Surface: Between a Rock and a Hardware Place
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Surface: Between a Rock and a Hardware Place
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Re: Surface: Between a Rock and a Hardware Place
#2 Microsoft this week showed itself willing to do what was once unthinkable: design and sell its own computer hardware
They are giving too much choice (1). To me, the real issue is availability. They shouldn't have had the press conference until the device was available on the same day. They _always_ do this, and it rarely works out. They would have sold more devices in the first week, had it been available immediately, then they now will in a quarter.
(1) http://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_ch...
Re: Surface: Between a Rock and a Hardware Place
#3I think Surface could be a pretty compelling product if all the stars align, but the fact that Microsoft wouldn't even let members of the press touch a working keyboard and the overall fragmented quality of the launch does not bode well.
Re: Surface: Between a Rock and a Hardware Place
#4I think Surface could be a pretty compelling product if all the stars align, but the fact that Microsoft wouldn't even let members of the press touch a working keyboard and the overall fragmented quality of the launch does not bode well.
I question the timing; it seemed rushed to get in front of Google I/O. The press had to stand behind a roped-off table of Surfaces to take photos. Clearly the hardware and software is not ready--nor does it have to be for an October-ish launch. But why did they have to demo it now when the press couldn't have their way with it?
All that said: take my money. I want one of each.
Re: Surface: Between a Rock and a Hardware Place
#5I'm not really sure what this post is trying to say. Is it trying to criticize Microsoft? It doesn't really feel like it. Is it just a "this is a very important time for MS" post?
I think that's obvious. It IS a very important time for MS and Windows 8 needs to do well. I think the post misses an important angle to Surface though: in large part it is meant to make OEMs step their game up. It shows what Microsoft envisions can be done with a good formfactor and Win8. OEMs need to step up to the plate and make similar hardware. Not necesarily identical but very much in the same spirit.
A well execution should dent iPad sales because on paper, Windows 8 with a good form factor destroys the iPad every time.
Side note: I thought the keynote was actually fine. I completely agree that something seemed rather off about Sinofsky. He did seem nervous and he usually delivers quite solid keynotes. It was strange. I think everyone else performed fine. I actually liked the way the keynote was set up. At first it's just a tablet which is cool in of itself. Then it has a kickstand. And then it has a keyboard. Surprise after surprise.
Re: "Design is about making decisions, and Microsoft could not decide. ARM or Intel? Who should be on stage? Soft or hard keys on the keyboard cover? They went with 'all of the above'."
Windows has always been about having a lot of options. I think it's wonderful that there will be both an ARM version and an x86 version.
Re: Surface: Between a Rock and a Hardware Place
#6> Skepticism about these things doesn’t require knee-jerk Apple fandom. It simply requires an open set of eyeballs.
This is why I don't read Daring Fireball regularly. It's a blog solely focused on being skeptical about everything. The whole premise seems to be to find flaws in products/services and tell the world about them. I don't mind skepticism, but there's a difference between "it has these cool concepts, but it ain't perfect and probably will fail" and "it's going to fail because of A, B, C, D, … Z"
Gruber might be accurate, but in my daily reading I prefer people with a bit more positive thoughts.
Re: Surface: Between a Rock and a Hardware Place
#7I think Surface could be a pretty compelling product if all the stars align, but the fact that Microsoft wouldn't even let members of the press touch a working keyboard and the overall fragmented quality of the launch does not bode well.
I question the timing; it seemed rushed to get in front of Google I/O. The press had to stand behind a roped-off table of Surfaces to take photos. Clearly the hardware and software is not ready--nor does it have to be for an October-ish launch. But why did they have to demo it now when the press couldn't have their way with it? All that said: take my money. I want one of each.
I imagine part of it might be to just get more excitement about Windows 8 both in the consumer and developer community. Perhaps they thought that it might make more developers begin to make apps for Win8? Anyone who was thinking about it should probably be convinced by now that it's a good platform...
Re: Surface: Between a Rock and a Hardware Place
#8I'm not sure I follow Gruber's post here, which ironically points out how Microsoft's presentation this week for a tablet was incoherent and all over the map (kind of like this post.) I guess he's trying to assess Microsoft's position in the market by comparing their product announcement presentation skills to Apple's.
Really, when will the likes of Gruber learn that consumers will decide if they like those products, and they'll do so with their wallets. Surely he doesn't believe that Apple's success with i{whatever} is due to slick, coherent stories told onstage at some event they couldn't get into.
The truth is that the masses who buy these devices could care less about product announcements, Apple included. Apple customers will line up for the next item, no matter what it is. Microsoft customers -- well, not quite sure what floats their boat, but they'll do their thing.
These announcements are for lighting up the third-parties who like to consider themselves quasi-insiders. Like Gruber, for instance.
Re: Surface: Between a Rock and a Hardware Place
#9Microsoft this week showed itself willing to do what was once unthinkable: design and sell its own computer hardware What about the Zune, Kin and Xbox. Two of them might have been disasters, but clearly MS has a history of designing hardware. They are giving too much choice (1). To me, the real issue is availability. They shouldn't have had the press conference until the device was available on the same day. They _al…
I agree (about too much choice). Opinions make great products (think Apple, python, 37 Signals), but Microsoft appears to be trying to hedge their bets in every regard. Unfortunately, that rarely (if ever) works out.
That said, if it can do what they claimed and the price isn't stupid, I'll have one (then replace my MacBook Air with a MBPro). I'm not holding my breath, though. I've lost all faith in "product announcements" that don't actually have the product.
MS has all of the engineering talent to make this happen. I'm far from convinced that they have the leadership talent to make Surface a true success[1].
1. In this case, true success means taking an appreciative percentage of the market and inspiring changes in competitors' products (meaning they are thought leaders). MS is so large in the enterprise space that they may be able to turn this into many sales, but that doesn't mean they will be the ones pulling us into the future.
Re: Surface: Between a Rock and a Hardware Place
#10I think Surface could be a pretty compelling product if all the stars align, but the fact that Microsoft wouldn't even let members of the press touch a working keyboard and the overall fragmented quality of the launch does not bode well.
It crashing during the presentation was a disaster and you could see it in the presenter's face. Man was that uncomfortable to watch. To me, it kind of summed the whole presentation; this is a hugely important moment for Microsoft, and they have a lot riding on the success of this tablet, yet they're rushing it to market. It's clearly not ready for primetime. It'll be interesting to see how the next few months play out.