Seen the new Windows Surface?

[FMod]

1366x768 is fine for a 10" device. It's still standard for those 15.6" laptops.

Yes, they are making 1920x1080 cell phones. What's the point, boasting about who's got more?

 

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.

Please, PLEASE retire your NT kernel in all its entirety.

NT kernel is really small. So are legacy parts.

Windows XP installed only takes about 700 MB (without SP). I think you'll agree that legacy ends about there, XP is still alive.

 

The rest was added between XP and now. Actually, W7 with no SP takes 9GB, or 11GB for 64-bit.

10GB was added specifically between 2010 and 2012, a large part of that just for Windows 8, at least 6GB.

 

It's all the APIs. MS just seems unable to keep the size of their API down, particularly .NET and such. You have to carry a lot of versions, revisions and so on, and it's all built on top of one another, so you can't just leave the newest additions.

It's bad programming practices, but what can you do.

[JimboUK]

The resolution/pixel density effects the image quality, if I'm paying £400 for a tablet I don't expect it to have a display equal to some £100 Chinese budget tablet. 148ppi is going to look rough, my phone is 326ppi, the upcoming Nexus 10 is 2560x1600 300ppi.

[FMod]

Look at this table: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_displays_by_pixel_density#Commercial_displays

 

Every computer display to speak of has a pixel density between 80 and 150 ppi, for portable 100 to 150. Surface is being positioned as a computer.

148ppi is right at the upper end of the range, it looks fine, unless you want to be specifically admiring it rather than using.

Existing software designed for ppi in 100-150 range will require resizing if it's higher, wasting the extra resolution and spending additional graphics power=>battery life.

 

iphone up to 3GS had 163ppi, and that's being a cell phone (further closer to the eyes), no one seemed to be crying about it.

"Moar ppi" is a recent fad - at the point when mobile devices get higher resolutions than HDTV, i.e. higher than content exists for (not that you could tell the 720p vs 1080p difference on a phone anyway), it's definitely a fad - and not following it is the least of this device's worries. There will always be devices for those who want in on the fad.

 

Philips smartphones used to last for over a week of active use on one charge, now it's the point of pride for Motorola Razr MAXX HD that it can go for 3 days. Guess one of the culprits.

[AxlRocks]

Windows 8 RT is not 20GB. Coupled with Office, the total size is 12GB. Not that it's much better, but still not 20.

 

As for Surface, I like it. I won't be buying one, because I just don't have a need for tablets. It'd be my first choice if I did want one though. At least it's not aimed entirely towards casual crap like most tablets are.

 

Edit: And wow, 1920x1080 on a phone? Really? Wow, what a waste.

Edited October 30, 2012 by AxlRocks