In terms of Surface, I like it, but I'm in no hurry. I use a BlackBerry PlayBook every day at the moment, and it's completely perfect for my needs of such a device.
Everything I've had from them hardware-wise has been great; I'm very fond of their ComfortCurve keyboards and matching mouses/webcams; the Xbox and Xbox 360 were/are brilliant (although if I were a gamer I'd probably see the 360 as life-expired and cumbersome); and the Zune was just fantastic, chronically under-rated.
In terms of Surface, I like it, but I'm in no hurry. I use a BlackBerry PlayBook every day at the moment, and it's completely perfect for my needs of such a device.
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Dr Lobster*
- Posts: 2107
- Joined: Sat 30 Aug, 2003 20.14
me too Will.
some OEMs like acer are rightly concerned about microsoft deciding to manufacture their own hardware (well, at least stick their own badge on something that came out of a foxconn factory) not least because acer, hp and toshiba are some of the worst offenders for stuffing brand new computers full of crapware. just going through the out of box experience on a new hp computer drains you of any excitement you had unboxing your new shiny shiny thing.
computers from acer and hp in particular are full of crappy software - one laptop i booted recently from its factory state must have had 8 or so icons in the system tray with pointless updaters, toolbars and other things that just nag you and slow the boot process down. why they can't just install a virgin operating system with just the latest drivers for the hardware is beyond me.
BBC LDN - if i was to buy a surface, i'd probably go for the windows rt version anyway - whilst running my native x86 apps might seem like a really good idea, none of them are optimised for touch and we have some dell all-in-ones at work with a touch screen (and the screens are 24") and to be honest, because hardly any apps are optimised for touch the experience is pretty frustrating and imprecise. all i need on a tablet is an office suite and decent web browser. i tend to do mostly photo editing and a bit of coding on my pc, and i think the screen on a tablet is too small for that really.
i just hope microsoft thought hard and priced the windows rt version slightly less than the ipad, otherwise i can't see it will ever gain traction with the great unwashed. i'm dropping some heavy hints that i might want one for christmas. that might relieve my family as my second choice of course is the canon 200 f2.0l.
some OEMs like acer are rightly concerned about microsoft deciding to manufacture their own hardware (well, at least stick their own badge on something that came out of a foxconn factory) not least because acer, hp and toshiba are some of the worst offenders for stuffing brand new computers full of crapware. just going through the out of box experience on a new hp computer drains you of any excitement you had unboxing your new shiny shiny thing.
computers from acer and hp in particular are full of crappy software - one laptop i booted recently from its factory state must have had 8 or so icons in the system tray with pointless updaters, toolbars and other things that just nag you and slow the boot process down. why they can't just install a virgin operating system with just the latest drivers for the hardware is beyond me.
BBC LDN - if i was to buy a surface, i'd probably go for the windows rt version anyway - whilst running my native x86 apps might seem like a really good idea, none of them are optimised for touch and we have some dell all-in-ones at work with a touch screen (and the screens are 24") and to be honest, because hardly any apps are optimised for touch the experience is pretty frustrating and imprecise. all i need on a tablet is an office suite and decent web browser. i tend to do mostly photo editing and a bit of coding on my pc, and i think the screen on a tablet is too small for that really.
i just hope microsoft thought hard and priced the windows rt version slightly less than the ipad, otherwise i can't see it will ever gain traction with the great unwashed. i'm dropping some heavy hints that i might want one for christmas. that might relieve my family as my second choice of course is the canon 200 f2.0l.
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If they do an Apple then it\s £499 here too.BBC LDN wrote:Pricing is now available for the Surface in the US - it starts at $499 with no cover for the 32GB version, rising to $699 for the 64GB version with a Touch Cover.
More details on *shameless plug* Neowin.
I'm not convinced at that price point, when people can get an iPad for the same money or less...
To be fair to Microsoft I think the Surface is aimed at a more professional market than the iPad, so those people will continue to get iPads and iPad minis and those who want Windows on a tablet will presumably get the Surface.Beep wrote:If they do an Apple then it\s £499 here too.BBC LDN wrote:Pricing is now available for the Surface in the US - it starts at $499 with no cover for the 32GB version, rising to $699 for the 64GB version with a Touch Cover.
More details on *shameless plug* Neowin.
I'm not convinced at that price point, when people can get an iPad for the same money or less...
It is expensive though, I - admittedly perhaps naively - didn't expect the touch keyboard to cost that much extra on top. And the advertising doesn't exactly blow me away.
There was rumour it'd be about £240 for the RT model, basic - so this pricing isn't what people were expecting and it's true about the pro market, but why can't it do both?Philip wrote:To be fair to Microsoft I think the Surface is aimed at a more professional market than the iPad, so those people will continue to get iPads and iPad minis and those who want Windows on a tablet will presumably get the Surface.Beep wrote:If they do an Apple then it\s £499 here too.BBC LDN wrote:Pricing is now available for the Surface in the US - it starts at $499 with no cover for the 32GB version, rising to $699 for the 64GB version with a Touch Cover.
More details on *shameless plug* Neowin.
I'm not convinced at that price point, when people can get an iPad for the same money or less...
It is expensive though, I - admittedly perhaps naively - didn't expect the touch keyboard to cost that much extra on top. And the advertising doesn't exactly blow me away.
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Dr Lobster*
- Posts: 2107
- Joined: Sat 30 Aug, 2003 20.14
Very disappointed with the pricing to be honest. They really needed to pitch it below the ipad.
If they were playing the long game, they should have took a hit on the hardware so the ecosystem would flourish. It still looks interesting, but the display on the rt version looks mediocre and the cost of the keyboard cover is a premium extra. I hope Microsoft have a rethink.
If they were playing the long game, they should have took a hit on the hardware so the ecosystem would flourish. It still looks interesting, but the display on the rt version looks mediocre and the cost of the keyboard cover is a premium extra. I hope Microsoft have a rethink.
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