Microsoft Surface Tablet announced

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how is this surprising? One competes with the tablet market. The other the laptop/computer market.

The stylus would make the thing pricey as hell, especially if it's precise.
 
Microsoft has totally confused consumers this thread is clear.

There are 2 version and one is missing a lot of the features. I think this was on purpose.\

Well that's typical MS, Vista Pro/Starter/Premium/... But the fact that the Pro version isn't on display is a bit off. Clearly that's the one that will be the most "omg amazing" since the RT version is an iPad with a fancy keyboard.
 
Industrial design is the most beautiful I've seen of any tablet.

Will wait for reviews of both versions. I likely won't buy, but who knows. Will be interesting to see if desktop programs are actually usable with just touch, or if RT can stand on its own without proper Windows' massive app compatibility.
 
Someone asked if it could run XBLA games.

I'm not the one who brought it up. I answered the question.

I don't think the question was asked as "could" as in "is the hardware capable" but rather "could" as in "will it be made compatible/allowed/supported". That's why people ask if a tablet, a device where software is added digitally, will be able to run XBLA because those are a selection of digital titles. They do not ask about 360 games because those largely are not.

However, I am just inferring the intent of the question.
 
Fary Cry 2 was what, below 720p or under on Xbox 360 at 30fps? Not bad. Call of Duty runs at what, 540p or something? Play it at that resolution I wonder what fps you get.

Well here is a test of the dual core i5s

http://www.anandtech.com/show/5872/intel-dual-core-ivy-bridge-launch-and-ultrabook-review/5


It be really awsome if they can get a quad core in there. Remember this isn't launching for another 3 months after windows 8 launches. So if win 8 launches at the end of oct we wont see this till January so there could be a chance this might be one of the first sub 22nm chips from intel or new stepings of current chips to lower power consumption even more.

If they can fit a quad core in this thing it be great.

however looking at these bencmharks it be amazing to have a trnity cpu in this thing


Best is battery life

7.76 hours for internet surfing.
4.8 hours for 720p playback.


The battery used is a 49432mwh battery. So it should be similar
 
If I had any doubts that Apple fanboys are threatened, tobor constantly harping on retina like anyone gives a shit is a sure sign that MS did something right. 1080p on a 10 inch screen isn't good enough now, yeah, ok.

Edit: giga and chinn are here too? And LKBAP? Perfect.

You are trolling hard as hell.
 
Well that's typical MS, Vista Pro/Starter/Premium/... But the fact that the Pro version isn't on display is a bit off. Clearly that's the one that will be the most "omg amazing" since the RT version is an iPad with a fancy keyboard.
But most consumers don't need the pro. They don't have a legitimate use for all those features and horsepower. It's about stealing market shares from the iPad that's the key here.
 
how is this surprising? One competes with the tablet market. The other the laptop/computer market.

The stylus would make the thing pricey as hell, especially if it's precise.
They did a horrible job defining the boundaries during the conference. The compelling shit is in the pro and they aren't even showing it at the conference. smh

Text not acceptable at 1080p these days?

Lulz.
As someone who has owned a touchpad , ipad 1 and now ipad 3. You clearly don't know whats going on.
Its readable at 1080p but when you have high resolution the text looks amazing.
 
The Verge guys say MS is only showing the RT version and apparently the RT version ships first.

Maybe I am projecting based on my own tastes but in order of priority the pro seems a far bigger game changer than RT.


What am I missing?

Getting the CPU to a good price point, and maybe take advantage of a die shrink to reduce heat.
 
Well can the RT version turn into a full computer with desktop mode? If so then it still beats the iPad in utility.

it has a desktop mode that runs Office. possibly because they don’t have a Metro version of it ready.

it’s not a “full computer” as you might define one as it can’t run legacy windows apps built on x86. it’s designed to run metro apps from the microsoft store.

just like iPads running apps from the iOS app store.
 
This is great! Working at a school district which is 90% Windows with users who want Ipads this totally changes the game. Can finally manage tablets the RIGHT way. Windows 8,MS office, AD integration =OH YEAAH!
 
the i5 is one that uses integrated 4000 graphics, right?

If so, then yea it can do a lot of games. "legit PC gaming" is a very relative question. It depends on what specific games you're trying to play.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33642_7-57418061-292/at-long-last-a-credible-3d-gaming-chip-from-intel/

30fps on Street Fighter 4 @ 768p.

24fps on FarCry 2 @ 768p.

"Playable" on Skyrim @ low settings

Their test model was an i7-based system, though. so snatch off a few fps for an idea. You'll want to play games more like Bastion, Braid, Bioshock and Half-Life 2 than Crysis, Diablo 3 and Battlefield 3.
OK, good info. I'm not talking about high end settings or anything. I'll be interested to see what people can get out of it, but it sound like it'll be pretty limited.
 
MS knows the pro model is not a big deal for most people looking for a 10” tablet. it’s a well made but niche device for people who need to run desktop apps and have a stylus. it’s not going to post big numbers so they’re gonna lead off with the direct ipad competitor.

I guess I still feel a bit weird about it. I'm sure the Windows Store will have a decent amount of Metro-only apps and will grow sufficiently fast...but it really won't be competitive on that front. The screen resolution won't be as high as competitors either.

I understand why someone would choose a Pro over an iPad or Android device, but I'm not sure what's compelling about the ARM-based Windows tablet over the competition. I just don't see it.

I feel like the Pro is their "differentiator" product that should be at the center of attention. The RT tends to feel like a repeat of the Windows Phone in a world already populated by Apple and Android devices. Maybe not, but that's just how it feels. Already in this thread people have shown excitement and interest only to be bedeviled by the trickle of heart-breaking news like "stylus only on pro" and lack of battery/memory/exact dates.

idk.


OK, good info. I'm not talking about high end settings or anything. I'll be interested to see what people can get out of it, but it sound like it'll be pretty limited.
I'd encourage you to google Intel HD4000 and check out some gaming benchmarks. I'm sure there are more available out there...maybe some that used an i5 processor so that we can get a really good idea. I'm just too lazy to look more up.
 
Because not everyone has a use for it? The features are great and all, but if I'm only using this to check internet, write notes, read, watch some movies and doodle, why do I need all of that?

Yea, I am kind of on the fence about paying the extra $300 or so to go to the Pro version. It's heavier, thicker, and i'm not sure if I'd get enough extra utility out of it.

That said, I worry that Windows RT isn't going to get enough application support.

Also, the RT version comes with Office included, which is really all of windows I really need.
 
Industrial design is the most beautiful I've seen of any tablet.

Will wait for reviews of both versions. I likely won't buy, but who knows. Will be interesting to see if desktop programs are actually usable with just touch, or if RT can stand on its own without proper Windows' massive app compatibility.
Meh, looks like a tablet to me.

They should've gotten Nokia for the design:

nokia-lumia-tablet-s.jpg
 
They did a horrible job defining the boundaries during the conference. The compelling shit is in the pro and they aren't even showing it at the conference. smh

Yeah, I'm confused by that too. Tech blogs want to see crazy tech. Not another plain tablet iteration.
 
Man, it looks good.

Really interested to try typing on that keyboard. I hope it's not like those shitty accessories they sell at Brookstone.

Gary, aren't you completely contained within the Apple ecosystem? In that I mean, aren't you tied to iTunes and the entire Apple marketplace?

I've thought about trying out iPhone or the Windows Phone because I honestly believe that they provide a slicker experience out of the box, but I realize I'm tied into Google and Amazon.

Aren't you concerned about the shift? I have to imagine this is exactly what all 3 of them are trying to do. Get you locked in. Or is it not that painful of an experience?
 
Wow didn't know about the digitizer built in. I guess they have just cornered the illustration market. Especially with Adobe on board.

Apple's supposedly got a digitizer on the way. An optical one, which I imagine could work with the Mac too.

Adobe's not taking sides quite yet, because they quietly worked with Apple to get their apps ready for the new MBP's retina display.
 
So MS charges $60 a year for Xbox Live.. which basically is just a matchmaking / chat / online store... meaning, each user is taking up as much horsepower on their servers as your average Neo-GAFer is browsing this site...

And you think a cloud gaming service, where each individual user needs hardware power exponentially greater than that same person does using Xbox Live, and said hardware needs to be geographically closer since cloud gaming is HIGHLY latency dependent...

Somehow fits into their plans?

Just an idea, I don't see how any full blown gaming can be done on a tablet anyways. I'm just thinking of an alternative rather than having to create high spec tablets to run games designed for consoles or desktop/laptop computers.
 
This is great! Working at a school district which is 90% Windows with users who want Ipads this totally changes the game. Can finally manage tablets the RIGHT way. Windows 8,MS office, AD integration =OH YEAAH!

you'd roll out this untried, unproven, 1st-rev tablet to a whole school board based on a logo?
 
I'm not sure I am fully understanding the use of the stylus. You can write on any PDF/text document using the OS? Where as on the iPad, you would have to have a specific application to use a stylus on a document?
 
They did a horrible job defining the boundaries during the conference. The compelling shit is in the pro and they aren't even showing it at the conference. smh

this is what we call nit picking for the hell of it lol... It's not like the information isn't revealed almost instantly after by bloggers and spec sheets.
 
They did a horrible job defining the boundaries during the conference. The compelling shit is in the pro and they aren't even showing it at the conference. smh


As someone who has owned a touchpad , ipad 1 and now ipad 3. You clearly don't know whats going on.
Its readable at 1080p but when you have high resolution the text looks amazing.


Apple fanatics:


Slightly sharper text > USB 3.0 (and all the possibilities that come with it)



Smh.
 
Yea, I am kind of on the fence about paying the extra $300 or so to go to the Pro version. It's heavier, thicker, and i'm not sure if I'd get enough extra utility out of it.

That said, I worry that Windows RT isn't going to get enough application support.

Also, the RT version comes with Office included, which is really all of windows I really need.
Exactly, I bought a Macbook Air last year and I love it, but I am severely under-utilizing it in terms of what its capable of. I feel most consumers would do the exact same. Most people simply don't have a use for the Surface Pro, it's too much computer for them.

It makes perfect sense why MS is highlighting on the mainstream RT version and putting that out first. Everyone who wants a Pro will buy it regardless, it's the casual consumers who need a bigger push, and fancy computer tech and specs that they have no use for won't entice them.
 
As someone who has owned a touchpad , ipad 1 and now ipad 3. You clearly don't know whats going on.
Its readable at 1080p but when you have high resolution the text looks amazing.
So you've handled a 10 inch screen with 1080p resolution? How big were the pixels?
 
This is great! Working at a school district which is 90% Windows with users who want Ipads this totally changes the game. Can finally manage tablets the RIGHT way. Windows 8,MS office, AD integration =OH YEAAH!

see, this is the kind of confusion I'm talking about.

What you're talking about is the Pro version, which we expect to land in the $1000 range. Your district could afford 2 iPads for the price of one Pro. Which won't launch until 2013, by the way.

Unless Windows RT + Office (with no compatibility with their other existing software because of ARM, a noticeably lower resolution, and no stylus support) is acceptable to them.
 
Hands on @ engadget...so RT has a 1080p screen afterall?
http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/hands-on-with-microsoft-surface-for-windows-rt

After seeing so many 1366 x 768 Windows 8 tablets at Computex, we were all too pleased to lay eyes on a 1080p panel. It is indeed crisp, but you know what's even more impressive? The viewing angles. Try following along with a demo, standing off to the side while someone else has his turn taking photos from dead-center. Turns out, it's no so hard. Factor in that kickstand and you've got the ingredients for some easy movie watching between friends.
 
Gary, aren't you completely contained within the Apple ecosystem? In that I mean, aren't you tied to iTunes and the entire Apple marketplace?

I've thought about trying out iPhone or the Windows Phone because I honestly believe that they provide a slicker experience out of the box, but I realize I'm tied into Google and Amazon.

Aren't you concerned about the shift? I have to imagine this is exactly what all 3 of them are trying to do. Get you locked in. Or is it not that painful of an experience?
This is not going to pull me back to Windows. I'm happy in the Apple ecosystem. That's not to say I couldn't shift if I wanted to, all my music is DRM-free and could easily be ported over. I don't have much invested in apps.

I don't see how anyone can really be a prisoner of an ecosystem these days, it's not that difficult to switch if you really want to.
 
This has business application written all over it. Exactly what I was waiting for. Thank you Microsoft.

Case in point. The Pro is not aimed for the iPad. And given the prevalence of the Windows environment in businesses today, a sexy tablet-cum-laptop that can run a Windows environment with full versions of productivity software.

It'll take time to smooth out, but taking aiming at the productivity angle is a bold and intelligent move. The RT will make some waves, but the Pro is the more dangerous product, competitively speaking.
 
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