Microsoft Announces Surface Tablet PC

[Xerxes]

Originally Posted by muddi900

Microsoft is not competing with Apple, they are competing with Android.

Don't tell them that. They think this is a three way race. Android is the first obstacle for sure.

[Shieldmaiden]

The Windows 8 model is pretty much everything I want from a mobile computing device. I may have to sell my soul to get one.

What if they released this with a similar payment plan to the recent Xbox one?

[Purple Santa]

Originally Posted by BigJonno

What if they released this with a similar payment plan to the recent Xbox one?

Then I would buy one immediately.

[Stmfuller]

actually what I really like about it is desktop software on a tablet. That is much better than nerfed sort of working software that you can find on the ipad/android tablets.
but 1k is a deal breaker for me.
it's going to have to be in line with apple's pricing for me to consider it.

[Khrymsyn]

Originally Posted by Stmfuller

actually what I really like about it is desktop software on a tablet. That is much better than nerfed sort of working software that you can find on the ipad/android tablets.

This is exactly what interests me. Being able to use the same apps on my tablet as my PC as my work laptop?
Color me very intrigued, even at the 1k price point.

[fitbabits]

I'll buy one, then post immediately to CoG that Microsoft is about to buy Capcom.

[MagGnome]

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.

It's a slick device, but it wouldn't surprise me if it failed to take off. As you said, MS' track record when it comes to hardware is mixed at best. They utterly failed to take on the music-player market and the phone market, so we'll see how they fare in the tablet market. However, their competition is already well-entrenched, so it's going to be tough for them to make serious headway. Aiming the Surface squarely at business would be a good idea, as that's one area where they still have a strong foothold.

[Xerxes]

Originally Posted by Stmfuller

actually what I really like about it is desktop software on a tablet. That is much better than nerfed sort of working software that you can find on the ipad/android tablets.
but 1k is a deal breaker for me.
it's going to have to be in line with apple's pricing for me to consider it.

So you want an unnerfed OS at a nerfed price? O_o

[Hawkzombie]

The only pieces of hardware that have really done it for MS has been the XBox and the 360. And those still don't do well in Japan

[PathMaster]

Originally Posted by Xerxes

So you want an unnerfed OS at a nerfed price? O_o

Some of us can dream ya know!

[Xerxes]

Originally Posted by muddi900

Microsoft is not competing with Apple, they are competing with Android.

Thought about it. Nope.

Android is offering far cheaper tablets than anything MS is targeting. They have to be going for the big dog and then some. This is more for professionals. I'd argue for students as well with it's full app support and note taking ability. If they were going after Android, they'd be announcing Windows Mobile 8 for phones and tablets.

[PathMaster]

It seems to be they are aiming towards more business minded people I think versus the iPad. For me, this is the closest anyone has come to a laptop replacement that is more portable than a laptop. If the gfx and price are close to what I want, then I will grab one to replace my aging laptop and be all the better for it.

Edit: It would be interesting to switch from a 17" laptop to a much small tablet screen. I would need to see it in front of me to really test it.

[Orca]

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.

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.

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.

[muddi900]

Microsoft has stricter control over what hardware their mobile OS goes on.

[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?

[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.

[MagGnome]

Originally Posted by Narradisall

Every ad must have dupstep in it now.

Didn't you get the memo?

Apparently that's the case. I must have missed that memo.

The more I think about the Surface, the more I realize how wicked-cool it could be. I look forward to hearing more details.

Are there any good hands-on videos or write-ups yet?

[PathMaster]

Ars finally got something at least a little worth while up.

[MagGnome]

Awesome, thanks.

[digitalErich]

Norman Chan just posted this little metric on Twitter that I found interesting...

macbook air 11" is 2.38lbs. x86 surface w/ win 8 pro is 1.99lbs.