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Surface Pricing Announced - $499 USD

microsoft.com

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Re: Surface Pricing Announced - $499 USD

#81

Post by vtbose »

WrkInProgress wrote: post #73
amaks wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My point was that it's comparable to Surface: similar HW specs, no Retina display. iPad 3 offers more hence it's pricier. I simply don't see why anyone except Microsoft Office users (in 2013;-) would prefer Surface to iPad 3.

In what way is the Surface RT more comparable to the iPad 2 and not the iPad 3. The new iPad has a Retina display but beyond that ? (I'm talking about hardware) You can't even buy an iPad 2 with more than 16GB anymore.

"The new iPad has a Retina display but beyond that ? (I'm talking about hardware)" For a tablet form factor, one can argue that a fantastic display plays an enormous role in the user experience.

Re: Surface Pricing Announced - $499 USD

#82

Post by canistr »

amaks wrote: post #54
andere wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I for one really like the idea in terms of hardware, but my bad experiences with the RC of Windows 8 convinced me to not bother.

Same here. Besides, people are buying not tablets, they are buying ecosystems. Apple has the great one. Same with Amazon. Same with Google. What mobile ecosystem does Microsoft have? Very limited at this point. And virtually no apps for Windows RT.

I disagree. Browser, Office, and a keyboard make a pretty compelling argument for lots of people. All they really need is a Facebook app (which is integrated into the People Hub) and it's what most people will really want. Then they also have Messages (doesn't include GTalk, but different people use different things. A lot of the world prefers MSN Messenger over AIM for instance. And many people use FB Chat and Skype. It's not excusing MS for not having GTalk, but it does cover lots of use-cases and peole)

Re: Surface Pricing Announced - $499 USD

#83

Post by vtbose »

alyx wrote: post #36

More competition to Apple/Android is good for us. I'm surprised such a techy crowd isn't jumping on the opportunity to try out new tech. I just pre-ordered mine and I'm stoked!

It is not clear how the display quality is going to compare with IPad 3. I'm hoping to preview one (at a MS store maybe?) before deciding.

Re: Surface Pricing Announced - $499 USD

#84

Post by smacktoward »

saratogacx wrote: post #79
smacktoward wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The gaming market would seem to be out, since Windows RT devices can only run apps distributed through the Windows App Store, and the Windows App Store refuses to carry any games rated as containing mature content ( http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/10/11/windows-8-marketp... ). In other words, no matter how easy they would be to port, you couldn't make versions of Skyrim , Borderlands 2 , XCOM: Enemy Unknown , or…

That's not entireially true. The App store 18+ isn't the same as ESRB mature but ESRB AO+. >> Apps with a rating over PEGI 16, ESRB MATURE, or a corresponding rating under other ratings systems as described in the table below, are not allowed. src http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh69408...

I was going off the PEGI ratings -- all the titles I cited are PEGI 18.

Re: Surface Pricing Announced - $499 USD

#85

Post by geon »

nirvana wrote: post #70
cooldeal wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As I posted in the other story that got flagged off front page, the new TV ad is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mSckyoAMHg The good thing about the keyboard covers is that Windows RT supports mouse input unlike the iPad and a track pad is included in the keyboard covers. This will help alleviate some of the gorilla arm issues if you're trying to get work done. Native remote desktop with RemoteFX[1] support is g…

You should get upvotes because you made a counter argument with specifics. (And that TV ad is the one I was referring to.) The funny thing is, and this is totally in the realm of personal opinion-- I think all of the advantages you mention are actually detractions. Mouse input on a tablet? Seems like a big mistake (but I know, MSFT chose to go with a "windows mode" rather than port their office apps to touch) MicroSD…

You compare it to a tablet, which isn't really fair, since that's not really what MS seems to be aiming for. They are building more of a hybrid tablet/netbook. Wether that's a good idea, and they can execute it is uncertain.

For the SD slot, I think they absolutely have a use. Like transfering photos from your camera. Yes, you could do it over wifi, but then you'd still need to transfer them to another computer first. If you have one...

Even the USB slot can be extremely useful for some usecases. Look at the hacks people put up with for the ipad to connect external devices. Square use the audio jack both for powering their perhapial and to transfer data. It's riddiculous. And you sacrifice all sound while using it.

Re: Surface Pricing Announced - $499 USD

#86

Post by r00fus »

monkeyfacebag wrote: post #11
nirvana wrote: post #3

I applaud Microsoft for doing something new-- the new windows UI is very original. Further, they have managed to meet Apple in terms of pricing for a comparable iPad, something others have struggled with. But the big take-away innovation here, and the center of their marketing campaign, is that it has a keyboard cover. This seems to be about 5 years out of sync. 5 years ago, everyone expected the iPhone to fail becau…

> But after I got my first iPad, the original, I found that I could type at nearly the same speed Speed is certainly one issue, but the ergonomics of typing for an extended period favor separate screen and keyboard components. I too use a table for typing and while I'm pretty quick at it, I can't find a comfortable position that lets me do this for more than half an hour at a time. For this reason alone, the inclusio…

The included keyboard is definitely better than an on-screen one for human factors, but is it good enough to not be in the trough where an on-screen keyboard is more available (no keyboard-cover needed) and a full-size physical keyboard/mouse?

Personally, I think there is some traction in the Transformer style tablet - but the surface cover seems gimmicky. We'll have to see - if it works, I'll be thrilled.

Re: Surface Pricing Announced - $499 USD

#87

Post by r00fus »

luser001 wrote: post #35
grecy wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> they have managed to meet Apple in terms of pricing for a comparable iPad No 3G / LTE.

I don't think the $500 iPad has 3G?

You can't get 3G/4G on the Surface at any price. How mobile is that? Hotspot/cellphone-tether needed? - not going to work for some users.

Re: Surface Pricing Announced - $499 USD

#88

Post by madoublet »

freehunter wrote: post #18
jtoeman wrote: post #9

I think this is the nail on the already-likely-dead coffin of MS Surface. What's the market they are going after??? "tablet market"? nope - already dominated by iPad "enterprise"? nope - 1) not a market, 2) already dominated by iPad "budget"? nope - priced on par with iPad seriously, how are they going to push this thing? they don't have a channel like Apple nor Amazon, so they need to rely on all their other paths.…

Imagine if all other car makers said "Oh, the car market is already taken by Ford. We should do something else".

Ha, said much more eloquently than I would. I think it is odd that people are automatically dismissing it simply because it is not an iPad. I guess that is how the hive mind works now-a-days. I like the Surface because it is a genuinely unique OS. And, in many ways it is better than Apple's offering. The gestures are better, it surfaces information better, and it works much better as a productivity device. When has better become not good enough?

Re: Surface Pricing Announced - $499 USD

#89

Post by madoublet »

beagle3 wrote: post #58
pixie_ wrote: post #28

There are going to be x86 Windows 8 tablets coming out that run all your windows programs ever. A lot of people are going to be pissed and confused about 2 different versions of windows with entirely different sets of compatibility. Also x86 tables will probably cheaper, just like netbooks, just to pour some salt in your wounds you got buying an expensive device that runs no programs.

If they're going to be cheaper, they are also going to be ridiculously slow compared to the iPad (and possibly the ARM Win8), or they are going to have ridiculously short battery life, or they are going to be subsidized by Microsoft (or all of the above ....) Have you seen a netbook that can deliver 9 hours of real usage on Windows _and_ run at a reasonable speed (for $500, or even more)? I haven't. And the laptops t…

From what I have seen both the x86 and ARM perform on par with the iPad and have 9+ hours of battery life. I think you are just making stuff up now.

Re: Surface Pricing Announced - $499 USD

#90

Post by d0m »

Timmy_C wrote: post #48
d0m wrote: post #38

Who want this? http://www.microsoft.com/global/en-us/news/publishingimages/...

I think you'd be surprised at how a color that is SO DIFFERENT could make the device seem unique and individual. Everyone has either a black or a brushed metal laptop. Something this bright could sell well because of its novelty. There was a lot of buzz around the cyan version of the new Nokia Windows Phone 8.

This seems like a quick hack version where a variable has been changed to pink.. My problem with this is not the pink by itself but mostly how it doesn't fit with the other elements. Try changing the background of HN to pink to have an idea of what I mean.

The Nokia cyan is different as it still fit with the overall design.

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