Today Microsoft released a new Tablet called the Microsoft Surface at the mysterious press conference in LA. More details are still filtering out of the event but here’s a few of the main items which we know about the Tablet or Thin PC at the moment.
Microsoft Surface Tablet Details
- 10.6 Display with Gorilla Glass 2.0
- One-of-a-kind scratch resistant vapor deposition case
- Liquid Magnesium case
- 9.33mm with USB
- Front and Rear facing cameras
- Dual 2×2 antennas for WiFi
- Built in 3mm Magnetic Cover with a keyboard and a trackpad
- Touch sensitive
- Comprised of seven layers
- Available in many different colors
- Built-in accelerometer
- Runs Microsoft Office
- USB 3
- Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT Versions
- RT Version – 32GB and 64GB models – Available @ Windows 8 Launch
- Pro Version – 64GB and 128GB models – Available 2-3 Months after Windows 8 Launch
- Microsoft Surface Product Page
Microsoft Surface Photo Gallery
Microsoft Surface Specs Details (Click to Enlarge)
My first reactions on the Surface, not bad. This could very well be the start of rethinking what the laptop is today. The Cover really looks amazing and if it works as well as I think it does, wow. I am really going to love this thing and if Microsoft can pull a rabbit out of the hat and deliver with a quality Microsoft Store which works as good or better than the Apple Apps store, this could be very interesting indeed.
Another thing about the Surface is shock. Shock in that Microsoft was able to keep this thing quiet for so long! I thought for sure this was going to be just another re-branded OEM from DELL or Samsung but nope… Looks like Microsoft did its homework and built something new.
Time will tell however this could very well be my next PC purchase. Will it meet all my tablet needs and wean me away from my iPad…. Unknown at this point. We also need to see where it clocks in at from a price standpoint.
So what do you think? Is this just noise in the Tablet market or are you as excited as I am? Do you think there is any chance Microsoft will be able to stop the iPads death grip on the world? Would love to hear your comments.
37 Comments
Leave a Reply
Leave a Reply
Steve Krause
June 18, 2012 at 5:42 pm
I have to admit… that cover looks pretty sweet. Wow…
ShockerSH
June 19, 2012 at 11:16 am
agreed — looks sweet. Love the keyboard on it. I wonder if it helps battery life or if it draws it all from the PC….
there ya go — is this a PC or a tablet?
Austin Krause
June 18, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Best M$oft advertisement I’ve ever seen. Wow.
Steve Krause
June 19, 2012 at 8:49 am
I don’t know… I kinda felt like it was an Android commercial vs. an elegant Apple Ad. I personally think they might have had limited options because they were trying to keep it so secret perhaps.
Vadim
June 21, 2012 at 11:12 pm
Agreed. I prefer the simple sales pitch that focuses on the product, not the music and drama.
Bogdan Bele
June 19, 2012 at 2:16 am
Looking pretty good. Quite curious to see the price tag.
Dennis
June 19, 2012 at 7:39 am
I saw some Tweets from an MS XBox dev who stated that pricing would be comparable to similar products from other vendors. That suggests the the RT version may come in at around USD500 and the top of the line model at USD1000 or more.
Austin
June 19, 2012 at 7:50 am
If they price the Pro model anywhere above $600 this product is going to be a flop. Nobody in their right mind is going to pay that much for a tablet computer with a quickly outdated unchangeable i5 processor when Android is offering the same, if not faster, hardware in the $300 range.
Khpoth
June 19, 2012 at 9:11 am
It certainly looks interesting – as all new things do. But pretty is as pretty does and that still remains to be seen. That promotional video was rather blah.
Steve Krause
June 19, 2012 at 9:41 am
Agreed. The Motorola tablet looked great but I still bought an iPad…. Microsoft has a HUGE disadvantage here being that they are coming to the market sooooo late in the game.
Windows 8 will need to have compelling reasons WHY I should buy it over the iPad or Kindle fire.
Amazon did this with the Kindle by coming to market with a very inexpensive device. Microsoft did this back with the XBox. Will see if they do it again with the Tablet.Â
ShockerSH
June 19, 2012 at 11:16 am
Amazon Kindle is a fad :)
Steve Krause
June 19, 2012 at 12:43 pm
A fad? 1 million units sold a week? Doesn’t sound like a fad to me….. sorry bub. (Yes — I have a long position in Amazon Stock) ;)
ShockerSH
June 19, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Oh wow… that’s a lot. Ok never mind.
It’s a well loved device by Amazon Prime Zealots. There, how’s that?
Steve Krause
June 19, 2012 at 4:52 pm
Bingo. And a good example of why you build a brand and keep your customers happy.
Embro Thistle Singers
June 19, 2012 at 10:08 am
As far as I am concerned, it will depend on price. Â It looks great. Â I do not have an iPad and would love to have an none Apple tablet. Â This looks like a great possibility. Kitty
Steve Krause
June 19, 2012 at 10:56 am
Do you think you would grab the RT or Win 8 Pro version?
Embro Thistle Singers
June 19, 2012 at 11:06 am
RT would do for my use for sure. Â
Kitty
ShockerSH
June 19, 2012 at 11:11 am
Don’t do it! Go Windows 8 baby!
ShockerSH
June 19, 2012 at 11:15 am
Overall, this looks great. Do I think it’s going to be a game changer like you say Steve — I don’t think so.
I think this is just a new smaller PC which was be just that unless Microsoft can get the DEV’s of the world to create amazing software for it that compete with the iPad for ease of use and simple launching. No more DESKTOP!!!
Nerdy Woman
June 19, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Looks sweet, but knowing Microsoft, it’ll be spendy and abandoned in 3-4 years. I’m drooling over the Asus Taichi — 2 displays that can display different screens. Close your laptop, you’ve got a tablet on the cover. :D
Steve Krause
June 19, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Asus Taichi —
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7103/7156988363_b5e80f27fc.jpg
Looks nice.
embrothistlesingers
June 19, 2012 at 12:52 pm
I have looked at the Asus as well. Our daughter has one and the fact that it is laptop and tablet is a bonus. I know it isn’t as small physically as a tablet but it can do so much more, I agree with Nerdy Woman. The more I think of the tablet world the more I think I was smart not to go there. Kitty
Vadim
June 19, 2012 at 3:22 pm
I don’t know. Microsoft did just sell an xbox and kinect bundle for $99……
Steve Krause
June 19, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Well… They require a contract for that price also…
Give away the phone, sell the monthly service. Same sales scheme or strategy.
Vadim
June 21, 2012 at 11:11 pm
If Microsoft is smart they will keep these priced at a lower price point to get them into the market. Will see….. That’s the only way really they will have a chance to compete against the iPad.
JimJ
June 24, 2012 at 9:26 am
Shouldn’t require a contract, because it is WiFi only as I understand it.
Steve Krause
June 24, 2012 at 10:15 am
Yes sorry. I was talking about the contract for the $99 Xbox and Kinect package.
Sent from my Mobile
Brian
June 19, 2012 at 1:16 pm
It will be interesting what they end up charging for it.
Bogdan Bele
June 19, 2012 at 6:35 pm
Looking pretty good. Quite curious to see the price tag.
Dennis
June 19, 2012 at 6:35 pm
I saw some Tweets from an MS XBox dev who stated that pricing would be comparable to similar products from other vendors. That suggests the the RT version may come in at around USD500 and the top of the line model at USD1000 or more.
Steve Krause
June 19, 2012 at 6:38 pm
Sounds about right. The top iPad is around $1k USD
Mike Rothman
June 23, 2012 at 5:23 pm
I’m excited to see where these tablets go. If priced right, and if the specs are half way decent, I’m in, with pleasure.
Steve Krause
June 23, 2012 at 10:07 pm
What did you think of the Keyboard @mikerothman:disqus ? Pretty nuts eh. I’m amazing Apple didn’t think of that.
Does MS have a patent on that design now I wonder?
Mike Rothman
June 30, 2012 at 7:01 am
Love the keyboards they are showing. Of course I need to get my hands on them to really know, but it does make the tablets that much more useful. Definately a plus.
Steve Krause
June 30, 2012 at 10:57 am
Agreed. Will need to get hands on with it before I’ll know for sure. It could be a game changer perhaps but will see.
I bought the wireless keyboard for my ipad from ZAGG and although it worked well, carrying it around was just a hassle and it soon became a play keyboard for my kids that’s now fairly busted up. Having the keyboard built into the Microsoft Surface case should be a perfect combo.
Brian Maday
June 24, 2012 at 9:41 am
Talk about EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT….. which Microsoft’s release record we should see them by 2015 – when everybody else has moved on to 3D and pure conversational interface.
Steve Krause
June 24, 2012 at 10:15 am
Lol very good point.
My guess is they had to announce it before it leaked. Microsoft has never been one to keep things quiet in the past.