MS Surface Pro hybrid tablet/laptop a mythical device?

[MrX8503]

Came across this interesting article. I agree with a lot of the points like screen size and aspect ratio. I also agree with it being a fat tablet.

The article says that hybrids will never work, which I think is a bold claim. Hybrids may not work this gen, but I think it could work once we have ultra efficient tech.

http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/23/technology/laptop-tablet-hybrid-surface/index.html

 

[thecapsaicinkid]

I don't think big tablets are going to work in general, keyboard or not. Not until we can get them down to the same weight and holdability of the 7" tablet.

 

[Red Storm]

It's the first generation model, give it a revision or two and it will look and work much nicer. The article saying that they will never work is a pretty stupid claim.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

It's amazing that after 50 years of being proven wrong over and over again, we continue to see arguments of the form "this will never work because nobody will be able to squeeze X into a Y sized package". The processing power that used to fill a room can now fit on your fingernail, and they still keep saying it.

 

[Pia]

Came across this interesting article. I agree with a lot of the points like screen size and aspect ratio. I also agree with it being a fat tablet.

The article says that hybrids will never work, which I think is a bold claim. Hybrids may not work this gen, but I think it could work once we have ultra efficient tech.

http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/23/technology/laptop-tablet-hybrid-surface/index.html

Hybrids are already fine, if you have need for the specific functionality they offer. I'd seriously consider buying one now if Haswell wasn't right around the corner.
Digitizer + tablet form factor + serious desktop apps for drawing and note-taking = win.

 

[Phokus]

The way microsoft does the hybrid, it will never work, but i've always loved how ASUS does it with their transformer series of tablets/keyboard docks, they do it right.

 

[Leymenaide]

600 for RT
So windows 1100?
If this is where they have to be for price they are dead.
Any bets on when MS will blow out there Surface RT kit?

 

[MrX8503]

I don't think big tablets are going to work in general, keyboard or not. Not until we can get them down to the same weight and holdability of the 7" tablet.

That's an interesting point. I find myself wanting a 7" because of how much more portable it is.

It's amazing that after 50 years of being proven wrong over and over again, we continue to see arguments of the form "this will never work because nobody will be able to squeeze X into a Y sized package". The processing power that used to fill a room can now fit on your fingernail, and they still keep saying it.

I think that's true for a lot of tech, but I think tablets is kind of a different animal. Tablet computers have been around for ages and died a miserable death and now its being resurrected. The important thing is to not repeat the same mistake.

Hybrids are already fine, if you have need for the specific functionality they offer. I'd seriously consider buying one now if Haswell wasn't right around the corner.
Digitizer + tablet form factor + serious desktop apps for drawing and note-taking = win.

I would disagree. Hybrids kind of suck and I'm not convinced about the whole digital note taking part. Pen and paper is way more accurate and typing is way faster than digital note taking. So if I need to write notes, I use a pen and paper.

 

[Throckmorton]

These devices are the holy grail for artists and photo manipulators. The problem is that AFAIK only Sony has one with a real digitizer. I want a 15" laptop with a stylus operated touch screen.

They're ignoring the real market and trying to make toys that people don't want. Android/iPhone tablets work fine as toys.

 

[Leymenaide]

These devices are the holy grail for artists and photo manipulators. The problem is that AFAIK only Sony has one with a real digitizer. I want a 15" laptop with a stylus operated touch screen.

They're ignoring the real market and trying to make toys that people don't want. Android/iPhone tablets work fine as toys.

Yes
Plus a smart board .
If the tablet is priced so teachers can afford them they would be huge.

 

[MrX8503]

These devices are the holy grail for artists and photo manipulators. The problem is that AFAIK only Sony has one with a real digitizer. I want a 15" laptop with a stylus operated touch screen.

They're ignoring the real market and trying to make toys that people don't want. Android/iPhone tablets work fine as toys.

I think they tried making a work tablet. We've had them for years but now they're dead.

 

[Ravynmagi]

I bought a Samsung Ativ Smart PC 500T because I wanted a tablet and laptop hybrid. Unfortunately what I got was something that was both slightly disappointing as a tablet and a laptop (more like netbook).

As a tablet the 11.6 inch 1.7 pound device was just a bit too big and awkward. And I wasn't too crazy about the 16:9 ratio on a tablet either. As a laptop, the Atom does an okay job running x86 apps, but the video playback abilities were underwhelming.

I decided I'll probably be much better off with a 10.1 inch Windows 8 tablet and a separate laptop for now. I'd really love to see an 8 inch Windows 8 tablet though.

 

[Puddle Jumper]

These devices are the holy grail for artists and photo manipulators. The problem is that AFAIK only Sony has one with a real digitizer. I want a 15" laptop with a stylus operated touch screen.

They're ignoring the real market and trying to make toys that people don't want. Android/iPhone tablets work fine as toys.

Microsoft, Samsung, Lenovo, and afaik Asus are all shipping Windows 8 tablets with active digitizers

Microsoft should have aimed Windows RT at the 7" tablet market. A $350 Windows RT tablet with a ~8" 1366x768 screen and a Krait dual core would have been very appealing imo.

 

[Dominato3r]

600 for RT
So windows 1100?
If this is where they have to be for price they are dead.
Any bets on when MS will blow out there Surface RT kit?

Actually you can get x86 versions for ~500. Atom just has to keep up with ARM.

 

[Aganazer]

I have a hunch that we will see less demand for the 7" tablet once we have smartphones with larger screens and no bezel. The iPad mini would fit in a jeans pocket fine if not for the bezel. Just my opinion.

 

[thecapsaicinkid]

I have a hunch that we will see less demand for the 7" tablet once we have smartphones with larger screens and no bezel. The iPad mini would fit in a jeans pocket fine if not for the bezel. Just my opinion.

A 7" tablet will already fit in a jeans pocket. A 7" tablet with a front facing camera and minimal bezel is still freaking huge for a phone.

 

[IamDavid]

Lenovo Helix will prove this idiot wrong. Actually my Samsung Ativ has already. MS released the surface as a marketing, strategic move to force hardware manufacturers to do what they wanted. Does anyone seriously think MS will allow themselves to fall further behind Apple or Google?