The Microsoft Surface Tablet thread.

[slugg]

I can't be the only one excited about this thing?

There are two (2) different Surface tablet products; the Surface RT and Surface Pro. The RT version is an ARM-based, cheaper, thinner version that runs Windows 8 RT. The Pro version is an x86 slate computer and will come out some time in 2013. For the time being, this thread is about the ARM based Surface RT, since it's coming out soon.



Rumor Round-up:
- Release is rumored to be along side Windows 8, October 26, 2012.
- Pricing is purely speculative, but rumored to be between $300 and $800 for the Surface RT and Surface Pro.


Surface RT Bulletpoints:
- MicroSD, full size USB 2.0, 4 antennas, some kind of video out (mini-hdmi?)
- Windows 8 RT operating system
- Nvidia Tegra 3 (ARM)
- 10.6 inch screen, 0.37 inches thick, 1.49 lbs, 32/64 gb storage
- Stereo speakers, dual microphones, tweaked for Skype
- Corning Gorilla Glass 2 front face.


Killer Accessories - Touch Cover and Type Cover:

- Touch Cover:

- Pressure sensitive; allows you to feel the keyboard and it won't register as input.
- The device is smart enough to know when you're not using the keyboard (flipped back, for example) and will turn it off.
- Attaches via a series of magnets that "clicks in" automatically; they claim "you can't miss"
- Available in 5 colors: blue, red, pink, white, black. The device knows which color is attached to it and themes itself to match automatically. For example, look at this white one:​

Type Cover:

- Available in black
- Actual tactile keys and touchpad
​

Design Highlights:
- Kickstand. Angles the unit 22 degrees back.
- Rear camera angled 22 degrees up; allows for video conferencing while kickstand is being used. Also makes picture taking a bit less awkward.
- Chamfered edge at a 22 degree bevel away from the screen; lets the unit rest seamlessly on a flat surface while using the kick stand; also supposed to be very nice feeling in your hand.
- Kickstand makes a satisfying thud sound "similar to a high end car door" that was iterated in an anechoic chamber; Microsoft is proud of this sound, apparently.
- The part that bends on the Touch/Type Cover is modeled after the spine of a book; "feels like a book."
- Injection-molded magnesium chassis, VaporMg. Looks to be very high quality and solid.


Advertising:
- Possible TV commercial (it's on the official Surface website and YouTube).
- Microsoft Surface street ads reveal its slogan: "Click in."

 

[Strk]

I still think that the $200 price is being misquoted. It would be awesome if it came pretty close to that price difference though.

 

[Muyoso]

If that thing is $200, then Microsoft just destroyed literally all of their OEM partnerships.

Hint: Its not $200.

 

[slugg]

I agree. I'd expect $300 to $400. But hey, that's the rumor

 

[sperho]

I'm really hoping that the surface is around $500 and that devs starting working on a good ecosystem for the MS tablets. I'd love to ditch my iPad for something like this...

 

[WelshBloke]

I'm curious to see how this pans out. Microsoft seem to be confident enough in this to shape there desktop experience around it so they obviously have high hopes.

I'm not sure about the floppy keyboard though. If its a tablet it really shouldn't need one, and if it does then a laptop would be better.

 

[sequoia464]

I'm not sure about the floppy keyboard though. If its a tablet it really shouldn't need one, and if it does then a laptop would be better.

I don't remember now, do you have to use the keyboard with the surface, or do you have the option of using that or an onscreen keyboard?

I have a bluetooth keyboard for my Touchpad (android). It is nice to have the option - especially if I'm working on a spreadsheet or some office app.

 

[WelshBloke]

I don't remember now, do you have to use the keyboard with the surface, or do you have the option of using that or an onscreen keyboard?

I have a bluetooth keyboard for my Touchpad (android). It is nice to have the option - especially if I'm working on a spreadsheet or some office app.

I'm pretty certain its optional, they just seem to be making a very big deal out of it.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

I'm pretty certain its optional, they just seem to be making a very big deal out of it.

And for good reason! IMO, anyway... a computer without a keyboard is a toy.

 

[WelshBloke]

And for good reason! IMO, anyway... a computer without a keyboard is a toy.

Why? It looks like it would not be that great to type on and to use it on anything apart from a desk wouldn't work (which sort of negates the purpose of having a tablet).

That Dell flippy screen thing looks a better form factor if you're desperate for a tablet/laptop hybrid.

 

[Dominato3r]

Why? It looks like it would not be that great to type on and to use it on anything apart from a desk wouldn't work (which sort of negates the purpose of having a tablet).

That Dell flippy screen thing looks a better form factor if you're desperate for a tablet/laptop hybrid.

I does look it would be weird to type on, but traditionally MS peripherals have been top notch, so I'm going to wait and see what the reviewers think of it.

And, yeap, I'm excited for it. If the rumors of a MS Store opening up near-by are true, I'll be getting one the minute the store opens.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

Why? It looks like it would not be that great to type on and to use it on anything apart from a desk wouldn't work (which sort of negates the purpose of having a tablet).

Well, I haven't bought a tablet yet, but the x86 version of the Surface is the first that really intrigues me. IMO, the keyboard means it can function as a tablet when that makes sense, and a laptop when that makes sense.

Maybe I'm just too "old school" -- and hey, I am using a 20-year-old keyboard right now -- but I really like the option of having the keyboard available.

 

[WelshBloke]

I does look it would be weird to type on, but traditionally MS peripherals have been top notch, so I'm going to wait and see what the reviewers think of it.

And, yeap, I'm excited for it. If the rumors of a MS Store opening up near-by are true, I'll be getting one the minute the store opens.

I think the tablet will be good, I'm just not convinced by either of those keyboards.

Plus the successful tablets seem to be ones that are concentrating on content rather than specs (Apple and Amazon, not that the iPad doesn't have good specs).

 

[slugg]

The point of the Touch Cover, in my opinion, is that most people use some kind of screen protector or thin case/sleeve/binder for their tablet. So basically, it's a cool way to protect your screen while also offering some very useful functionality when you need it. When you don't need it, it goes away and disappears, practically. The keyboard is totally optional, so if you don't like it, it doesn't bother you. You can make that choice.

And remember; they still give you the option of a real tactile keyboard. That's another choice. It's nice to have some options.

This thread is now about pro-choice!

 

[sequoia464]

And, yeap, I'm excited for it. If the rumors of a MS Store opening up near-by are true, I'll be getting one the minute the store opens.

I'm Quite interested in them as well. I'm on the road more often these days and looking for a machine that can Run office.

 

[WelshBloke]

The point of the Touch Cover, in my opinion, is that most people use some kind of screen protector or thin case/sleeve/binder for their tablet. So basically, it's a cool way to protect your screen while also offering some very useful functionality when you need it. When you don't need it, it goes away and disappears, practically. The keyboard is totally optional, so if you don't like it, it doesn't bother you. You can make that choice.

And remember; they still give you the option of a real tactile keyboard. That's another choice. It's nice to have some options.

This thread is now about pro-choice!

Still not convinced.

Those keyboards only look like they would work on a desk, the point of a tablet is that its easy to use while you are carrying it around.

As you say though they are optional so it doesn't really matter, I just don't see them being the big deal everyone says.

I think providing easy access to content seems to be the way to a successful tablet at the moment. Both Apple and Amazon seem to have that right but theres no reason that Microsoft couldn't muscle in there.

 

[Zaap]

$200 might actually make sense in light of their suicide-wish on the desktop OS front. Even at a serious loss, if they could actually make enough of the things to keep up with the insane demand, it'd be like a nuke going off in the middle of the tablet market that'd shake up everything. The resulting huge user base might actually make the whole 'Metro' (or whatever they call it now, BoB2) thing make some kind of sense.

Of course, I don't expect any of this to really happen.

 

[Dominato3r]

Still not convinced.

Those keyboards only look like they would work on a desk, the point of a tablet is that its easy to use while you are carrying it around.

As you say though they are optional so it doesn't really matter, I just don't see them being the big deal everyone says.

I think providing easy access to content seems to be the way to a successful tablet at the moment. Both Apple and Amazon seem to have that right but theres no reason that Microsoft couldn't muscle in there.

They already have some muscle on that front with the deals they have from Zune (Probably the biggest online music collection outside iTunes) and Barnes&Noble.

 

[finbarqs]

I really want a retina screen... something with a high DPI so I can show clients my portfolio for my photography... it's a huge difference!

 

[Phokus]

I'm excited about the non-RT version. I think RT will bomb tbqh.

 

[arod]

Still not convinced.

Those keyboards only look like they would work on a desk, the point of a tablet is that its easy to use while you are carrying it around.

As you say though they are optional so it doesn't really matter, I just don't see them being the big deal everyone says.

I think providing easy access to content seems to be the way to a successful tablet at the moment. Both Apple and Amazon seem to have that right but theres no reason that Microsoft couldn't muscle in there.

That might matter if the only way to use the keyboard was through the touch cover but it will have an onscreen keyboard just like the other tablets. with win8 you have the onscreen keyboard when on the go or when you are stationary have the touch keyboard (you can't exactly use a laptop on the go either so to me this is more useful than a laptop because it has the tablet option)

 

[dlock13]

I'm excited about the non-RT version. I think RT will bomb tbqh.

Priced right, the Joe Shmo consumer will purchase it right up. The Metro UI is quite colorful and friendly and can definitely get those "ooooooohs...." and "awessssss...." from the people that don't know anything about technology.

Like everyone else has said, if it's priced at about $199-$300, I think MS has a giant win on their hand. Not only will it get them money via the Windows Store, but it will also show consumers Windows 8 and then they'll be less hesitant to purchase a new laptop/desktop with it.

I'm so excited for the Pro still. It'll be able to run "legacy" applications, and I'm all for that 100%.

 

[MrX8503]

I think the RT will be more successful than the Pro version. I think people would just buy an ultra book rather than the Pro tablet.

 

[Red Storm]

The RT version has the same weight and thickness as the new iPad. The Pro is going to be thicker and heavier, and will not last as long on battery. That just doesn't sound very appealing to me.

 

[dlock13]

The RT version has the same weight and thickness as the new iPad. The Pro is going to be thicker and heavier, and will not last as long on battery. That just doesn't sound very appealing to me.

Maybe that's why they're waiting to release it next year in hopes to have a better CPU in it with a higher power efficiency. I mean there are many variables currently that we don't really know about. MS said it's going to weigh that much and not last as long, but to be honest, we have about anywhere from 4-6 months till more information is available or till it's even close to release.

(Speaking of the Surface Pro here.)