Posted on 06/22/2012 6:08:58 PM PDT by SmokingJoe
The Surface tablet unveiled by Microsoft at its mysterious event in Los Angeles this week looked very impressive. It obviously faces very stiff competition from the Apple iPad—which dominates the tablet market. But, there’s a very good chance that businesses will flock to the Surface (or other Windows 8 tablets) if Microsoft delivers something close to what it presented to the media.
I am a huge fan of the iPad, so I don’t make that claim lightly. I have owned all three iterations of the iPad thus far, and I’m not prepared to abandon the New iPad any time soon. That said, I also love Windows, and I appreciate that businesses that rely on Windows PCs and Windows-based applications would love to have something like an iPad that also happens to be Windows. As it happens, I’m also in a position to compare the two side by side…almost. I don’t have a Surface tablet, but I do have a Samsung Series 7 Slate PC running the latest Windows 8 Release Preview. As far as devices actually available today to the general public go, this is about as close as you can get to what you can expect a Windows 8 tablet like the Microsoft Surface to be. --------snip------- The iPad is a tremendous device for working on the go, but it requires a lot of “duct tape and chewing gum”. You have to find apps and workarounds that let you be productive until you can get back to your “real” PC, and find ways to smoothly integrate and sync data between the two. But, with a Windows tablet you just use the same tools and software you always use.
(Excerpt) Read more at pcworld.com ...
So, can I install Linux on it?
Ah, yes, the Seqway, code name Malissa, Elissa or something. Going to transform transportation forever. Some Scot or Irishman bought the company and then rode one of the things off a clift.
As for touch-screens, they drive me nuts. I’m a touch-typist and can’t stand not being able to feel the keys. Touch-screens have turned touch-typists into finger probers.
Just my rant.
Only if you're thinking of buying a new phone. Even the top of the line Windows 7 phones will not get an upgrade to Windows 8. Everybody who bought one is stuck on 7.
Which is why Microsoft completely ditched it, replacing it with the incompatible Windows 8? This will be the second time in a row that Microsoft abandoned its previous generation of mobile users.
The only reason it's a tenth of a millimeter thinner is because it has a lower-resolution screen. It's actually a good bit thicker than the normal-screen iPad 2. And it'll feel even thicker in your hands because of the squared edges (necessary to put all those ports in it).
The battery comparison is interesting, 31.5 vs. 42.5 W-h. Apple uses that larger battery to drive the high-resolution display, so battery life may be about equal. Apple has set the 10-hour standard, and nobody wants to fall below that.
IIRC, you were first saying that when Apple was around 200, and now they're almost 600. Anybody who took your advice then would be in a world of financial hurt.
Don't have any Apple stock. Nor Microsoft stock. Nor any other stock.
If I had any money, I'd have Apple stock instead, and could take your advice. But having no money, I have neither, so I'm afraid I cannot take your advice.
> Agreed, but there's just as many articles out there trashing it on no more evidence.
And they sound even sillier and shriller, if that's possible. :) And I've taken some to task for trashing something that can't be evaluated yet.
Like I said, I like the design and think if it's marketed well, it has a decent chance in the marketplace. If you check my posting history, I've been saying for months that Microsoft should get the lead out and put something on the market that can compete credibly with the Apple juggernaut. So I'm happy to see this getting brought to the public attention. I just wish it was REAL, like in a few weeks instead of a few seasons.
So will Windows RT tablets, with purchases through Windows Store.
Have to use Itunes to add files from an external source.
Various applications have the ability to load their own files.
Can’t watch certain types of video without re-encoding.
Every system has the set of videos that it has codecs for.
And no SD reader or USB port?
Thankfully. Managing everything between the internal memory and SD card in my Android was a PITA.
Heck, you could take pictures with your digital SLR camera using a full size SD adapter then put the micro SD in your tablet and see or edit the pictures instantly
Since you note the use of an adapter is acceptable to you, just get the iPad Camera Connection Kit, which comes with USB and SD adapters. If you are a serious photographer, this setup even supports RAW (and Apple is continually shipping RAW updates as new cameras come out).
I’m still dying to know if I can boot Ubuntu on a Surface, though
No. Windows 8 will use Secure Boot, optional on PCs, but mandatory for tablets. No OS or driver without a cryptographically signed key will run on the hardware. Fedora purchased a key through Microsoft's developer portal, and that pissed off a lot of people. Ubuntu has not purchased a key.
> Apple did that with the original iPhone, which was announced in January 2007, and wasn't released till June 29, 2007. Didn't do them any harm did it?
Your point is acknowledged.
But I might comment that in 2007 there wasn't a similar competing smartphone already in near-total dominance of Apple's desired market. Things like the Blackberry were widespread but that wasn't what the iPhone was intended to compete with.
Microsoft faces the more difficult situation that having tipped their hand, they've given Apple and their third-party accessory vendors many months to come up with competing features. For example, the cool keyboard/cover. If somebody doesn't offer one for the iPad within 3-4 months I'll be astonished.
So while the 5-month delay didn't hurt Apple, I don't think Microsoft has that luxury. I hope it doesn't hurt them.
Don’t forget... people will be able to watch Youtube videos on it from day one without trying to pull some crazy hack or workaround.
Pfff your Obama/Apple fanboi site won’t let you hotlink :’(
> No. Windows 8 will use Secure Boot, optional on PCs, but mandatory for tablets. No OS or driver without a cryptographically signed key will run on the hardware. Fedora purchased a key through Microsoft's developer portal, and that pissed off a lot of people. Ubuntu has not purchased a key.
Well, that's poop-y. (The Secure Boot I mean.) Microsoft's fawning imitation of everything Apple does -- in this case running a closed "walled garden" -- is getting out of hand.
Key-wise, I wonder about CentOS, since that's closely related to Fedora. CentOS is my favorite distro by far.
Nope. Whoever compiles the binaries has to sign, and I doubt Fedora will let them use their key.
The major reason for this is historical. Apple announces as it did this year at the *developer* conference. Traditionally, Apple announced the products and developers and accessory makers then had several months to get their products ready so they could be available upon release.
And with one glaring exception, Apple announces and then delivers. You know it's not vaporware, you know it's a finished product that will hit the shelves on that date, and during this time Apple is mainly having its manufacturers ramp up enough supply for the release date. That exception was the white iPhone 4. Engineering white glass that wouldn't bleed light and interfere with the camera, flash and proximity sensor was apparently more difficult than anticipated.
“But having no money.....”
Sell some assets and short Apple before this iPad destroyer comes out
I’m all for competition and applaud an Apple / MS shootout.
MS certainly doesn’t have a rep for “user friendly” and it will be interesting to see how their venture into hardware turns out.
Ford vehicles equipped with MS supplied MyTouch/Sync were responsible for Ford moving lower in the JD Power quality ratings.
http://www.insideline.com/ford/ford-gets-dinged-again-in-jd-powers-quality-study.html
It's Windows 8 on a USB stick—full operating systems and user files—that you boot to on another Windows PC. It won't have access to the PC’s hard drives; just the USB data space.When finished, shutdown, remove stick and the computer reboots to it's original O/S configuration.
Caveats: It has to be a USB 3.0 with at least 32GB free space. I've made them on as small as a 16GB 2.0 stick, but awfully slow to load. 3.0 is definitely fast to load and run!
This let's me carry my desktop around with me. As long as someone has a system that's bootable from USB and a USB 3.0 port, and they'll let me use it ;->
The reason for that particular announcement was far from historical. It was to generate buzz for the product, 6 months before launch(which did did).
“Traditionally, Apple announced the products and developers and accessory makers then had several months to get their products ready so they could be available upon release”
And that doesn't apply to Microsoft surface tablet?
All that applies to the surface tablet as well, no?
Listen, Microsoft was able to keep the tablet secret for so long, but how long do you think it was going to remain secret, after Microsoft has just signed a contract with a Taiwanese ODM(Pegatron)to manufacture the product(which they have),and they actually started making it?
” You know it's not vaporware, “
Neither is the surface tablet. Its been contracted out already:
http://www.winmatrix.com/forums/index.php?/topic/34713-microsofts-surface-tablet-to-be-wi-fi-only-at-first/
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