43 replies to this topic

[LilBambi]

Microsoft's new Surface tablets make a solid first impression - ZDNet - by Ed Bott

Quote

Summary: Microsoft’s new Surface tablets are exquisitely engineered, and no one can accuse them of being me-too products. Yesterday’s launch was impressive, but it also left many questions unanswered.

Excellent article.

My favorite part:

Quote

It’s a bold break from Microsoft’s classic business model. For years, Microsoft has been telling OEMs to pay attention to user experience, stop loading machines with crapware, and concentrate on a few great models instead of a full line of dozens of mediocre offerings. This introduction is the same message, delivered with genuine emotion and the equivalent of a punch in the gut: “OEMs, please pay attention. This is how you build a PC.

So true!

[securitybreach]

Looks like it will be really nice hardware anyway

I watched the Cnet live blog of the event as the footage has not became available yet.

[crp]

I do like the fact that microsoft is threatening to manage the builds of the 'Surface'. the zdNet columnist complaining about the competition to OEM's  seem to be missing the point. In this device market, microsoft has no monopoly constriction concerns, they have shown they can do good hardware (mouse, keyboard,sidewinder,xbox) and this is Microsoft setting the hurdle to the OEMs - this is what you are going to have do better than. if the OEM's succeed , then microsoft gets benefits  from the good vibes as well.

[V.T. Eric Layton]

I don't know much about these fancy tablet things? Do you erase the screen by turning it upside-down and shaking it?

[crp]

V.T. Eric Layton, on 19 June 2012 - 04:54 PM, said:

I don't know much about these fancy tablet things? Do you erase the screen by turning it upside-down and shaking it?

I think LG's did.

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Heh!

[ross549]

From what the folks on Gizmodo said, this tablet is going to be direct competitor to the iPad. It will be good for Apple to have some serious competition, especially in terms of build quality.

Adam

[Corrine]

securitybreach, on 19 June 2012 - 01:06 PM, said:

Looks like it will be really nice hardware anyway

I watched the Cnet live blog of the event as the footage has not became available yet.

I was watching the C|Net live blog too as well as following Twitter.  Until seeing Surface, I had no interest in tablets but now I wish there was room in the budget for Surface.  Love that the cover is a multitouch keyboard.

[securitybreach]

Corrine, on 19 June 2012 - 08:38 PM, said:

I was watching the C|Net live blog too as well as following Twitter.  Until seeing Surface, I had no interest in tablets but now I wish there was room in the budget for Surface.  Love that the cover is a multitouch keyboard.

Well you have months to save up for it but yeah, the tablet is really nice. I personally would not buy one as it will be completely locked down but I have to admit that I love the design and especially the covers/keyboards.

[ross549]

Yep, a slick Apple-like design that is also uniquely Microsoft. Did I read correctly that the casing is magnesium?

Adam

[LilBambi]

Yep. I haven't been able to confirm or deny it, but it would appear that it's the same material as the LG EnV Touch case. I was trying to find out what it was. But it sounds like the same type of thing just black instead of brown. Either that or the LG EnV Touch was some other sort of carbide mix.

[Corrine]

It is called VaperMG ™ (pronounced vaper mag) and reportedly developed by Microsoft.

[crp]

Corrine, on 20 June 2012 - 01:59 PM, said:

It is called VaperMG ™ (pronounced vaper mag) and reportedly developed by Microsoft.

calling anything in the computer industry 'vaper' is not a good thing.

[ross549]

crp, on 20 June 2012 - 03:09 PM, said:

calling anything in the computer industry 'vaper' is not a good thing.

True.

Adam

[Corrine]

crp, on 20 June 2012 - 03:09 PM, said:

calling anything in the computer industry 'vaper' is not a good thing.

People were quick to say the same thing on Twitter when it was announced. However, the word you are thinking about is spelled vapor or, across the pond, vapour.

[crp]

Corrine, on 20 June 2012 - 06:30 PM, said:

People were quick to say the same thing on Twitter when it was announced. However, the word you are thinking about is spelled vapor or, across the pond, vapour.

yeah, but you say it as vapor :-D

[V.T. Eric Layton]

What do you call it when this guy passes gas?



You guessed it... Darth vapor.

HAHA! I kill me.

[securitybreach]

V.T. Eric Layton, on 20 June 2012 - 08:20 PM, said:

What do you call it when this guy passes gas?



You guessed it... Darth vapor.

HAHA! I kill me.

Silly but funny

[LilBambi]

Microsoft may have started calling it VaporMG, but they didn't start it if you look it up. It's been around since 1948 I think it is. And it is just a process to get magnesium out of ores.

And they called it Vapor Mg as well. mg for magnesium btw.

[abarbarian]

I belive the Surface has a very good backup utillity as standard.

[ross549]

Which one is that?

Adam

[abarbarian]

ross549, on 21 June 2012 - 04:54 AM, said:

Which one is that?

Adam

Dashed if I can remember. Backups do seem topical at the moment so maybe it is just me mixing things up a bit

[LilBambi]

FAQ: What we don't know about Microsoft's Surface tablet
If the saying 'What you don't know can kill you' is true, how much danger are Microsoft and its customers in?

Quote

Microsoft's introduction Monday of the new Surface tablet may have been dramatic -- one analyst said it was "radical" -- because of the company's decision to circumvent its hardware partners -- but the presentation left as many questions unanswered as it resolved.

Some are critical to the Surface's success, like its price point, while others may influence only a minority of would-be buyers as they weigh it against those already in the market, such as Apple's iPad, the current king of the tablet hill.

Seems like Microsoft is trying to emulate Apple in odd ways; such as not being clear on full hardware specs. I do not think that is going to go over well with many folks. Particularly how much RAM is in the device so folks could reflect on how many concurrent apps could be running.

This is particularly important for the Windows 8 Pro one. But since they are considering these to be PCs and not tablets, it's all the more important for both.

Edited by LilBambi, 21 June 2012 - 08:51 AM.

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Notice how the more tasteful people here just ignore my off-color comments.

[ross549]

LilBambi, on 21 June 2012 - 08:49 AM, said:

Seems like Microsoft is trying to emulate Apple in odd ways; such as not being clear on full hardware specs. I do not think that is going to go over well with many folks. Particularly how much RAM is in the device so folks could reflect on how many concurrent apps could be running.

This is particularly important for the Windows 8 Pro one. But since they are considering these to be PCs and not tablets, it's all the more important for both.

It could be as simple as the hardware specs not being fully finalized yet.

Adam