A Microsoft Tablet???

[Dominato3r]

Important thing to remember about these tablets is that they run windows, and so they fit into the windows driver model.

That is the same model that allows you to plug in any keyboard, mouse, headset, camera, phone, ipad, usb thumbdrive into a windows machine and have it work without fiddling around with drivers.

If this keyboard isn't your cup of tea, the keyboard on your desktop will replace it

 

[SketchMaster]

I can't see Win8 tablets failing.
We will see all the traveling business people carrying these Win8 tablets vs a laptop.

This is what I did when I was hopping around Afghanistan while contracting, my company gave me a laptop with a 15-16" display and an extended battery; they refused to give me a smaller laptop. I HATED carrying it around due to its size and weight, and was always having to deal with people around the office "borrowing" my power brick for their laptops.

I bought the Asus P121 and never looked back, my laptop sat in my storage trunk for the rest of my time out there. There was something about being able to mark up a chart/powerpoint/map right there in front of people like it was a little white board, I got a lot of impressed looks from people whenever I pulled out the stylus and started to draw up changes/ideas right on the spot.

Now that I'm back home, I still use my tablet very heavily for meetings and walking around the office. It's running Windows CP 1 on it at the moment, so there are a few glitches here and there; but, I've given a few presentations on it using the HDMI out and I still get people saying things like "cool!" when I mark up something. Don't get me wrong, I do 90% of my work at my desk with my full-sized KB/Mouse and Dual Monitors. But when I'm not at my desk I have my tablet at my side at all times, I just like being able to walk into someone's office and have something that I can do actual work on.

To sum up, having something that bridges the gap between desktop computer and a smart phone that has Onenote, Office, and the ability to most of what a desktop can do (because it's running the same OS) all in a small package is just awesome. And Microsoft doesn't care if their device fails because some other company makes something better, they make money on licensing regardless. I think that MS has a real shot of balancing the scales between them and Apple if they can truly make Win8/RT and Windows Phone into a more unified platform (apps that run on all three Operation Systems).

I'm looking forward to seeing if MS can actually pull this off or, at the very least, make sure apple doesn't rest on their success.

 

[gus6464]

Pro version with intel and 128gb ssd is pro.









If it's $799...

 

[sagrada]

The Pro will be interesting... an i5 processor is absolutely no slouch for a tablet, and supposedly will be a full Windows 8 Experience

Could never quite justify an iPad since it is virtually just a media consumption device - but if a tablet can be more productive (work demands Excel and what not!) - it could potentially fill that niche of portable yet productive.

MS peripherals are for the most part very well designed and are class leading. Keyboards, mice, webcams, etc.

Almost forgot about that as well - they've made some killer hardware over the years

 

[Eug]

Important thing to remember about these tablets is that they run windows, and so they fit into the windows driver model.

Will they work with ARM?

MS peripherals are for the most part very well designed and are class leading. Keyboards, mice, webcams, etc.

I use RF wireless Microsoft keyboards and mice at home and at work with my Windows machines. I like them. However, they're ginormous keyboards, with full action keys that are not quite as soft as many keyboards out there, which is a good thing. Too many cheap keyboards are too mushy and soft. They're not as firm and satisfying as the old-style mechanical IBM keyboards I like the most, but then again, they don't induce carpal tunnel syndrome as much either.

However, the cover keyboard is a completely different kettle of fish. It looks like it's going to be one of those compromised designs necessitated by its dual function as a light cover. I'm sure MS will design it much better than many third parties have for the iPad, but remember, the comparison here is to a similarly priced laptop with full keyboard.

If you start with a compromised design (for the sake of sleekness and light weight) then it may be that the best you will only get a tolerable keyboard. I don't want to spend $1000 or whatever to get a full fledged laptop with a just tolerable keyboard.

This is a bit more acceptable for a $500 ARM tablet in 2012, but not so much for a much higher cost x86 non-Atom based laptop.

 

[darkewaffle]

The first tablet that made me actually curious about a tablet. I love the more industrial design to it and I think Windows8 is really compelling software for mobile hardware at last.

 

[Deeko]

Hook up the physical key cover & an arc touch mouse to the Pro version, and you've got yourself a damn capable ultrabook replacement.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Hook up the physical key cover & an arc touch mouse to the Pro version, and you've got yourself a damn capable ultrabook replacement.

Yeah, if the keyboards work as well as they implied I can see a lot of people doing that. Quite a few people are wanting to use tablets for business and the Surface Pro would be much more useful for that than an iPad.

 

[Eug]

Well, they said it works twice as well as typing as glass, but that isn't saying much because typing on the iPad royally sucks.

 

[Geekbabe]

I'm a device Ho, Microsoft just shut up & take my money Both the RT & Pro versions look interesting.

 

[pm]

I will say that I had mostly written Microsoft off, but I'm intrigued by the announcement. I spent days using Windows 8 and I'm not convinced on the desktop side... I'm an old dog and Metro is an new trick. But on the tablet side, these things look cool. They just need to price things right and I may be sold.

 

[Imp]

Very interested in this. Keyboard on back panel is also very interesting (at the least, it means no $50 "accessory").

 

[Dominato3r]

Will they work with ARM?

Yes, I think they exclusively emphasised this point. At the very least they will work with minor enhancements...

So you could take your desktop mouse and keyboard and use it with this thing, without the need to go out and buy exclusive peripherals.

 

[Super56K]

Very interested in this. Keyboard on back panel is also very interesting (at the least, it means no $50 "accessory").

I really doubt the keyboard cover is going to be included with the tablet. Sure you're not thinking of the kick stand that is built into the back panel?

 

[poofyhairguy]

Yes, I think they exclusively emphasised this point. At the very least they will work with minor enhancements...

So you could take your desktop mouse and keyboard and use it with this thing, without the need to go out and buy exclusive peripherals.

My Android tablet can already use a desktop mouse and keyboard- even a gamepad or external HD. I am interested if the Windows ARM side is going to get ported drivers for the millions of USB devices out there current mobile devices can't use - USB adaptors, TV tuners, APCs, 4G and wifi dongles, etc.

 

[Skel]

My Android tablet can already use a desktop mouse and keyboard- even a gamepad or external HD. I am interested if the Windows ARM side is going to get ported drivers for the millions of USB devices out there current mobile devices can't use - USB adaptors, TV tuners, APCs, 4G and wifi dongles, etc.

That would rely on the hardware manufacturers, of course that won’t stop most people from blaming MS for it not working on everything out of the gate.

 

[poofyhairguy]

That would rely on the hardware manufacturers, of course that won’t stop most people from blaming MS for it not working on everything out of the gate.

If I am MS I am using every bit of leverage I have against hardware companies to get those drivers in their database before launch, because as you say if that stuff doesn't work and they brand these ARM tablets as "Windows" than a lack of compatibility will be seen as MS's fault.

If they can't get that done calling anything with a ARM CPU "Windows" is a mistake in my opinion.

 

[podspi]

I really doubt the keyboard cover is going to be included with the tablet. Sure you're not thinking of the kick stand that is built into the back panel?

They claimed it was going to be. What will cost extra is the "physical" keyboard with tactile feedback. The multitouch keyboard cover is supposed to come with it.


The reaction to this is very similar to the Xbox. Some people are throwing money at their screen in anticipation (that's me!), and others are saying that Microsoft is doomed. I'm not sure what side I come in on, because while I want one, I can't imagine the other OEMs are too pleased with Microsoft right now. If Microsoft ends up taking a loss on these tablets there will be no way for the OEMs to compete with them. It isn't going to make them very popular...

 

[destrekor]

I can't lie - the Suface Win8 Pro definitely has piqued my interest. It depends on price, and what the other hardware vendors can achieve. Intel had some interesting ultrabook/tablet hybrid prototypes that - again price depending - could grab my attention very well.
But the design and functionality of that Surface just seems awesome for a true tablet design - it can be a little more, and still offer high productivity, and revert back to pure tablet. This is the environment Win8 is really designed for (I think I'll refuse it on PC - without desktop environment taking precedence, it'll be annoying - but Live ID between PC and tablet would be quite swell...). I could see myself falling in love with Win8 on a quality x86 tablet - full Metro for easy media consumption and quick work, and whatever x86 apps I want to use when I want them. Win8 seems like the perfect approach for x86 apps running on a tablet.

This all remains to be seen, this thing could be quite terrible (or terribly priced). Good thing about this piece of "Microsoft hardware" is they aren't forcing it to be the only one on the market. The software is available for any company ready and willing (though Windows RT license has a ridiculous price for manufacturers, apparently).

It definitely seems like this early announcement is less to promote their own hardware and more to jumpstart the rest of the PC industry to get their own products out there on the market.

That's the one thing that bothered me, and still bothers me, about the Zune (and the way they've approached WP7) - Microsoft seemingly hasn't allowed anyone to make a PMP, and they're scared from that market due to the Zune's failure. I love my ZuneHD but want a true "full OS" mp3 player that is compatible with Zune/Windows Music/Xbox Music or whatever it will be called. I'll have to abandon the ZuneHD at some point, and it seems if I ever do abandon it, I'll have to leave behind the Zune service as well - and I've been a huge fan of the Zune Pass.

 

[darkewaffle]

There was a decent (albeit somewhat subjective) article on BusinessWeek about the Surface and the essential idea is that Microsoft needs to set an example for the OEMs. Which I don't think is a bad idea, Microsoft needs Win8 to succeed [in the mobile arena] and for that to happen the hardware partners need to step up; it's a symbiotic relationship really, as one can't really succeed without the other.

That piece actually proposes that the Surface could essentially be a 'one time thing' to just get the ball rolling, though no idea if there's any support for that.

 

[Eug]

Yes, I think they exclusively emphasised this point. At the very least they will work with minor enhancements...

So in other words they won't work with ARM as is.

My Android tablet can already use a desktop mouse and keyboard- even a gamepad or external HD. I am interested if the Windows ARM side is going to get ported drivers for the millions of USB devices out there current mobile devices can't use - USB adaptors, TV tuners, APCs, 4G and wifi dongles, etc.

Bingo. Of course a keyboard and mouse should work. It's everything else I'm interested in.

 

[ITHURTSWHENIP]

They should have gone 199 dollars with the ARM version to take out Google and establish an early user base for their OEMs to capitalize on. I cant see many people picking the Surface over an iPad if price is similar

 

[Ns1]

I cant see many people picking the Surface over an iPad if price is similar

anyone who needs a pen with digitizer and runs ms office on a frequent basis.

 

[Slick5150]

I really think this is a game changer. It forces every company to step up and produce something better, not just another tablet they happened to stick Win8 on. I'll absolutely be buying one

 

[Dominato3r]

So in other words they won't work with ARM as is.

No I'm fairly sure they will work because I recall a blog post/video from MS saying so. I can't find it right now but it was basically an MS engineer talking about arm and how it plugs into the device driver model and windows update structure

Bingo. Of course a keyboard and mouse should work. It's everything else I'm interested in.

I'm thinking its more along the lines of what happens now with video cards. MS has some sort of "essential" drivers database within windows update. This database provides you the driver that recognizes the hardware and provides you a decent experience... however we end up going to amd/nvidia for their official ones (ccc) because of whatever performance boost they give.

Same way with plugging in a headset, wifi dongle (wut), or some other peripheral. They will work but you want to go to the headset website and download their software to change settings (bass treble etc) and the wifi dongles website to get what ever setting you want there.

Of course the real test will be when we actually get to try that ourselves