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Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

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Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#401

Post by numo16 »

lunchbox wrote: post #235
MrFoof wrote: post #7

They have a video on the main page. The video is a minute long. They have asked for my attention for a minute. In that minute, they have not told me anything about what the Surface can do for me, and why I should care about it. I'm absolutely baffled by that. Yes, I might know what it is, and have some idea about what it can do, but if this was a television commercial, I'd bet money that such a campaign would be a qu…

Successful companies have learned that a (shockingly) large proportion of consumers form impressions and make decisions on a primarily emotional , rather than rational or practical, basis. That's what this video is designed for. It inaugurates the brand, piques the viewer's interest, and plants the seeds of desire. Trust me, there will be plenty of time in the coming months for in-depth product reviews, spec comparis…

In other words, see the Verizon Droid ads that pushed android into being a major competitor to iOS..Android didn't do it all by themselves; Verizon put together commercials that evoked emotional responses that brought in the people who wanted the phone that was a robot.

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#402

Post by jawngee »

Samuel_Michon wrote: post #394
kulkarnic wrote: post #384

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, so what? If you read HCI papers from the 90s (it's what I do for a job-- I'm a PhD student in HCI), you'll see that a lot of very respected researchers claimed that speech technology is not useful (their claim is well-founded: it is slow, environmental noise is unavoidable, what to say is often not obvious, and there's the Midas problem). But, here we are, with people praising Siri. It's how technology works--…

For what it's worth: I'm not entirely convinced that Siri will ever work as advertised. I think the new car smell is gone and lately I've read nothing but complaints. Apple really needs to step it up. I expected more of the iOS 6 announcement, like a Siri API for third party apps and better communication between apps. That is what's needed to even come close to the 80s Knowledge Navigator idea. I mean, the dictation…

I use Siri constantly:

- change playlists when when I'm working out or biking

- set the alarm when I go to bed

- reminders (a lot)

- the weather

- looking up something on wikipedia and imdb

- and sending short sms messages

I'd say my use has grown over the last few weeks as I'm biking a lot more. There was an initial trust issue, and I still sometimes have this weird feeling of being on the spot when I'm dictating to Siri, but otherwise best "app" on the phone for me.

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#403

Post by freehunter »

thought_alarm wrote: post #217

I occasionally use a Bluetooth keyboard with my iPad when I feel like firing off a bunch of email from my recliner. The keyboard is on my lap and the iPad is off to the side. It's nice because it's literally the exact same keyboard I use with my laptop and my desktop. The Surface's attached, floppy keyboard wouldn't work for me at all. If I need to set up at a desk then I'll just pull out my laptop. The concept of a…

If I need to set up at a desk then I'll just pull out my laptop.

Then you're not in the target audience.

And if it's not a full stroke keyboard then I don't see it as being very comfortable to use.

Then you're not in the target audience.

I also dislike the 16:9 screen.

Then you're not in the target audience.

Remember when Apple went on about the "post-pc world"? This is that. And that is successful. People like it. They can watch a movie in its native aspect ratio at full screen, and also put this at a desk and type, wherever that desk may be.

I was in a meeting with a division of IBM this morning, and one of their engineers pulled out his iPad, propped it up on the folding cover, and proceeded to peck away on the virtual keyboard while taking notes. I asked him to look up specs and pricing for a bit of hardware. He looked at the iPad, then reached down to pull out his Thinkpad to look up the information.

Even if you don't accept that the general market will buy this, you have to admit that a full-featured desktop Windows x86 OS running smoothly on a 10" tablet with an integrated full laptop-style keyboard that also will keep you entertained watching 16:9 movies on the flight back is a pretty appealing concept.

I could see something like this replacing my corporate Thinkpad just for the sheer convenience of being able to pick it up and move it to someone else's desk while still working. With HDMI-out, I can drive a second monitor as well. That's pretty spectacular.

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#404

Post by InclinedPlane »

BrianLy wrote: post #295
InclinedPlane wrote: post #215

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Huh? I've used an HP slate, I have a friend who owns one, you can buy one right here: http://www.amazon.com/HP-Slate-500-8-9-Black/dp/B00465QM6Q

They are pretty terrible, and a dead end in terms of Windows 8 support based on my experience.

Sure, but they exist. Using them as an argument that the Surface is merely vaporware is a non-starter.

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#405

Post by numo16 »

adriand wrote: post #256
commieneko wrote: post #207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What I got was mercury, dust/particulates, fractured minerals, and the sense of invasive magnetic fields. I think they were going for power and ... something. Instead I get toxicity, contamination, brittleness.

You're right. Where Apple tends to emphasize family, connectedness, ease of use, utility, and general happiness, Microsoft has chosen to emphasize technology in a harsh, dominant manner that reminds me of the Borg.

Worked for the Droid.

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#406

Post by stcredzero »

runako wrote: post #62

"Unexpected error occurred." at http://www.microsoft.com/surface/ Not a good omen. (Edit: they fixed it.) Without having seen the product, I'd say that its fortunes will be based largely on its price point. They need to have a compelling offering in the $499 range, or this is going to be a blip on the iPad/Kindle Fire market.

They would still have a chance in the business market.

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#407

Post by Judson »

kenjackson wrote: post #400
technoslut wrote: post #392

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've always thought Apple was pretty clear in the direction they were headed when Jobs made his car and trucks analogy at All Things D. The iPad is meant for the 90% of current users as their main device. The PC is for the heavy lifting for those in fields such as audio, video and science. There may be a time where a tablet can meet these needs but I certainly don't think we're close yet.

One thing about Jobs... he was good at saying, "XYZ is a bad idea" right up until the day he announces "we're doing XYZ and it will change the world". Once Apple can get iOS working well on x86, they'll do the same.

From what I understand, the problem with x68 is the lack of processors that can compete with ARM on battery life, which is one of the most important aspects of a portable device.

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#408

Post by cubicle67 »

barista wrote: post #274
noonespecial wrote: post #254

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks. Seriously. How hard was that? I have to do a browser plugin upgrade just to watch and ad ?! The whole ship is made of fail.

I assume your browser came integrated with adobe flash

no flash here and it (yt link) played fine

edit: no flash or silverlight, and yet both the MS video and the youtube one play fine

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#409

Post by dennisgorelik »

someperson wrote: post #387
dennisgorelik wrote: post #347

I just see how ad designers for that picture/video prepare their creatives on their macs and fill dirty for selling their souls to M$. That also brought me another memory: Zune. So much hype and so poor results. Microsoft should stick with desktop/business software and keep milking it. MS is not capable of doing anything else profitably anymore.

Keep in mind they've sold a lot of Xbox 360s and Kinects. Not sure how much profit they've made, but it shows MS can make commercially successful, desirable hardware.

Microsoft invested way more in gaming division than it made.

I doubt Microsoft would ever recover that investment.

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