Reply to: Windows Surface

[VectraMan]

I have a feeling this will be the start of the end for Microsoft. Too little to late has never been a more appropriate phrase for Microsoft and the mobile/tablet market. Apple and Google had sewn up the market long ago and this abortive effort by the behemoth can only be seen as a desperate last effort after their failings with the Kin (ha), the Zune (ha ha), Windows 7 mobile (ha ha ha). The sales figures will be released shorty and the jettisoning of the top man a few weeks ago is a hint that those figures will be pathetically low. The iPad mini and the Nexus on the other hand will become ubiquitous (christmas gifts), and herald a new dawn in personal computing.

Microsoft already aren't as dominant as they once were. But in your list of failed products also remember there was the XBox; all the experts predicted MS had come too late and could never succeed in the games console market. They also came late to the internet, and after a few years had the dominant browser.

It's certainly interesting times. Of course for us software engineers, having several different incompatible platforms just means more work and money for us.

[VectraMan]

For coding on the move, I'd have thought a Macbook Air or ultrabook would be a better compromise of performance/usability/portability personally - have you tried any of them out?

WHS. Each to their own of course, but I can't imagine being able to do any useful work on a 10" tablet with ZX81 keyboard. My 15" laptop is my main development machine, and I don't have any trouble lugging that around when I need to.

[LatteLiberal]

I don't think the iPad mini will become ubiquitous by Christmas. I can't find the two I need for love nor money (and that includes being extra nice to the two apple store managers I know).

The fact you can't find them, would for me, be a indication that they are selling unbelievably well.

[eek]

The iPad mini and the Nexus on the other hand will become ubiquitous (christmas gifts), and herald a new dawn in personal computing.

I don't think the iPad mini will become ubiquitous by Christmas. I can't find the two I need for love nor money (and that includes being extra nice to the two apple store managers I know).

[LatteLiberal]

I have a feeling this will be the start of the end for Microsoft. Too little to late has never been a more appropriate phrase for Microsoft and the mobile/tablet market. Apple and Google had sewn up the market long ago and this abortive effort by the behemoth can only be seen as a desperate last effort after their failings with the Kin (ha), the Zune (ha ha), Windows 7 mobile (ha ha ha). The sales figures will be released shorty and the jettisoning of the top man a few weeks ago is a hint that those figures will be pathetically low. The iPad mini and the Nexus on the other hand will become ubiquitous (christmas gifts), and herald a new dawn in personal computing.

[d000hg]

For coding on the move, I'd have thought a Macbook Air or ultrabook would be a better compromise of performance/usability/portability personally - have you tried any of them out?

[Durbs]

No!!

Why on earth would you want that?

Cause its my livelihood and anything that gives me other options for coding on the move is a good thing. I'm currently swamped with clients so work is unfortunately a 7 day + every night thing at the moment so every hour I can cram in doing a bit of coding frees me up an hour to take off at the weekend. Its often a pain carrying a laptop around though so something like this that will allow me to do the odd hour of light work when I get the opportunity (not suggesting it going to take over from my laptop) sounds great.

Same for learning, my iPad is great for reading tutorials, listening to .net podcasts, watching tutorial vids but the Surface would add that extra bit where if I've just read a good tutorial, I can fire up VS and try it out there and then.

I'm not going to get one as it'll be too expensive to justify but was just saying the idea is good.

[VectraMan]

I really fancy one, Visual Studio 2012 on a tab! Yes!!

No!!

Why on earth would you want that?

[Durbs]

Yeah, imagine how slow and unusable that would be.

??? Yeah, cos an Ivy Bridge i5, 4GB of memory, HD4000 graphics and 1920x1080 resolution is rubbish isn't it.

[Sysman]

It's not really UK news when we only know the US price; reporting it as $899 (£560) suggests it will be on sale for £560 here.

If you view the Surface Pro as a super-tiny netbook rather an a tablet, I think the price is reasonable... just look at the MacBook AIR and modern Ultrabooks, this makes those look huge.

To compare oranges with, er, apples

Surface with Windows 8 Pro:

64GB standalone version at $899
128GB standalone version at $999

MacBook Air:

64GB 11 inch $999
128GB 11 inch $1099

Given that the Surface Pro keyboards will come in at an estimated $100 extra, the prices are the same.

Time will tell on UK prices.

[escapeUK]

I really fancy one, Visual Studio 2012 on a tab! Yes!!

Yeah, imagine how slow and unusable that would be.

[Durbs]

It's not really UK news when we only know the US price; reporting it as $899 (£560) suggests it will be on sale for £560.

Its generally nearer 1:1 though with US tech prices so we just know its probably <£899. I reckon £700-750.

I really fancy one, Visual Studio 2012 on a tab! Yes!!

But cant justify that cost really without getting rid of another bit of kit.

[d000hg]

It's not really UK news when we only know the US price; reporting it as $899 (£560) suggests it will be on sale for £560 here.

If you view the Surface Pro as a super-tiny netbook rather an a tablet, I think the price is reasonable... just look at the MacBook AIR and modern Ultrabooks, this makes those look huge.

I won't be buying one (unless plan B sees a market) but as a business tool I quite like them.

[Ticktock]

Pricing released for Pro version:

BBC News - Microsoft prices Surface with Windows Pro tablets

[VectraMan]

It should be a no-brainer for the app developers. It's Windows, one app runs on everything, tablet, phone, laptop, desktop.

Everything running Windows 8, which won't be that many laptops or desktops.

But, because they've effectivly crippled the launch version by not running x86 no-one will want to develop apps for it only to have to rework them for the x86 version when it comes out, so the drive to buy the launch version won't be there, so there will be no momentum for the pro version when it arrives. Unless they can persuade the corporate buyers that it is a worthwhile investment.

In theory x86 vs ARM won't require a great deal of reworking of apps, just recompiling for a different target.

The concept of "apps" are a bit old fashioned now anyway. It's only Appleists that like to talk about apps. I think the Windows app store will be a complete flop, which isn't to say that Surface itself won't be successful. But I'd certainly be put off by a) the price, and b) the low screen resolution. You're getting a lot more for your money with a Nexus 10.