[Leon Trotsky]

(Original post by hassi94)
But Windows RT will only officially support 'apps' through the windows store - and it's ARM based so it would be hard for people to buy from elsewhere.


With the Pro, yes you're right I'd say - but it could be a way of trying to get corporates to take up windows 8 early (if they all use it on their tablets, they may want to convert their PCs so their systems are all integrated well).

Yeah, I was talking about the Pro.

(Original post by Aphotic Cosmos)
They said the Pro outspecs the most powerful ultrabooks, implicitly that means the UX31 and the Series 9 which start at £999. If they can deliver that kind of power in a tablet, even if the tactile or touch covers are £60-80 a pop extra, for £850-999 then they'll be amazingly popular for enterprise and power users. I already know it's going to be my next tablet and PC.

It'd be pretty cool having a tablet that powerful, running Windows 8, but I still think it'd be a niche. For £1,000 I'd rather have a MacBook Air, or a similar ultraportable laptop. If the specs really do match up, then the only thing that would really separate this from ultrabooks is the touchscreen, and even then you'd only really be using that when you use apps designed for the Metro overlay; I don't know how they'd make vanilla Windows not suck when operating it with a touchscreen.

[Aphotic Cosmos]

(Original post by Addzter)
Yeah, I was talking about the Pro.



It'd be pretty cool having a tablet that powerful, running Windows 8, but I still think it'd be a niche. For £1,000 I'd rather have a MacBook Air, or a similar ultraportable laptop. If the specs really do match up, then the only thing that would really separate this from ultrabooks is the touchscreen, and even then you'd only really be using that when you use apps designed for the Metro overlay; I don't know how they'd make vanilla Windows not suck when operating it with a touchscreen.

Hence the touch and type covers, with built in trackpads. And the DigitalInk pens that are magnetised and clip on to the Surface Pro and work in virtually any app, and the USB 3.0 port for a mouse if you really need it (or Bluetooth mice to free up the USB). You can use whatever's most appropriate at the time. If you're using it as a tablet, the pen and touch seem most logical, but as a stationary laptop the keyboard and mouse combinations you can have would be more practical. It just gives you more options than an MBA/MBP does - can you walk around with an MBA in hand jotting down notes or drawing? Nope.

[lukas1051]

Worst. Name. Ever. I know we all made fun of the iPad when it was announced, but really, Surface? They might as well have called it the Microsoft Pavement.

Otherwise, it actually looks really good.

[Aphotic Cosmos]

(Original post by lukas1051)
Worst. Name. Ever. I know we all made fun of the iPad when it was announced, but really, Surface? They might as well have called it the Microsoft Pavement.

Otherwise, it actually looks really good.

Surface has been their flagship touchscreen device for five or so years now, it's just an evolution of that. Besides, it's pretty distinctive! Nobody cares about an Eeepad Transformer Prime or a Sony Tablet S, right? They just sound boring and derivative.

[Leon Trotsky]

(Original post by Aphotic Cosmos)
It just gives you more options than an MBA/MBP does - can you walk around with an MBA in hand jotting down notes or drawing? Nope.

If we're honest, it gives you a few more options. Are you really going to buy one of these over an ultrabook just because you can jot down notes and draw? I think it's easier to type, and if I wanted to draw I'd plug in a Wacom tablet.

[Wookie42]

Release a tablet with no release date or price? Good one MS.

[Aphotic Cosmos]

(Original post by Addzter)
If we're honest, it gives you a few more options. Are you really going to buy one of these over an ultrabook just because you can jot down notes and draw? I think it's easier to type, and if I wanted to draw I'd plug in a Wacom tablet.

Sure, but you can't take a Bamboo with you everywhere you go. It's just not practical to sketch on one, they only come into their own when you're at home or in the office. Native 600dpi stylus support in a huge variety of W8 apps is a great feature IMO.

[RollerBall]

(Original post by Addzter)
Yeah, I was talking about the Pro.



It'd be pretty cool having a tablet that powerful, running Windows 8, but I still think it'd be a niche. For £1,000 I'd rather have a MacBook Air, or a similar ultraportable laptop. If the specs really do match up, then the only thing that would really separate this from ultrabooks is the touchscreen, and even then you'd only really be using that when you use apps designed for the Metro overlay; I don't know how they'd make vanilla Windows not suck when operating it with a touchscreen.

We get it, you love macs. You're not a business user so I don't really see how you can run around saying it's a niche market when you have no idea how this type of stuff works in business markets.

I'm sure you are aware at how **** blackberries are nowadays compared to other smartphones but they managed to maintain quite a share in the business marketplace just because of a few key features.

[Maerzin]

(Original post by Addzter)
It'd be pretty cool having a tablet that powerful, running Windows 8, but I still think it'd be a niche. For £1,000 I'd rather have a MacBook Air, or a similar ultraportable laptop. If the specs really do match up, then the only thing that would really separate this from ultrabooks is the touchscreen, and even then you'd only really be using that when you use apps designed for the Metro overlay; I don't know how they'd make vanilla Windows not suck when operating it with a touchscreen.

I don't know. I like Apple products and the iPad is neat but this is something I'd prefer as it's a laptop/desktop replacement with a full-fledged OS. My biggest gripe with the iPad is the limited OS. Of course, this is just regarding my personal needs.

[ETJ]

I think this will be really good. In January 2013 I am planning on going to Australia and won't be able to take my beloved PC with me so I was thinking of an ultrabook but this looks so much better in my opinion.

My only concern is what I use my PC for and whether I will be able to use this for it. My PC was built and designed for gaming by me, and that is what I use it for 99% of the time when I'm not doing college work or revision for my exams. So do you guys think the pro version would be up to running games like Saints Row 3, Battlefield 3, GTA IV (5 when that comes out) etc or is that never going to happen.

[tazarooni89]

Depending on what Windows 8 turns out to be like, I think I'd prefer the Microsoft Surface to an iPad, since it actually has a "proper" operating system rather than a mobile one. The iPad just seems like too much of a toy to me...
Though having said that, unless the Microsoft Surface is significantly cheaper than a half-decent laptop (unlike the iPad), I'm still not entirely sure what the purpose of it is. I mean it's kind of cool with it's touchscreen and keyboard built into its cover - but as far as functionality goes, isn't it just a laptop, but less good (smaller hard drive, no CD Drive, probably not good for serious games...)? Why wouldn't you just buy a small, light laptop?

[tface]

(Original post by Addzter)
Really? How come? The only real advantage I can think of is that it has a touchscreen. And yeah it'll probably be cheaper, but not dramatically so. Maybe £100-£200 cheaper. If this turned out to be around £850, I'd definitely go for the MacBook Air.

I prefer Windows to OSX, and it can be used both as a laptop and a tablet.

[tface]

(Original post by Wookie42)
Release a tablet with no release date or price? Good one MS.

The RT versions will come out when Windows 8 does (I think October) and the Pro will be ~90 days after that. Pricing wise, the RT version will be competitive with other ARM tablets and the Pro with ultrabooks.

There are all the answers you need, and if you actually read any information on the tablets you might have seen them!

[Wookie42]

(Original post by tface)
The RT versions will come out when Windows 8 does (I think October) and the Pro will be ~90 days after that. Pricing wise, the RT version will be competitive with other ARM tablets and the Pro with ultrabooks.

There are all the answers you need, and if you actually read any information on the tablets you might have seen them!

Didn't know about this... certainly missed that last night. For this kind of thing though people expect exact dates, and I don't think I'm the only one who thinks its pretty poor they've not announced anything specific - especially if they want to compete with the likes of Apple, etc. As for pricing, 'competitive' isn't great either since making a decent prediction based solely on that is pretty difficult...

I'm not exactly looking for answers, nor am I trying to attack Microsoft. I was pretty disappointed last night that's all while looking at the live blogs and stuff since I can't see a massive reason to buy this thing, nor is there anything particularly revolutionary about it. Not announcing a date or price was just the cherry on top.

[Glenbot3000]

(Original post by Addzter)
Really? How come? The only real advantage I can think of is that it has a touchscreen. And yeah it'll probably be cheaper, but not dramatically so. Maybe £100-£200 cheaper. If this turned out to be around £850, I'd definitely go for the MacBook Air.

You're overlooking the glaring advantage of the WINDOWS Pro tablet... OSX is actually quite a poor UX in comparison to Windows 7 (now 8 and RT) - I know many people who won't got near Macs because of it. For me, it's mainly legacy software which is possibly the greatest advantage of Windows overall, let alone for tablets.

[birdsong1]

Higher quality version of that vid from page 1..

[Leon Trotsky]

(Original post by Aphotic Cosmos)
Sure, but you can't take a Bamboo with you everywhere you go. It's just not practical to sketch on one, they only come into their own when you're at home or in the office. Native 600dpi stylus support in a huge variety of W8 apps is a great feature IMO.

I guess if you're an artist this would be a pretty awesome tool. Adobe Illustrator on a 1080p screen wherever you go.

[math1234]

I have to buy a tablet for myself in December, please suggest me that should I buy ipad3 or MS surface?


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Leon Trotsky]

(Original post by RollerBall)
We get it, you love macs. You're not a business user so I don't really see how you can run around saying it's a niche market when you have no idea how this type of stuff works in business markets.

I'm sure you are aware at how **** blackberries are nowadays compared to other smartphones but they managed to maintain quite a share in the business marketplace just because of a few key features.

And what are the key features of this that makes it so attractive for enterprise use over a cheaper but similarly specced Windows ultrabook? There is one clear reason why BlackBerry has such a hold on business users: their email services are fantastic.

[Leon Trotsky]

(Original post by Maerzin)
I don't know. I like Apple products and the iPad is neat but this is something I'd prefer as it's a laptop/desktop replacement with a full-fledged OS. My biggest gripe with the iPad is the limited OS. Of course, this is just regarding my personal needs.

Sure, if you wanted a laptop desktop replacement and a tablet rolled into one, this is clearly the best thing. I'm just saying I don't think many people do want that, but perhaps I'm wrong. Especially because it'll probably be marketed and thought of as a tablet, and it's far more expensive than most other tablets on the market.