Posted on 06/19/2012 5:24:06 AM PDT by C19fan
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has an uphill battle on his hands. He needs to break into the tablet market, taking on both the iconic market-leader, the iPad, as well as as an ever-burgeoning range of svelte Android tablets. However, after Microsoft's repeated attempts over 30 years to break into the tablet market, it now seems the software giant has the right tools to make it right. The Microsoft Surface tablet was officially unveiled in Los Angeles last night, and from the favourable first impressions, it looks like we have a three-way race in the tablet market. The Surface comes with a 10.6" screen, a clever magnetic cover which doubles as a keyboard, and a kickstand to hold it upright on a table. In a huge paradigm shift for Microsoft, the traditional Windows Desktop has been scrapped for Microsoft's new 'Metro' tile-based theme.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Too late to the game to be an iPad killer, but I can see this easily taking a lions share of business sales as it has tons more business functionality than the iPad.
But, the iPad will still be the premiere toy to play video’s, music, games etc.
I do see this moving to number 2 in the market and booting the android tablets to the rear though.
They are marching to their ‘ZUNE’... (roflol)
Somebody will always build a better one. I love my iPad, but I’ve seen some of the stuff that Surface can do... and it’s going to be neat— if not in this exact release, then someday.
The notion that I will be able to have a real fully function computer tablet running my actual business software is appealing.
Also appealing is the fact it will fit in perfectly with the windows office environment.
It will probably be 50% less expensive at least too.
Even if it does, the fact that it’s not “magical” will deter most iPad fans from looking twice at it.
And that’s a shame, considering that this is such a nifty design. I don’t like Microsoft, but they did a good job with this.
Surface.
Sounds like a herbicide or insecticide.
Is the keyboard a standard part of the device?
That would make me seriously consider a tablet device. Touchscreens are just too inefficient for what I would need a portable device to do and most I’ve seen for the ipad are kinda kludgy.
Of course, that’s assuming MS didn’t decide to eliminate all the keyboard functionality in the new OS...
It looks cool, but it uses Windows. I’m not spending that kind of money on a tablet for it to be taken down by a virus in the first month. I’ll stick with Android.
and ipad resembles a female hygene product...
It will be a horrendous failure because people make fun of the name, or compare it to some other unsuccessfule MS product.
Price point and battery life are two big question marks.
I design powerful and sophisticated business applications using Excel with VBA. Rival million dollar software for a fraction of the cost. Finally have a tablet that can use Excel with VBA.
This will help business.
My understanding is that the keyboard is on the inside of the metal plate cover which attaches magnetically to protect the screen when being carried.
I love competition because it drives development and improvement while keeping prices down. Right now it is the new baby on the block and it will take time to see how time and experience plays in this marketplace.
it will REALLY help if it will work on an airplane seat tray in coach.
Yes, you are right. Two styles. One has slightly raised keys.
... which appears to be an add-on accessory for the Surface. I'd say the odds are 50/50 that someone develops a smart cover/keyboard combo for the iPad and gets it to market before the Surface is officially released.
Thanks!
I can see this device beeing very successful, if done right and priced right.
IPads, in my experience, have very little enterprise penetration. Designing/porting apps to it involves a whole separate suite of tools and experience, and plenty of business apps aren’t ported outside the MS world.
This device would potentially leverage most enterprises’ existing Windows infrastructure, and could serve as a laptop replacement for a whole bunch of users. Huge cost advantage over the iPad for an enterprise in terms of training, support, development costs, software costs, etc.
The iPad is often like a round peg in a square hole when it comes to business, and Apple doesn’t seem to want to pursue that market segment. For all it’s flaws, MS dominates the enterprise market and Apple (nor anyone else) is not in a position to change that. As someone in IT, it would be an easy decision for me to adopt this device if it works as marketed.
I think the iPad is a neat device, but I can only make a business case for it for a tiny set of users, and only if they have a laptop/desktop too. When you factor in all the ancillary costs, I can’t recommend it at all.
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