Microsoft Announces Surface Tablet PC

[DoctorFinger]

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Microsoft today organized a quickie press conference to announce their first tablet PC. Comparisons to Apple's iPad are obvious, but Microsoft seems to be aiming as much for the netbook/ultrabook market as for the tablet market.

The nitty gritty details. The Microsoft Surface - which if you'll recall is the name of Microsoft's old tabletop touchscreen computer - will come in two varieties at first. The Windows RT version will come with NVIDIA-made ARM processor and lets you choose between 32GB and 64GB models. The Windows 8 Pro model comes with an Intel Ivy Bridge Core i5 processor, a digital ink pen and USB 3.0 ports (the Win RT has only USB 2.0)in 64GB and 128GB models. The Win 8 Pro model is a little thicker and a little heavier. The RT model is set to launch alongside Windows 8, with the Win 8 Pro model coming 3 months later.

Both versions come with a 10.6" full HD screen, micro HDMI ports and support for the Type and Touch keyboards cases seen above. The brightly colored 3mm Touch capacitive keyboards include a full keyboard and touchpad. The 5mm Type keyboard includes actual moving keys and a trackpad with buttons. Each version is also a full Windows PC, but in tablet form.

Microsoft didn't say what the Surface would cost, only saying they would be "competitive" with comparable ARM tablets or Intel Ultrabook-class PCs.

Source - The Verge

[Karak]

Wow they are going balls out. Smartglass seems a bit more interesting now as well and makes a bit more sense.

[rein]

If they can keep the price right I might be on board to pick one up. Thank goodness they had enough sense to not go after the iPad right now.

[Vigil80]

Word is the Win8 Pro tablet will be ~$1,000. (Tested) Perhaps look for the RT to be the "competitive" model?

[Widgetcraft]

Originally Posted by Vigil80

Word is the Win8 Pro tablet will be ~$1,000.

I scoffed at first, but I dunno man... If it could be more like $700 or so I might be on board.

[biosc1]

Originally Posted by Vigil80

Word is the Win8 Pro tablet will be ~$1,000. (Tested) Perhaps look for the RT to be the "competitive" model?

About a $1000 sounds like a pretty good price for the Pro model. As others have mentioned, being able to bring my desktop apps right over into the tablet world would be much nicer than using my Netbook a lot of the time.

We have (or at least myself) been waiting a long time for the next version of PC tablets. The older ones were dog slow, but were still quite nice for certain customers.

There is a value to the Pro. It provides that seemless experience I have been looking for with a tablet. Using a remote desktop app on my iPad just isn't the same when I want to sit on the couch and be productive (yes, that may sound like an oxymoron - couch + productive )

My next device will be an Intel-based Ultrabook, but this has made me second guess that. I would rather have a tablet Ultrabook than a straight up Ultrabook.

Originally Posted by Orca

The Zune released with next to no marketing support in the US only. It didn't expand into a limited 'worldwide' release until what - the second or third generation of hardware? It's hard to say they really wanted to compete with Apple with that kind of launch.

I actually liked the Zune. User interface was a lot nicer to me than the iPod. As you said, though, they buggered the launch. Especially the lack of availability of the Zune subscription model which only (finally) launched last year in Canada.

Originally Posted by Orca

Their mobile OS is good, but their partners have really shit the bed in supporting it with decent hardware. Maybe that's why they're doing this in-house, and maybe a sign they're willing to do the same with a phone at some point.

Here it is Microsoft's fault again. I love my WP7, but Microsoft dictates the hardware that the OS is allowed to run on which is why the latest phones are still only single core, etc.

[PathMaster]

Very interesting. Fills a very good niche for some. I might lean this way, IF the price and features are right.

[Orca]

The engineering on it makes me wonder what the next console is going to look like. They've really stepped up their game, hardware-wise.

[MagGnome]

This could be very cool, especially if it has the power to run some good games. I'm not sure though, given that a good GPU is unlikely in such a thin unit. Still, these look pretty cool nonetheless, and I'm sure they'll play Dwarf Fortress.

The promo video over at the Surface website is terrible though. No more dubstep, please.

[Karak]

Originally Posted by MagGnome

This could be very cool, especially if it has the power to run some good games. I'm not sure though, given that a good GPU is unlikely in such a thin unit. Still, these look pretty cool nonetheless, and I'm sure they'll play Dwarf Fortress.

The promo video over at the Surface website is terrible though. No more dubstep, please.

IF it is Teagra 3 its going to be awesome. I have a Teagra 2(nvidia) and its good. But a 3 is really good. So far all I could find is it is a Nvidia.

[Narradisall]

Originally Posted by MagGnome

The promo video over at the Surface website is terrible though. No more dubstep, please.

Every ad must have dupstep in it now.

Didn't you get the memo?

[OldJadedGamer]

Still not something to drag me into the Windows world. Not talking price says a lot.

[Orca]

Originally Posted by OldJadedGamer

Still not something to drag me into the Windows world. Not talking price says a lot.

If only everyone could do reasonably priced hardware like Apple...

[OldJadedGamer]

Originally Posted by Orca

If only everyone could do reasonably priced hardware like Apple...

When Apple announced the iPad they gave a price. When companies announce products with no price that shows it is not ready for primetime yet. Say what you will about Apple but they announce products when they are ready.

[JayVe]

Someone mentioned to me that one or some of these new tablets will work with a Wacom pen.

If so, color me interested!

[crazyD]

Originally Posted by JayVe

Someone mentioned to me that one or some of these new tablets will work with a Wacom pen.

If so, color me interested!

You are thinking of the Samsung Note 10.1. I am also thinking of it.

[digitalErich]

Originally Posted by JayVe

Someone mentioned to me that one or some of these new tablets will work with a Wacom pen.

If so, color me interested!

It seems like it uses similar tech to the Inuos5, when the pen gets close to the surface, touch is completely turned off. People seem to love that tech on the Wacom, so it looks promising.

Styluses and note/drawing apps sell like mad on the iPad, even though they kind of stink, so between the stylus stuff, real USB, and KB cover, this could be the business/productivity tablet to beat.

[torrefaction]

This is so incredibly huge. I read an article on Buzfeed, and they made a great point. This play is the end of the Bill Gates era of Microsoft. The Xbox was the harbinger, and this is the big play.

[Deadend]

Did anyone else facepalm?

Because that Zune sure sold great compared to the iPod!
And the Windows Phone 7 sure took off after iPhone!
Surface is sure to continue the winning trend against the iPad!
PROTIP: This is going to bomb harder than the Zune, even though, like Zune, it is good hardware.

[Xerxes]

Originally Posted by Deadend

Did anyone else facepalm?

Because that Zune sure sold great compared to the iPod!
And the Windows Phone 7 sure took off after iPhone!
Surface is sure to continue the winning trend against the iPad!
PROTIP: This is going to bomb harder than the Zune, even though, like Zune, it is good hardware.