Microsoft Surface Review: a Tale of Two Tablets 183
zacharye points out an early review of the Microsoft Surface tablet. Here are some relevant snippets:
"When you get over the shocking realization that, yes, Windows is now different, you begin to realize that the new home screen makes a lot of sense. ... Despite the Surface’s quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 chipset and 2GB of RAM, Windows RT is not always as smooth as I would like. Apps sometimes take a few extra beats to open, and in some cases opening an application on the Surface is much more like launching an app on an old Windows PC than on a modern tablet. ... The good news, though, is that Windows RT was built for multitasking. Commonly used apps can and should be left open, and switching between apps is as easy as swiping in from the left side with a finger or touching a mouse cursor to the top- or bottom-left corner of the display. Open apps come back to life instantly, and the animations that transition the user from one app to another are quick and smooth. ... While Windows 8 is the version of Microsoft’s new OS that has split personality disorder, the Windows RT-powered Surface truly is a tale of two tablets. On one hand, it is an engineering feat with a design that is novel and functional. It really is the perfect combination of a tablet and a notebook thanks to the Touch Cover and the Type Cover, and I felt right at home with the Surface the moment I turned it on. On the other hand, the software experience does not feel like home. It’s new, and for many it will be scary." Additional reviews are available elsewhere, take your pick: AnandTech, Wired, Gizmodo, Ars Technica, The Verge.
Re:Gotta admit (Score:2, Insightful)
While I can't stand the look of Metro, the Hardware itself is simply beautiful.
Agreed. But MS needs to reduce the price or throw in MS Office if they want to get any market share. Because as it is, I see no compelling reason to get this over an iPad 2 ($399) or even the latest iPad that came out yesterday. Yeah, the keyboard is nice but not worth the price parity with the new iPad.
Re:Some things don't change (Score:5, Insightful)
This seems like an unrealistic expectation once you remember that nobody bothers bug fixing and optimizing before release any more when they can just ship a patch a some point afterwards
FTFY
If only it were about the product, not marketing (Score:5, Insightful)
What is such a pity about this is that it really doesn't matter how good this is, how bad the iPad is, how boring the Android is, or any combination of those 3 features and platforms. Apple will either continue to convince the world that the Emperor is fully dressed, Android will convince the world that cheap is good or MS will convince the world that, well, they shouldn't change horses mid-stream.
The three platforms all work just fine. I happen to think and hope that the Surface Pro will show the world that both bulky laptops and tablets in general are technology of the past, but for the majority of consumers the difference is moot. The real challenge here is ridding the world of java applets and flash videos and getting moved on to decent, compliant, reliable web standards... Then who cares what the medium is...?
Re:Microsoft is betting on next wave (Score:5, Insightful)
Microsoft don't bother too much in losing this round with windows 8 in the tablets market, they know that is an uphill battle.
They are betting in the windows 9
You must be confusing today's Microsoft from 90's. Microsoft is terrified of not being part of Mobile, and has crippled its desktop experience to push its tablet one [whatever you think of that]. Microsoft has always been able to outlast;pay off;bribe its competitors by having Gazillions in cash. You may not have noticed who its competitors are in the tablet market Apple and Google who make Gazillions themselves, and they are incredibly successful!
Like you though I have already given up on this version of Windows being a success on the tablet.
Re:Gotta admit (Score:5, Insightful)
Just like on the iPad
...but not like Android, and that is kind of the point. Apple can get away with its closed nature, because it has first mover advantage, a fanatical fanbase, locked down customers and a perceived premium product. Android its main competitor competes on price; standards and openness. Where does a late entry with a closed OS fit into the equation!!
Re:Keyboard doesn't look that useful (Score:4, Insightful)
Seems like you are trying to use a tablet when you really want a laptop.
Re:Gotta admit (Score:5, Insightful)
Also you cannot use it in a business !!!!!!
http://www.zdnet.com/businesses-cant-use-office-on-windows-rt-tablets-7000005882/
Re:If only it were about the product, not marketin (Score:2, Insightful)
What is such a pity about this is that it really doesn't matter how good this is, how bad the iPad is, how boring the Android is
There is nothing there that is true!
As awlays, a half-lie (Score:5, Insightful)
The Ars Technica review mention this several times, if you plan to use Office in a commercial setting, you need an extra license key.
So it comes with Office, as long as you don't use it for real.
Cripple ware.
A new day and no anti-trust suits on the horizon (Score:5, Insightful)
Microsoft must be delighted, the good old days where you could get sued for trying to bundle a browser with your OS (at least in Europe) are long gone. Now, you not only include a free browser, you can include a paid office suite with the price part of the price of the device with no option to opt out. You can rig the OS to make sure that your own applications have access to exclusive APIs and functionality that third party developers will not be able to access ensuring that your apps will always be the best. All apps have to be installed and downloaded from your own app store, and you take a huge cut every single time, even for in app purchases in the future. You can ban third party developers from offering apps offering the same functionality as your own apps. Your own app store is the only one people can get apps from, they can't install or use other app stores. And you can get away with all this because Apple does it already and gets away with it just fine, and they have a monopoly and not you.
The wonderful new era of computing.
Re:Gotta admit (Score:5, Insightful)
A true MS product (Score:4, Insightful)
It has a magnetic charger connection. It has a powerful magnet... BUT when it pulls the connector out of your fingers, it doesn't align properly and doesn't work. it has to be fiddled with. Like a worn out old fashioned round charger. It is ALMOST but NOT quite the apple charger experience. Almost but not quite.
It comes with MS Office... except if you like to actually use it, then you need to buy a seperate license. The ONE thing MS can use as a sales argument is that their stuff comes with full MS support and then they don't deliver unless you pay through the nose on an already expensive device. MS has in the past given Office for free to entire governments to keep customers, yet on their own device, they charge you for a non-cripple ware version.
The touchpad on the the covers is there, possibly because you sometimes don't want to touch the screen but it is hopelessly primitive version, barely more then a trackpad.
Resolution is what top end devices came with, last yet. Full HD is what new devices come with now. And people know it.
Windows RT is compatible with nothing, not even most MS software. Don't think of running Windows Games on your Windows tablet. Another potential massive selling point, not realized.
You have to remember that the previous MS phones, Zunes and Kins weren't that bad either, they just were one step behind the competition and failed to make use of being part of MS to sell people who already use Windows. The simple fact is that Apple sold countless devices despite not being Windows. And MS didn't sell any because they ultimately also weren't Windows.
Only MS would launch a tablet with such a heavy focus on text input with a cripple ware office suite while trying to court the serious tablet user. Just give it away for free already. Geez. Live a little.
Re:Not impressed (Score:5, Insightful)
"legacy" x86 apps? What?
When you're referring to the entirety of the -current- Windows software ecosystem, except for a few corner cases that have been ported, "legacy" hardly seems the proper label.
Re:Gotta admit (Score:4, Insightful)
It's not just binary compatibility that's lacking. The entire API has been changed, so existing windows desktop apps will never be built for the RT version. Some of them will be completely rewritten, I suppose, but essentially the Surface is an iPad with very few applications and no huge pool of 'ready to convert' stuff waiting in the wings. It's kind of a marketing bait and switch. People may end up buying the Surface because they think it's Windows and will run their office apps, but it won't - unless all they care about is MSOffice. The X86 version will, but that's a whole other animal.