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Microsoft Announces Surface: New Family of PCs for Windows
Microsoft.com ^ | 18 Jun 2012 | MS

Posted on 06/19/2012 10:05:11 AM PDT by for-q-clinton

LOS ANGELES — June 18, 2012 — Today at an event in Hollywood, Microsoft unveiled Surface: PCs built to be the ultimate stage for Windows. Company executives showed two Windows tablets and accessories that feature significant advances in industrial design and attention to detail. Surface is designed to seamlessly transition between consumption and creation, without compromise. It delivers the power of amazing software with Windows and the feel of premium hardware in one exciting experience.

(Excerpt) Read more at microsoft.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; Technical
KEYWORDS: ipadkiller; microsoft; windows; zunekiller
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To: for-q-clinton; Swordmaker

How embarrassing. Nice 70’s interface.


81 posted on 06/19/2012 6:54:20 PM PDT by big'ol_freeper ("Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" ~ Ronald Wilson Reagan)
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To: for-q-clinton

RE: That’s the beauty of this...everyone can get the color they like.

Don’t ever do that when I am drinking a glass of wine. LOL.. How low can they go.


82 posted on 06/19/2012 6:57:27 PM PDT by big'ol_freeper ("Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid" ~ Ronald Wilson Reagan)
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To: for-q-clinton
I’ve been using windows 8 and got to say it’s good

Talk about cheerleading. Even the enterprise Microsoft representative where I work doesn't have too much great to say about Windows 8's user interface.

I remember the iPad got bad remarks when it was announced too. But then people “got it” once they held it.

That's because the iPad brought a new computing paradigm, and people weren't used to it. I remember many people saying "It needs a pen to be useful," still stuck in the Microsoft pen tablet days. It'll be easier here since the iPad has already gotten people used to the concept.

In the past, Microsoft has made some great hardware. Even the Zune was technically decent hardware (the first generation being a rebranded Toshiba), it died because it was an uninspired copy. The XBox 360 was actually pretty good, although the rush to market caused some serious initial quality problems. At least it looks like Microsoft took their time here and has some ideas beyond plain copying for this tablet. The keyboard attachment is pretty cool.

83 posted on 06/19/2012 8:56:08 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: for-q-clinton
Did you know Kinect for XBOX 360 was the fastest selling gadget in history.

By defining that as 8 million units in 60 days? Maybe for a certain period. Apple sold 15.43 million iPads in the last three months of 2011. That's an average of 5.14 million a month, or probably 10.28 million in any two month period (although because of Christmas probably more like 12 million in Nov-Dec 60 days). That far beats the Kinect. And this was months after the iPad 2's introduction, so it didn't even include the initial rush.

The iPad 3 sold 3 million units in 3 days. The iPhone 4S sold 4 million units in 3 days. So if I define "fastest selling" as how many sold in the first week, does the Kinect still win?

84 posted on 06/19/2012 9:16:57 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: driftdiver; Swordmaker
The iPAD cannot be made compliant as an end user device without locking it down so its nothing but a browser.

So I guess that TigerText HIPAA-complant universal app is just my imagination?

85 posted on 06/19/2012 9:27:42 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: Erik Latranyi
Windows 8 will be the core for not just these tablets, but PCs, Windows Phone and XBOX 720.

Wow, sounds familiar, OS X being the core OS of Macs, the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and Apple TV, and they can all share movies and many apps together.

With storage in SkyDrive, you will have access to all your files on whatever device you want.

Sounds familiar again, like Apple iDisk about ten years ago. The online storage looked like just another mounted volume. For the future with Mountain Lion, any application can use the iCloud APIs to integrate iCloud storage into the app, and iOS 6 is doing the same on the iDevice end. This is just presenting to developers what Apple has been doing with its own apps since last year.

Those that do not "get" Windows 8 are still thinking with a mouse and keyboard.

Funny, this is what we were telling Microsofties about the iDevices years ago. You didn't believe. It usually takes Microsoft a bit to grasp the concept and crank up the copiers.

I expect Apple will merge iOS and OSX down the road

First, iOS and OS X have shared the same core from the beginning, and even the iOS programming API (Cocoa Touch) is a touch- and phone-tweaked version of OS X's Cocoa API. They're already almost the same OS. Steve Jobs had an internal competition before the iPhone to determine the OS it would have, and the team that built iOS from OS X won.

But as far as the user experience and integration, this has been obvious to any industry observer for about a year and a half now, ever since Lion was previewed with iOS-like features. The Mountain Lion previews for the last months have shown a big leap further in that direction. However, I do hope they stop short of total integration. Desktop and mobile use cases are just too different to have the exact same thing on both. I refuse to hold my hand up to a monitor for hours on end, tapping and dragging on the screen. You'll be able to tell the hard-core computer users by their huge right-arm biceps.

86 posted on 06/19/2012 10:07:43 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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To: for-q-clinton

Windows! Now with new fruity flavors!

You know...for kids!


87 posted on 06/20/2012 2:51:05 AM PDT by LexBaird (Tyrannosaurus Lex, unapologetic carnivore)
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To: antiRepublicrat
However, I do hope they stop short of total integration. Desktop and mobile use cases are just too different to have the exact same thing on both. I refuse to hold my hand up to a monitor for hours on end, tapping and dragging on the screen.

That's why Microsoft is far ahead on gesture control (Kinect) so you never have to touch the screen.

88 posted on 06/20/2012 3:26:38 AM PDT by Erik Latranyi (When religions have to beg the gov't for a waiver, we are already under socialism.)
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To: Erik Latranyi
That's why Microsoft is far ahead on gesture control (Kinect) so you never have to touch the screen.

What's that other company whose gesture control has a degree of exactness that makes Kinect look like using oven mitts?
89 posted on 06/20/2012 3:44:04 AM PDT by aruanan
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To: antiRepublicrat

Sure there are LOTS of vendors out there who claim their apps are all thats needed to be compliant, very few actually meet the requirements.

As I’ve already said though, browser based apps can be compliant if you lock the device down otherwise. But then you eliminate all the capabilities of the ipad.


90 posted on 06/20/2012 4:18:19 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: PreciousLiberty

“As for the iPad, I’m sure it can be locked down to the Nth degree if the IT department wants it to be so.”

Nope, because the OS doesn’t allow it to be locked down appropriately. Its built for the consumer, not for compliance.


91 posted on 06/20/2012 4:20:21 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: PreciousLiberty

Read the articles and worked with a dozen healthcare IT shops trying to figure out a way to make it compliant.

You can lock it down to a browser only based tool, but you can’t do the rest.

“My HIPAA” concerns are those of the doctors who don’t want to pay a few million dollars when their patients data ends up somewhere it shouldn’t be. At least thats what they tell me.


92 posted on 06/20/2012 4:23:28 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: antiRepublicrat
"It needs a pen to be useful,"

There is actually a pretty strong aftermarket for stylus pens for the Ipad, Iphone and Android tablets.

I use one for my Iphone 4s because the tiny keypad makes for a lot of data entry errors, I have customers sign credit card billings on the Iphone and the stylus works much better than a finger for that, There are a lot less fingerprints with the stylus.

I have tired to use Siri for data input - but it is a joke and works correctly (if at all) less than 10% of the time.

93 posted on 06/20/2012 4:52:50 AM PDT by CharacterCounts (A vote for the lesser of two evils only insures the triumph of evil.)
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To: driftdiver
"“My HIPAA” concerns are those of the doctors who don’t want to pay a few million dollars when their patients data ends up somewhere it shouldn’t be. At least thats what they tell me."

And yet these same doctors use Windows for a good bit of their IT. Right.

I hope you find some competent "healthcare IT shops" that can handle the relatively trivial task of locking down iPads sufficiently. As you should be aware, the major threat is social engineering, not any IT issue.

You might want to point your "healthcare IT shops" at Ten iPad EHR security strategies for HIPAA compliance. It was also announced at WWDC that Facetime calls can now be HIPAA compliant.

I expect as Apple continues to perfect voice input, the iDevices will become extremely effective for healthcare. With iDevices already over 70% marketshare among doctors, Win8 will have a tough row to hoe when the products finally ship...don't forget they're still vaporware at the moment.

94 posted on 06/20/2012 5:46:39 AM PDT by PreciousLiberty (Pray for America!!!)
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To: PreciousLiberty

Nice try, this thread isn’t about the iPad but about the new tablet which will fit in with current corporate tools and controls. A tool which gives the organization control over its data rather than treating everyone like a simple consumer.


95 posted on 06/20/2012 6:30:03 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Swordmaker
it is hard to go over each item in your very thoughtful list. Let's take two - cost of add on to create compatability. 1. the keyboard you mention costs from 70 to 130...it is free on Surface and is way better than the touchscreen on the ipad. 2. then the apps cost $10 each 3. you ware working in the Cloud - way cool, but that is not on your computer and the average traveling biz person does not want to be sitting in an airport or on a plane trying to get into the cloud. Don't believe me try looking at a few forums since the Surface was announced. 600 million Windows7 users have a habit of using keyboards and having their application be seemless. iPad is 10x better than any android and it is cool for many things but it is still only half a business tool.

Yes I know plenty of folks using the iPad for e-mail,task lists and calendar functions, but they still go back to their desktop and do work on the Network in the enterprise.

96 posted on 06/20/2012 6:40:18 AM PDT by q_an_a (the more laws the less justice)
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To: q_an_a
1. the keyboard you mention costs from 70 to 130...it is free on Surface and is way better than the touchscreen on the iPad.

No, I doubt it is "free" on Surface. Pricing was not mentioned... and there are several options on the keyboard cover: color, key travel, etc,. I assure you, you will pay for it, one way or another. TANSTAAFL.

2. then the apps cost $10 each

TANNSTAAFL, again.

you ware working in the Cloud - way cool, but that is not on your computer and the average traveling biz person does not want to be sitting in an airport or on a plane trying to get into the cloud. Don't believe me try looking at a few forums since the Surface was announced.

I grant you your plane situation... but that can be handled when you are on a plane by the inexpensive appropriate Apps... but, consider this, that Surface will not fit on the tray table! No way... I can't picture it fitting. Only the higher cost keyboard might have a chance of working. I cannot see it working on your lap. I think it might have a chance in business class.

600 million Windows7 users have a habit of using keyboards and having their application be seemless.

That's what a lot of iPad adoptees thought until they started using them... and then found they did not really need one. The habit got broken.

97 posted on 06/20/2012 7:20:44 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users continue...)
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To: q_an_a

The lack of a keyboard has been raised as an issue with my business customers. Its too hard to write some of the long and technical entries without it.


98 posted on 06/20/2012 8:40:14 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Swordmaker

You make good points, but even here on Freeper land - some business people like a keyborad for long data points.


99 posted on 06/20/2012 11:00:28 AM PDT by q_an_a (the more laws the less justice)
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To: driftdiver
As I’ve already said though, browser based apps can be compliant if you lock the device down otherwise.

So, the iOS encryption libraries available to any iPad app aren't good enough? Darn, I could have sworn I saw those on the NIST AES validation list a while back (which is necessary for FIPS 140-2, which is necessary for HIPAA).

100 posted on 06/20/2012 2:33:51 PM PDT by antiRepublicrat
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