Microsoft Surface

[SckizoBoy]

Not sure if a thread's already been done on this but still...

Thoughts? Opinions? Derision? Looks shiny? Looks crap?

Should they stick to software since that's what they're good at (massive SIC!)?

Was it a derp move announcing so little about it?

 

[Esotera]

It would have been an absolute gold-mine if they'd put windows 7 on it instead of windows 8 - for that reason alone it will flop. It actually looks pretty decent as the hardware goes, if someone manages to install Android on it then I might be tempted to get a later gen one.

They should have released it sooner as well, as now Apple have got a head start on catching up.

 

[DoPo]

Well, it is shiny. Looks pretty. But it's made from Microsoft, so I don't know. Also, I'm not too interested in tablets, so I can't really compare it to the rest.

if someone manages to install Android on it then I might be tempted to get a later gen one.

And now I may consider getting one.

They should have released it sooner as well, as now Apple have got a head start on catching up.

Also this. MS are way behind on this. Eventually they'll get a significant market share but it will be harder starting late.

 

[Esotera]

Somehow, I doubt that it will use an x86 processor, and Windows 7 has only been demonstrated on x86 processors. ARM seems to be the preference for embedded devices, because you don't need exceptional instructions-per-clock ratings when you're doing tablet stuff.

There are models with both ARM and X86 processors. ARM ones are locked down with secure boot, as Microsoft have a crappy market share on tablets/phones and want another anti-trust suit.

 

[Battleaxx90]

Since we're on the topic of the Surface (which I know nothing about, btw), can somebody tell me the joke behind this comic?

 

[Bvenged]

I am certainly intrigued and might even consider buying one. Looks better than the ipad and is more affordable too.

 

[Battleaxx90]

Since we're on the topic of the Surface (which I know nothing about, btw), can somebody tell me the joke behind this comic?

They are all clones.

I don't know the Megaman clone, but Shadow is Sonic (Sonic is Apple) and Wario is Mario (Mario is also Apple).

Ahh, now it makes sense. Thank you!

BTW, the Megaman clone? His name's Bass, and I think he's from Mega Man 7.

 

[broadbandaddict]

Just saw the supposed price for the real model (non-ARM model), $1000. Not interested if that is the price. Microsoft is stupid if they try to sell it for that price, they need to undercut Apple with a real tablet that runs a real OS.

 

[bobmus]

Top tip, always link what the hell you're talking about in the OP so I can understand what's going on!
http://www.microsoft.com/global/surface/en/us/publishingimages/new/hero.jpg
http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/default.aspx

OT: It looks meh, none of these sort of products particularly excite me anyway though.

 

[ZehMadScientist]

I'm indifferent. I don't own a tablet, and probably never will. I am very much a hipster againts anything Apple though, so I will support this is it brings Apple down somehow.

 

[Jonluw]

I've never been excited over a tablet computer in the past, and I won't ever be in the future.
Unless it dispenses blowjobs or something.

 

[EternalFacepalm]

I am very much a hipster againts anything Apple though

I... I think that's opposite.

All I really want to happen due to this is that both the Surface and the iPad flop, rendering both Microsoft and Apple broke. Perhaps then Linux may shine in all its glory...
[sub]I can dream, can't I?[/sub]

 

[VladG]

The Full Win8 version with the regular x86 cpu in it is too expensive(at least from the speculative prices I've seen) since you could buy a very good laptop for the same money (around 2000 usd) and the tablet version Win8 CE was it? Will almost certainly be inferior to Andriod and iOS devices, thus making it kinda pointless.

It will be interesting to see if it can beat Asus' current Transformer with it's quad core Tegra 3 platform and a proper netbook keyboard that brings the device at around 15hours of battery life.

 

[VladG]

Somehow, I doubt that it will use an x86 processor, and Windows 7 has only been demonstrated on x86 processors. ARM seems to be the preference for embedded devices, because you don't need exceptional instructions-per-clock ratings when you're doing tablet stuff.

There are models with both ARM and X86 processors. ARM ones are locked down with secure boot, as Microsoft have a crappy market share on tablets/phones and want another anti-trust suit.

Interesting. I expect, based on the x86 track record, that those tablets will have terrible battery life, but in that case, Windows 7 seems like it would be the better way to go, given that Windows 8 doesn't look all that impressive.

That's the problem. Most likely we will be getting a very expensive low battery life laptop.

 

[madster11]

Oh, hey, cool. It's a much too late tablet device running a heap of crap operating system. Yeah, i'll be sure to go and buy that right away!