[IvanIV]

Here's more information including specifications:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57...rface-tablets/

[JulesandSand]

Here's another press report.

MS Tablet

[Neda_Turk]

Will it run windows 7?

If it only runs legoland Windows 8 (Press a coloured blob) software, then I'm not interested.

That or can you change Windows 8 to look like Windows 7?

[dadioflex]

Originally Posted by Neda_Turk

Will it run windows 7?

If it only runs legoland Windows 8 (Press a coloured blob) software, then I'm not interested.

Why would you want Windows 7 on a tablet? Don't get me wrong - I don't like what I've seen of Windows 8, but it is from the ground up meant to be used on a tablet to the extent that the desktop experience appears to suffer.

The Surface RT has an ARM chip so it won't run any legacy software, but no reason that I can see why you shouldn't be able to install Windows 7 on the pro version. But you will be crippling functionality unless your intention is to use it with mouse and keyboard while plugged in. EDIT - been watching the demonstration - that keyboard cover is actually pretty neat and again I see no reason why it wouldn't work for Windows 7, though obviously you're getting to the point where an Ultrabook might make more sense.

[neo_wales]

Thats me sorted, I'll get a pro ASAP. The price is not bad, I spent over a grand on my Sony Vaio which is a great machine but for holidays etc this W8 pro will fill all my needs. Its what I've been waiting for.

[IvanIV]

Originally Posted by neo_wales

Thats me sorted, I'll get a pro ASAP. The price is not bad, I spent over a grand on my Sony Vaio which is a great machine but for holidays etc this W8 pro will fill all my needs. Its what I've been waiting for.

I wonder if it comes with 3G, too. Although nowadays when almost everybody has a smartphone with tethering it isn't a big issue.

[Matt D]

Originally Posted by Arkudos

Stereo.

Sorry, I should have been clearer: The music in the video link in the post before mine.

Originally Posted by John259

How about the Asus Transformer and the Dell Inspiron Duo (is the latter still being produced)?

The Duo is dead.

It was a nice idea, but was let down by running an OS not really meant for tablets (Windows 7), and let down by weighing 2.5 times as much as an iPad or other ARM tablet, with less than half of the battery life.

Originally Posted by John259

Three obvious reliability concerns (possibly unjustified of course, only time will tell):

The wonky stand.

The keyboard/cover, if it has physical electrical connections (but perhaps it uses Bluetooth?).

Heat dissipation, especially in the more expensive model. An i3, enough ram to run Win8, and a big enough hard disc (or SSD?) for that are going to generate a lot of heat (and run the battery down very quickly).

I'd assume the Touch Cover uses Bluetooth. It didn't appear to have any connections, and just attached magnetically like an iPad Smart Cover.

[The Phazer]

The Intel version is very impressive. A tablet that runs a proper operating system where you can upload your own files to the internet, run any code you want, has a massive groundswell of software, lets you mount USB drives, has a proper active digitiser pen and integrates with corportate networks? Win win win.

It will just depend on battery life and price.

The Windows RT one I'm far less sure about. There's no software yet, and if I wanted a device that censored what code I could run, why wouldn't I buy an iPad where I don't have to wait for anything to be ported over?

That keyboard cover is swanky too.

[PiazzaCharlie]

Have to agree that the keyboard built into the cover is pretty swanky. But I do still think it kind of misses the point a bit. I would still think that tablets and laptops serve two distinct functions. So whilst the keyboard on the Surface is clever, its not very practical for how I think most people use a table, ie holding it. Its very practical if you want to use it on a desk like you would a laptop. In which case, it would be just as well to use a laptop. So I think ultimately it will fall between the two stools, rather than appeal to both because of the keyboard.

[LostFool]

Well, it's much more interesting than I was expecting but I still doubt I'll be rushing out to buy one. It will be interesting to see how the likes of Dell and the other PC manufacturers respond.

[IvanIV]

Originally Posted by PiazzaCharlie

Have to agree that the keyboard built into the cover is pretty swanky. But I do still think it kind of misses the point a bit. I would still think that tablets and laptops serve two distinct functions. So whilst the keyboard on the Surface is clever, its not very practical for how I think most people use a table, ie holding it. Its very practical if you want to use it on a desk like you would a laptop. In which case, it would be just as well to use a laptop. So I think ultimately it will fall between the two stools, rather than appeal to both because of the keyboard.

I think they see it as a laptop and tablet replacement. Since the keyboard is optional there should be no problem not to use it. What you get is a tablet. You want to use it, you get a laptop with a touchscreen capability. I like the idea. Depending on battery life and if the price is not too wild I am getting one of the pros.

[PiazzaCharlie]

I guess I just think the tablet market and the laptop market are distinct. If someone is in the market for a tablet or a laptop, they'll most likely by a tablet other than a Surface. If they're in the market for a laptop, they'll most likely buy something other than a Surface.

There probably is a market for a more professional user who might be in the market for a tablet and a laptop, and so might be more interested in a Surface. But that market is going to be smaller than both the tablet and laptop markets.

[John259]

Originally Posted by PiazzaCharlie

If someone is in the market for a tablet or a laptop, they'll most likely by a tablet other than a Surface. If they're in the market for a laptop, they'll most likely buy something other than a Surface.

Agreed, and if they're in the market for a laptop a fair number will explore Apple and Linux possibilities in order to avoid Win8 (unless Win7 remains an option of course).

[IvanIV]

Originally Posted by John259

Agreed, and if they're in the market for a laptop a fair number will explore Apple and Linux possibilities in order to avoid Win8 (unless Win7 remains an option of course).

My favourite online shop has 350 laptops of which 2 have Linux preinstalled. Not much of a choice. Prices of Mac laptops are outrageous in comparison to Windows ones. I think we can safely say people will buy laptops with Windows 8 and if it bothers them that much, get Windows 7 on it.

[paulbrock]

Originally Posted by PiazzaCharlie

There probably is a market for a more professional user who might be in the market for a tablet and a laptop, and so might be more interested in a Surface. But that market is going to be smaller than both the tablet and laptop markets.

Its a market that exists, and so far only really has the Asus Tranformer range in it. Certainly suits me, I'll be looking carefully at Surface as an option to replace my dying laptop.

[pumazooma]

It doesn't look too bad.

I think they're missing a trick not to give out the specs and prices etc yet. People will have forgotten about it by the time it goes on sale. Apple are good at saying here's the new one, you can order it now and it'll arrive in 2 weeks. So they get a big hit from the initial wave of excitement which puts them in to the market, they tell their friends and their friends buy one. By not releasing any info I think they're missing out on sales.

That stand is bound to break off but I like the cover keyboard thing. That's quite a clever idea as long as it doesn't get covered in dust that's hard to remove, especially if it's rubbery, but I can see that being copied elsewhere as it expands the use of the tablet in to a super small 'laptop'.

They just need to release the specs and prices.

[chopoff]

Originally Posted by pumazooma

It doesn't look too bad.

I think they're missing a trick not to give out the specs and prices etc yet. People will have forgotten about it by the time it goes on sale. Apple are good at saying here's the new one, you can order it now and it'll arrive in 2 weeks. So they get a big hit from the initial wave of excitement which puts them in to the market, they tell their friends and their friends buy one. By not releasing any info I think they're missing out on sales.

That stand is bound to break off but I like the cover keyboard thing. That's quite a clever idea as long as it doesn't get covered in dust that's hard to remove, especially if it's rubbery, but I can see that being copied elsewhere as it expands the use of the tablet in to a super small 'laptop'.

They just need to release the specs and prices.

That's what I didn't get either, why announce at a hastily organised press conference - where is the rush? It isn't like Apple is going to show off the iPad 4 any time soon, unless a mini version is coming soon or the rumoured Google tablet is nearing life.

[chopoff]

Originally Posted by PiazzaCharlie

I guess I just think the tablet market and the laptop market are distinct. If someone is in the market for a tablet or a laptop, they'll most likely by a tablet other than a Surface. If they're in the market for a laptop, they'll most likely buy something other than a Surface.

There probably is a market for a more professional user who might be in the market for a tablet and a laptop, and so might be more interested in a Surface. But that market is going to be smaller than both the tablet and laptop markets.

Depends on who you are, if you ask me.

I think the idea of this device, along with the keyboard cover, is that this device will replace average laptops and netbooks.

For those that need extra power, or use of a true desktop that a traditional laptop provides then the Ultrabook class will be for you.

Also, this device will tie in with the Windows 8 eco-system.

The idea being your tablet, PC, phone and console will be running Windows 8 in some guise. All supporting Metro apps, meaning you can use the same app across all of your devices.

For that reason, if they want a tablet Surface is a smart move. Provided you already have a Windows 8 PC, phone or Xbox 720 when they arrive.

[paulbrock]

Originally Posted by chopoff

why announce at a hastily organised press conference - where is the rush? It isn't like Apple is going to show off the iPad 4 any time soon, unless a mini version is coming soon or the rumoured Google tablet is nearing life.

Google's developer conference, I/O, is next week

[Helbore]

Originally Posted by Matt D

I'd assume the Touch Cover uses Bluetooth. It didn't appear to have any connections, and just attached magnetically like an iPad Smart Cover.

Microsoft recently patented a new type of magnetic connector that also acts as both a power and data link. I'd put good money on that keyboard connector being that connector. Bluetooth would require the keyboard to have its own power source and that would be a poor design choice.

Having watched through the entire keynote, I have to say I am quite impressed with what seems to be a huge amount of design work in this tablet. It seems like Microsoft sat down and put 100% thought into every single, tiny aspect of this tablet. They even did work in an anechoic chamber in order to make the hinge sound produce a "premium sounding" click when opening and closing the stand. They seem to have put that much effort into every part, which is promising.

That i5 based tablet is the first thing I've seen that actually makes me think I could totally replace my laptop with a tablet. To be honest, though, I expect that won't be a real possibility until Haswell or Broadwell (the next two Intel architectures) make it to market. Then I think it will be possible to have a thin, light tablet with as much power as a laptop, that doesn't drain the battery within a few short hours.

In fact, battery life is the main point I am waiting on (along with price, obviously). I'm expecting the ARM tablet will get a 9-10 hour life, but I'm not assuming anything is definite until we see it.

The i5 is where I'm most unsure. I'm assuming its going to be a ULV model, but even then its hard to expect we'll see more than a 5 hour battery life - and that's me being overly optimistic and generous. Considering the sleekness, it'd be hard to expect more than 3 hours. That's just too short for a tablet.

However, I believe there is a market for both ARM and x86 tablets. With the two offerings, Microsoft is covering both. I think that is a smart move. They keynote really impressed me and this is the first time I am seriously considering purchasing a tablet. I won't be sold until I learn more, but I am wanting to learn more.

[Matt D]

Originally Posted by Helbore

Microsoft recently patented a new type of magnetic connector that also acts as both a power and data link. I'd put good money on that keyboard connector being that connector. Bluetooth would require the keyboard to have its own power source and that would be a poor design choice.

Ah, interesting, thanks

[John259]

Originally Posted by Helbore

it'd be hard to expect more than 3 hours

Thinking about how large the battery is in a laptop, and how much space there is for a battery in a tablet, I think even that might be extremely optimistic but time will tell.

[chopoff]

Originally Posted by Matt D

Ah, interesting, thanks

Yeah, it can just about be seen in the official shot here http://www.microsoft.com/global/surf...ry_5_large.jpg

It looks a bit like Apple's MagSafe connectors.

[chopoff]

Originally Posted by John259

Thinking about how large the battery is in a laptop, and how much space there is for a battery in a tablet, I think even that might be extremely optimistic but time will tell.

Not so sure on the RT version, that should be quite efficient - the Pro version on the other hand... yeah... will be interesting.

[Gormond]

Originally Posted by cribology

ultrabooks range in price from £600-£1,200. There is no way I'm paying that for tablet with limited ports and a flimsy looking keyboard & stand.

I'm with you, i would rather an actual ultrabook like the MacBook Air.

I do like the idea of the Arm version though, although i suspect we will see it around the time of the iPad 4.