3 reasons Microsoft's Surface is no joke

Fortune ^ | June 22, 2012 | Don Sears

[SmokingJoe]

Many have scoffed at the idea that Redmond's tablet will succeed. But there are three crucial reasons to take the effort seriously. By Don Sears

FORTUNE -- Do not underestimate Microsoft's Surface tablet move. Its gambit to design and build its own hardware is a bold play to develop a thriving ecosystem of new products. It is centered on Microsoft's dominant property: the operating system. Monday's flashy Surface launch may have felt like an Apple event with its bright, pastel-colored keyboard, slick introductory videos and breathless hyping from little-known engineers. But, in fact, Microsoft's play is anything but Apple-like. The company is clearly trying to make tablets into hybrid PC-mobile devices, something its California rival has said is a bad idea. We don't yet know all of Surface's details -- battery life, pricing, official release dates are all to-be-determined for instance. But here are three important reasons Microsoft's Surface is likely to be anything but dead on arrival:

Reason #1: Microsoft can build an ecosystem

Microsoft (MSFT) has had success in the consumer market with the Xbox and most recently with the Kinect motion-control devices. The Xbox has become a household name with major brand extensions as an entertainment device. Microsoft disrupted gaming, and it can disrupt hardware.

Microsoft has serious engineering chops. Josh Topolosky, Editor-in-Chief of The Verge and not exactly a fanboy, was blown away by a visit to Microsoft's R&D in 2011. He wrote of that visit: "[MS] showed me a project … which would allow you to create a virtual window from one room to another, utilizing a variety of display, motion sensing, and 3D technologies… dubbed … the 'magic wall.' It was nuts. It was awesome. It was ambitious. The whole time, all I could think was: where has Microsoft been hiding guys like this?"

[antiRepublicrat]

Google image search is much better. Just drag a photo to the box, drop, and there are where it came from!

This one recognizes faces and cross-references sources, helping detectives find the pattern back to the source. It also alleviates a lot of image viewing for detectives, lessening what is obviously a huge source of stress in the job.

[antiRepublicrat]

If administration is as simple as just clicking on a series of buttons and dialog items, WITHOUT the understanding the people MUST HAVE before doing that clicking and selecting, then, you would be correct. But, that isn't all that's required is it?

Microsoft is doing a better job of abstracting complexity for the administrator, and that's a good thing that saves time. Clustering with Server 2003 was a PITA, but in 2008 it's pretty easy, click, click, click. However, what differentiates the real administrators is that 20% of the time when it doesn't go that easily, strange errors occur, things don't work as the Microsoft instructions say they should. You pay more for the guy who can still get that cluster installed, regardless of any errors that pop up. You don't trust the guy who just has "2008 clustering" on his resume, because he may have just learned point-and-click.

Kind of sounds like the reason we keep airline pilots around. The plane can take off and land itself, but you need a pilot if something unexpected happens.

[antiRepublicrat]

Correctomundo. MS couldn’t produce anything better than VB, so they had to pirate the competition’s talent.

Everybody lures talent. JC Penney and Google recently hired two of Apple's top execs. But even Microsoft has internal successes. Alex St. John, the father of DirectX, was an internal success (he pissed off management too, but Bill Gates took his side). And don't knock DirectX, even John Carmack says it's superior to OpenGL these days for gaming.

[OldEarlGray]

>>Everybody lures talent.

Uhuh. Especially when the best they could produce in house was VB.

[OldEarlGray]

[The biggest draw, to me and to a lot of other people, is the OS, or Windows 8, which, even in “beta” mode, is superior to iOS or Android. ]

Uhuh. Evidently somebody didn't get that memo.

 

[adorno]

Your moral framework came out of an XBox, did it?

I don't even own an Xbox, you moron. I know what it is, and I know it's capabilities, and my daughter and husband own one, and they occasionally use it, but, me, well, I'm not into the silly gaming stuff.

Now, go and find some other gadget to demonize.

Any technology can be demonized, including TV and radio and computers and the internet. Perhaps you're terrified by the modern world, and would like to go back to the cave ages, where technology hadn't even got started; but, beware, because, some enterprising caveman might have devised some tool for hunting and even for fighting other cavemen for their women.

However, there are places where you might feel comfortable, and perhaps even at home, and Africa and South America, and even Afghanistan, are areas where people have not modernized, and they even frown at modern technology. Go there, please, and leave the people who appreciate progress and technology alone.

[zeugma]

indows. Yeah, just like they did with Xbox, and with browsers, and with PC OSes, where, they didn't even have a presence, before they became a contender, and then, the leader. Now, they don't even have a presence to speak of in tablets, and they're about to use that monopoly they have in tablets to become a bigger monopoly? Is that about right? Methinks that, you don't know what the heck you're talking about.

Did you even bother to read my post or did you just jump at keywords to post this drivel? Feel free to find in my post where I said they have a monopoly in tablets. You're seem to be so interested in defending microsoft for some reason that you can't seem to even understan simple english.

Perhaps you're one of those that believes that, all apps that were and will ever be needed, already exist in the app store?

What makes you think I have any use for an app store, by apple, microsoft (who is now copying this concept as well), or any other company? 

Administratively, applications need to be handled too, and, it means, administrators who understand the functionality and purposes for those applications.

Well, we agree on that. The point I was making is that far too many MS-windows "administrators" don't understand the software they are using. If microsoft hasn't provided them with a "wizard" to walk them through the process, they are lost.

Perhaps you need to investigate what the heck is required before being so dismissive about what it takes to administer a server system.

LOL. you have no idea what it is that I do for a living, or what kind of systems I've worked with over the past few decades.

Besides, isn't making things as simple as possible what the Apple fanboys keep telling us that Apple accomplishes so nicely. IOW, people who use Apple computers, do so because, they don't have to think, and things come to the intuitively. So, if Microsoft is doing the same, or attempting to do the same, why would it be such a negative when Microsoft does it? Methinks that, you're just exhibiting your hate for anything Microsoft.

Again, you make assumtions about me that you don't have any rational basis for. I'll put this in small words so you can understand it. I do not use OSX. From what little time I've had to become familiar with it, it does not suit the way I work. Similarly, microsoft does not make a product that suits the way I work either. I'm sorry that it appears to bothers you deeply that some people manage to escape the clutches of microsoft and their continued push to embrace, extend, and extinguish competing products. You also conflate two vastly different environments. Desktop systems are a completely different breed than servers that do actual work. Desktop systems need to be simple and hassle free because in general users don't have a clue how to manage them efficiently. Servers, on the other hand, are supposed to be managed by people who understand the technology being deployed, not jsut monkeys that can click "OK" a couple of dozen times and think they're some kind of genious.

When the total system gets to that point, there won't be a need to worry about incompatibilities, since, the system will have become a lot "smarter", and it will be able to recognize differences between the different components and systems and OSes and hardware attached to the network.

Here, you are making an assumption that is simply not in evidence, that microsoft is interested in interoperating with any product they do not sell, unless they are forced to. They broke Kerberos, for pete's sake.

That is one of the directions for the cloud, where, no matter what hardware and/or software is communicating via the network, the network will handle all of them, including systems and hardware and software from all different vendors/manufacturers.

LOL. Yeah, the "cloud" will solve all our problems. I'm sure every company (and individual for that matter) feels perfectly comfortable shipping their confidential and proprietary data into the "cloud".

Perhaps the times have left you behind, and you are in dire need of upgrading your thinking and technology ideas.

Nope. I've just been involved in rather complex mission-critical data and applications that need security, reduncancy (localized as well as geographic), and availability. These are not generally systems you can build by clicking on a few dialogue boxes, and they take a bit more planning than saying "hey, the default options and file locations will be just fine".

[adorno]

Then, basically, if you don’t really have a dog in the fight, you were just arguing for arguments sake, and to not be left out of the conversation?

My point is still true, that, Microsoft might start out as the underdog, and even an non-player in a tech arena, but, when necessary and important to their survival, they’ll be persistent to the point of taking huge losses in the beginning. Apple and Google are the same, but, to a lesser extent. They’re not as big risk-takers and Microsoft has been in their history.

And, you are the one misunderstanding the total context of my post, especially in regards to my comments about Microsoft’s tablet. I was using the MS tablet as an example of where MS does not have a presence, but, they could become a big player or the biggest in that area; just like they did with OSes and Office software, and the game console business.

Now, I don’t know what you do exactly, and I don’t even care. My comments were just in response to what you were saying, or appeared to be saying.

Myself, I too understand what it means to administer large server systems, especially when I came from platform that basically defined what a server is. Servers vs client or requester, it didn’t matter to me, since, I was involved with all of them, with IBM systems, and with Tandem computers. Those are the original client/server paradigms. And, I know what running them entails. I was not an administrator per se, but, I supervised the people managing those systems, while also being responsible for the systems programming, and the applications development/programming. The point is not to brag; it’s to let you know that, I, very likely, also know what I’m talking about.

What I do, still, is in the development arena, so, for me, I don’t care about the platform wars, or about the fanatical defenses that people put up for their preferred gadgets and preferred companies. I find that to be utterly stupid. What I do, is platform independent, and, the more platforms and OSes and devices out there, the more people that might encounter what I’m developing.

[adorno]

What does your “visitor detail” have to do with this discussion? It’s meaningless, as far as I can tell.

[adorno]

The only solution to your complaints regarding technology, from Microsoft or from flight technology, is to, create the perfect system, where the systems will have artificial intelligence, to the point where, human intervention is never required.

We’re not there yet, unfortunately.

So, we’ll have to put up with less than perfect technology until then, which means, that the current technology will be managed by the less than perfect humans, and designed by those less than perfect humans.

[OldEarlGray]

What version of Windoze is the visitor running? LOL. So much for the “we’re eating our own Windows 8 dog food” pitch.

You worship anything else besides vaporware?

[antiRepublicrat]

The only solution to your complaints regarding technology

Not a complaint, just a statement of status quo. Anything of sufficient complexity will always require people who know how it works for the zillions of potential cases where it won't work as planned. The artificial intelligence can only go so far as people programmed it to go.

[antiRepublicrat]

And the best Apple could produce to run an iPod was — oh, nothing. They had to license PortalPlayer’s technology and hired another company called Pixo to create the user interface (under Apple’s direction though).

[OldEarlGray]

[And the best Apple could produce to run an iPod was — oh, nothing.]

Kinda of a pathetic substitute for something worth believing in, isn’t it.

We led the world to the Moon once.

[zeugma]

Iam really not interested in arguing about this, especially since the 'product' is complete vaporware at the moment. I think if you look at the history of examples for when microsoft entered into areas they did not already control by virtue of their defacto monopoly in the desktop arena, you'll see that their successes are few and far between. This might well be one of the exceptions, for the reason I stated earlier - "administrators" that will grease the way for the MS entry while continuing to erect barriers for other platforms that don't have the microsoft stamp of approval. It will take a couple of years to get a feel for how it's going to go.

Personally, I hope microsoft gets completely stomped in the marketplace. You were right earlier when you said I hated microsoft. It's not a blind hatred, but is one earned from experience. I got tired of dealing with what passes for 'interoperability' from microsoft years ago among other things.

[adorno]

You don’t want to argue about it, and you proceed to argue about it.

Are you capable of making up your mind?

However, your arguments don’t hold water.

Microsoft did not control the gaming console business, and, they weren’t in it at all, yet, after a few years of floundering and taking huge losses, they dominate the gaming system market. They weren’t in the OS business at all when they entered it, and they have dominated that area for the better part of 3 decades. They didn’t even have an entry in the internet browser arena, and they entered it, and dominated it for a good one and a half decade, and, if it weren’t for legal actions taken to kill that dominance, they would still have about 90% or more of that market. They didn’t dominate the word processing arena, and they have a stranglehold in that area too. Most companies do what it takes to compete and, if possible, to dominate, even if at times, barriers are the way of doing it. Right now, Google and Apple are setting up all sorts of barriers so that, their leading products and services can stay dominant. Why is it okay for some but not for Microsoft?

Your hatred for Microsoft if blind, no matter how much you deny it.

It’s pure idiocy to hate a company, just because they tend to dominate once they’re determined to enter and STAY in that area. Your hatred irrational, and, it’s damaging to any decisions you make in the future in the technology field and in the workplace.

[adorno]

What version of Windoze is the visitor running? LOL. So much for the “we’re eating our own Windows 8 dog food” pitch.

You worship anything else besides vaporware?

Neither your comments, nor your graphic still make any sense.

I'm using Windows 8 as I speak, and I've been using it since the developer preview. Even if someone else is posting with something other than Windows 8, it still doesn't invalidate any positive comments they might be making about the OS. There are people who use more than one computer, and I myself, have 4 different PCs that I use, and not all of them have the same OS or the same version of an OS.

So, like I said, your graphic is still meaningless.

And, I don't live in Washington, nor have I ever even visited Washington. But, whoever that "visitor" is, your graphic still proves nothing. BTW, did you know that, the vast majority of people still don't have Windows 8, and perhaps the vast majority of regular Windows users are not aware of an upcoming new version of Windows.

BTW, when it comes to Windows 8, it absolutely cannot be classified as "vaporware", since, it's already real, to millions of people who are already using it, and it's about to be made available to the masses in a couple of months. The hardware can hardly be called vaporware, since, the components for the tablets already exist, and, putting them together and applying an OS to them, is not really that much more work. The technology inside the Microsoft tables can never be classified as vaporware, since, it already exists in other already existing technology. So, even there, you are completely mistaken, and just hoping for failure on Microsoft's part. Next year, you'll be accusing Microsoft of trying to put Apple and Google out of business with the Surface tablets.

[RegulatorCountry]

Next year, you'll be accusing Microsoft of trying to put Apple and Google out of business with the Surface tablets

... and next year I'll be bumping this thread for many hearty FR horse laughs at your being such a bizarre tout, lol.

[adorno]

... and next year I'll be bumping this thread for many hearty FR horse laughs at your being such a bizarre tout, lol.

Very unlikely, since, you'll have been proven to be on the wrong side of the argument.

And, I'll be the one bumping this thread to remind you of your silliness and foolishness.

[OldEarlGray]

[So, like I said, your graphic is still meaningless. ]

You’re sure a vociferous gasbag for someone with such poor observation and analysis skills.

The graphic is a screenshot of a visit from the Microsoft corp network who was using Windows 7 -— while all during TechEd the party line was that MS was “eating their own Windows 8 dog food”.