Tokkemon Posted June 19, 2012 Share #1 Posted June 19, 2012 On a wonderfully bright Monday afternoon in Hollywood, Steve Ballmer, Microsoft’s (MSFT) chief executive officer, appeared at an art and film studio to deliver what looks like Microsoft’s finest, most controversial product in ages. In fact, it’s a family of products—a line of “Surface” tablet computers aimed at both consumers and workers. As it does with the Xbox, Microsoft has opted to make the Surface tablets—both hardware and software—on its own. This stands as a huge affront to Microsoft’s longtime PC partners. Making matters worse, the Surface products look far better than anything else the PC makers have shown to date on the tablet front. Even Apple (AAPL) has been put on notice, if the hoots and hollers from the event were any indication. The first Surface device shown weighs about 1.5 pounds and is 9 mm thick. A second, the Surface Pro, is slightly thicker and heavier. Both tablets come with a built-in kickstand, so you can stand them up to watch movies and the like. Microsoft also did something innovative with its new tablet covers. It had them attach to the the tablets with a firm click and designed them to be keyboards. The Type Cover has keys printed into the cover while the slightly bigger Touch Cover has raised keys. The keyboard/cover combo is a fantastic idea that immediately makes you question future laptop purchases. That’s yet a further blow against Microsoft’s PC buddies. When Windows 8 launches this fall, Microsoft will sell the tablets through its own online and retail stores and nowhere else. The company declined to reveal pricing details at the June 18 event. In an interview afterward, Ballmer said Microsoft’s PC partners had been made aware of its plans. When asked to describe how they felt about Microsoft’s moves, Ballmer responded that he had used very precise language on stage and would not go beyond that. (He said nothing on stage that I recall as to how they felt.) As for plans to sell the tablets beyond Microsoft’s own channels, Ballmer again would not budge. “That’s all we are going to announce today,” he said. That’s that, then. During his speech, Ballmer talked about the push and pull of software and hardware: Sometimes the hardware makers can’t keep up with the software makers’ innovation. So Microsoft decided to take matters into its own hands and showcase all that Windows 8 can do at a time when the company is feeling tremendous pressure from Apple. “This is a tool to surface your passions,” Ballmer said." Microsoft designed 200 custom parts for the tablets and said that if you tried to cram a piece of sticky tape inside the device, it would bulge with imperfection. Steve Jobs would be proud. http://www.businessw...r-for-pc-rivals Needless to say, this will make huge waves in the tech world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilbluefoxie Posted June 19, 2012 Share #2 Posted June 19, 2012 I think it looks great, I am very interested in knowing how much its gunna cost, they gotta price is cheaper than the ipad for it to really take off. Thats why the Kindle fire sells well, since its a nice low cost ipad alternative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Far Rock Depot Posted June 19, 2012 Share #3 Posted June 19, 2012 From what was announced, the RT version (more tablet like OS) will be comparable with other 10" tablets and will be available in 32gb and 64gb whilt the Pro version (the one ill be getting) will run the full Win 8 PC OS with the option of 64gb or 128 gb priced to compete with ultrabooks and net books. Actual prices and availability has yet to be announced. Im predicting sometime in the fall around the same time Apple releases its iPhone 5 with iOS6 and RIM releases its new line of Blackberry 10 phones with the new BB10 OS which will also be available for its PlayBook tablet. This is going to be a fun Fall!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilbluefoxie Posted June 20, 2012 Share #4 Posted June 20, 2012 It can only be better for us, the consumers. Microsoft can be a serious contendor for Apple, especially if this surface thing is priced lower than the ipad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Posted June 20, 2012 Share #5 Posted June 20, 2012 At least it has a keyboard. You can't do serious work on something without a keyboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QM1to6Ave Posted June 21, 2012 Share #6 Posted June 21, 2012 If they have really figured out how to get a full (or almost full) version of windows running on a tablet with a keyboard, I will be the first in line Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VWM Posted June 21, 2012 Share #7 Posted June 21, 2012 i'll stick with my iPad. Not going to shell out on something that could get a virus (if it happens to run a full windows OS) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokkemon Posted June 21, 2012 Author Share #8 Posted June 21, 2012 How.....would..... you get a virus? iOS (just like any OS ever made, ever) can get a virus too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Far Rock Depot Posted June 21, 2012 Share #9 Posted June 21, 2012 The Surface PRO will have the fullWindows 8. Call it a "laptop replacement" so to speak. As far as real work without a physical keyboard, check out the BlackBerry PlayBook. This thing is a powerhouse. Don't believe the tech blogs when it comes to BlackBerry. Most of them are so far up Apple's iButt, they fail to realize that not only every device has its shortcomings, the iProducts aren't exempt from that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VWM Posted June 22, 2012 Share #10 Posted June 22, 2012 How.....would..... you get a virus? iOS (just like any OS ever made, ever) can get a virus too. Not many people make viruses for Mac because, well it's harder to. If it's running a Windows OS, it's more likely to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QM1to6Ave Posted June 22, 2012 Share #11 Posted June 22, 2012 Stop downloading porn and opening emails from Nigerian princes and you will not get a virus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VWM Posted June 22, 2012 Share #12 Posted June 22, 2012 Um... We're jumping to conclusions here. I really only use Macs (I used to own a Vista) but I have seen other people get viruses. The only viruses I ever got were those spyware shit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lilbluefoxie Posted June 23, 2012 Share #13 Posted June 23, 2012 Macs arent as virus proof as you think, as more and more people buy em, you are more likely to see malicious code written for it. I did a whole final project on this in Computer Security class at college. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VWM Posted June 23, 2012 Share #14 Posted June 23, 2012 I have seen Mac get a virus (I laughed when I saw it, being WINDOWS ANTI-VIRUS spyware) It seems the fight over which OS is better will never end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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