At the moment, Microsoft Surface is hot

[b4u]

Microsoft's new Surface tablet is generating enough interest to grow lines and pack stores.

CENTURY CITY, Calif.--As of this weekend, Microsoft has a hot product on its hands.

Reviews notwithstanding (some have been pretty negative), on Friday my local Microsoft store in Century City (in Los Angeles) was buzzing with curious customers keen on trying the Surface RT tablet, as lines snaked outside. Other stores drew crowds too.

(And all three Surface models are back-ordered three weeks on Microsoft's online store.)

I was surprised to see any line at all. After reading some reviews, you would have thought that the thing was DOA.

Fortunately, I had plenty of time to try out the tablet for myself. Ill-conceived, unusable keyboard? Nope. Yeah, it takes getting used to, but the 3mm-thick keyboard is far from unusable and beats a virtual keyboard any day.

And besides, for a few bucks more you can get the other Surface keyboard that Microsoft is selling, which is a real keyboard -- responsive and easy to use.
And as I've been saying for a while now, as an interface, I like Windows 8 and its split personality.

For Microsoft, one of the more encouraging signs (I saw) was the intensity of interest. Customers had lots of questions about Surface and some sat there for 30 minutes or even an hour kicking the tires (or, in this case, pounding on the 3mm keyboard).

If Microsoft can maintain that kind of enthusiasm, it has a chance to make a run at the iPad and MacBook.

The other unmistakable change at the Microsoft store (which I visit often) was a crop of new Windows 8 laptops with touch screens.

There were new Asus, Acer, and Sony clamshell laptops -- all touch capable. For me, this is a watershed feature and big leg up on Apple.

Some reviewers believe that touch screens and clamshells go together like oil and water. Not me. I want the option to use the touch screen. I mean, why not have a touch display? It's there if you need it. And I know I need it.

And new touch-capable Windows 8 laptops, like the razor-thin $1,299 Acer Aspire S7 (it boasts a 13.3-inch 1,920x1,080 display), are very capable rivals to the MacBook Air.

And there are less expensive touch-screen laptops too, like the $699 Acer Aspire V5 and the $549 Asus VivoBook X202E.

And note that these all run the full Windows 8 on Intel. So you're not getting shortchanged on applications -- a common complaint cited by Windows RT reviews.

Which brings us to the next Surface tablet -- the Intel version with Windows 8 Pro. Though under 2 pounds and only 0.53 inches thick, it will pack a 10.6-inch 1,920x1,080 display, Mini DisplayPort, 4GB of memory, up to 128GB of solid-state drive storage, and a Core i5 chip.

It will obviously be more expensive, but it may be a more viable version of Surface for consumers worried that RT won't cut it. (Or for those who take it home only to find that RT doesn't run all of their favorite Windows applications.)

Will the Pro version prove to be more popular than Surface RT? We should know by early next year when it debuts at the Microsoft store.

When the Century City (Los Angeles) Microsoft store opened at 10 a.m. there were long lines and the store was packed.
(Credit: Brooke Crothers)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-5...-surface-is-hot/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=title


No reason to believe it wouldn't be a hit. Lot's of people still love MS.

I might finely be interested in a tablet now that I will be able to run any windows program on it. the price will be worth it for a full fledged PC in a tablet form
and i assume linux will improve touch capabilities should i want to dual boot.

 

[WoodPeckr]

LOL!!!

Those waiting in lines are probably Apple fanbois with plenty of experience and well trained to wait in long lines!....

 

[nofrill]

Windows RT is NOT compatible with regular Windows (XP, Vista, 7) software. We have to see how many app developers they get. I hope that RT developers are not going to charge an arm and a leg for their apps because they have to pay royalty to M$ for their OS.

Other than that, this is just another craze and fad when everyone is rushing off to buy the newest in the market. Without any app support, the M$ tablet is no better than current Android tablets and iPad.

I read that the model on sale now has the ARM chip (Tegra 3), which may not be optimized for Windows RT (heard this story before when Android was first rushed out into the market). A future model running true Windows 8 will be driven by Intel processors, but I bet the price will be more expensive than the current model. I also don't know how much better is the Windows 8 model over the current generation of Winodws netbooks, which are already dirt-cheap ($250-300 or less).

 

[MyHobbyist]

the tablet does look interesting though.
cool ads

 

[b4u]

Windows RT is NOT compatible with regular Windows (XP, Vista, 7) software. We have to see how many app developers they get. I hope that RT developers are not going to charge an arm and a leg for their apps because they have to pay royalty to M$ for their OS.

Other than that, this is just another craze and fad when everyone is rushing off to buy the newest in the market. Without any app support, the M$ tablet is no better than current Android tablets and iPad.

I read that the model on sale now has the ARM chip (Tegra 3), which may not be optimized for Windows RT (heard this story before when Android was first rushed out into the market). A future model running true Windows 8 will be driven by Intel processors, but I bet the price will be more expensive than the current model. I also don't know how much better is the Windows 8 model over the current generation of Winodws netbooks, which are already dirt-cheap ($250-300 or less).

you are correct, windows RT is not compatible with XP/Vista/7 software. However Windows Pro Tablet IS which is what i bolded in the lower part of the post

Which brings us to the next Surface tablet -- the Intel version with Windows 8 Pro. Though under 2 pounds and only 0.53 inches thick, it will pack a 10.6-inch 1,920x1,080 display, Mini DisplayPort, 4GB of memory, up to 128GB of solid-state drive storage, and a Core i5 chip.

It will obviously be more expensive, but it may be a more viable version of Surface for consumers worried that RT won't cut it. (Or for those who take it home only to find that RT doesn't run all of their favorite Windows applications.)

As far as Apps go Microsoft have far more Windows developers under their wing than even Apple has iOS developers. So you can expect a very fast app ecosytem happening

 

[danibbler]

As far as Apps go Microsoft have far more Windows developers under their wing than even Apple has iOS developers. So you can expect a very fast app ecosytem happening

That's a pretty shaky assumption. Just because you are a Windows developer does not mean that you are focused in this area. MS has a slew of different pies where it has a finger in.

 

[b4u]

That's a pretty shaky assumption. Just because you are a Windows developer does not mean that you are focused in this area. MS has a slew of different pies where it has a finger in.

Wasn't an assumption. it was something i read on another reputable tech site. and there words were "many many more" If i find the article again I will post it


I'm sure there could have been some MS bias in the article, but after all we know that Apple bias runs rampant too. and I believe that MS being a software company first and foremost that the statement is true. time will tell, when the apps are all rolling out.

 

[nofrill]

Which brings us to the next Surface tablet -- the Intel version with Windows 8 Pro. Though under 2 pounds and only 0.53 inches thick, it will pack a 10.6-inch 1,920x1,080 display, Mini DisplayPort, 4GB of memory, up to 128GB of solid-state drive storage, and a Core i5 chip.

What is so special about the Win8Pro Surface? It is just another ultrabook packed with the latest Core i5, which will probably be priced at $700 and up. You may even say it is crippled by a smaller (10 inch) screen / keyboard.

There are already lots of ultrabooks running Core i3 and i5 now - MacBook Air, Toshiba, Asus, Acer, HP etc. All of them have at least 11-13 inch screens but this is probably what customers want in a proper "laptop" computer: a decent size screen, and particularly a decent size keyboard to use. Apart from a cramped keyboard, I don't know how good the battery life is when the physical dimensions of the tablet +/- keyboard is already smaller than the 13+ inchers, plus they have to make it "slim and modern".

For sure G3 i3/i5 sap less juice than the previous generations, but they are not Intel Atoms and Clover Trail - these are designed to be power-frugal from the beginning.

 

[onthebottom]

I'm interested in taking a look, if M$ is successful here I think it will be to Androids detriment more so than Apple. M$ knows how to build a developer ecosystem (something Google apparently struggles with). I'd also like to see how Office works on a tablet... I'm thinking it will be coming to iOS and Android in the near future.

I'm a bit surprised at how vicious some to the reviews have been.... Must be some pent up M$ hate out there.

 

[WoodPeckr]

I'm a bit surprised at how vicious some to the reviews have been.... Must be some pent up M$ hate out there.

Yeah....but that's just nibs being nibs, the Apple salesman.....:eyebrows:

 

[b4u]

I'm a bit surprised at how vicious some to the reviews have been.... Must be some pent up M$ hate out there.

ok, so now it's completely clear that you look at nothing but Apple centric,everyone else sucks, kind of websites and your pent up M$ hate is showing clearly!!

Vicious!!??!!?? really????? I've seen many many reviews and have yet to find a "vicious" one. though I don't often visit the pro Apple sites or blogs(usually only when i need a chuckle) so I could be wrong.
Sure there have been reviews where they found there is a lack of apps available and that it's not perfect(yet).those were the biggest complaints i found so far.(pretty vicious huh?)

Everyone loves the fact that the keyboard works so well and that MS Office IS included in the price and that it's the ONLY true content creation and consumption tablet on the market at the moment.


So now i'll post some of the "vicious" reviews lmao

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc-mac/tablets/microsoft-surface-1085839/review

Microsoft has to get the price right – the current thinking is comparable with iPad and 10-inch Android tablets for Surface RT rather than with the 7-inch Kindle Fire – and battery life has to be good.
Surface doesn't feel like an iPad in your hands; it feels like a well-designed Windows tablet crammed with clever touches that make it practical.
But this is the first hurdle in a number to come in the tablet race – sure, the design and construction of the Microsoft Surface tablet is great and in a blind test would fare well against the best the tablet world has to offer.
The next stage is convincing the world that Windows 8 is a comparable tablet OS to iOS and Android, and making it competitive on cost too.
But the first move is a good one – giving choice, an excellent array of hardware and a well-designed tablet range to those that are still unsure whether the current crop of slates can match their needs.
It also sends a message to Microsoft's hardware partners: this is the standard for Windows 8 tablets should adhere to, unless you're going to get seriously competitive on price.

http://www.ubergizmo.com/2012/10/microsoft-surface-rt-review/

The Microsoft Surface for Windows 8 RT ($499.99) represents an important step in Microsoft’s entry into the tablet market. While it does not even try to win the “specification” war, it is important to note that it has a unique value-proposition for those who are interested by using a tablet for productivity purposes, and who like to manage files and setting within a known Windows environment. On top of it, add a 9-hour battery life and a 1.5 lbs weight and you will understand why Windows users start salivating.

To put it simply: if your would-be tablet usage revolves around working on Microsoft Office documents, Email and web browsing, the Microsoft Surface RT basically crushes everything else, because no other mobile platform offers a complete Office file compatibility. This has to be one of the main friction point for people who want to work with a tablet. We highly recommend the optional cover keyboards as well, even if we wish that they were cheaper ($120 and $130).

http://www.wired.com/reviews/2012/10/microsoft-surface/all/
Wired score it an 8

Fast to charge, slow to die. Amazingly fluid gesture-driven interface. Kickstand + Type Cover + Office applications mean it can pull double duty as a functional laptop. Type Cover is the phattest skinny thing since Mike D. OMG, a USB port on a tablet! I’m totally charging up my iPhone with this thing.

http://reviews.cnet.com/tablets/microsoft-surface-rt/4505-3126_7-35332494.html
CNET score 4.5 stars out of 5

Microsoft Surface's Metro interface is innovative, elegant, powerful, and versatile. The tablet feels strong and well-built, includes Office 2013, and rich video and music services. Its keyboard cover accessories are the best ways to type on a tablet, period.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/23/...ew/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

The Microsoft Surface with Windows RT's $499 starting MSRP means those thinking about making the investment here will be carefully cross-shopping against same-priced offerings from Apple, ASUS and others. Where does this one rate? Very well -- but very differently. While those devices are primarily targeted at content-hungry consumers, the Surface is a slate upon which you can get some serious work done, and do so comfortably. You can't always say that of the competition.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6385/microsoft-surface-review

Whether or not Surface is priced appropriately really depends on how much you value Windows RT and getting Office 2013 for free. I suspect if you’re already a big Office user, you’ll see a lot of value in the bundle. On the Windows RT side, whether or not that platform has value really depends on how frustrated you are by the multitasking, task switching and lack of screen sharing (two apps on the screen at once) of other mobile OSes. Depending on your feelings on those two issues Surface will either feel like a bargain, or too much.

As a device, Surface is incredibly well executed. It makes sense that Microsoft’s OEM partners are feeling the pressure as there’s very little that I would change about Surface from a design perspective. The chassis is well built and the integrated kickstand is seriously one of the most useful features to ever meet a tablet. The optional Touch and Type Covers complete the package. While a full sized notebook is going to deliver a better typing experience, when paired with its Touch/Type covers Surface results in a more productive platform than any other tablet.

Surface is the most flexible tablet I've ever used. Through two seemingly simple additions to the design (but incredibly complex to actually develop and implement), Microsoft took a tablet and turned it into something much more. If you're frustrated by productivity limits of currently available tablets, Surface really seems to be the right formula for a solution. It's important to note that Microsoft's execution with Surface establishes the company as a competitive powerhouse in the mobile design market. I can only imagine what multiple revs of the design will give us, not to mention what could happen if Microsoft set its obsessive sights on smartphones or notebooks.

The Windows RT experience, in many senses, is clearly ahead of what many competitors offer in the tablet space today. Multitasking, task switching and the ability to have multiple applications active on the screen at once are all big advantages that Microsoft enjoys. For productivity workloads, Surface is without equal in the tablet space.

Content consumption is also great on the device. Surface's display isn't industry leading but it's still good. Reading emails, browsing the web flipping through photos and watching videos are all good fits for the platform - just as good as competing solutions from Apple or Google.

damn, that's vicious stuff!! lol

 

[b4u]

the tablet does look interesting though.
cool ads

Yea i agree the ads are cool!

 

[b4u]

 

[b4u]

 

[sailorsix]

I don't need a tablet now but I did just upgrade to Win 8 for $16. I bought a used HP a month ago for $240, added an 120gig SSD for $59. Use the original 260g HD as 2nd'ary drive.
Boots in 8 secs.
Win 8 is very slick tho I am still playing with the customizations. Have not had any issues with my pre-existing s/w (office 2010, Photoshop Elements, Chrome)
Will now see if my wife's Netbook running Vista is eligible for the $16 upgrade as well although she doesn't like change much.

 

[nofrill]

b4u - I think what OTB said about "vicious" comment was not directed towards you but me. When I read my own posts again, it does sound rather harsh.

It is not my intention to squash Microsoft. I merely want to point out that the products are nothing revolutionary - it is all about marketing making people believe that they want / need the newest because they are the "best".

I am also cautious with new operating systems because they tend to be released before all the kinks have been worked out - the Android OS is the best example (and the manufacturers continue to do so, using paid customers as beta testers). You can say Microsoft might have missed the boat on tablet devices, after Apple iPad and Android tablets already staked their claim. I hope that Microsoft did more troubleshooting with their new RT operating system before releasing it (no more Vista horror story again please).