The missing link: Microsoft Surface
extremetech.com
extremetech.com
"From the get-go, and despite Redmond’s very noisy protestations to the contrary, Windows 8 is obviously a touch-first operating system. This kind of made sense; with tablets and smartphones very quickly taking over the world, Microsoft was compelled to quickly bolster its mobile presence. In the process, though, Microsoft was effectively screwing over its installed base of 1 billion non-touch Windows PCs. Surface is the missing link. The strategy is now perfectly clear: If you want to experience Windows 8 properly, you have to buy a Microsoft tablet."
In some aspects, this announcement was strikingly similar to RIM's Playbook announcement: reviewers were unable to play with it, price was an open question, and it was still months away from market.
It's not ready. At all. That's fine, I understand why they had to announce this now (even if it was a bit earlier than would be ideal), but Microsoft knows when it's releasing Windows 8 and the lack of a hard release date for Surface is totally unrelated.
With that in mind, how do you know they don't know when Surface will be released? Just because they didn't announce it?
Our Deputy Editor was at the event and he described it as the most "controlled demo experience"[1] he's ever had -- and Chris has been at this since the late 1990s. That didn't surprise me at all because any time you spend most of your presentation talking about the engineering of the Touch Cover (which does look incredible) and not the apps, the battery life or the timeline, it's not ready.
I think this has potential -- especially at the Surface running Windows Pro level -- but it was curious to see them announce it SO early, when it's clear the device isn't ready in any way.
My gut tells me that the RT version will start at $500 and the Pro version will start at $1000. Knowing Microsoft, I've got to think they are aggressively aiming for a November release date for the first version and a February or March for the Pro. I don't think it's likely it will appear before then.
My bigger question is what specific APIs are they going to unveil to Windows 8 developers that take advantage of the Surface devices -- and will there be Surface-specific apps that won't work with the other Windows 8 tablets. As I wrote late last night, I expect that within a year of this thing's release, we won't see any other consumer-facing Windows 8 tablets on the market.
That to me is actually the most interesting part of this whole thing. Microsoft has taken Apple's approach to fully integrating the hardware (I don't think this is their version of the Nexus line of devices...I think they've created what they want to be THE Windows 8 tablet experience, not simply a flagship example).
[1]: http://mashable.com/2012/06/18/hands-on-with-microsofts-tabl...
I don't have the answer to that.
As for APIs, it doesn't seem impossible to think that there might be apps that take advantage of the Pen technology in the Intel version of Surface or the Touch Cover and Type Covers and that those APIs might only apply to the Surface devices. I really don't know. That's my point.
And optimizing a tablet around landscape mode (thanks to using the tv standard 16:9 aspect ratio, which is awkward in portrait) is a blunder . It's one of those Apple advantages that sits in plain sight and Apple barely acknowledges, while they happily watch their competitors miss the point entirely. That 4:3 aspect ratio gives the iPhone it's killer app - it makes every website feel like a magazine. I think it's part of why Android tablets are largely failing - landscape is unappealing on a small screen.
These factors combined with its late release date (probably in the shadow of a new iPhone) and lack of Retina display, I don't see this being successful with consumers.
No--but I do see people wanting to lean back with their laptops on the couch. At which point, they pull off the keyboard, close the kickstand, and treat it, temporarily, like a tablet.
I seem to recall MacBook and MacBook Pro co-existing for years without a hint of ridicule...
The Samsung Galaxy is officially named the Samsung I9000, but the retail packaging shows a more user-friendly name.
Are you really arguing color, though? It's a black tablet with a handful of color choices for the cover/keyboard. Brown Zune has no bearing on this.
Zune failed because it was late to market and was saddled with a corporate owner that lacked credibility in that particular marketplace.
Sources for the above dates and stats are Wikipedia
I stand by my argument that Zune entered into the market just as that market died. Your point about the credibility is another part of the whole package.
Well I wish I had a small piece of the billions Apple made from that dead market.
Your point about the credibility is another part of the whole package.
What package?
The whole package of niggles that kept the Zune from mass market success. One was the fast-shrinking market for PMPs. Another was the fact that it was Microsoft, an inherently uncool corporation. I'm agreeing with you on this point.
Apple making money from the "dead" market, I believe, is a huge factor in the death of the market. It's a small market to begin with, people who want an MP3 player with a music store and mandatory music management software but don't want a smartphone. In that small of a market you'd be a fool to consider Product X over an iPod in that market no matter how much better Product X is. There's only room for one major player there, and Microsoft doesn't do well when they're relegated to second place.
I'm agreeing with you, but also standing by my assertion that Microsoft had no chance in the market no matter how awesome their product was/could have possibly been.
So is no excuse. Better wait a month or more but smash eveyone with what the device is doing software wise and not what periferals it has.
Now you can always argue why Microsoft chose it to demo it now in its beta form but that is anybody's guess.
And that's the problem - Microsoft pushing a product that isn't really there yet. All sorts of really important details (battery life, touch responsiveness, price, etc) are unknown and unverifiable.
Right now, this is nothing more than a paper launch, bordering on vaporware.
It happens all the time, even during apple keynotes.
I know this thread is not about apple but I don't know of any tech demo that is guaranteed to have a 100% success rate.
My imagination pictures me connecting the Surface to my PC via USB and being able to use it as a touch control while viewing on a normal monitor.
Am I dreaming, or do you think someone at MS has had the same idea?
Enterprise users can use Windows apps the rely on for work and still enjoy a tablet experience.
If they nail the keyboard/touchpad feel then this solves the need to buy a laptop and a tablet.
Many laptop users dock them at work for use with a monitor, keyboard and mouse.
People who travel a lot may find good use also. Work and play in one package.