Surface: Microsoft, What the Hell is Wrong With You?

[Golden]

Summary: Microsoft’s new tablet not only fragments the Windows 8 mobile ecosystem, but also creates strife with its OEMs and will re-ignite negative perceptions of the company’s former monopolist position.

Read more here:
https://www.zdnet.com/blog/perlow/surface-microsoft-what-the-hell-is-wrong-with-you/20599

 

[pparks1]

I love how the journalists trash MS for the build-up and hype of this event, when they experience the same type of antics from Apple but have trouble containing their excitement when Apple does it.

As far as the monopolistic comments go, Apple has a pretty solid hold currently on the marketspace for their tablet offering, and they are the exclusive manufacturer with no OEM's getting any chance to offer a product. Why does MS owe it to the OEM's to allow them to manufacture this product. Why can they not do it Apple style and reap the benefits?

 

[Teerex]

They are not doing it Apple style. When Apple introduces a gadget in a magnificent cloud of hype comparable to the one Microsoft created this time, they announce that the hardware thingie they are introducing is available 'today' or 'tomorrow' or at an exact date, with pre-orders available, in 'xx countries' for a price that is an integer value, not an equation with all the values unknown. And there is no time to overanalyze or poo poo the shiny new device.

And after that introduction, the lemmings arrive to Apple stores in droves, on those first days, than that gadget gets great sales, perfumed with all that hype, while flaws remain undiscovered for some time. The hype serves a purpose. $$$$$$.

Microsoft introduces its hardware like it's software, they are wrong, again, and they never learn. Didn't the Palm & RIM tragedies, NOKIA's rough ride with Lumia and the sad story of that poor HP tablet teach them anything?

I really hope they can at least corner the 'tablet-in-the-enterprise' market because they have already surrendered on the consumer front with the failure of this opening salvo. And although Microsoft is a big ship, this ship could eventually sink, just like Titanic did.

 

[SIW2]

Eloquent analysis

 

[Dave76]

Looks like a nice device.

Don't think any other OEMs have published their Win8 tablet/slate prices yet either (let me know if that is correct).

Others have branched out into new areas, the previously mentioned fruit company, Google, HP, etc., without a backlash.
I'm interested in seeing the MS Surface, just the availability of ports makes it interesting.
The improved tablet replacement and laptop type of CPU version are past due.
Is MS wrong for answering the loud request for these additions in this market?

 

[arkhi]

Just found this video. I thought it was very sad but I had a good chuckle nonetheless.

 

[richnrockville]

One thing about the "surface", if it will run all the business apps like SSL for RDP and ms office, then they
could hit a home run as far as business's are concerned.

Rich

 

[SIW2]

They are not necessarily "wrong" in launching their own machines.

They have stirred up trouble with their existing "partners" by doing so.

 

[Slartybart]

I've been there - presentation failures when showcasing the next best thing. S_it happens. The upscale Surface is projected to cost around $1,000 and some analysts ask "Why not just get an Ultra?"

I say, this is the right direction, the cover/keyboard is brilliant! The Surface, if successful, bridges the consume/input only function of current tablets and the produce/output of the PC gap nicely.

 

[pparks1]

The upscale Surface is projected to cost around $1,000 and some analysts ask "Why not just get an Ultra?"

Because this is smaller, lighter, and has a touch screen interface.

 

[andyparks]

Is this going to be the new laptop if it is I would like them to burn a disc

 

[Gornot]

What I am interested in knowing is the music heard in the first-post video

Surface looks awesome to me, and that's all there is to it. About time something as serious as the Android platform invades tablets, even though it is Win8 (which I don't dislike, but do not like much either).

 

[boohbah]

im indifferent to windows 8 ,but i can see this tablet doing well with 8 on it. i would like one, if i was given it free.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
why should I pay upwards of 1,000 USD for a device that has less functionality than my nice netbook ACER ASPIRE 1 PC costing less than 350 USD -- 3 of these cost about the same as the price projection of the MS tablet -- so I could take them to bars, lose them or whatever and would hardly have lost much money either.

As for them being stolen -- no self respecting crook would even LOOK at the netbook any more !! Zero re-sale value.

I'm not anti new technology but why pay 1,000 USD for a device that does LESS than what I already have and costs 3 times as much too.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[pparks1]

^ You don't have to buy one. Compared to your Acer Aspire though, the guestimated $1,000 version of the Surface will have a stronger processor, more memory, touch screen interface, it will likely be smaller and weight less. To some people, these features are more important and worth the price. Look at the sheer # of people who have invested in iPAD's which are just an oversized phone without calling ability.

 

[SIW2]

iPAD's which are just an oversized phone without calling ability.

They are something quite different.

Ipads are a status symbol.

 

[Borg 386]

You have to wonder if MS planned this all along. I mean, look at Win 8, it's optimized for a touch pad. MS apparently didn't listen to peoples complaints about the interface, & then they launch their own tablet, on which Win 8 seems to fit perfectly. It's conceivable they had this planned all along.

 

[bigseb]

im indifferent to windows 8 ,but i can see this tablet doing well with 8 on it. i would like one, if i was given it free.

My thoughts exactly...

 

[Phone Man]

You have to wonder if MS planned this all along. I mean, look at Win 8, it's optimized for a touch pad. MS apparently didn't listen to peoples complaints about the interface, & then they launch their own tablet, on which Win 8 seems to fit perfectly. It's conceivable they had this planned all along.

That's exactly what MS said Months ago. Windows 8 was designed for tablets and phone and would also run on PC's. On the PC, the Start Screen lets you run Desktop Programs or Apps. And the same Apps will be available on tablets and phone. Only time will tell how successful Window 8 will be but I think it will do well.

Jim

 

[Phone Man]

Maybe I’m just cranky because I had to work a 12-hour day, waiting for an event to finish on West Coast time when I really just wanted to take my wife out to dinner instead.

This is the only thing that Perlow said that made sense. He must have been sleeping though the event or in the crapper reading his own blog posts. What a nerd. After watching the entire presentation I think MS got it right and Windows 8 Surface will kick butt.

Jim