www.surface.com

Specs are one thing, the developer community making apps is another. I'll wait to see what the devs do about it before I consider one. It crashed during the presentation too...

 

Microsoft will certainly have developer support; they make world-class development tools and a lot of developers are comfortable using them.

The version with a Core i5 sure makes for interesting decisions for people currently considering a Ultrabook. I like that there are two keyboard options.

 

Time will tell if MS can out-App Apple. My RIM playbook has really good hardware, but the apps don't come close to what I do on my iPAD. I am less concerned about hardware, and more about what the platform does for me.

 

Specs:

Windows 8 Pro
903 g
13.5 mm
10.6” ClearType Full HD Display
42 Watt-hours
microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block
VaporMg Case & Stand
64 GB, 128 GB

Windows RT
676 g
9.3 mm
10.6” ClearType HD Display
31.5 Watt-hours
microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
Office Home & Student 2013 RT, Touch Cover, Type Cover
VaporMg Case & Stand
32 GB, 64 GB

 

Microsoft isn't going to be alone in the Windows 8 tablet field, though. They need to differentiate themselves with the likes of Acer Iconia Tab W500. One thing they kinda missed the mark on is integration with Xbox and the marketplace. They could've shown really something cool there...

The other question is why now? Why do this presentation now when you know the tablet isn't going to come out before the release of Windows 8.

 

Off-topic posts about the Zune were removed. Let's stay on topic and keep things civil.

 

One thing they kinda missed the mark on is integration with Xbox and the marketplace.

But Microsoft has already said that the media rental/purchasing capabilities of Xbox marketplace will be available on Windows 8. Plus any Windows 8 device can integrate with the Xbox to some degree (e.g. SmartGlass). How did they miss that mark?

 

Plus any Windows 8 device can integrate with the Xbox to some degree (e.g. SmartGlass). How did they miss that mark?

That's Windows 8. Do you know 100% for certain that it includes Windows RT? They didn't say anything about it during the presentation nor did they give any sort of demo or details. Nothing at all. You'd think it'd be something to mention or re-inforce in a presentation where you invited the world to attend.

 

New xbox coming soon too?

 

I think they have a reasonable shot with this...I like the HD aspect ratio, and even though its not my preference, I can see the mass appeal Of the keyboard particularly for those who haven't abandoned PCs for tablets already.

Particularly encouraging is Ballmers comment We believe that any intersection between human and machine can be made better when hardware and software are considered together.. Makes me believe that maybe MSFT is starting to get it. It's certainly a better offering than Amazon trying to stuff a phone OS into half a tablet and coming up with something that resembles an iPod Touch.

 

No price and no availability date.

Why even bother announcing it then?

 

Here's one explanation

When pressed on what he thought Microsoft could bring to the table that other hardware-makers couldn't, Ballmer demurred, but he did say part of the Surface's purpose was to "prime the pump" for the coming release of Windows 8. Perhaps he's hoping to light a fire under partners who are feeling pressure to jump to other platforms.

 

I swear MS used the "Surface" name before.

 

Ya. That was their big table back in 2007. They got around to shrink it.

 

Hugh: To keep the appearance of relevancy. Much like Blackberry and their upcoming and ever-name changing OS.

 

from press release

Some information relates to a prerelease product, which may be substantially modified before it is commercially released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.

The lack of price, availability date and the fact that the may be "substantially modified" before its release makes these announced models smell like Vaporware to me. (I'm not saying MS won't produce a tablet at the end of this year, I just wonder if the actual tablets announced today will ever be sold)

Perhaps Microsoft's version of the HP Slate.

 

The lack of price, availability date and the fact that the may be "substantially modified" before its release makes these announced models smell like Vaporware to me.

It is beyond me why you would even express surprise about this! This is MS, after all.

Microsoft always sells the "best thing coming next". Every time they introduce a product - usually missing a LOT of what was promised by the time it hits the streets - they survive by saying "yeah, but wait to see what the next version brings!".

They sell futures and dreams. If anything, they would have been a perfect fit with the generation that enjoyed snake oil remedies......

 

SmartGlass is about sharing content (i.e. Airplay). Says nothing about the tablet accessing the Xbox marketplace (i.e. iTunes store).

 

Only about sharing content - like Airplay you say?

You obviously didn't see the E3 keynote.

 

I read the press release.

 

Well, I recommend you see the video because what it does extends well beyond airplay-like functionality. SmartGlass devices can be a controller for games or a "second screen" for games - similar to what the Wii U will do. Sure, a Windows tablet can do the same sort of "Airplay" stuff that iOS devices do between the SmartGlass device and a Xbox, but that isn't what the thrust of the demonstrations were about.

One example was watching Game of Thrones on HBO Go, and their tablet was showing a map of Westros and the tablet was zooming into where the current scene was taking place (so you get a sense of where the different armies are). In other words, you get interactive metadata about the show you are watching. Another example was a football game where you could design your custom play on the touch device like a coach does on a chalkboard.

That is quite a bit of integration between the Xbox and the SmartGlass devices (of which Windows tablets can be one).

 

Still no integration with the marketplace. You need an Xbox which narrows down the audience. If you go back to the original post that you decided to pick on me about, that's what I was talking about.

 

They both (both Windows 8 and the Xbox) have access to the music and video marketplace that today is called the Zune Marketplace but in future will be called the Xbox marketplace. They showed that at E3 as well.

 

it looks spectacular


whether or not they pull it off may be a whole other ball of wax

 

Vee, that is why I suggested that these devices could end up being vaporware, quickly discontinued or the design sold off to a friendly hardware manufacturer.

I think MS is going to get a LOT of blowback from HP, Acer, Asus etc who see MS competing with them with an unfair advantage (MS doesn't have to pay full rate for Windows on its tablets so MS could undercut them).

 

Apparently these devices will sell in MS stores and online only which suggests this was a move by MS to push hardware vendors ala the original Google Nexus phone.

 

The big difference between MS and the Google's Nexus/Android line is that the other hardware vendors have to pay Microsoft for the OS. This places them at a huge disadvantage to Microsoft. How can they compete when they are going to be making essentially the same product, but at a higher cost?

I agree with the above that Lenovo, Dell, Asus, Acer, et al will be pretty ticked off over this. We may even see a few Ubuntu One tablets coming.

 

Yawn. That's all I can muster on this one.

 

This product looks to me like what Windows 8 was really designed for. I think there's a place for it among laptop users. No place for it in my life as I divide my computer time between a fully blown Windows 7 (great OS which I'm going to hang on to as long as possible) gaming/DAW desktop and an iPad 3 (which at a little over $500 is hard to beat).

 

Curious. What does 42 Watt-hours mean? Is that the same as saying it consumes 42 watts of power when turned on? And how does that translate into battery life?