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Microsoft Set To Dump Surface?
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TheBigM
23-05-2013
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“MacBook Air 11'', Asus Zenbook 11'' then? There are 13'' Samsungs as well.”

Yes, only those 11" ultrabooks are in the Surface Pro price class.

The 15-inch Samsung Series 9 is about £600 more than the Surface Pro.
cnbcwatcher
23-05-2013
Is the Microsoft store the only place selling the Surface Pro so far? I didn't see it on the John Lewis or Currys PC World websites.
Mr. Cool
23-05-2013
Originally Posted by cnbcwatcher:
“Is the Microsoft store the only place selling the Surface Pro so far? I didn't see it on the John Lewis or Currys PC World websites.”

Quote:
“The recent experience with Surface RT might have shaped the stocking strategy - only 722,000 units were sold worldwide in the run-up to Christmas following its launch in late October.

Part of the reason for this was its limited distribution - Microsoft initially sold it directly before hauling on board a couple of retailers including John Lewis and Harrods, a mistake it could be replicating with Pro.”

- http://www.channelregister.co.uk/201...blighty_march/

Yes. As the article says this is a mistake. More retailers should be selected for a start. Never mind not using any to begin with on launch day.
RichmondBlue
23-05-2013
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“For what it's worth the Pro is now available at MS store for £719.00 and £799.00 without cover.”

Without cover is without keyboard though, isn't it ? It would defeat the object of buying the device not to get one.
I've read a few of the professional reviews and they seem mixed. Lukewarm rather than enthusiastic. Almost all agree that it's a well built piece of kit, but several remarked that as a tablet it was "chunky". A cross between a tiny ultrabook and a bulky tablet is how one described it. Windows 8 finally makes sense on this device, but it's still not plain sailing or winning many new friends.
The danger in producing something that is meant to satisfy everyone is that you end up not quite pleasing anyone.
At the price, it doesn't look like one of those "must have" products..not to me anyway.
IvanIV
23-05-2013
^^^ yes you need a cover, touch or type to get a keyboard. Or you could connect an USB keyboard instead if you for some reason do not want the original Surface cover. I think I am going to get one. I like the design, the technology, I now wrote two Win RT apps, and this looks like a perfect early xmas present for me
IvanIV
23-05-2013
MS has another ad, this time W8 tablet vs iPad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86JMc...layer_embedded
Popadopalous
23-05-2013
I really want to buy the Surface but I'm holding out for the Pro version. The full desktop functionality will come in real handy for me.

Wish they'd just bloody release it already.

Edit: Just noticed a comment above saying it's available now. £719? Jesus almighty.
John259
23-05-2013
Originally Posted by Popadopalous:
“£719? Jesus almighty.”

That's the 64GB version, without a cover or keyboard. That gives you about 32GB free hard disc space before installing programs, creating data files, or receiving MS updates.
PPhilster
24-05-2013
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“MS has another ad, this time W8 tablet vs iPad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86JMc...layer_embedded”

But very few apps for Windows RT tablets.
TheBigM
24-05-2013
Originally Posted by PPhilster:
“But very few apps for Windows RT tablets.”

They're almost at 100,000 metro apps.
niceguy1966
24-05-2013
Originally Posted by TheBigM:
“They're almost at 100,000 metro apps.”

As an RT owner, I can say the app store is disappointing. Which wouldn't be a problem if you consider it a laptop rather than a "big phone" tablet.

I'm not sure Microsoft know where they want to pitch this product.
IvanIV
24-05-2013
Originally Posted by niceguy1966:
“As an RT owner, I can say the app store is disappointing. Which wouldn't be a problem if you consider it a laptop rather than a "big phone" tablet.

I'm not sure Microsoft know where they want to pitch this product.”

What do you miss? I use my RT tablet for browsing, playing media from my homegroup computers and web, which both work fine. Reading RSS feeds. Email, having Office is great for my work emails. I test my own WinRT apps on it. I play a couple of free games and that's about it.
niceguy1966
24-05-2013
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“What do you miss? I use my RT tablet for browsing, playing media from my homegroup computers and web, which both work fine. Reading RSS feeds. Email, having Office is great for my work emails. I test my own WinRT apps on it. I play a couple of free games and that's about it.”

How long a list would you like?
Chrome browser
Yahoo mail (the native mail app is very poor)
Skype
Lync

and the last 2 are Microsoft applications!
TheBigM
24-05-2013
Originally Posted by niceguy1966:
“How long a list would you like?
Chrome browser
Yahoo mail (the native mail app is very poor)
Skype
Lync

and the last 2 are Microsoft applications!”

Skype and Lync metro apps exist, but you don't even use your Surface RT so would you know that?

This thread is about Windows 8 anyway, not Windows RT. The advert in question also compared a Windows 8 tablet to an iPad not a Windows RT tablet.

What's wrong with the mail app?
Zack06
24-05-2013
Originally Posted by IvanIV:
“For what it's worth the Pro is now available at MS store for £719.00 and £799.00 without cover.”

Holy cr*p The HP Envy x2 is WAY better value than that. It's just way overpriced. No wonder nobody is buying it and Microsoft has had to slash their expected shipment numbers by half.
IvanIV
24-05-2013
Mail App does not support POP3, but otherwise I see no problems with it. I find IE RT pretty good, but then I use IE anyway. i also like it has a flash. Sites try to use HTML5 nowadays, but when not, then the flash is good to have. And I certainly do not want an app for every single webpage.
cnbcwatcher
24-05-2013
John Lewis has it now and the 128GB version is already out of stock! Could that be a good sign?
TheBigM
24-05-2013
Originally Posted by Zack06:
“Holy cr*p The HP Envy x2 is WAY better value than that. It's just way overpriced. No wonder nobody is buying it and Microsoft has had to slash their expected shipment numbers by half. ”

The HP Envy X2 runs an Intel Atom processor, 2GB RAM and eMMC storage.

The Surface Pro runs a Core i5 processor, 2GB RAM, 128GB SSD, full Intel HD 4000 graphics.
TheBigM
24-05-2013
Originally Posted by cnbcwatcher:
“John Lewis has it now and the 128GB version is already out of stock! Could that be a good sign?”

Yes, no one wants the 64GB which is why it's in stock.

Hopefully, they have one set up in store. I may go and check it out tonight!
cnbcwatcher
24-05-2013
Originally Posted by TheBigM:
“Yes, no one wants the 64GB which is why it's in stock.

Hopefully, they have one set up in store. I may go and check it out tonight!”

Why does nobody want the 64GB?

UPDATE: John Lewis has the 128GB in stock again now. I guess this could be a good sign. Windows 8 in general sucks but the Surface Pro seems like a good computer and even I like the concept of it. I would say the Surface Pro is more like the Macbook Air 11" than the iPad.
John259
25-05-2013
Originally Posted by cnbcwatcher:
“Why does nobody want the 64GB?”

Because Windows takes up 32GB of that, leaving only 32GB free - and that's before any programs are installed, .NET Framework, registry, MS updates, etc.
TheBigM
25-05-2013
I went and saw it in John Lewis yesterday. I really liked it, liked it a lot. If they had a few key applications I want like Sky Go, I would buy it no questions and sell my iPad.
TheBigM
25-05-2013
Originally Posted by John259:
“Because Windows takes up 32GB of that, leaving only 32GB free - and that's before any programs are installed, .NET Framework, registry, MS updates, etc.”

Some of this can be removed - it does include Office and a Windows backup image.
cnbcwatcher
25-05-2013
Originally Posted by John259:
“Because Windows takes up 32GB of that, leaving only 32GB free - and that's before any programs are installed, .NET Framework, registry, MS updates, etc.”

Some of the programs can probably be removed though and since it has USB and an SD card slot you can plug in an external hard drive and micro SD card to give you more space.

Originally Posted by TheBigM:
“I went and saw it in John Lewis yesterday. I really liked it, liked it a lot. If they had a few key applications I want like Sky Go, I would buy it no questions and sell my iPad.”

Was that the Surface Pro?
TheBigM
25-05-2013
Originally Posted by cnbcwatcher:
“Some of the programs can probably be removed though and since it has USB and an SD card slot you can plug in an external hard drive and micro SD card to give you more space.

Was that the Surface Pro?”

Yep, the Pro. It's thicker than your average tablet but the thickness and weight seemed perfectly acceptable to me for what it is.

I want something to use on my desk like a laptop and then use in my lap like a tablet - this seems ideal.
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