Thread: New Microsoft Tablet?

This about sums it up.



Undoubtedly, this will be another Microsoft disaster, whatever it is.

^
This looks like my Mrs' Nokia windows phone... which is nice and pretty etc... but suffers from some d'oh design features... like the lack of a camera on the screen side so you can use it for skype (in theory).

Microsoft unveils Surface tablet

By Scott Martin, Edward C. Baig, and Jefferson Graham

Updated 14m ago

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HOLLYWOOD – Microsoft on Monday finally had its Apple moment.

• Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images
  Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer shows the new tablet called Surface during a news conference at Milk Studios on June 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.

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Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer shows the new tablet called Surface during a news conference at Milk Studios on June 18, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.





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The Redmond, Wash.-based software giant unveiled a family of home-brewed tablets to rival Apple's iPad at an extremely hush-hush event here in Los Angeles shrouded in mystery and speculation.
Microsoft is taking a huge leap with a mobile-friendly tablet, built on its new Window 8 operating system, which rolls out this fall. The Microsoft Surface and Microsoft RT tablets will be built in-house. The company is stepping into the tablet market at a critical juncture when growth in PC sales is slowing and consumer interest in iPads is soaring. Even some tablets built on Google's rival Android mobile operating system, such as the Amazon Kindle Fire, are selling strongly.
"We believe that any intersection between human and machine can be made better when all aspects of the experience — hardware and software — are considered and working together," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said at the invitation-only event here. ""Today we want to add another bit of excitement" to the Windows 8 story.
Microsoft is no stranger to tablets. Back in 2001, Microsoft Co-founder Bill Gates predicted tablets would be the most popular form of PCs sold in America within five years. Tablets still haven't overtaken PCs, but they finally have the momentum—thanks to Apple, not Microsoft.
Indeed, Microsoft is very much the challenger as it steps into the ring for multi-touch slate-style computers. Gartner analyst Michael Gartenberg says that in a market so dominated by the iPad, Microsoft "better tell you not only why (its tablet is) different but why different is better in terms of value and in terms of price."
Adds IDC analyst Al Hilwa: "It raises the bar on how Microsoft executes on this because now Microsoft's name is on it. They've got to get it right — they've got to really hit it out of the ballpark."
The new Microsoft Surface will feature a 10.6-inch wide display with Gorilla Glass, its own stand, a full-size USB port, dual Wi-Fi antennae, a multitouch keyboard, a trackpad — and yet is only about a half-inch thick, says Windows chief Steven Sinofsky. Models will come with either 64 gigabytes or 128 GB of storage.
"With Windows 1.0, we needed the mouse to complete the experience," said Ballmer. "We wanted to give Windows 8 it's own hardware innovation. Something new, different, a whole new family of computing devices from Microsoft."
CEO Ballmer needs a big hit right now. Microsoft's stock has languished for nearly a decade as Samsung, Google and Apple have stolen the mobile spotlight and the software giant has even struggled to make Internet advances. Shares of Microsoft dipped 18 cents to close at $29.84 on Monday.
The new tablet comes at a watershed moment for Microsoft. The company is poised to bring out Windows 8, a touch-friendly operating system built around dynamic tiles that is supposed to work equally well on more traditional personal computers and tablets. "There's a lot of change coming in this version of Windows, some of it very exciting," says Michael Cherry, analyst with the independent Directions on Microsoft research firm. "I think it's going to take time to cope with the level of change that's occurring."
When it comes to operating systems, Microsoft is competing on several fronts. With devices built around Windows Phone mobile software, Microsoft is a distant rival in a smartphone space dominated by Google's Android and Apple's iOS software.
Apple and Google are expected to hold a 62.5% and 36.5% share, respectively, of the worldwide tablet market in 2012, according to technology research firm IDC.
And worldwide tablet sales are forecast to rocket 54.4% to 107 million units this year compared with last. The stellar growth comes as the worldwide PC market — which for years saw double-digit growth — is expected to grow just 5% to 383 million PCs shipments in 2012 compared with a year ago.
IDC forecasts that by 2016 there will be 221 million tablets shipped worldwide, and 61% of those will be sold by Apple.
Plus, Apple's over 225,000 apps will also be tough act to follow. Microsoft will likely have to subsidize development of apps for years to come to build interest.
"The bar is pretty high to outshine the iPad," says Hilwa. "It's going to be a tough act to follow."
Still, Microsoft's Windows is the dominant PC operating system and powers roughly 95% of all personal computers worldwide, according to Gartner. And the software giant has long promised that a wave of tablets running Windows 8 would reach consumers this fall in time for the holiday shopping season. Those tablets are expected to run Intel-based chips and share all of the same software functionality as PCs. They could come from the likes of makers Dell, Acer, Lenovo and Samsung.
That would be in keeping with Microsoft's long-standing business model rooted in a strategy of selling software licenses to partners without producing hardware that competes with them. The new build-your-own-tablet strategy raises dicey possibilities. "If (Microsoft is) successful, your licensees resent you" for competing with them, Gartenberg says. "If you're not successful, than you resent them. One way or another it's a problem, like trying to play both sides."
Also, the potential for Microsoft to have two different tablet versions — the others running Intel chips — out in stores may confuse customers. "Too many choices will overwhelm consumers," says Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman Epps.
'Vertical' Strategy
Microsoft's move into the role of hardware designer is stealing a playbook page from Apple. The shift to a so-called vertical integration strategy of putting software and hardware under the same roof promises more control of the outcome.
And Microsoft's push in that direction might be a catalyst for others to follow suit. Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility could allow it, too, to design its own hardware around Android-based tablets. Samsung has also said that it would like to unfurl more software and is widely expected to have its own operating system.
Apple's sleek iPad, of course, has set the bar for design, screen technology, battery life and instant-on capabilities, often attributed to its one-stop-shop hardware-software skunkworks.
"If you want something done right, sometimes you have to do it yourself," says Forrester analyst Sarah Rotman Epps
Microsoft has a mixed track record though when it comes to hardware design. The company has sold more than 67 million Xbox 360 video game consoles, giving it the crown and besting competitors Sony, which makes the PlayStation, and Nintendo, maker of the Wii.
But Microsoft struggled for years to create an iPod contender in a bid for a chunk of the rising consumer electronics category and sales of digital media. Its Zune media player, launched in 2006, failed to gain traction and was cancelled as a standalone device last October. However, its technology was folded into Microsoft's Windows Phone technology. Microsoft's attempt at building and successfully selling a smartphone, the Kin, also ended in failure.
Microsoft's assets
What Microsoft lacks in hardware prowess it makes up for in software assets. The company has garnered accolades in early reviews of its Windows 8.
And it already has taken a uniform approach to infusing the look and feel of Windows 8 in its products from Window Phone to Xbox — giving consumers a taste of familiarity across devices they use in the living room, office and on mobile.
The software giant could incorporate its Skype Internet phone software in a tablet, which could make for a compelling rival to Apple's FaceTime video-calling feature on iPhone and iPad. And integration of Microsoft's popular Kinect camera, used on Xbox, could give a tablet an unusual twist — voice and motion controls.
"They could create some great syngery with Xbox," says Hilwa.
Also, Microsoft has invested $605 million investment in Barnes & Noble's Nook e-reader, though Barnes & Noble was not part of Monday's announcement.
Finally, the software maker is notably attempting to replicate some of Apple's retail store mojo. The Microsoft stores resemble the more minimalist approach favored by Apple Stores and allow people to try out laptops and other electronics.
What's been lacking is the buzz that draws crowds of consumers to see the products. For Microsoft, tablets could be a start.

source: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/st...let/55676790/1

This will undoubtedly turn into another Microsoft comedy. Mind you, the windows 8 surface is actually a well designed (superficially) user interface, but that's only 20% of what makes a tablet worthwhile.

No front-facing cameras? Really?

Built-in “kickstand”, and the magnetically-attached cover (gee, where did we see this before??) cleverly doubles as a keyboard and trackpad. But confusingly, they’re doing versions both with ARM and Intel CPUs.

The ARM one is thinner and lighter, of course. And no word on pricing or availability.

UPDATE: Michael Gartenberg tweets:

This is a total flip of MSFTs business model of software licensing.

Indeed; they’re competing directly against Windows licensees.

Originally Posted by Cthulhu

[/IMG]

Undoubtedly, this will be another Microsoft disaster, whatever it is.

That about sums you up.
How much do Apple pay you to promote their products on forums?

I'm bored of these tablets already. I've no intention to buy another at any point.

Originally Posted by Koojo

That about sums you up.

What does?

Originally Posted by Koojo

How much do Apple pay you to promote their products on forums?

The pleasure of seeing technical illiterates and business luddites like yourself self-destruct over such statements is recompense enough to me.

It's a Windows 8 Transformer innit?

Fuck knows what the cheapy one is. Oh, I know, a Viewsonic.

Microsoft is no stranger to tablets. Back in 2001, Microsoft Co-founder Bill Gates predicted tablets would be the most popular form of PCs sold in America within five years. Tablets still haven't overtaken PCs, but they finally have the momentum—thanks to Apple, not Microsoft.

It's not "tablets", really -- it's just iPad. There's really no other tablet in that market...

Apple's fucked now.

One version runs on ARM cpu, and one on Intel cpu... fragmentation starts before it's even out of the gate.

I doubt anyone at Apple is losing sleep over this. No price announced and no real release date...

Yeah, let me know how that'll hold up.

It would be great to see another Windows-based tablet- I've got one (Asus EP121) and I like it, but it's just too heavy and bulky to carry around easily- I'm very interested to see what Microsoft can come up with.

The 'stylus' deal for making hand-written notes isn't really that great, though- it is a good way to deal with a mediocre touch-screen, however- Microsoft might still be working out a few bugs- Apple really did an excellent job with the current iPad in that regard.

They'll flog loads to corporates because they have all the APIs.

Which is great, because I can now bin the handful of iPads a few of our top bods bought themselves and continually struggle to do anything useful with.

Hands-on With Microsoft Surface for Windows RT, Touch Cover, and Type Cover — Where by ‘Hands-On’ Engadget Means ‘Hands-Off’

Dana Wollman, writing for Engadget:

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see a working demo of the keyboards. As in, we weren’t permitted to type sample sentences and feel what it’s like to hammer out characters on a flat keyboard, or on keys that have just 1.5mm of travel. It’s a shame, because what makes both keyboards special is that they have built-in accelerometers that allow the keyboard to tell which key you’re hitting, how fast and how forcefully. An intriguing idea if ever there was one, but difficult to weigh in on if all you’re allowed to do is peck at a lifeless demo model.

Those keyboards are the most interesting and innovative thing about the Surface. And Microsoft wouldn’t let anyone use them, even for a moment, at yesterday’s event.

Do the math.

What math is that? 2+2=5?

Brutal comparison:



If you're curious about Surface - this settles it that we've seen it all before, 3 years ago, when iPad was introduced. Sometimes their cloying is shameless - its as if Microsoft assumes their audience is as dumb as their presenters.

I do like that one little touch during the presentation Microsoft added to differentiate themselves... ;-)

Surface: Between a Rock and a Hardware Place

Wednesday, 20 June 2012

Watching the Microsoft Surface event video, I sensed uneasiness. Not panic, but discomfort. Some will argue that I’m simply spoiled by Apple’s on-stage polish, but Monday’s Microsoft event struck me as rushed and severely under-rehearsed. Ballmer offered nothing but blustering bromides, and nothing even vaguely resembling a coherent answer to the big question: Why? Steven Sinofsky was nervous and hurried. It didn’t help that his first Surface RT unit crashed before he’d done anything other than wake it up. There was a moment where he said Surface was perfect for sitting down, relaxing in a chair, and watching a movie. He sat in that chair for about three seconds before rushing into the next segment.

I found the presenters far less rehearsed and the presentation far less cohesive than an Apple event. (With the notable exception of designer Panos Panay, who was very solid on stage.) There was no story. It was all over the place: Here’s an ARM tablet. Here’s the clever keyboard cover that goes with it. Now here’s another tablet that looks much the same but a little thicker but in fact is running a different and incompatible OS. Oh and here’s another keyboard cover, this one with moving keys. Design is about making decisions, and Microsoft could not decide. ARM or Intel? Who should be on stage? Soft or hard keys on the keyboard cover? They went with “all of the above”.

The only hard decision they made was the big one: to turn against their OEM hardware partners.

I presume Microsoft timed this event to jump ahead of anything Google might be announcing at their I/O conference next week — and the consensus seems to be that Google is going to announce much the same idea: their own Google-branded, Google-designed tablet that will put them in direct competition not just with Apple but with their own OS licensees.

But no pricing, no battery life specs, no demonstrations of the seemingly extraordinarily clever cover-keyboards in action, or really much in the way of software demonstrations, period? That’s rough, even by the standards of pre-announcements. Skepticism about these things doesn’t require knee-jerk Apple fandom. It simply requires an open set of eyeballs. The message I took away is that Microsoft has concluded that, ready or not, it needed to move now. There is no longer enough profit to be had selling software alone.

You do know he's dead, don't you? Serious straw clutching there.

Half-baked. - Daily Exhaust

I noted the same thing Michael Mulvey did about Microsoft’s Surface event:

But the solid hardware isn’t what has me perplexed. It’s the complete lack of software demonstrations. It’s ironic, isn’t it? Here’s a company who’s made billions of dollars selling software for over 30 years, and when it comes time to debut the device launching them into the future, they don’t bother to allocate even a few minutes to showing off how well software runs on it?

If it had a camera I would have got one for the wife , but its useless without it,, they are missing a trick here

Originally Posted by nigelandjan

If it had a camera I would have got one for the wife , but its useless without it,, they are missing a trick here

You would have? Without any software? Without seeing what it does? Sight unseen? For a price twice the cost of an iPad? Really?

Microsoft buying Nokia is the next logical progression if they want to make their own products moving forward.

Of course they also screw over all their hardware partners in doing so.

Mark Hurd certainly looks a lot smarter, now, doesn't he?


Microsoft held a one-day event Wednesday for developers who want to learn more about Windows Phone 8. This will be the first Microsoft smartphone platform based on Microsoft Windows instead of Windows CE. It is a last-ditch, all-or-nothing effort for both Microsoft and Nokia to get back into the smartphone game. I think we saw enough clues during the event and in related official blog posts to say with some certainty that Microsoft soon will announce it is buying Nokia.

Here's my guess: Microsoft will announce it has bought Nokia--or at least the part that makes phones and developers' mobile software--before the end of 2012, maybe around the time Apple is likely to announce an iPhone 5.

I speculated on June 19 that Microsoft will buy Nokia, which has a relatively small market cap of just under $10 billion at this moment. Microsoft paid $6 billion for Aquantive, an online ad firm, and $8.5 billion for Skype. So spending $10 billion to $12 billion on Nokia would not be out of line.

Here's what tipped me off at Wednesday's Windows Phone Developer Conference:

Microsoft's Joe Belfiore used his own phone, a Windows Phone 8 prototype built by Nokia, for some demonstrations.

Nokia was the only phone hardware partner making presentations during the announcement. Kevin Shields, SVP of program and product management at Nokia, spoke.

Although announced many months ago, it is still noteworthy that Nokia Maps will replace Microsoft's own Bing Maps on Windows Phone 8.

Nokia is providing the near field communications (NFC) solution for Windows Phone 8.

Microsoft and Nokia separately announced that Nokia partnered with Zynga to put the popular iOS Words With Friends and Draw Something games on Nokia's Lumia phone. And I'm guessing that it will do the same for all Windows Phone devices later on.

Nokia announced that its turn-by-turn Nokia Drive navigation app, which is currently only available for its own Lumia phones, would be made available for all Windows Phone 8 devices.

Nokia has lost nearly two-thirds of the value it had just last October. It is trading at $2.50 per share now, down from $7 in October. The knowledge that it has recently released its flagship Lumia 900--which cannot be upgraded to Windows Phone 8--will almost certainly negatively affect sales.

Why would Nokia give away the farm to Microsoft unless they are close to becoming part of Microsoft?