[SmokingJoe]

Reason #2: Microsoft will use its enterprise and developer bases

Reason #3: Microsoft's targets are the laptop and Google, not just the iPad

More at link.

[SmokingJoe]

Businessweek:

Beneath Microsoft's Surface, a New Tablet and Bold Strategy

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-06-19/beneath-microsofts-surface-a-new-tablet-and-bold-strategy#

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

I’m looking forward to seeing one of these. At the very least it will push Apple and android ahead.

[NEWwoman]

Informative article. Thanks for posting.

[Nifster]

“We don’t yet know all of Surface’s details”

Typical Micrososft. The proof is in the pudding. Anyone can ship spec sheets

[null and void]

True. But right now it's just more vaporware.

They call it "Surface", because it's all surface, there is nothing underneath.

Still one can hope for a rip-roaring success, one that drives down prices and improves capability across the board.

[Caipirabob]

I'll believe it when I see it and read about 50 consumer reviews.

Then we'll see about the pricing. I never owned an Apple gadget until 3 years ago and now I'm a believer. MS sucks compared to Apple. Pure and simple, you can do more, perhaps, but it is a hellacious ride to stable functionality. The Apple equipment had worked, unceasingly since it came out of the box.

Then we'll check out the pricing. At $250 I'm willing to investigate an MS gadget. At a comparable price with Apple, I'll buy the Apple. I know it works.

MS has to enter the market at a reasonable price, then build on reliability and innovative utility.

As I said, I'll believe it when I see it.

Until then, I approach this like I approach a used, union made GM.

That's just the reputation they've earned. Skepticism.

And yeah, we own Xboxes in this house. The original machines were a POS. Red ring of death anyone? It's become a common cultural meme because the hardware sucked so bad.

Why would I expect anything more?

Hope I'm surprised, but I doubt I will be. They have to come in at a lower price or they won't bring in anyone but the MSbots. If they come in too low of a price, chances are the units will be garbage.

[varmintman]

The happiest day of my life would be the day I never had to deal with governments or pay taxes again, and that's never going to happen in this life.

The second happiest day of my life will be the day I never have to deal with MicroSoft or any of its bullshit software ever again and that day is coming, in about two years.

[Proud2BeRight]

“Reason #1: Microsoft can build an ecosystem”

ecosystem???????

[frankenMonkey]

The use of the singular "Surface' or "Microsoft Tablet" is bogus.

In typical Microsoft fashion, they couldn't decide who and what their market is, so they announced two different and incompatible tablets, running two different and incompatible OSs, which will run (and force developers to create) two versions of their aps.

And those tablets come with keyboards! What an innovation that is. That almost makes these tablets seem like... lightweight laptops.

These things will land with a thud.

[antiRepublicrat]

Reason #1: Microsoft can build an ecosystem

Microsoft can't necessarily build an ecosystem. Remember PlaysForSure for music? Yeah, those people got reamed when Microsoft dumped it. And not many besides Zune owners have heard of its incompatible successor, the Zune Marketplace.

2 and 3 are reasonable, especially 2. Microsoft has traditionally been pretty good at leveraging customer bases to enter others -- look at the illegal leveraging of desktops to get into the server market. Now they'll be going the other way. Microsoft can really do this right in the enterprise. Within the next couple months, before the Surface is out, they need to release a free update to SCCM that fully controls both Surface editions. If that update isn't already beta, some manager somewhere needs to be fired.

[Jerry Attrick]

Been reading the Microsoft haters on here. Same with all the articles in the other stories I read about the Surface and even Windows phone 8. I'm puzzled by the emotion people are attaching to their devices. If you don't like something, don't use it. But to declare and even wish/hope/fight for the failure of a product or company is just plain stupid...IMHO. I'm surprised that people on here are not cheering for competition....isn't that the conservative values....competition makes everybody better. I've used I-phone, Android and Windows phones. They all have their good points. I am currently using the Windows phone and for me and my needs, it has been the most easy to use and I've never had one glitch. But I don't hate the other companies.

Just my two hundredths of a dollar on the subject.

[Jerry Attrick]

Been reading the Microsoft haters on here. Same with all the articles in the other stories I read about the Surface and even Windows phone 8. I'm puzzled by the emotion people are attaching to their devices. If you don't like something, don't use it. But to declare and even wish/hope/fight for the failure of a product or company is just plain stupid...IMHO. I'm surprised that people on here are not cheering for competition....isn't that the conservative values....competition makes everybody better. I've used I-phone, Android and Windows phones. They all have their good points. I am currently using the Windows phone and for me and my needs, it has been the most easy to use and I've never had one glitch. But I don't hate the other companies.

Just my two hundredths of a dollar on the subject.

[Bobalu]

MS has always needed someone with the vision of a Steve Jobs at the helm.

If they could find such a one then even at this late date they could move in a new and exciting direction.

I’d start by creating a new tablet design that ran a custom version of MS Linux. I’d include Win7 as a virtual OS that ran under that custom Linux to handle legacy. I’d have a nice LARGE monitor and wireless keyboard/mouse for the tablet. I’d fix it so just placing the tablet close to the monitor would charge it and connect it up using RF. No cables!

[Moltke]

I’m not in the market for any TabletToy at this time, but just one look at that ridiculous screen format (what is that, 2:1?) would immediately make me look elsewhere.

[Cementjungle]

Microsoft (MSFT) has had success in the consumer market with the Xbox and most recently with the Kinect motion-control devices

But, MS also has a long string of failed initiatives. They always seem to come out with things designed to compete (rather late in the game) with some other products, but then only give them half their attention, leaving the users stranded. Only time will tell how this one pans out.

[OldEarlGray]

 

Remember when 'Microsoft Surface' was a bar table?

"[snip] The Surface 1.0 lived for three years before a new model took over in 2011: the Samsung SUR40. That next-gen model got a price cut, retailing at $8,400, and comes with improved specs like a 40-inch touchscreen.

But you won't find many traces of it left on Microsoft's website. Microsoft's Surface page is now a tablet brochure, with a teeny fine-print note at the bottom: "Looking for the Samsung SUR40 with Microsoft Pixelsense? Visit www.pixelsense.com."

http://money.cnn.com/2012/06/19/technology/microsoft-surface-table-pixelsense/index.htm

 

RE-Surfacing the Surface?

Thar she blows!