These could really make a splash if the pricing is reasonable or spectacular! If they are priced too high (a'la Apple high) then they will likely do alright, but nothing grand.
If Windows RT were to come out $199-250 I think they would sell like hotcakes, take some wind out of Google's tablet and Kindle Fire and lob a shot right over Apple's bow! If they keep it under $599 then they may do alright.
The Intel version has more flexibility, since it is more capable of running non-Microsoft software and acting like a laptop or desktop in a tablet form.
Especially with the Apple/Samsung judgement making Android temporarily hesitant while it tries and figures out the full impact of the judgement.
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there is no way this is going to be $250. There is not a single 10 inch tablet that is priced close to that. I don't understand why people keep trying to compare a 7-inch to a 10-inch, especially price. Even the author of the article makes that mistake. 10-inch tables are necessary for content creation, the 7-inch works fine for reading and games.
I expect the RT to be around $499 and the Pro to be closer to $699 (maybe as high as $899). IT departments will still scoop up the Pro versions as it plugs right into existing infrastructure and fulfills the "I need a tablet now" itch that so many business users seem to have. I think as long as the Pro is $1000 they will have a runaway hit.
I expect the RT to be around $499 and the Pro to be closer to $699 (maybe as high as $899). IT departments will still scoop up the Pro versions as it plugs right into existing infrastructure and fulfills the "I need a tablet now" itch that so many business users seem to have. I think as long as the Pro is $1000 they will have a runaway hit.
Most people who say that, actually mean "I want an iPad".
There have been lots of tablets and convertibles with Windows before and people purchased them for the same reasons "they will work with our Windows infrastructure" -- only to discover two things:
- these devices don't always fit properly;
- it is not what they expected as experience and usefulness.
But.. lets wait and see what materialises. Promises are good, but actual performance is usually something else.
There have been lots of tablets and convertibles with Windows before and people purchased them for the same reasons "they will work with our Windows infrastructure" -- only to discover two things:
- these devices don't always fit properly;
- it is not what they expected as experience and usefulness.
But.. lets wait and see what materialises. Promises are good, but actual performance is usually something else.
this time is they're not happy with the other manufacturer's not pushing the vendor lock-in Microsoft wants hard enough. The Surface RT will ONLY allow you to load software sold for it from the Microsoft shop and you can't change the OS on it at all - one of the aims Microsoft declared back in the mid 1990s; but only coming true now because they're pushing it.
If the price of the Surface Pro is up around that of a touch centric Ultrabook, why would you buy a surface over an Ultrabook that can do the same but with a stronger keyboard and protection built in.
If the price of the Surface Pro is up around that of a touch centric Ultrabook, why would you buy a surface over an Ultrabook that can do the same but with a stronger keyboard and protection built in.
but a Group of over 20 different companys working on the surface. now pay attention every one. They are all helping Microsoft with the tech going into the surface tablet. no deadly ernest i am not nocking you .
for the vendor lock-in - check out Secured Computing on wiki when you have time, also check out the history of MS Palladium SC by an earlier name.
If these devices are supposed to be for media consumption, they don't have much storage. One 1080p movie could be 10 GB plus. A reasonable collection for a trip might be a dozen movies and a couple of TV series.
Yes, I know I can get them online, but the bandwidth is a killer. Streaming 1080p videos on a low end WiFi spot in a Hotel isn't going to give me a good result, let alone on a plane.
I'd like to get a tablet, but every time I think of a use, there's some limitation that makes it impractical. I would like to load up my music collection, not enough space, I'd like to load up my movies, not enough space, I'd like to process my RAW photos, not enough horsepower, I could use it as a remote monitor for my camera, no HDMI input, I could use it as a remote multi-touch controller for a Windows 8 PC, is this likely to fly?
Yes, I know I can get them online, but the bandwidth is a killer. Streaming 1080p videos on a low end WiFi spot in a Hotel isn't going to give me a good result, let alone on a plane.
I'd like to get a tablet, but every time I think of a use, there's some limitation that makes it impractical. I would like to load up my music collection, not enough space, I'd like to load up my movies, not enough space, I'd like to process my RAW photos, not enough horsepower, I could use it as a remote monitor for my camera, no HDMI input, I could use it as a remote multi-touch controller for a Windows 8 PC, is this likely to fly?
I might become excited over the Surface Pro version, if a really usable screen size were there. I've attempted to use a ten-inch screen, and it's a severe limit for my aging eyes. Were I forty years younger, perhaps I might be able to run Office applications on a ten-inch screen and not complain, but as I am now, I'd just not wish to bother with it. Now, if Microsoft also came out with a sixteen-inch (or larger) version, I'd be really anxious to look at it as soon as it appeared.
the 15.6 inch screen size and some are 17 inch.
I'm with firstaborean. I need reading glasses to use my Nexus7. My understanding is we're going to see some ultrabooks with Retina-quality displays coming out later this year. I'm looking forward to those.
if the resolution was 16x10, not 16x9. The monitors attached to my desktop are 16x10 24" 1920x1200, not 1920x1080. I specifically searched for that as 16x9 is too shallow and I have to scroll too much. They are hard to find now and I am not sure laptops are available in that resolution anymore (haven't checked). I don't know what possessed the manufacturers to do that. Computers are not primarily used for movie watching (what 16x9 is for). My laptop is 16x10. I had a 16x9 laptop but couldn't stand the resolution so I gave it to my wife who is happy enough with it. Another disturbing trend is putting 100mb Ethernet ports instead of 1gb in laptops. There are times I want to connect a wire.
I'm with you on the old eyes thing. A larger screen would be nice. I also wonder if it will support a second monitor. There are USB monitors available that are kind of nice and they are very portable.
I'm with you on the old eyes thing. A larger screen would be nice. I also wonder if it will support a second monitor. There are USB monitors available that are kind of nice and they are very portable.
so it shows movies better than the others as a full screen display.
but I didn't buy my PCs to watch movies. I have an HDTV for that. 16x10 displays movies just fine. I can live with the black bars on the rare occasions I do watch movies on my laptop (usually when traveling). I would rather have the headroom for web browsing and looking at documents and such. I can see more on screen without scrolling. Isn't that what most PCs are used for?
I wasn't taking you to task. It seems manufacturers aren't leading anymore, but following the crowd and producing for the lowest common denominator instead of doing it right. Dumbing it down, like with the IFKAM.
Most web pages spread content across the page. I know I personally would rather have a wider view than a deeper view. It's really up to the individual. However, tablets (which is what the article is about) is really about consumption for video and text. The 7" and 10" are great for that. For PCs, I don't really see that much difference between 16:9 and 16:10.
These displays are cheaper. This is why the 4x3 format is almost forgotten already. The less 'height' the display has, the cheaper it gets.
I am too, always searching for 16x10 displays, even if they are always considerably more expensive.
I am too, always searching for 16x10 displays, even if they are always considerably more expensive.
If the hype is correct, it should raise the standard of Windows tablets across the board and lower platform costs. It was somewhat understandable that the pricing for previous tablet entries was high because there were so few devices to pick from at any given time that you were forced to pay a premium for the form factor. Hopefully now that the tablet form factor is established and there's a genuine effort by all parties to invest in the platform, prices overall for Windows mobility should go down. The Surface devices look high quality though because there's so few reviews, especially hands on reviews, it's not completely verifiable but if it proves true, the competition of having a reasonably priced (and yes, reasonably priced is subjective to your point of view) and well built tablet widely available should push OEM's like Samsung, HP, Dell and Asus to compete at that level. I'm excited for Surface but I'm not 100% convinced it's the device for me. Some of the Windows alternatives that we've gotten peeks at recently are looking good as well. If the build quality is close to Surface's reportedly high build quality then I'll probably opt for a non-Microsoft device. I own a Samsung Series 7 and it creaks, cracks and the screen is lifting from the bezel a bit. If OEM's don't pick up their game, Surface might be my only option just for the anticipated build quality alone.
now every tablet manufacturer has to be careful that they don't make similar looking devices or they stand to lose billions of dollars.
OS features and not the actual physical hardware which would be covered under Microsoft's and Apple's cross licensing agreements. That being said, most if not all Windows tablets are landscape oriented with a single start button on the landscape edge. As Deadly said, there's really not too much you can do to differentiate the physical look of a tablet.
Acer's CEO accuses MS of not being very good at hardware?
MS keyboards and mices have been top of the line over the years with only Logitech really competing. Zune while not having sold many is an excellent piece of hardware.
I've always considered Acer brands right down there with Packard Bell when it comes to quality.
Keep up or fall behind.
MS keyboards and mices have been top of the line over the years with only Logitech really competing. Zune while not having sold many is an excellent piece of hardware.
I've always considered Acer brands right down there with Packard Bell when it comes to quality.
Keep up or fall behind.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't those manufactured by other companies and just branded?
thats right if you see it in wiki then it has to real give me a brake. that like saying if it is on the inter net then it has to be real. hahaha
I think it can be accepted as accurate in this case. I use wiki as a start point as they usually have a good list of source info that allows you to go back to valid source.
would you provided them? Do you have proof of the inaccuracy of the ones cited?
You're the one who claimed the specs in the article were wrong. If the specs are a 'security' issue (which they aren't), your asserting they are 'wrong' (which they aren't) has already breached it. Exactly whose security do you think it violates to discuss them? Are you working for Microsoft now?
You've posted when you don't know s#it (again), and you've been called on it (again). THAT'S why you get 'beat up'. I'd ask you a third time to post specs and sources you have that contradict the original article, but by now we both know you don't have anything.
You've posted when you don't know s#it (again), and you've been called on it (again). THAT'S why you get 'beat up'. I'd ask you a third time to post specs and sources you have that contradict the original article, but by now we both know you don't have anything.
Had information from Lenovo field sales pushing their Windows8 "PC" that has a detachable screen to make it into a tablet... Looks like they're not phased by the Surface!
Unless this tablet will be supported by AD, businesses aren't excited with this.
Surface RT may be.. i repeat may be. However, Surface Pro is totally different beast, a class on its own. Seems like the Surface Pro is a full blown productivity tool where iPad is not even close. Since the title is Surface, kindly focus the article on Surface and let the smart people here do the comparative analysis, should they want to do so... sigghhhhh
Disclaimer: I am not paid by any of these organisations nor am I a die-hard fan of certain particular company. Just tired of poor / unappropriate comparatives....
Disclaimer: I am not paid by any of these organisations nor am I a die-hard fan of certain particular company. Just tired of poor / unappropriate comparatives....
There is an absolute requirement for even the RT to become a tool for business, and the only thing that really helps Microsoft is that they have a business infrastructure within which to build upon. That has not been the case for the iPad, nor, to be honest, any Apple product ever since Steve came back into the picture. But Apple doesn't build business solutions, they build consumer devices that have a programming cadre which works the product into their particular needs.
Obviously the RT will be of this ilk and the Pro may be the product that has a hard time finding its niche. I own a recording studio and unless I totally dismantled my entire business and started over with Apple products I couldn't achieve some of what I perceive to be possible with the new Surface RT. Of course the Pro would fit right in, but dollars say that if an RT will do the job, then you'd have to have a pretty compelling reason to spend the extra money.
But I don't believe Microsoft loses on this one, and to be honest, they are a little late in their decision making process, so catch up is what they'll be doing for the first year. After than, once everyone gets the idea, things will change.
Obviously the RT will be of this ilk and the Pro may be the product that has a hard time finding its niche. I own a recording studio and unless I totally dismantled my entire business and started over with Apple products I couldn't achieve some of what I perceive to be possible with the new Surface RT. Of course the Pro would fit right in, but dollars say that if an RT will do the job, then you'd have to have a pretty compelling reason to spend the extra money.
But I don't believe Microsoft loses on this one, and to be honest, they are a little late in their decision making process, so catch up is what they'll be doing for the first year. After than, once everyone gets the idea, things will change.
I've heard a lot that MS are pricing the RT to be 'comparable with equivalent ARM tablets' and that the pro will be priced 'similar to equivalent ultrabooks'. This language is starting to concern me more and more.
Now, I'm looking forward to the Surface and those of you here that have been involved in other Win 8 threads probably know I'm a TF101 user (and have been since launch week) by my optimism is starting to fade a little. Here's why:
MS bring out the RT at the price of the equivalent iPad. The windows store will have only a few apps initially so beyond possible integration to Microsoft domain environments and the bundled software what will make users who generally think tablet = iPad make the switch?
MS bring out the RT at the price of the Nexus 7. again, the windows store will have only a few apps initially and will have similar control on installed apps that Apple have so we have the same question again - what will make users who bought the NEXUS for the freedom of Android make the switch?
MS bring out the Pro around the price of the equivalent Ultrabook. same gig - what will make users who want the power of installing windows apps choose to spend similar cash on the surface rather than the ultrabook?
I so want this to succeed. MS really do need to price this keenly and not fall into the trap of 'it's for business and Apple is our competitor. Let's use them as the yardstick because that's what people will be happy to pay' or they may well shoot themselves.
BTW - I have my own take on the answers to the above and posed them to illustrate my worry. I know why I'd buy one. If MS screw up the pricing though, I will have to reconsider and I'll doubtless not be alone.
Now, I'm looking forward to the Surface and those of you here that have been involved in other Win 8 threads probably know I'm a TF101 user (and have been since launch week) by my optimism is starting to fade a little. Here's why:
MS bring out the RT at the price of the equivalent iPad. The windows store will have only a few apps initially so beyond possible integration to Microsoft domain environments and the bundled software what will make users who generally think tablet = iPad make the switch?
MS bring out the RT at the price of the Nexus 7. again, the windows store will have only a few apps initially and will have similar control on installed apps that Apple have so we have the same question again - what will make users who bought the NEXUS for the freedom of Android make the switch?
MS bring out the Pro around the price of the equivalent Ultrabook. same gig - what will make users who want the power of installing windows apps choose to spend similar cash on the surface rather than the ultrabook?
I so want this to succeed. MS really do need to price this keenly and not fall into the trap of 'it's for business and Apple is our competitor. Let's use them as the yardstick because that's what people will be happy to pay' or they may well shoot themselves.
BTW - I have my own take on the answers to the above and posed them to illustrate my worry. I know why I'd buy one. If MS screw up the pricing though, I will have to reconsider and I'll doubtless not be alone.
the Surface RT will NOT be able to connect to a domain. The Surface Pro will connect to a domain and will be an attack on the Ultrabook market but not quite as technically capable as an Ultrabook.
Ah - yep, DE - I missed that line.
That just makes the conundrum worse. I still say the pricing must be right or MS will find it difficult to get traction.
That just makes the conundrum worse. I still say the pricing must be right or MS will find it difficult to get traction.
what Pro is bringing to the table. Everyone is talking about different ways to BYOD and integrate to business environment.
BTW, what is battery life on Pro? Nobody talks about that and it would be silly to carry charger for the tablet all the time.
If RT is not running the x86 PRO apps (cannot, of course), no apps, other than maybe slick looking hardware, why get it?
Business use for Pro using Metro (or whatever they call it) without stylus?
In my mind, MS is too late in the game. Yes, it'll get $ but not as they could 2 years ago (and releasing Pro in 2013 !!????)
BTW, what is battery life on Pro? Nobody talks about that and it would be silly to carry charger for the tablet all the time.
If RT is not running the x86 PRO apps (cannot, of course), no apps, other than maybe slick looking hardware, why get it?
Business use for Pro using Metro (or whatever they call it) without stylus?
In my mind, MS is too late in the game. Yes, it'll get $ but not as they could 2 years ago (and releasing Pro in 2013 !!????)
W8Pro Core i5 based slates with 1080p - Expect around 5 hours
W8Pro Atom based slates with 1366x768 - Expect around 10 hours
Window RT tablets - Expect 10 hours+
That info isn't directly related to the Surface but from other manufacturers (Samsung, Sony, etc). There are some tricks with the detachable keyboard's where secondary batteries supply additional juice (Atom's getting 20 hours) but that's pretty much it.
W8Pro Atom based slates with 1366x768 - Expect around 10 hours
Window RT tablets - Expect 10 hours+
That info isn't directly related to the Surface but from other manufacturers (Samsung, Sony, etc). There are some tricks with the detachable keyboard's where secondary batteries supply additional juice (Atom's getting 20 hours) but that's pretty much it.
"BTW, what is battery life on Pro? Nobody talks about that and it would be silly to carry charger for the tablet all the time."
Exactly. This is one of the advantages to a good tablet. The battery life must be suitable to the usage profile, particularly on the pro. I don't want to worry about charge in my productivity device more so than my entertainment tablet.
Exactly. This is one of the advantages to a good tablet. The battery life must be suitable to the usage profile, particularly on the pro. I don't want to worry about charge in my productivity device more so than my entertainment tablet.
battery size with the RT being 31.5 W-h and the Pro at 42 W-h. There are also a couple of other tech differences in the hardware with the RT being 32 or 64 GB and the Pro as 64 or 128 GB; RT has only USB 2 while the Pro has USB 3 - - why put out a new device as only USB 2?? Pro also comes with a Palm block. Weight RT 676 g - Pro 903 g. Those are the main spec differences of the hardware.
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