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Microsoft Set To Dump Surface? |
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#51 |
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK
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Quote:
A lot of people are waiting to see what the Surface Pro is like before making a decision.
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#52 |
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Join Date: May 2006
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I think MS needs to unlock RT platform and publish a native ARM compiler for Windows. Surface RT is a great tablet IMO, but it does not bring USP that would really make people pay attention. Also calling it Windows causes expectations that are not true and people are disappointed. But having a full Windows ARM that is energy consumption aware and can function as a tablet, too, that could be quite interesting, IMO. I know that's what MS intends with Surface pro, but I don't think ARM would hurt it. It would take time before the ARM versions of programmes would be available (recompiling, testing, etc) and I think they could co-exist. Intel might not like it though
What brought this, just today I connected an external HDD and bluray rewriter to my Surface RT and it recognised them, could use them in data mode, I just did not find any apps that could play CDs and DVDs.I guess there's not enough power to try to play bluray discs. And it's a pity that this is not possible only because somebody said so and not because it's a technical impossibility. |
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#53 |
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: moon
Posts: 12,983
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Quote:
I think MS needs to unlock RT platform and publish a native ARM compiler for Windows. Surface RT is a great tablet IMO, but it does not bring USP that would really make people pay attention. Also calling it Windows causes expectations that are not true and people are disappointed. But having a full Windows ARM that is energy consumption aware and can function as a tablet, too, that could be quite interesting, IMO. I know that's what MS intends with Surface pro, but I don't think ARM would hurt it. It would take time before the ARM versions of programmes would be available (recompiling, testing, etc) and I think they could co-exist. Intel might not like it though
What brought this, just today I connected an external HDD and bluray rewriter to my Surface RT and it recognised them, could use them in data mode, I just did not find any apps that could play CDs and DVDs.I guess there's not enough power to try to play bluray discs. And it's a pity that this is not possible only because somebody said so and not because it's a technical impossibility. The other thing is that while WinRT was designed for secure apps (sandboxing, using contracts and brokers etc), designed for automatic resource management (e.g. tombstoning, recovering RAM etc) and mobility. Win32-based apps ported to RT will not have any of those benefits. What you end up with is a full PC running on underpowered ARM hardware with the loss in battery life that is important in a tablet. There is a far easier away for you to get what you want Ivan which is a device that's like the Surface RT hardware and price wise but like the Surface Pro in terms of software flexibility. It's making a Surface with an Intel SOC like Clover Trail. I think there is a good likelihood of seeing a Surface with a Bay Trail processor at the end of this year. |
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#54 |
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Join Date: May 2006
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It's just they went and ported Windows to ARM and then disabled half of it. Yes, it does not make sense to have any power hungry application on a tablet, but I really would not mind something like Total Commander for ARM. I grew up on Norton Commander and having a file manager with a source and destination windows is essential for me. Or an ability to play CDs or DVDs. Give me an app, I do not mind. It just seems a waste to be able to work with external drives, but not completely.
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#55 |
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Join Date: May 2006
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FYI Microsoft removed a white list for sites allowed to use flash. You can now blacklist a particular site if you do not wish flash to run there.
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#56 |
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK
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FYI Microsoft removed a white list for sites allowed to use flash. You can now blacklist a particular site if you do not wish flash to run there.
http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/...s-flash-145367 |
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#57 |
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Join Date: May 2006
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There was a way with the whitelist, there probably will be a way to change the blacklist as well
Doesn't matter, I guess I hardly get to a blacklisted site, what with my browsing habits of ~20 websites ![]() Anyway, I got across this article with some nice photos A look at Microsoft's top-secret Surface prototypes It fascinates me in general to see how an idea started and evolved into a reality, one does not get to see it often. |
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#58 |
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: At college, in L.A.'s office
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That's fair enough IMHO, it's a very different product to the Surface RT.
My dad said he'd buy himself one if he wins the lotto.
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#59 |
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Join Date: May 2006
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The pro seems to be doing well, they always sell out the next batch in a couple of days over at US MS shop. I wonder when they will be available outside US. I think the RT is a great tablet, but not for the price they are selling it. They need to price them in the same area as Samsung tablets and they will see more interest.
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#60 |
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Join Date: Sep 2008
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Looks like the Surface Pro isn't going anywhere: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/new...ch-400000.html Of particular interest is this: Quote:
Microsoft's 128GB Surface Pro has been hit by stock shortages since its launch, with the firm only able to meet the demand in recent weeks.
The Surface Pro tablet is expected to be released in Europe in the coming months. |
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#61 |
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Join Date: May 2006
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I think they might have misjudged an interest for the pro based on the RT, having it completely the other way around.
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#62 |
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Join Date: Jul 2005
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The whole windows 8 platform is just not working.
It's not a nice OS and the tablets are just not well placed. From day one MS should have done a brand new PC/touch OS and used a advanced form of Windows phone for a tablet that integrates . Not a full bloat of Windows, re hashed. |
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#63 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Northallerton, North Yorkshire
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Quote:
The whole windows 8 platform is just not working.
It's not a nice OS and the tablets are just not well placed. From day one MS should have done a brand new PC/touch OS and used a advanced form of Windows phone for a tablet that integrates . Not a full bloat of Windows, re hashed. Anyway, the reason Imo why its hasn't taken off yet is the lack of availability. I'm just hoping there not too late to the party. |
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#64 |
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Join Date: Jan 2013
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I would like to see them take Windows 3.1 as the basis for a tablet and add a new modern interface and bolt on the essential factors such as dvd etc that people use now. This would give a complete Windows operating system which would work without needing to have the bloat factors removed.
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#65 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Scottish Borders
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I would like to see them take Windows 3.1 as the basis for a tablet and add a new modern interface and bolt on the essential factors such as dvd etc that people use now. This would give a complete Windows operating system which would work without needing to have the bloat factors removed.
![]() (DVD?....On a tablet? )
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#66 |
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: AccountKiller
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Microsoft missed the boat really. If you don't want Apple, you get Android. Both tried and tested platforms.
Most unforgivable, is that MS has had years to observe what Apple and Android are doing right, and to hoover up all the small independent apps for Windows that other do so much better. They could and should have produced something incredibly slick, absolutely beautiful and with hundreds of killer apps available from day one. I never thought I'd see the day, but my next PC is very likely to be an iMac. |
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#67 |
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK
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It is getting harder to understand the sheer pig-headed stupidity of Microsoft.
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#68 |
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Join Date: May 2006
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I rather think they wanted it to be a gateway to Windows RT devices, having the same user experience everywhere. But, while RT touch devices are nice to use, probably not more or less than Apple or Android devices, using Metro with mouse feels clumsy. Also OEMs decided that RT devices will be on the high end price range which isn't helping.
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#69 |
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,831
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Quote:
The whole windows 8 platform is just not working.
It's not a nice OS and the tablets are just not well placed. From day one MS should have done a brand new PC/touch OS and used a advanced form of Windows phone for a tablet that integrates . Not a full bloat of Windows, re hashed. It's a poorly thought out operating system that will be forgotten along with the likes of Vista. |
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#70 |
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 918
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You sound like you've been asleep for twenty years, and only just woke up?
![]() (DVD?....On a tablet? )The facility to link to a dvd would enable games to be installed to the tablet so you wern't stuck with app type games and you could play real games. In effect I want the tablet to be a real substitute for a desktop or laptop and not just a toy. |
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#71 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 20,806
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Quote:
I rather think they wanted it to be a gateway to Windows RT devices, having the same user experience everywhere. But, while RT touch devices are nice to use, probably not more or less than Apple or Android devices, using Metro with mouse feels clumsy. Also OEMs decided that RT devices will be on the high end price range which isn't helping.
Even the web browsers are slow and clunky on tablets compared to a full intel processor powered devices and that's an app that's hardly pushing the boundaries. The Surface PRO though is a cool device that can run the millions of Windows Apps at full power, and it has stylus (which is big plus for people like me who hate touchscreens). |
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#72 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Scottish Borders
Posts: 11,989
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No dear. I just wanted a clean interface with no bells and whistles that actually works. Windows 3.1 does those things and doesn't hog memory.
The facility to link to a dvd would enable games to be installed to the tablet so you wern't stuck with app type games and you could play real games. In effect I want the tablet to be a real substitute for a desktop or laptop and not just a toy. But it is not up to the standards of today. |
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#73 |
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Norwich, Norfolk, UK
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Quote:
The facility to link to a dvd would enable games to be installed to the tablet so you wern't stuck with app type games and you could play real games.
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#74 |
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Join Date: May 2006
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Surface pro will do that. RT devices use an ARM processor making it impossible to run programmes compiled for x86 processors. Without emulator, but there is none. Windows on RT is actually at a similar level as Windows 8 (non pro), but MS made it impossible/difficult to run native ARM programmes on it. So we have native programmes that are a part of Windows and Office. ARM is not meant to do all that x86 has to, but I really would not mind to get some of the programmes for ARM natively. I find Windows RT APIs too restrictive. But that's what they get when they call it Windows.
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#75 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: At college, in L.A.'s office
Posts: 54,216
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Quote:
The whole windows 8 platform is just not working.
It's not a nice OS and the tablets are just not well placed. From day one MS should have done a brand new PC/touch OS and used a advanced form of Windows phone for a tablet that integrates . Not a full bloat of Windows, re hashed. |
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Doesn't matter, I guess I hardly get to a blacklisted site, what with my browsing habits of ~20 websites
My dad said he'd buy himself one if he wins the lotto.

)