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Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

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Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#521

Post by discordance »

NTH wrote: post #374
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…

Remember the original iPod commercials? They were completely devoid of "meaningful content"; it was just people dancing. Consumers went apeshit for it.

At least there was some convergence with the theme of music and enjoyment. The Microsoft ad is pretty abstract. Reminds me of the Mr. Plow ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTY5EKN6bzM

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#522

Post by rimantas »

peterkelly wrote: post #445
greedo wrote: post #398

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"too limited for tablets." mkay. I think the market disagrees with you a bit. And your strawman about being the "main machine" is contrary to Apple's goals. They would like nothing better than to sell you an iPhone, iPad and MacBook.

The OS is fine, except for the lack of a user-visible filesystem. It's the apps that are often limited, compared to their desktop counterparts.

Oh god, there we go again. You can forget user-visible filesystem. Normal people don't care about "files". They care about their music, photos, videos and documents. Filesystems are vestige from the past, not the future.

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#523

Post by weiran »

freehunter wrote: post #403
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. T…

> 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.

Hold on, where is this fabled device?

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#524

Post by lloeki »

tpurves wrote: post #438
kjhughes wrote: post #76

After 5 minutes of scanning their site, I still cannot find the display resolution of their offering, but I have found: "Coming Soon." "Images are design renderings and not photographs." "1, 2 Actual size and weight of the device may vary due to configuration and manufacturing process" Anyone find a better spec sheet than this one? http://www.microsoft.com/global/surface/en/us/renderingasset... Why can't Microsoft pr…

ah, actually you can find all the stats here: http://www.anandtech.com/show/6016/microsoft-surface-we-go-h...

Interesting.

Anyone know what a Micro HD video connector is? Does that mean Micro HDMI?

Ironic that they go with MiniDP on the Pro when everyone cries for the lack of HDMI on the iPad. On the Pro, 900g is quite hefty, and 13mm is quite tall. Even 676g is tough to swallow given people called the iPad 1 heavy (712g) and rejoiced when the iPad 2 lost 112g.

Also, knowing that the battery is foobar Wh tells me shit unless I know the system wattage. Seriously can't they say about 10h of playing mp4, which actually means something?

I may look a bit bashing, but I'm honestly thrilled to know more about this.

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#525

Post by jpadkins »

Mythbusters wrote: post #480
mtgx wrote: post #457

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Ivy Bridge won't offer anywhere near the battery life of an ARM tablet, though. At best it will be half of that.

What it will offer though is a full compatibility to existing windows application. People might be ready to lose a few hours of battery life for that.

what windows app exactly will people trade for few hours of battery life?

seriously, other than PC games, I don't know a single windows app I want to run on a tablet form factor.

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#526

Post by shriphani »

Ignoring all the judgement we're passing on this product, a good engineering effort deserves praise. Looking at this segment of the presentation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jozTK-MqEXQ#t=41m32s), with my extremely limited understanding of manufacturing and physics, I am truly surprised how they managed to fit so much functionality into 3mm.

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#527

Post by Arvuvg »

LockeWatts wrote: post #27
ThomPete wrote: post #20

I think it's pretty safe to say that this is Microsoft going all in on the consumer market. 1. Video doesn't really show anything but it is admittedly well made. 2. You have to actually download the tech specs. 3. The tech specs have little meaning. (At first glance what is ClearType HD Display, some sort of Retina?) It's like they took the apple philosophy even further. Not sure how I feel about this but I guess now…

>some sort of Retina? The power of Apple's marketing cannot be overstated here. You're referring to a Microsoft screen by an Apple trademark.

I think the best part about all the people making the comment about "Microsoft trying to copy Apple's Retina" is that Microsoft's "ClearType" has been around for so, so many years longer (I remember seeing it in Windows XP, but it may have even come in before that).

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#528

Post by eurleif »

Arvuvg wrote: post #527
LockeWatts wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>some sort of Retina? The power of Apple's marketing cannot be overstated here. You're referring to a Microsoft screen by an Apple trademark.

I think the best part about all the people making the comment about "Microsoft trying to copy Apple's Retina" is that Microsoft's "ClearType" has been around for so, so many years longer (I remember seeing it in Windows XP, but it may have even come in before that).

Microsoft has been using the name ClearType for years, but for something completely different: subpixel hinted font rendering. This "ClearType display" has nothing to do with that, besides the name.

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#529

Post by jpadkins »

calinet6 wrote: post #380
lunchbox wrote: post #235

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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…

You can say all that, and you might be right. But the entire site is crap. And I'll admit I'm saying that on a primarily emotional, rather than rational or practical, basis. The images are just straight links, the renderings are poor half-assed CAD drawings, and the colors make it seem like a play-dough ad. I'm sorry, but this is not professional work. It looks like something I did in high school, in one weekend. As…

can you show us some examples of your work that put this site to shame?

Re: Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

#530

Post by Jacqued »

mrich wrote: post #514
tylermenezes wrote: post #485

I don't understand the "OMG MICROSOFT MADE A TABLET IT IS CLEARLY COPYING THE IPAD" reaction Microsoft's getting here. They're absolutely ahead of the curve with the blending of mobile and desktop operating systems, something which I am extremely happy they are doing, and this is absolutely the logical design choices someone in that position would make. Yes, it's very similar to the iPad in many ways. But other than…

I would not call the Galaxy SIII an awful product. According to many reviews it is the best smartphone available on the market.

According to yet more reports the HTC One X actually holds this title. In part, due to a level in industrial design that samsung has yet to achieve.

Disclosure : I own a One X. I waited for the SIII announcement but the minute I saw the SIII i ordered my One X.

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