Microsoft to hold a "small" Surface event | 20/5/14
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Of course I wish it was Intel. But we'll see I guess...Dreams-Visions
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Why haven't they put RT out to pasture and shot it in the head?
brotkasten
Member
I don't want to think about the price of the potential x86 Mini, if there should be one. Heck, I bet the ARM Mini is already going to be 399, which is a bit much, considering the (hideous) Asus VivoTab Note 8.0 is 299 and comes with a Wacom digitizer as well. I'm also curious about the smart cover, now that reports surfaced (sorry) about the lack of the signature kickstand in the Mini.
My biggest fear about Windows RT is that it might be Windows Phone 7'd and not be upgradable, once MS is done with merging RT and Windows Phone.
Also, 2 weeks is way too soon to announce an event. Even worse is that it's on my birthday, so MS could potentially ruin it. Thanks, Panos!
My biggest fear about Windows RT is that it might be Windows Phone 7'd and not be upgradable, once MS is done with merging RT and Windows Phone.
Also, 2 weeks is way too soon to announce an event. Even worse is that it's on my birthday, so MS could potentially ruin it. Thanks, Panos!
It came out here in October last year, a month after the US, maybe your thinking of the original surface? The original was a good 6 months or so later.
Don't think there will a "Pro 3" here, there isn't anything worth upgrading to right now.
Maybe they just take Surface 2 and replace the guts with Atom, that would be quite appealing actually. Reduce RT to cheap small models only.
If surface mini really is aimed at note taking, they should just call it Surface Note, I hate mini/lite branding, it's like telling people they're getting a lesser inferior thing! (even if that's the case)
Maybe they just take Surface 2 and replace the guts with Atom, that would be quite appealing actually. Reduce RT to cheap small models only.
If surface mini really is aimed at note taking, they should just call it Surface Note, I hate mini/lite branding, it's like telling people they're getting a lesser inferior thing! (even if that's the case)
Wonder what Samsung would think of that name though.
brotkasten
Member
Even if they switched from Tegra to Atom for the Surface 2 model, this new Surface model wouldn't be cheaper than the Surface 2. Like I mentioned, you can get Windows Atom tablets for less than the Surface 2.
Surface Note would certainly be a better name than Surface Mini.
Can't be worse than Asus selling a "VivoTab Note 8.0", which is even more confusing, because Samsung's selling a Galaxy Note 8.
Funky Papa
FUNK-Y-PPA-4
A x86 Surface will be lost on me without proper stylus support. Once you go Pro you never go back.
I just want a cheapish Surface with an Intel proc and a good stylus. I already have a Dell Venue, but that thing is not cutting it. Build quality is not very good and the stylus support is just plain mediocre.
I have a pro now and it's great but I'd rather have something light and smaller for pen use (too), don't really need to have Core i5 but don't want paltry 2gb ram and somewhat poor build quality of current 8inch tabs.
Vivo Tab Note 8 is so much better than Dell... on paper. But then you actually use one and can tell this is going to fall apart
great idea poor Asus execution, it's ugly too, extreme finger print magnet.I just wanted Surface take on Vivo Note 8, that's the ideal small size windows tablet. I thought surface line was supposed to show OEMs how it's done or something.
The only other similar product is Galaxy Note 8, which was pretty good but android isn't as useful for pen use. No hardware refresh either, what's up with that?
Aren't the atoms 32-bit though?
No, Z3740 (that's in all of these) supports up to 4GB and is 64 bit. The reason they're shipping with 32 bit windows is related to connected standby 64bit driver or something like that.
spec sheet:
http://ark.intel.com/products/76759/Intel-Atom-Processor-Z3740-2M-Cache-up-to-1_86-GHz
brotkasten
Member
Vivo Tab Note 8 is so much better than Dell... on paper. But then you actually use one and can tell this is going to fall apart
I just wanted Surface take on Vivo Note 8, that's the ideal small size windows tablet. I thought surface line was supposed to show OEMs how it's done or something.
How's the pen on the Asus? I've read that it's a bit thin and actually not that great on the tablet. Build quality wouldn't be that much of an issue for me, because I'd want to use a good flip case anyway (which isn't easy to find). Seriously, if this new Surface is not going to be great, the Asus would be my only option and now you're telling me it's shit. You're breaking my heart.
e:
And this Surface Mini really needs to be thin and light. It should definitely fall in the iPad mini category.
Oh, and a SIM card slot would be nice, too.
I think the tablet is shit, the included
Right now I wouldn't buy because of this:
http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/asus/62139-asus-vivotab-note-8-pen-failure-rate.html
http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/asus/61338-vivotab-note-8-pen-stopped-working.html
if the digitizer is going to fail then what's the point of this thing? nothing has happened to the one I got so far. Everything has some failure rate still this one looks like it can be extra unreliable, time will tell. It can only get cheaper right? don't want to deal with RMA hell.
Anyway, writing on this thing won't ever feel as good as Surface Pro, if you're expecting it's just like that but cheaper/thinner/smaller just because it has wacom, then nope. Look elsewhere, thinkpad tablet 2 is better imo as far as writing is concerned, so are Galaxy Notes.
brotkasten
Member
That's really disappointing to hear. Like I said, I wouldn't mind a less good build quality regarding the body, but the digitizer needs to work, obviously. I don't expect the feel of an iPad for $299, but at least the reliability would be nice.
TheLaughingStock
Member
http://www.cnet.com/news/intel-paints-bleak-picture-for-windows-tablets-vs-android/
Although the decision to go with ARM was made years ago for this.
Surely that's just a matter of the regular Surface connectors being present? I mean they take up about 5cm or so on the current Surfaces:
I'd be surprised if they *weren't* compatible.
I want them to take on the Surface Mini as a purely tablet device that's used for consumption and occasional note taking instead of just shoehorning the existing Surface design into a smaller form factor.
The design should have some innovative gimmicks or quirks that facilitate that purpose. I like the rumors so far.
The design should have some innovative gimmicks or quirks that facilitate that purpose. I like the rumors so far.
I bought my mom a refurbished Surface RT (I swear every manufacturer refurbished device I've purchased has looked BRAND NEW) for Mother's Day since she's always wanted a tablet and a laptop, and I was setting it up for her before wrapping it up since she's fairly illiterate when it comes to computers, and it's actually a pretty sexy device - at least for what she needs to use it for.
I'm more interested in a certain Chinese tablet than anything Microsoft will announce, the Ramos i10 Pro. It's packed with an Intel Bay Trail TZ3740D, 2GB of ram, 1920*1200 screen and - get this - it dual boots into Android 4.2.2 and Windows 8.1. Estimates put the price at $399 or lower when it arrives over here.
The only downside is the 32GB onboard storage - obviously split both ways between Android and Windows, I can't imagine much space will be left over for either. This doesn't bother me though as I really only use my current tablet as an ereader, and have everything stored on micro sd card. This tablet will enable me to do that, then boot into Windows, browse our network and play any media I want, and of course will be great for browsing.
Ramos are one of the top two Chinese tablet manufacturers and they have a great relationship with Intel - their i9 which released last year came with a Clover Trail processor and was extremely well received, with excellent performance (Antutu benchmark of 20,000+). Really, really looking forward to this one.
What do you guys think? MobileGeeks did a preview at Cebit if you want to have a look.
The only downside is the 32GB onboard storage - obviously split both ways between Android and Windows, I can't imagine much space will be left over for either. This doesn't bother me though as I really only use my current tablet as an ereader, and have everything stored on micro sd card. This tablet will enable me to do that, then boot into Windows, browse our network and play any media I want, and of course will be great for browsing.
Ramos are one of the top two Chinese tablet manufacturers and they have a great relationship with Intel - their i9 which released last year came with a Clover Trail processor and was extremely well received, with excellent performance (Antutu benchmark of 20,000+). Really, really looking forward to this one.
What do you guys think? MobileGeeks did a preview at Cebit if you want to have a look.
-COOLIO-
The Everyman
i really dont know.
-COOLIO-
The Everyman
Well the next step is merging RT and Windows Phone so it will kinda be dead.
So fucking hyped.
I'm ready for that price drop on the Pro 2, MS. Blast it all over my face.
TOP SHOTTA
Member
I WANT THAT
Build quality?
juliushandle
Member
RT gets a bad rap. I own and love an RT device, the Lumia 2520.
I think people focus way too much on what RT can't do rather than what RT can do in comparison to an iOS or Android tablet.
An RT device, for example, gets points knocked down automatically for not running desktop programs. Yet when reviewing iPads, no one ever mentions lacking the ability to play Mac programs.
Also, besides Steam, there really shouldn't be any desktop apps you'd honestly wanna run on a tablet. Even Microsoft's own Office and IE for desktop are horrible experiences on a small touch screen device. You really need a keyboard and mouse to enjoy the experience. Others have also mentioned connecting the device to monitors for editing pics/vids but the performance would be crap on an Atom. Increase the performance and add video outputs and now you have a tablet that cost closer to full sized touch laptops.
RT's IE Metro/Modern browser is by far the best mobile browser around. I've thrown everything at it and it keeps performing. First Row Sports, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Cloud Player, PartyCloud, etc. Everything not just works, it works well with touch, and can be pinned into tiles for the start screen. So the lack of apps hasn't been a burden to me due to how awesome IE Modern is.
My 2520 multitasks like a beast too. I can play a 1080p video while playing a game at the same time via the snap feature. Xbox controller plugs in like a PC, works with my printer, and so much more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VYf5MWyTn8
I think people focus way too much on what RT can't do rather than what RT can do in comparison to an iOS or Android tablet.
An RT device, for example, gets points knocked down automatically for not running desktop programs. Yet when reviewing iPads, no one ever mentions lacking the ability to play Mac programs.
Also, besides Steam, there really shouldn't be any desktop apps you'd honestly wanna run on a tablet. Even Microsoft's own Office and IE for desktop are horrible experiences on a small touch screen device. You really need a keyboard and mouse to enjoy the experience. Others have also mentioned connecting the device to monitors for editing pics/vids but the performance would be crap on an Atom. Increase the performance and add video outputs and now you have a tablet that cost closer to full sized touch laptops.
RT's IE Metro/Modern browser is by far the best mobile browser around. I've thrown everything at it and it keeps performing. First Row Sports, Spotify, Pandora, Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Cloud Player, PartyCloud, etc. Everything not just works, it works well with touch, and can be pinned into tiles for the start screen. So the lack of apps hasn't been a burden to me due to how awesome IE Modern is.
My 2520 multitasks like a beast too. I can play a 1080p video while playing a game at the same time via the snap feature. Xbox controller plugs in like a PC, works with my printer, and so much more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VYf5MWyTn8
-COOLIO-
The Everyman
but with an x86 proc, you can get aaaaalll that and more!
Like I said, Ramos is one of the top two tablet manufacturers in China for quality (I believe the other is Cube) - look at reviews of say, the i9 as an indication of what to expect.
juliushandle
Member
Yeah along with viruses and other crap that can harm or hamper your tablet experience.
I've only ever bought two tablets, both of them Chinese, and haven't had any such problems with either. Both of them are from different manufacturers also, so I don't know what you mean by viruses or "other crap". I just thought people would be interested in a lower cost alternative that also boots into Android, giving the best of both worlds.
Schweet. If they're showing the Surface Pro 3, that will be my next laptop.
juliushandle
Member
Sure but Microsoft needs to go mass market for success. Soccer moms, families who hand their small children tablets for education and entertainment aren't going to buy dual boot or full windows.
Well yeah, but I didn't link it in this thread for such people to find
If anyone's to do it, they are! Though I wonder if Asus just said that about Microsoft and Google to hide the fact that the T100 wasn't really working out for them...
iOS doesn't show you a desktop like RT does.
Doc Holliday
SPOILER: Columbus finds America
PLease for the love god stop making tablets in widescreen format. Ipad screen ratio is perfect. Widescreen is fine for monitors and tv but they make tablets useless when vertical. Especially is you use it for art, which is what a wacom pen is best for.
juliushandle
Member
For a note taking device, yes the iPad ratio works. Most people though use their tablets for Netflix, Hulu, etc so I see why Surface is widescreen. Widescreen also works great with Windows 8 snap feature allowing 2 apps to run at once.
O: Intel models too! Sweet! My hype has been increased.
looking at current haswells, I guess they can fit a 4550U i7 in the same chassis of Pro2 and call it Pro3, it comes with HD 5000 too at same TDP of 4200/4300U.
I don't think reviewers will like that though...
"3rd gen hardware,still as thick as first one"
"Worse battery life"
"Runs warmer, louder"
"Too expensive"
TheVerge 5.5/10
yeah, we're not getting one. Pro3 will have to wait until Threshold.
I don't think reviewers will like that though...
"3rd gen hardware,still as thick as first one"
"Worse battery life"
"Runs warmer, louder"
"Too expensive"
TheVerge 5.5/10
yeah, we're not getting one. Pro3 will have to wait until Threshold.
PaulExcellent
Member
I just want better stylus input than on the Galaxy Note 8.0.
The form factor is swell, the device runs smoothly and works as it should, but it's been giving me issues lately with the stylus I use. :/
The form factor is swell, the device runs smoothly and works as it should, but it's been giving me issues lately with the stylus I use. :/
show me your skeleton
Member
the ipad has an massive ecosystem of apps though, many emulating desktop functionality, the best putting a nice touch/tablet spin on 'proper' programs.
windows rt doesn't have that yet. not in the slightest.
Shogmaster
Member
All Wacom pen have very delicate pressure sensor assembly. They degrade over time. You might have damaged your pen.
PaulExcellent
Member
Ugh, maybe during one of my walks around the base. :/
Eh, it's fine. Might as well get a new one. Thanks!
RT covers the basics...mail, media, social, office.
For everything else there is a highly capable web browser - and it is the best mobile browser around.
All app stores are one part shit, one part accessing the same information from a website, one part games and one part novel.
My parents still use Safari to access Facebook over the app that's installed on the front page.
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