Microsoft Unveils Surface

The Surface by Microsoft Website introduces Microsoft's newly announced tablet PC that will presumably be their showcase for the upcoming touch-enabled Windows 8, though its most talked about feature may be the keyboard built into the 3mm-thick cover (5mm if you want clicky keys). There are live blogs of the announcement on Gizmodo and Wired, and the official press release with specs is on Kotaku, where they note the device's gaming capacity will be shown off by Skulls of the Shogun (thanks nin). Here are those specs:

Surface for Windows RT

  • OS: Windows RT
  • Light(1): 676 g
  • Thin(2): 9.3 mm
  • Clear: 10.6" ClearType HD Display
  • Energized: 31.5 W-h
  • Connected: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
  • Productive: Office ‘15' Apps, Touch Cover, Type Cover
  • Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand
  • Configurable: 32 GB, 64 GB

Surface for Windows 8 Pro

  • OS: Windows 8 Pro
  • Light(1): 903 g
  • Thin(2): 13.5 mm
  • Clear: 10.6" ClearType Full HD Display
  • Energized: 42 W-h
  • Connected: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
  • Productive: Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block
  • Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand
  • Configurable: 64 GB, 128 GB

(1), (2). Actual size and weight of the device may vary due to configuration and manufacturing process.

Suggested retail pricing will be announced closer to availability and is expected to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel Ultrabook-class PC. OEMs will have cost and feature parity on Windows 8 and Windows RT.

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55 Replies. 3 pages. Viewing page 1.
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55.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 20:03
55.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 20:03
Jun 19, 2012, 20:03
 
Congrats Microsoft, .... on being 5 years behind the times, ... again.
54.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 19:21
54.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 19:21
Jun 19, 2012, 19:21
 
Creston wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 11:42:
How well is that standard software from the back catalog
A) Going to run on a tablet?
B) Going to run on W8?


A: That's a good question.
B: As well as Windows 7.

If I'm wrong about B could somebody explain why. Even VB6 apps are supported on 8.
Avatar 17249
53.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 15:36
53.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 15:36
Jun 19, 2012, 15:36
 
avianflu wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 14:13:
pricing is key

If it costs $1200 or up, the MS tablet is just another laptop with a keyboard and ports on the side.

Given what it is that price makes sense, but at that price it's DOA. It needs to be $999 to have a chance, $799 gives it a better one.

$799/$499 and maybe. Maybe.
Maybe.
52.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 14:13
52.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 14:13
Jun 19, 2012, 14:13
 
pricing is key

If it costs $1200 or up, the MS tablet is just another laptop with a keyboard and ports on the side.
51.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 13:09
51.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 13:09
Jun 19, 2012, 13:09
 
Dmitri_M wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 11:49:
TheEmissary wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 11:12:
A lot of people want and will pay the extra premium for the x86 tablets because they aren't confined solely to the walled garden and can run standard software from the back catalog.
That's a very limited market. Unless MS are happy selling this device only to a niche community of tech geeks. There isn't a real tablet market. It's all Ipad. I have single digit IQ relatives who are about as tech savvy as a garden hose cavorting about with Ipads excitedly. MS's latest OS is rock solid and the BSOD meme is played out, and inaccurate, but the "ha ha bsod" BS is taken as fact amongst casual tech users. The comparisons to the Xbox, that MS can sell this at a loss are forgetting that unlike the Xbox there are no games to make money off of, no long term gaming community to build. Can't compare a console to a gadget like this.

Actually you can make the comparison for a number of reasons. They are behind in tablet sales and they need to get bolster the market share of the device. Microsoft is also likely to get a publisher fee for distributing apps/games through their new marketplace. Amazon for instance is reportedly taking a loss on hardware for the Kindle Fire but making it back on the software/media sales done on the device.

Windows 8 really appeals to two categories of people. That is why I said those that want a open device will buy the x86 those that want a cheaper but locked down experience will buy the ARM version.
50.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 12:04
50.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 12:04
Jun 19, 2012, 12:04
 
HorrorScope wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 12:00:
Which will do more, this or a laptop? Whichever can do more, should be priced higher.

Does technology ever work that way?
Or, maybe I should rephrase, define "do."


Things that do a lot aren't always expensive. Things that do enough but are slim and light usually are.
49.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 12:00
49.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 12:00
Jun 19, 2012, 12:00
 
Which will do more, this or a laptop? Whichever can do more, should be priced higher.
Avatar 17232
48.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 11:52
48.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 11:52
Jun 19, 2012, 11:52
 
Verno wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 11:36:
I can't shake the feeling that everyone is just rebuilding the laptop, the keyboard almost seems like a direct admission that touch interfaces can't solely meet most users interaction needs. The form factor might be attractive to some people I guess more than anything else but laptops and netbooks seem to have some overlap there too. I don't really see the App ecosystem in place to drive this thing with casual users either.

I'll talk to some friends and family later to see what they think of it after the mainstream press does the rounds tonight.

People are desperately trying to find the product that offers full usability and full mobility.

I still think it will be a multi-device solution: one main CPU/screen and many other input/screen options. But maybe it'll just be screens and a centralized cloud CPU.
47.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 11:49
47.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 11:49
Jun 19, 2012, 11:49
 
TheEmissary wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 11:12:
A lot of people want and will pay the extra premium for the x86 tablets because they aren't confined solely to the walled garden and can run standard software from the back catalog.
That's a very limited market. Unless MS are happy selling this device only to a niche community of tech geeks. There isn't a real tablet market. It's all Ipad. I have single digit IQ relatives who are about as tech savvy as a garden hose cavorting about with Ipads excitedly. MS's latest OS is rock solid and the BSOD meme is played out, and inaccurate, but the "ha ha bsod" BS is taken as fact amongst casual tech users. The comparisons to the Xbox, that MS can sell this at a loss are forgetting that unlike the Xbox there are no games to make money off of, no long term gaming community to build. Can't compare a console to a gadget like this.
Avatar 22350
46.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 11:42
46.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 11:42
Jun 19, 2012, 11:42
 
TheEmissary wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 11:12:
A lot of people want and will pay the extra premium for the x86 tablets because they aren't confined solely to the walled garden and can run standard software from the back catalog. Being able to have full experience is a huge deal for tablets especially when most tablet apps are just phone apps on a large screen.

I have a feeling the ARM version will be the loss-leader for Microsoft kind of like what they did with the XBox. I can see that version being comparable in price to either to the iPad or a low end notebook.

Ultimately it comes down to what people need or want out of the device. If you want a media consumption device then the iOS/Android tablets will fill that need far cheaper. If you want netbook/ultrabook with different form factor you might be considering the Microsoft tablet.

How well is that standard software from the back catalog

A) Going to run on a tablet?
B) Going to run on W8?

I think that'll be a huge question that those people are going to need an answer to before splurging.

And I don't know that there are that many people who get a tablet for serious work. There have been a few tools at my work who demanded an iPad "so they could work better!" and the company bought them all iPads, and of course they hardly ever use them because, yeah, you can't do serious work on them. A tablet's a coffee table toy.

Creston


Avatar 15604
45.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 11:36
45.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 11:36
Jun 19, 2012, 11:36
 
I can't shake the feeling that everyone is just rebuilding the laptop, the keyboard almost seems like a direct admission that touch interfaces can't solely meet most users interaction needs. The form factor might be attractive to some people I guess more than anything else but laptops and netbooks seem to have some overlap there too. I don't really see the App ecosystem in place to drive this thing with casual users either.

I'll talk to some friends and family later to see what they think of it after the mainstream press does the rounds tonight.
Avatar 51617
44.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 11:12
44.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 11:12
Jun 19, 2012, 11:12
 
Creston wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 11:01:
Beamer wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 10:44:
Creston wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 10:38:
Yes, but how often will it BSoD / do I need to reboot it to keep it working?

I'm gonna hazard a guess and say this will go the way of the Playbook and the TouchPad.

Creston

I doubt it. Plus, with Microsoft tightly controlling it, I doubt there will be many BSODs. I'd think this board is technical enough to know where BSODs tend to come from.

Bad drivers. What in Microsoft's history has given you any kind of idea that they can write drivers worth a shit?

Anyway, so far the Tablet market has seemed to be dominated by hipsters who will only buy something when it has Apple on it. Amazon managed to get good penetration with the Kindle because it was several hundred bucks below an iPad (and really isn't a competitor to the iPad to begin with.)

Every other iPad competitor has pretty much failed horribly, no matter its OS, specs, or company behind it. I'm not sure why MS thinks that they will be different, unless they truly believe that people are just DYING for Win8. (And Balmer is insane enough to actually believe that.)

The MS name attached to it is a burden, not a blessing.

Well, I guess it could be succesful if they sell it for 300 bucks or so. Which is pretty unlikely.

Creston

A lot of people want and will pay the extra premium for the x86 tablets because they aren't confined solely to the walled garden and can run standard software from the back catalog. Being able to have full experience is a huge deal for tablets especially when most tablet apps are just phone apps on a large screen.

I have a feeling the ARM version will be the loss-leader for Microsoft kind of like what they did with the XBox. I can see that version being comparable in price to either to the iPad or a low end notebook.

Ultimately it comes down to what people need or want out of the device. If you want a media consumption device then the iOS/Android tablets will fill that need far cheaper. If you want netbook/ultrabook with different form factor you might be considering the Microsoft tablet.
43.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 11:11
43.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 11:11
Jun 19, 2012, 11:11
 
Verno wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 10:09:
The Xbox and Xbox 360 were largely failures on their own merits, Microsoft simply kept dumping cash into them until they had finally gotten where they wanted to go. They need to be prepared to do that again if they want to take on Apple and Google to a lesser extent.

Yeah, and MS doesn't have enough money to outspend Apple, and probably not even Google anymore either. Though it'd be awesome if they tried, and we could get those three locked in a price war with each other. I'd gladly buy an iPad if it was $99

Creston
Avatar 15604
42.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 11:01
42.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 11:01
Jun 19, 2012, 11:01
 
Beamer wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 10:44:
Creston wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 10:38:
Yes, but how often will it BSoD / do I need to reboot it to keep it working?

I'm gonna hazard a guess and say this will go the way of the Playbook and the TouchPad.

Creston

I doubt it. Plus, with Microsoft tightly controlling it, I doubt there will be many BSODs. I'd think this board is technical enough to know where BSODs tend to come from.

Bad drivers. What in Microsoft's history has given you any kind of idea that they can write drivers worth a shit?

Anyway, so far the Tablet market has seemed to be dominated by hipsters who will only buy something when it has Apple on it. Amazon managed to get good penetration with the Kindle because it was several hundred bucks below an iPad (and really isn't a competitor to the iPad to begin with.)

Every other iPad competitor has pretty much failed horribly, no matter its OS, specs, or company behind it. I'm not sure why MS thinks that they will be different, unless they truly believe that people are just DYING for Win8. (And Balmer is insane enough to actually believe that.)

The MS name attached to it is a burden, not a blessing.

Well, I guess it could be succesful if they sell it for 300 bucks or so. Which is pretty unlikely.

Creston
Avatar 15604
41.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 10:44
41.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 10:44
Jun 19, 2012, 10:44
 
Creston wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 10:38:
Yes, but how often will it BSoD / do I need to reboot it to keep it working?

I'm gonna hazard a guess and say this will go the way of the Playbook and the TouchPad.

Creston

I doubt it. Plus, with Microsoft tightly controlling it, I doubt there will be many BSODs. I'd think this board is technical enough to know where BSODs tend to come from.
40.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 10:38
40.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 10:38
Jun 19, 2012, 10:38
 
Yes, but how often will it BSoD / do I need to reboot it to keep it working?

I'm gonna hazard a guess and say this will go the way of the Playbook and the TouchPad.

Creston
Avatar 15604
39.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 10:35
39.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 10:35
Jun 19, 2012, 10:35
 
Verno wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 09:02:
2 years too late, I'm not sure they'll get any serious traction unless they sell it at a major loss for awhile. When it comes right down to it I'm just not sure there is this large untapped touch screen market, it seems like Apple already has the "casual Youtube and email" demographic pretty well cornered.

2 years too late, what are you smoking. Microsoft has had tablets since Windows XP but they were often priced around that of a high-end laptop. In fact you could buy a tablet running Windows 7 now in an 10in form factor. It is kind of funny how people ignore what is already on the market.

The only major difference to the new wave of tablets is size, touch centric OS, and price.

38.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 10:15
38.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 10:15
Jun 19, 2012, 10:15
 
Verno wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 10:09:
I expected them to do something original and instead it's just yet another tablet, a bit disappointing.

The Windows 8 one is pretty original - it's a full computer in tablet form. It's actually running an i5, not an ARM, which is a pretty big deal, and it's got a fully functioning OS.

Now, whether that's something anyone wants or not is another question. I'd certainly buy one as my next tablet, replacing my miserable TouchPad, if the price was right, but I do not expect the price to be right.
37.
 
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface
Jun 19, 2012, 10:09
37.
Re: Microsoft Unveils Surface Jun 19, 2012, 10:09
Jun 19, 2012, 10:09
 
Those keyboards are common for other tablets though, my parents have one that's built into a case for their silly ipad. Built in is great, don't get me wrong but it's not a crazy innovation that people are going to be lining up outside stores to get.

The real question is whether Microsoft is going to outspend Apple or not. That's the only way they've really succeeded in a market in the past decade. The Xbox and Xbox 360 were largely failures on their own merits, Microsoft simply kept dumping cash into them until they had finally gotten where they wanted to go. They need to be prepared to do that again if they want to take on Apple and Google to a lesser extent. There's also this weird cross competition between this, Ultrabooks, OEM Android offerings and so on. Sure they are considered distinct markets by the manufacturers and vendors but I think there is a lot of overlap when it comes to consumer perception and spending.

I expected them to do something original and instead it's just yet another tablet, a bit disappointing.
Avatar 51617
36.
 
Re: Genius
Jun 19, 2012, 09:45
36.
Re: Genius Jun 19, 2012, 09:45
Jun 19, 2012, 09:45
 
Prez wrote on Jun 19, 2012, 09:30:
Typical of Microsoft - late to the party again. They have a habit of releasing good products to the marketplace too late that are liked by critics but ignored by most everyone else. It does look like a nifty device though; maybe this will avoid the fate of the Zune and Windows phone.

The MP3 and cell market were too late for them to get into, but it's still early for tablets. And this actually setup as being the first real viable alternative to a laptop I've seen. I may spring for one. A tablet can have practical work applcations for me, but without an easily accessible keyboard it's useless, so this fills the niche very well.

"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
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