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?"

[adorno]

They call it "Surface", because it's all surface, there is nothing underneath.

Below the surface, lies Windows 8, which is a lot more powerful OS than anything Apple or Google offer. In fact, I've been using Windows 8 for the last month as the only OS on my computers, and, it's worked flawlessly, and with greater speed, and a few more features. And, believe it or not, what defines a computer, is not the hardware features that come with it, but the software that knows how to make things work flawlessly and smoothly and to expectations.

And, why would anybody denigrate a product which they haven't even seen or touched yet? What's in it for you, except, a dislike for anything Microsoft? It's just hardware and software, and there's no need to get emotional about it.

[null and void]

I don't suppose you read all three sentences in my most, did you?

[null and void]

...post...

[adorno]

I don't suppose you read all three sentences in my most, did you?

Sure I did. But, the one that stands out, is the one I quoted, and the one which renders your other sentences superfluous. Your last sentence came across as an attempt to rescue yourself from your second.

[null and void]

Translation: I hit a nerve.

[BigBobber]

The Apple philosophy is to limit what devices can do, and Microsoft’s is to expand the things they can do. MS wants to be all things to all people. That’s hard to do.

But Job’s “total control” gave us such wonders as the one-button mouse, the keyboard with no cursor keys, cases you can’t open without special tools, and Big Brother oversite of what “apps” users are allowed to run.

The Surface has a lot of new technology that redefines how a table can be used. The iPad is for content consumers only. The Surface is clearly intended for content consumers and content creators. All things to all people.

I willing to bet in three years the iPad will look a lot more like the Surface than visa versa.

[Jerry Attrick]

Been reading the Microsoft haters on here. Same with all the articles in the other stories I read about the Surface and even Windows phone 8. I'm puzzled by the emotion people are attaching to their devices. If you don't like something, don't use it. But to declare and even wish/hope/fight for the failure of a product or company is just plain stupid...IMHO. I'm surprised that people on here are not cheering for competition....isn't that the conservative values....competition makes everybody better. I've used I-phone, Android and Windows phones. They all have their good points. I am currently using the Windows phone and for me and my needs, it has been the most easy to use and I've never had one glitch. But I don't hate the other companies.

Just my two hundredths of a dollar on the subject.

[Jerry Attrick]

Been reading the Microsoft haters on here. Same with all the articles in the other stories I read about the Surface and even Windows phone 8. I'm puzzled by the emotion people are attaching to their devices. If you don't like something, don't use it. But to declare and even wish/hope/fight for the failure of a product or company is just plain stupid...IMHO. I'm surprised that people on here are not cheering for competition....isn't that the conservative values....competition makes everybody better. I've used I-phone, Android and Windows phones. They all have their good points. I am currently using the Windows phone and for me and my needs, it has been the most easy to use and I've never had one glitch. But I don't hate the other companies.

Just my two hundredths of a dollar on the subject.

[null and void]

Worth repeating...

[Bobalu]

MS has always needed someone with the vision of a Steve Jobs at the helm.

If they could find such a one then even at this late date they could move in a new and exciting direction.

I’d start by creating a new tablet design that ran a custom version of MS Linux. I’d include Win7 as a virtual OS that ran under that custom Linux to handle legacy. I’d have a nice LARGE monitor and wireless keyboard/mouse for the tablet. I’d fix it so just placing the tablet close to the monitor would charge it and connect it up using RF. No cables!

[OldEarlGray]

If MS wasn’t around we’d be using LINUX, OS2, WordPerfect, Borland development tools, QuattroPro, Mozilla browsers and any number of similar superior products and all of those products wold be 30 years further down the road than they are now. MicroSoft is in the basic business of locking down 80% market shares with fascist marketing and 3’rd rate software

Bump := Bump +1;

Yep.

Microsoft has always been better at destroying their competition than they were at innovating anything.

 

Azure?  LOL.  I think of it as Micro$oft Virtual Picks and Shovels.   Pass the "Cumpute" Salt.

[frankenMonkey]

"All things to all people" is what is so frustrating (for me, at least) about Microsoft. It ends up not doing any one particular thing the best it could be done.

If you want content consumption, do a tablet.
If you want content creation, do a computer.

[OldEarlGray]

>>ecosystem???????

Think of it as that which grows out of a framework of buzzwords and bullshyte.

 

Got RPC?

 

[Boogieman]

“The Apple philosophy is to limit what devices can do, and Microsoft’s is to expand the things they can do.”

That, and affordability, are the big reasons why MS dominates the market, and Apple fans just can’t process that. Most people want a computer that will do what they want it to do, not what the manufacturer decides that they should want to do.

[Boogieman]

Apple fans love to feel superior; it’s just part of the Apple culture that Jobs encouraged. They get off on looking down on other people who don’t join their cool kids club.

[Tau Food]

When will they price the Surface?

[vette6387]

“At a comparable price with Apple, I’ll buy the Apple. I know it works.”

Me too! Actually, I’ll continue to buy Apple products. I had my “time with” PC’s. PC’s are like old British cars, you have to have two of them to be certain that one will be working when you need it.

[Boogieman]

When it goes on sale, duh.

[Nifster]

I agree that competion is good. It pushes innovation and cost reductions.

[varmintman]

As near as I can tell, Borland never did anything wrong or made any sort of a bad move. They should be a very major company and would be other than having been steamrolled and dogged at every step and every move they ever made.