Seen the new Windows Surface?

[Dan3345]

The Surface RT has been released. Personally I really like it. As someone who owns an Ipad, I can say with confidence the ipad has always felt like an expensive toy to me. The lack of spreadsheet functionality and actual work services are a serious gouge to the usability of the ipad. The app store is not much help in that department either. Yes some apps have been made that add services like word or excel but they never capture the feeling of using a real computer. For me, its more of a gut feeling I guess than anything tangible. Its all there for the ipad (for the light user) but it just doesn't feel like an actual bonafied computer.

 

The Surface on the other hand feels real, tangible. I can open task manager and see whats running and close it. I can feel like I am in control of the computer itself and not simply paying for the privilege of using it (ahem..apple...). Microsoft RT is restrictive in a new sense though. Microsoft is hellbent on following apple down the path of controlling what is on their device. The app store on the Surface was going to block all PEGI 18 games, days before the release they got rid of this rule. For now. But as in all EULA's it can rear it's ugly head again, and without warning.

 

Back on track though the tablet itself looks good, something Microsoft devices have always been criticized for.

 

And just so those of you who haven't been able to play with it can see what I am talking about,

So I am curiosu what you guys think of it.

[Erik005]

I already have an android tablet that suits my needs but I find windows 8 on mobile devices very interesting.

 

For the phone it is supposed to be the best OS available, I've tried it in a store and it is very intuitive and easy to use.

[LadyMilla]

I'm not against Win 8/Metro on smartphones, but I have no use for tablets. I either use my desktop or my notebook, and on my notebook Windows 7 runs just fine without having to mess with Metro. For what I do (my job involves a lot of typing), I need a durable keyboard and an easy to use pointer device, and so far the tablets that I had a chance to try failed to satisfy these requirements.

[FMod]

Sadly, other than sticking it to Apple (which is easier done with Android), I see little reason for MS Surface. It's got a huge 20GB OS and it can't even run x86 software, so what's the advantage?

They should have focused on making Win8 a cross-platform OS or on making their not-quite-RT WinRT competitive, not a compromise that doesn't work.

[Dan3345]

Sadly, other than sticking it to Apple (which is easier done with Android), I see little reason for MS Surface. It's got a huge 20GB OS and it can't even run x86 software, so what's the advantage?

They should have focused on making Win8 a cross-platform OS or on making their not-quite-RT WinRT competitive, not a compromise that doesn't work.

The x86 "Pro" version is apparently coming soon. And IMO the only flaw (and it's a big one) I see with this tablet, is the lack of expandable internal storage. Kind of feel like buying one of these in the 1st iteration is a bad idea. I will wait and see what happens with the pro version. I think it might be best to wait for the 2nd generation so they can work out the physical issues.

 

Oh and just to go off on a little rant real quick. What is it with all these companies (Apple, Asus, Google, and now Microsoft) for making devices without expandable internal storage? It has to be for money. Forcing consumers to buy either the cheaper product with less storage, or buy the more expensive one if you absolutely need it and not giving consumers an option. I know its for money, but c'mon. Flash storage is not very expensive.. Charging an extra $100 for twice the amount of Flash storage is outrageous. I wish more people knew how much it actually costs to manufacture these chips, they would be outraged if they knew how high these products are being overpriced for nothing. And yes I am aware a good portion of the price hike is to recoup for advertising and design, but in my opinion they should just factor that in to the original price. Then charge less for higher capacities.

[FMod]

Pricing for the Pro is a bit scary. And there's at least one ultrabook already thinner than it (like it really matters) and lighter (this does a little), so its point is further questionable.

[JimboUK]

You can use a 128GB MicroSD with it, that said why would anyone want to buy one in the first place? maybe those that must have office but other than that I see no reason to own one. It's slow, the keyboard is no easier than a touchscreen, a laughable 1366 x 768 @ 148ppi, no 3G/4G and a dogs dinner of an OS. There are far better Android tablets out there or if you must use Windows then an ultrabook would be a far better option.

[ziitch]

20GB?!? Wait, if it's a tablet, and if tablets don't have as wide of an interaction as computers do, then what is that space dedicated to? It definitely shouldn't be drivers, and if it is, they really need to do some pruning to get rid of legacy drivers that aren't that useful on a tablet.

 

If it's visual stuff, they're either not compressing it right, or they forgot the idea to keep it simple on something so small (or, have a majority of the visuals be entirely made of code instead of using images).

 

If it's not both... Well, there's only one thing to say. Please, PLEASE retire your NT kernel in all its entirety. It's just not made for modern computing; building a new one from scratch (or if you don't want to, just start off with the Unix kernel) that actually utilizes the new technologies within the core instead of something that is just tacked on to the side would provide a much better and more efficient system. You could also include some compatibility and security measures (like virtualization and sandboxing) that automatically is engaged when an app starts, and as a result you won't have the enormously oversized patchwork quilt that has become the NT package.

Edited October 28, 2012 by ziitch

[Dan3345]

You can use a 128GB MicroSD with it, that said why would anyone want to buy one in the first place? maybe those that must have office but other than that I see no reason to own one. It's slow, the keyboard is no easier than a touchscreen, a laughable 1366 x 768 @ 148ppi, no 3G/4G and a dogs dinner of an OS. There are far better Android tablets out there or if you must use Windows then an ultrabook would be a far better option.

Where is the microSD slot I can't find info on it.

 

Im not surprised about the resolution and I won't hold it against the device. Few tablets have higher resolutions. At the price point however I think microsoft has kind of failed. The 32gb version is ha;f the price of most tablets with nowhere near the storage capacity. The pro version can only be more expensive and thus defeat the purpose. I like concept of a tablet, but if I ever buy one it will be because it is as good or better (in terms of ease of use) then a laptop.

 

The more I read about the Surface the less inclined I am to buy one on the basis that there are laptops with better performance, better features, and more use for day to day things. Like for example Asus I think made a laptop called a "Convertible." Pretty cool laptop/tablet if you ask me. Though I haven't looked into it's technical specs.

 

@ziitch - the last time they removed the NT kernel the entire OS became incredibly unstable and they had to scrap it. Think windows 97. Vista also I believe has serious flaws because they either tweaked the kernel or removed it entirely. I don't see microsoft removing it anytime soon. It will hugely expensive for them to completely rewrite the infrastructure of their OS, and int he meantime they would lose customers who are angry at the change.

Edited October 28, 2012 by Dan3345

[JimboUK]

You can use a 128GB MicroSD with it, that said why would anyone want to buy one in the first place? maybe those that must have office but other than that I see no reason to own one. It's slow, the keyboard is no easier than a touchscreen, a laughable 1366 x 768 @ 148ppi, no 3G/4G and a dogs dinner of an OS. There are far better Android tablets out there or if you must use Windows then an ultrabook would be a far better option.

Where is the microSD slot I can't find info on it.

 

Im not surprised about the resolution and I won't hold it against the device. Few tablets have higher resolutions. At the price point however I think microsoft has kind of failed. The 32gb version is ha;f the price of most tablets with nowhere near the storage capacity. The pro version can only be more expensive and thus defeat the purpose. I like concept of a tablet, but if I ever buy one it will be because it is as good or better (in terms of ease of use) then a laptop.

 

The more I read about the Surface the less inclined I am to buy one on the basis that there are laptops with better performance, better features, and more use for day to day things. Like for example Asus I think made a laptop called a "Convertible." Pretty cool laptop/tablet if you ask me. Though I haven't looked into it's technical specs.

 

@ziitch - the last time they removed the NT kernel the entire OS became incredibly unstable and they had to scrap it. Think windows 97. Vista also I believe has serious flaws because they either tweaked the kernel or removed it entirely. I don't see microsoft removing it anytime soon. It will hugely expensive for them to completely rewrite the infrastructure of their OS, and int he meantime they would lose customers who are angry at the change.

 

The SD card is mentioned here http://blog.laptopmag.com/ipad-vs-microsoft-surface-tablet-specs-compared and also on Microsofts site. The resolution isn't terrible but I would expect more from something that sells at a premium price, the iPad 3 is 2048 x 1536 @ 326 ppi and even my crusty old Xoom has a higher pixel density. The lack of a 3G/4G option will be a deal breaker for some as well, especially those on the move, yes you can always tether it to your phone but smartphones have a short enough battery life as it is, you don't want to shorten it even further. Those wanting a tablet with a keyboard would do better with something like the Asus Transformer Prime, the specs are much better, it has a proper keyboard and is the same price. As you say a laptop is probably the best option, tablets are good for surfing, social networking and email but not much else.

 

@ziitch Yeah the size of the OS is ridiculous for a tablet, I don't know what Microsoft are doing, Apple and Google don't mix their touchscreen OS's up with their laptop OS's for a good reason, neither works well on the wrong platform. Microsoft should have put a version of their phone OS on it.