Microsoft Surface Tablet announced

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Re: confusion, since the product hasn't even gotten a launch date yet, maybe there's still time to get a clear message out?
 
I thought the presentation was the best they could do to clarify the difference between Windows 8 and Windows RT.


Windows 8 = Windows RT + backwards compatibility

My stream kept cutting out, and all i got was single frames an commentary from the verge dude.

Was your livestream better?
 
Re: confusion, since the product hasn't even gotten a launch date yet, maybe there's still time to get a clear message out?

Why muddle the waters at launch? Seems like it was intentional. They did not disambiguate things well on stage. The pro is a real game changer and they aren't even showing it at the presser.

I am truly interested in the pro myself.
 
doesn't matter. it LOOKS too plasticky. kinda like how the HTC One X and Samsung Galaxy S III were both made from polycarbonate, but people said the GS3 looked too plasticky (disapointing) and the One X didn't.
the difference is the surface doesn't have a faux metallic texture. I would be fine with the S3 if it forgoed that stupid decision.
 
It's obvious that the people who are making the 'retina display is overrated' comments have never used an iPad 3 for an extended amount of time. The difference is night and day. I have a hard time going back to my regular laptop/monitor after using my ipad for a while because text looks so much better on the ipad.

Then again, there are some people who can't tell the difference between DVD and Blu-Ray.. So, yeah.
 
Still, in our brief hands-on the optically bonded screen was incredibly responsive to our various taps and swipes. Fast, slick and very, very promising. Now if only we could see the Core i5-powered Pro model in action.

Holy shit. If Engadget isn't bullshitting here, that's huge for me! I always wished Apple did this with the iPad.
 
there is a windows phone conference on wednesday where they talk about the next version of the OS. It is widely considered to be bringing the same development platform that Windows RT/8 use.
Yes I'm waiting on this. I plan to drop my Nexus phone for Phone 8. As Whitta mentioned earlier, I want my "ecosystem".

I think the apps will get there.
 
lol $1k your joking right. The 64 gig wifi will run $700 and u really need just a few apps on it

You think the Pro will be $699?

While that would be nice, I think that's hardly realistic. They said it's priced to compete with ultrabooks. As such, I think your price guess is much too low. But without a real pricing announcement, your guess is as good as mine.

But no, I don't think $699 is realistic at all. I don't think you'll find many people willing to join you on that island either. Microsoft isn't trying to fuck over their partners like that.


I am sooooo in for a Pro if the digitizer is Wacom-level and lets me take good hand-written notes. I'll definitely need the optional, more traditional keyboard cover though, not the touch one, I can't imagine typing on that thing.
you guys are aware that there will be a lot of Windows 8 tablets worthy of your money?

It's like people think there's just 1 Windows 8 tablet coming that will have a digitizer and look good. Where have you guys been?


Holy shit. If Engadget isn't bullshitting here, that's huge for me! I always wished Apple did this with the iPad.
that was mentioned during the actual presentation.
 
It's obvious that the people who are making the 'retina display is overrated' comments have never used an iPad 3 for an extended amount of time. The difference is night and day. I have a hard time going back to my regular laptop/monitor after using my ipad for a while because text looks so much better on the ipad.

Then again, there are some people who can't tell the difference between DVD and Blu-Ray.. So, yeah.

I use my gfs iPad 3 everyday and have no problem going back to my laptop which is 1080p @ 17"
 
1K? Try 15K!

You'll need a loan to buy one!
They said ultrabook pricing. Find me an ultrabook for 700. They said it during the conference.

Why do people seem to think the pro is going to be 700. They already gave us a ballpark 1k and up.
 
there is a windows phone conference on wednesday where they talk about the next version of the OS. It is widely considered to be bringing the same development platform that Windows RT/8 use.

Good to know. Seems like it should be a no brainer to integrate all of these platforms as much as possible.
 
I want to buy this, I really do however the lack of anything resembling a release date means I'm probably picking up an iPad 3. I could have held out for Oct/Nov for the Pro but Jan? Yea, no.
 
MS has been making a big deal about input lag in touchscreens in some of their future tech videos. I'd be interested in seeing what the input lag is on these suckers.
 
I don't think it's a strange reason.

Why would someone want XBLA apps and not Xbox 360 apps if they paid $600 for a device that could run 360 apps?

Move on, this isn't meant to upset you. Good lord. In my example, MS was the one doing the "ignoring"... English language.

Again, you made that assumption. No one is upset, just pointing out you went off on a tangent about my original question, that's all.
 
Color me impressed. I was think about a Win 8 ultrabook and pairing it with a Kindle Fire 2 or some other cheap tablet later this year as I have no tablet and just a CR-48 for laptop. This might have everything I need right there.

-Full Windows 8
-Expandable storage / Peripherals
-Keyboard (Smart design)
-Stylus (Finally a tablet done right!)

Very sleek package too. If they can just keep the Pro in the $800 range I'd be set but I may be willing to swing a bit higher if it's reviewed well.
 
What does optically bonded mean?


:lol
 
The pro has to be high enough not to compete with the RT version. So they can't price it too close.
 
You think the Pro will be $699?

While that would be nice, I think that's hardly realistic. They said it's priced to compete with ultrabooks. As such, I think your price guess is much too low. But without a real pricing announcement, your guess is as good as mine.

But no, I don't think $699 is realistic at all. I don't think you'll find many people willing to join you on that island either. Microsoft isn't trying to fuck over their partners like that.

Well Intel has ultrabooks at $699 so I don't see why Pro wouldn't come in around that mark, maybe say $749 as it has the stylus and other stuff.
 
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!

I love the rabid fanboy-esque chauvinism that some IT people have:

Anything Apple is a toy, not to be taken seriously.

Anything Microsoft is a serious tool, for serious users. (Rainbow coloured consumer interface, and Windows RT doesn't support Active Directory, does it?)
 
It's a shame that they are insisting on a tard version of this tablet.
Why not just make a Budget and a Pro version, both running proper windows?
The way it is now, I'm only interested in the pro - but it'll probably be way too expensive.
 
Exactly. It kills all other tablets, ultrabooks and laptops for me. Just what I was hoping for, but never expected them to deliver.

Why not just get an ultrabook? If you're unfolding the Surface and using it like a laptop then WTF is the point? As someone who's used an iPad since launch I can confirm that even the tiniest bit of weight makes a difference. Going from the iPad 2 to the new iPad sucked ass, and the Pro Surface is twice as heavy as that. You'll never want to use that thing as a consumption tablet, it'll only be useful on a desk. So why bother with the tablet in the first place?

Honest question.
 
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.

If they're considering iPads, then I'm sure WindowsRT will be acceptable.

The iPad3 has a higher resolution which is great of you so lots of PDF viewing. But otherwise I think teachers would prefer something with a built in keyboard and Office support.
 
Seems like a pretty solid device, much better than what OEM's are putting out. Pretty industrial design. Touch Cover is a nice evolution of Apple's Smart Cover - building the keyboard into the cover was a clever idea and I expect all the competition to follow suit on that.

Besides that, not really seeing what the RT version offers over an iPad. The Surface Pro which is the model everyone seems to be excited about ships later on and is a huge question mark right now (no pricing, battery life, wasn't even shown to press, etc).
 
you guys are aware that there will be a lot of Windows 8 tablets worthy of your money?

It's like people think there's just 1 Windows 8 tablet coming that will have a digitizer and look good. Where have you guys been?

Thank you Einstein, I know all of this. My point is that none of the other manufacturer's seem to have gotten the industrial design right with the Android tablets and that has absolutely nothing to do with the OS it's running.

This actually looks cool and functional and seems to have fairly good build (from what we know of it so far). The only thing that looks like it might be comparable for my purposes is the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 in the Android ecosystem.

I love Android, but Google really has let its tablet side of things fester far too long, and it's going to come around and bite them in the ass.
 
Why muddle the waters at launch? Seems like it was intentional. They did not disambiguate things well on stage. The pro is a real game changer and they aren't even showing it at the presser.

I am truly interested in the pro myself.

I think the version everyone wants here is the Pro version. The question is whether they're going to spring for one when that shit gets priced in that $1000 range.

As nVidiot mentioned, none of this stuff is actually new. It's an intel-based Windows 8 tablet...of which we've seen many that also look fantastic. Yet people are acting like they've never seen a Windows 8 tablet before. Now this may be the case...but then people should make their way to the Windows 8 thread and see all the shit they've been missing.

If they're considering iPads, then I'm sure WindowsRT will be acceptable.
this is where I disagree. vs WindowsRT, I think the iPad is a much more compelling choice. Gigantic store and ecosystem, huge 3rd party hardware support. To me, the best feature RT has is a version of Office to which there are several iOS alternatives.

The Pro version is--to me--the product that differentiates the line.
 
$100 tier differences seem to work fine for others

Wait you really think the pro is going to be 100 dollars more than the RT. No way in hell they said it during the conference.

RT is equivalent to android tablets - 500 - 700
Pro is equivalent to ultrabook pricing 1k- 1.5k

The only thing other people are doing is changing storage size not ICs. No touch input, no x86 support. Those are big things.
 
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