Nexus 7, iPad or Surface?

[DaGaffer]

...Got to admit, I rather like the Surface Tablet, and will probably buy one, and the keyboard/cover is genius. Good design from MS, who knew?

 

[Deebs]

Have they released any firm specifications yet?

 

[caLLous]

First impressions are very good tbh, they're going to have to be mighty careful with pricing to avoid pissing off some of their OEM partners.

Surface for Windows RT tablet

• Processor: NVIDIA Tegra-based ARM chip
• Weight: 676 grams
• Thickness: 9.3 millimeters
• Display: 10.6-inch ClearType HD capactive touchpanel
• Battery: 31.5Wh
• I/O: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
• Software: Windows RT + Office Home & Student 2013 RT
• Accessories: Touch Cover, Type Cover, VaporMg Case & Stand
• Capacity: 32GB / 64GB
• Availability: "Around" the Windows 8 launch (fall 2012)
• Pricing: To be determined

Surface for Windows 8 Pro tablet

• Processor: Intel Core i5 (Ivy Bridge)
• Weight: 903 grams
• Thickness: 13.5 millimeters
• Display: 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD (1080p) capactive touchpanel
• Battery: 42Wh
• I/O: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, 2x2 MIMO antennae
• Software: Windows 8 Pro
• Accessories: Touch Cover, Type Cover, VaporMg Case & Stand, Pen with Palm Block
• Capacity: 64GB / 128GB
• Availability: "Three months after" the Windows 8 launch this fall
• Pricing: To be determined

They're being coy about exact CPU/RAM specs, it will be interesting to see how well the battery lasts in the Pro version as well. And yes, love the cover\keyboard\accelarometer. Apparently the Windows colour scheme changes depending on what colour cover you have attached - pointless but awesome.

 

[DaGaffer]

My only concern with the Pro is that battery life is going to be shite.

 

[old.user4556]

The keyboard cover idea is great, I'm finding the onboard keyboard on the iPad 3 a little bit tricky to type fast (emails etc.). It does the job, but productivity is certainly reduced.

 

[caLLous]

Tbh, this announcement has really made me think "hmmm" (in a positive way) about tablets as serious work-devices. I was looking at a Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 for just around-the-house stuff but a proper x86 device would be so much better. It better have decent battery life but I fear there's a reason that Microsoft aren't standing on the rooftops shouting about how long the battery lasts, ie - it doesn't.

 

[Embattle]

The problem is that being MS they just don't put the required effort in and thus the product gets killed off eventually even when they finally get the balls to start it.

I mean I really looked forward to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Courier but it killed off.

 

[caLLous]

Surface is a couple of steps further along the production cycle than the Courier ever was. It officially exists, for a start.

 

[ECA]

tldr, tablet w/ grunt of a laptop w/ stolen eee transformer awesomeness also.

Microsoft actually made something good for once? wuh tuh fuh!!!!!!!!!

 

[Cadelin]

I don't understand why people are excited about it?

We don't know key things about it like its price or the battery life.

While the keyboard thing does look quite cool, I don't understand the point of it. If I am sitting at a desk, I will be happier using a proper laptop. If I am lying on the sofa, I am not sure how easy to use that keyboard will be? Also why have a track pad on a device that is touch screen?!

 

[Shagrat]

i'm reserving judgement until I see pricing/battery life stats. Pretty important considerations to bear in mind when buying a tablet...

 

[ECA]

Pffft you're obviously no apple fanboys then! They'd pay £2k for this if it was white and had the apple logo on it.

 

[Cadelin]

Pffft you're obviously no apple fanboys then! They'd pay £2k for this if it was white and had the apple logo on it.

What does it do that's worth even £500?

 

[Shagrat]

What does it do that's worth even £500?

its shiny.....

 

[Tilda]

If battery is decent and it runs Onenote I'd be very tempted - would be really nice for lectures.
That said, my laptop does that too and cost £300.
MS need to pull out some crazy Win8 PC/tablet sync coolness if people are to pick it over android/apple.

 

[Embattle]

Surface is a couple of steps further along the production cycle than the Courier ever was. It officially exists, for a start.

Yes but that isn't the point, for a direct comparison you would have to look at the Zune.

 

[cHodAX]

My only concern with the Pro is that battery life is going to be shite.

8 hours bid normal usage, that is based on the Acer model. Rumours are that the cpu runs at 1.8ghz low demand, normal at 2.2ghz and turbo up to 2.6ghz for heavy use. Fingers crossed that turns out to be the case, if it does then it utterly wipes the floor with any tablet on the market.

 

[cHodAX]

The problem is that being MS they just don't put the required effort in and thus the product gets killed off eventually even when they finally get the balls to start it.

I mean I really looked forward to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Courier but it killed off.

Makes no odds, Asus and Acer have major releases coming with the same specs. Windows 8 is not going away no matter how the MS tablet sells.

 

[Embattle]

Makes no odds, Asus and Acer have major releases coming with the same specs. Windows 8 is not going away no matter how the MS tablet sells.

It is software something that MS are more comfortable with than hardware.

 

[caLLous]

Yeah, the Xbox was a complete flop after all.

 

[Yaka]

the cover /kb combo is awesome. prolly will get the pro at some point.

but aside from the xb360 ms have shit record with hardware

 

[cHodAX]

the cover /kb combo is awesome. prolly will get the pro at some point.

but aside from the xb360 ms have shit record with hardware

What??

Probably the best selling keyboards and mice of all time. The best selling joystick range of all time. The only hardware that failed was Zune, Xbox was a great introduction into the market for them and the innovation of Xbox Live enabled them to gain a serious marketshare in the current generation.

 

[Yaka]

peripherals are now considered proper hardware now?
xbox live is software/front-end cant be called hardware at all. the first xbox was an okay entry into the console market. apart from us and uk mabe one or 2 other western euro countries it never got close to the ps2. 360 is where ms did pretty much everything right

ms kin, cps phone, ms umpc, pocket pc, ms tv all failed.

 

[DaGaffer]

ms kin, cps phone, ms umpc, pocket pc, ms tv all failed.

With the exception of Kinect, MS was the software for all of those, not hardware, and Kinect isn't really a failure, a 1-in-5 attach rate for a peripheral is really high.

 

[Hawkwind]

My only concern with the Pro is that battery life is going to be shite.

Was wondering the same, found this article just hope it is proved right. If the price and battery life is good then it will sell well.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/6/18/3095842/microsoft-surface-tablet-battery-life

Just estimates but we will ahve to wait and see. Wonder how this will affect the Razer device???

 

[Embattle]

peripherals are now considered proper hardware now?
xbox live is software/front-end cant be called hardware at all. the first xbox was an okay entry into the console market. apart from us and uk mabe one or 2 other western euro countries it never got close to the ps2. 360 is where ms did pretty much everything right

ms kin, cps phone, ms umpc, pocket pc, ms tv all failed.

Plus the division in sits in hardly shows it as a rip roaring profit success during it's life time.

 

[Ch3tan]

I have an ipad, but so far, this shits all over it. Very nice.

 

[Yaka]

With the exception of Kinect, MS was the software for all of those, not hardware, and Kinect isn't really a failure, a 1-in-5 attach rate for a peripheral is really high.

i didnt type kinect, which btw is an awesome Peripheral just a shame ms decided to cut out a dedicated cpu from it.

 

[soze]

Very very promising and one step closer to a universal machine. Drop this in a docking station at work then when your done pop it in your bag and you have a truly portable solution. Assuming the dock allows it to run at full power all the time then this will be a capable basic office machine

 

[Wij]

Price please.