Microsoft Surface

[Jeff007245]

Saw some adds on this Tablet device... Couldn't help but get excited about it.

Anyone have any idea on the release date of this device. I understand that there will be 2 versions. Would it be worth it to wait for the Intel Version?

 

[Puddle Jumper]

Personally the Intel version is the more interesting of the two. The basic ARM surface tablet isn't as impressive from a hardware standpoint and we don't really know how well supported WindowsRT will be in the long run. With the surface pro you are at least guaranteed to be able to use the millions of x86 Windows apps already out there.

 

[gmaster456]

I am interested in this device as well. Windows 8/RT is going to be fantastic on tablets.

 

[podspi]

I wish they would release some pricing/availability information. Still rooting for the ARM version to be $299.

 

[finbarqs]

intel x86 will be able to sell @ a loss @ $399.99

 

[dagamer34]

intel x86 will be able to sell @ a loss @ $399.99

Queen Elizabeth is 6ft 2in. Oh, we're not supposed to be making up stuff now?? /sarcasm.

 

[Dominato3r]

intel x86 will be able to sell @ a loss @ $399.99

LOL

HAhaha , seriously this actually made me laugh

 

[Dumac]

intel x86 will be able to sell @ a loss @ $399.99

Lol I wish

The x86 surface interests me as well. Windows 8 looks pretty cool (on a tablet)

 

[kubani1]

Lol I wish

The x86 surface interests me as well. Windows 8 looks pretty cool (on a tablet)

I agree, on a tablet, i'm just not sold on how it will be on a desktop.

 

[Dumac]

I agree, on a tablet, i'm just not sold on how it will be on a desktop.

I've loaded it on a VM, but that isn't the full experience. I'm too lazy to actually install it on a machine.

I heard it flies on low end hardware, but since I have a high end desktop, why bother?

 

[podspi]

I'm using it right now to type this message on an E-350-based DM1z. It's pretty nice, but probably not the 'must have' upgrade Windows 7 was.

I'll likely get at least one license to play around with, plus a Win 8 tablet. The question now is WHICH Win 8 tablet...

 

[Mopetar]

I'm using it right now to type this message on an E-350-based DM1z. It's pretty nice, but probably not the 'must have' upgrade Windows 7 was.

I'll likely get at least one license to play around with, plus a Win 8 tablet. The question now is WHICH Win 8 tablet...

Windows 8 might end up being another Vista. I don't really mean to suggest that it will suck, or be bad, but that most people will probably skip over it because Windows 7 is perfectly fine. Windows 8 is also doing a lot of new things and taking some different approaches which will turn off some customers as well. Windows 9 is probably when you'll see more people migrate, similar to how a lot of people moved from Windows XP to 7 and skipped Vista entirely.

 

[podspi]

Yea, I don't expect a lot of upgrading to Win 8. But every new machine will come with it, and I don't think Microsoft will be as lenient with downgrading as they were with Vista (which they had to be, given that a lot of hardware didn't work with Vista at that time, while Win 8 will not have that problem).

 

[Red Storm]

I have a feeling that using traditional x86 apps on a touchscreen tablet (that will be thicker than the competition and not have very good battery life at twice the price) is going to end up being a frustrating endeavor.

 

[Deeko]

I have a feeling that using traditional x86 apps on a touchscreen tablet (that will be thicker than the competition and not have very good battery life at twice the price) is going to end up being a frustrating endeavor.

However you'll still be able to use the touch screen apps - but unlike the competition, you'll at least have the option to use those traditional programs.

The way I see it - if I get a Surface Pro, I'll use it as a tablet for browsing, consuming email/forums/twitter/etc, that sort of thing. But if I decide I want to open up Visual Studio and do some coding, well, I'm not going to be in "tablet mode" anyway - I'm going to flip out the keyboard, maybe hook up my Arc Touch mouse, and use it that way.

 

[gmaster456]

I agree, on a tablet, i'm just not sold on how it will be on a desktop.

I wasn't sure either. But it certainly grows on you. Or at least it did to me. And for $40, you might as well pick up a copy (or two). There are a lot of interesting features. It's also a lot snappier in my experience. And the notifications could come in handy for some people. You even get them in desktop mode.

 

[kubani1]

I wasn't sure either. But it certainly grows on you. Or at least it did to me. And for $40, you might as well pick up a copy (or two). There are a lot of interesting features. It's also a lot snappier in my experience. And the notifications could come in handy for some people. You even get them in desktop mode.

well, fair enough, maybe its worth it. although I'll still wait and see what it looks like upon release. but on a tablet it looks amazing and i would totally buy it, if i hadn't already blown my bi-yearly budget on the new ipad that is.

oh well, in two years who knows what'll be available.

 

[Red Storm]

And for $40, you might as well pick up a copy (or two).

... or not, and save $40-$80.

 

[gmaster456]

... or not, and save $40-$80.

It's your money.......

 

[BladeVenom]

Will it have the Xbox 360's reliability?

 

[hellfire88]

I'm excited for the Surface Pro simply cuz I can run regular x86 apps and don't have to search/test Tablet versions of the programs I use (VLC player for videos, I'm way to lazy to convert anything etc.). Also, like Deeko mentioned it'd be like a "2-in-1" device for me, meaning on my daily commute I'd use it in tablet mode for content comsumption/browsing, but when i get home I'd flip out the keyboard (or use a full-size bluetooth keyboard + mouse) and use it like a regular desktop; maybe even hook up an external monitor for a "full desktop" experience that should be able to handle most all PC-related tasks except for gaming. If it works well maybe I can sell my regular laptop and iPad .

 

[Skel]

Will it have the Xbox 360's reliability?

Not sure if serious question or attempt to make people feel like this hardware is as bad as the 360 was...

 

[Dumac]

Will it have the Xbox 360's reliability?

snap

 

[Dominato3r]

... or not, and save $40-$80.

For a person using Vista, I'd do it. It will run much better, infact better than Windows 7 would.

 

[dagamer34]

I don't think the "x86 version will get terrible battery life" argument will exist forever. Remember that this OS has to be built for the trends of at least the next 2-3 years before any major changes to the kernel. It can't be based on what is happening now, but what will happen in the future. Go back 5 or 6 years ago and running a laptop on a Pentium 4 Mobile chip basically meant you were never going to have kids if you used it on your lap. It's not until Intel got serious about mobile that they created the Pentium M, then the Core Duo and Core 2 Duo.

There's no doubt Intel is working on the next generation of CPUs that will work in the tablets just as well as ARM versions.