Microsoft Surface tablets

[Arcmanov]

Here is Microsoft's media conference presenting their new Windows RT/8 Pro Surface tablets...

http://www.viddler.com/v/155376bc?secret=36390336





Of course, Engadget has the skinny on the tablets, and the difference between the models...

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/hands-on-with-microsoft-surface-for-windows-rt/
http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/18/microsoft-surface-tablets-the-differences-between-rt-and-window/


Still not a fan of the metro UI, but I like what I'm seeing here.
The tech on offer here is undeniably cool...especially the Windows 8 Pro model...and definitely a step in the right direction.

I must admit I kinda want. 

My main problem with this, is that this is not how you do a product launch,
and I have to give Apple credit where this is due: when they launch a product, you can usually buy it the same day, or the next.
We have to wait about SIX MONTHS to buy one of these Surface tablets.  Will enough people still care by then...or even remember?

That said though...I can foresee one of these being a true laptop replacement.

[UltimateGamer]

I'm buying this as soon as i can get my hands on it

[phoenix31tt]

before this was released i wanted a Asus Transformer Book.. but now me wants thisss!! winpro model of course...

[Spazosaurus]

Concept is ok, but only 66% complete. Where's the phone in this equation? Sorry, definitely not getting my money for this.

Asus PadFone I believe is a winning idea. Phone? check. Laptop? Check. Tablet? Check.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/12/asus-padfone-review/

[Arcmanov]

Nah.....the PadFone is for a totally different niche of buyers I think.

I need my laptop/tablet to run Windows in some form, but that's just me.
I already have an Android device phone...what would I then do with a PadFone?

...which is what existing smartphone users will ask themselves.

I agree with phoenix31tt here... I love Android, but the Windows 8 Pro model suddenly has me watching Android tablets kinda funny. 

If I didn't already have an Android phone, I most likely would have invested in an Android tablet, and maybe even the PadFone,
but the thought of having a full-fledged version of Windows (properly tailored for tablets) on a tablet device with proper PC specs gives me a chubby. 


Most likely the people buying the 8 Pro model already have a high-end smartphone.

My only concern is the as-yet-unannounced pricing.  The 'comparable to ultra-book pricing' statement has me worried that the price of the 8 Pro
model will be just north of $1000 US.  That may put it a bit out of my reach.

[Skepsis]

I'm curious to see if there is going to be any major integration with windows phone, I feel like the iPhone iPad combo missed an opportunity here.

I could see this replacing my iPad (win8 pro model) but if it's too much north of that $1000 for the 128 gig I could see it being a hard buy

[phoenix31tt]

i think we had this discussion in another thread.. the padfone is essentially a mobile device with a 10inch dock... i.e. your processing power comes from your mobile...

this device is intended to replace your laptop, or provide you with a tablet that you can use to do real work when you ready... so you will get way better performance than from a mobile phone...

its two different concepts really... but i presume more people would prefer this concept than the padfone concept.

your phone one way, your more powerful laptop the other way idk


and yea boy arc, hadda watch them prices with eagle eye... the winrt should be ipad/android costs, but we dont want that.. we want pro...

@ skepsis... most likely... have you seen smartglass (which is what they are doing with xbox), the plan from microsoft is the have integration across all their devices.. the future looks interesting...

what i like about MS to... competitors dont get left out.. android and ios can possibly support some form of smartglass as well

[TriniXaeno]

damn, that PadFone from asus is epic win.

The future is here and now.

Honestly, if I hadn't already bought the google nexus, I would most certainly spring for one of those.

Hope it does well on the market. That's the sort of integration/evolution the android platform needs from hardware manufacturers.

Giving it a solid toe hold as a desktop replacement.

Now lets hope Android 5.0 can run Dota 2. lol

[madmunkie]

Not totally accurate, but still worth a lol 

[TriniXaeno]

lol indeed

[Spazosaurus]

My dream setup:

EXACTLY that Padphone setup, except with a quad core, 2gb ram, 5.5inch handset.

The only thing I need running windows is my gaming pc. Frankly, if games worked natively with Linux, i'd ditch Windows altogether.

For work, everything exists in the private cloud, RDP into everything in 'laptop mode' for max comfort so again, no need for a full blown desktop OS.

Some may consider it niche, but I really wish Samsung and other manufacturers come up with a similar concept to really get it up and running.

[TriniXaeno]

Well motorola were the first to market with a similar setup.

So lets hope Motorala and Asus get the others to chime in.

Its brilliant.

And yeah, if they release a game capable Steam on Android 5 (they already have a steam app on Android 4 but its just for chatting across the steam network and can't run games) windows will no longer see my $$$

Future looking bright!

[phoenix31tt]

lol allyuh fellas seeing all the integration MS bringing between the ecosystem and still think developers going to fightup to make games supportable on android/linux etc...


and yes awesome that is probably indeed a niche... but if its not... its not a form factor that is limited to any one OS.. any manufacturer could do it if they wanted... its simple a DOCK.. all OSES supports docks.. so eventually if it does blossom it will go the way of the tablet.. start of as a niche, then everybody and the uncle will be doing it...

do you like it enough that if apple mysteriously decides to offer such a device that you would switch?

[TriniXaeno]

An Iphone, that docks into an Ipad that docks into an Imac?

Do want!

I'll buy that for my wife in an instant.

A WP7 phone that docks into a Windows 7 Laptop/Desktop. Interested still.

I think all variants of the concept is brilliant. Bring them all on!

All excutive suites should have these docks. Planes should have them, etc....

Travelling? Just walk with your phone. Boom!

Better yet if a universal dock was created and they can all be used by any device via the micro-usb port.

Gives you access to a big screen, keyboard and mouse and runs your mobile device native OS in landscape mode.

SOLD!

And @ phoenix, seeing as I just bought Mass Effect on my android from the store for $1.00, yes, I think more and more games will find themselves in the android space. Steam has a lot of casual low end games that would do very well in the mobile sector.

[phoenix31tt]

lol ok and i have ffvii on my winphone.. but as said before, we had this convo before.. lets not pollute this thread with the conversation of mobiles ever ketching up to modern games..