With Surface tablet, Microsoft breaks tradition
Summary: The company announces pair of Microsoft-branded "Surface" tablets running Windows 8 and Windows RT at long-awaited product unveiling in Los Angeles.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (Credit: CNET
It's the end of an era. Or maybe the start of a new one.
Microsoft -- a company that traditionally has relied exclusively on its PC partners to provide hardware powered by its Windows operating system -- is trying out a new business model with next Windows release.
The company is going to offer two Microsoft-branded tablets of its own, both of which are branded as Microsoft Surface.
Microsoft isn't actually manufacturing these new tablets itself -- just as it doesn't actually "make" the Xbox or the now defunct Zune media player. But it will be putting the Microsoft name on these devices. And this, many have speculated, will set up Microsoft as a head-to-head competitor with its own PC maker partners.
Pricing or any information on availability is not available yet. All officials are saying, via today's press release, is that "suggested retail pricing will be announced closer to availability and is expected to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel Ultrabook-class PC. OEMs will have cost and feature parity on Windows 8 and Windows RT."
Both Windows RT, Microsoft's Windows on ARM operating system, and Windows 8 are expected to be released to manufacturing this summer, possibly as early as the end of July. And they are expected by us Microsoft watchers to be generally available around August or so.
The Surface for Windows RT is a 10.6-inch device that will include Office Home & Student 2013 RT (the next version of Microsoft's Office 15 apps). It will include support for a magnetically attachable cover that lets you touch type and a kickstand. It will be configurable as a 32 GB or 64 GB device.
The Surface Windows 8 Pro device also is 10.6 inches and includes the same cover option. It is configurable as a 64 GB or 128 GB device and also adds pen support.
In addition to pricing and availability, we also do not know who is building this device for Microsoft. (Samsung Electronics built the Surface 2.0 device, which is the latest version of Microsoft's Surface tabletop computer.) We also do not know if Microsoft is going to have other Surface-branded devices in the family -- including the existing Surface 2.0. (I've asked. No word back yet.)
Microsoft Surface.
- A full-size USB port and a 16:9 aspect ratio angled at 22 degrees.
- 10.6-inch, 16:9 widescreen HD Display.
- Integrated Kickstand: Built-in kickstand lets users move Surface from active use to passive consumption.
- Touch Cover: 3 mm pressure-sensitive Touch Cover senses keystrokes as gestures will come in different colors.
Panos Panay, general manager of Microsoft's Surface project, (Credit: CNET)
Surface for Windows RT
- OS: Windows RT
- Light(1): 676 g
- Thin(2): 9.3 mm
- Clear: 10.6" ClearType HD Display
- Energized: 31.5 W-h
- Connected: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
- Productive: Office '15' Apps, Touch Cover, Type Cover
- Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand
- Configurable: 32 GB, 64 GB
Surface for Windows 8 Pro
- OS: Windows 8 Pro
- Light(1): 903 g
- Thin(2): 13.5 mm
- Clear: 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD Display
- Energized: 42 W-h
- Connected: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
- Productive: Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block
- Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand
- Configurable: 64 GB, 128 GB
See also:
- Microsoft's new Surface tablets make a solid first impression
- With Surface at least Microsoft shows they care about tablets, unlike Google
- CNET First Take: Microsoft Surface RT
- CNET: Why Microsoft built its own tablet
- Hands-on with Microsoft's Surface tablet (photos)
- Microsoft, what the hell is wrong With you?
- CNET Roundup: Microsoft tablets finally 'Surface'
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Talkback
Old Surface
I'm kinda wondering...
Brilliant move by Microsoft
This will make them more competitive and in turn help Microsoft.
Technically any of the 700 million Windows 7 desktop are game for the Pro version, full compatibility to Windows 7, USB, Flash support which none others can claim.
Microsoft is back in business !
Harware partners are key
How pleased has MS been with its hardware partners?
Oh right, nearly none. The truth is that nearly everyone other than Apple has lost money so far on tablets. It isn't like MS is stealing a profitable business away from any of its partners. In fact, MS is probably saving them money.
Maybe not but...
I have no doubt that the Surface Tablets will be successful. My guess is that the OEMs will initially be pissed off, but will then strive to redesign their models with more thought.
Microsoft has had this problem for awhile. They have an idea for how devices should be made, but the OEMs just don't deliver on it. Apple has clearly delivered in the UX area, and now Microsoft is trying to show the OEMs that you don't have to be Apple to be unique.
But that was Microsoft's issue
But let's get real, why was it hardware partners couldn't sell Windows tablets? Was it because they sucked, or because they lacked a proper tablet operating system?
Yes, the hardware does kind of suck (battery life), but even if that issue weren't there Windows 7 is not a tablet/touch friendly operating system. So if the Windows 7 tablets had great battery life and anything else you would want, the operating system would have made it unbearable.
(I will disclose I have never used Windows 7 with touch, but Windows 7 is meant for a mouse, not your fingers)
Now Microsoft actually has a very usable touch-friendly operating system that hardware partners can innovate with.
Microsoft will still need partners
The OEMs shouldn't be too worried anyway. They know that one of the reasons Apple do poorly in corporate and markets is because IT departments don't like to rely on a single vendor. They want interchangeable hardware, so they can threaten to switch vendors. If the Windows tablet market were to degrade into a single-vendor market, IT departments would choose something else, like Android.
They won't be
So are the virus makers
So, like Apple
what a dumb ass...
Having thought about it, I agree it was probably a good move
If the PC/tablet vendors had been 'loyal' to Microsoft, that would be one thing, but they haven't. At the end of the day, these are all profit maximising firms. Under US corporation law, shareholders have full control over public firms. They employ managers to do one thing: maximise profit.
Good luck with that...
The Microsoft Surface Pro improvements from the Samsung BUILD seem to be in the display for the Pro and definitely the keyboard. For the Microsoft Surface RT the smaller form factor, thinness and weight are certainly welcome.
Now, about that upcoming price and who's the manufacturer partnering with Microsoft...Samsung? Acer? Nokia?
Probably Sharp again
The colors are just looking like Nokia Lumia phones
No dismembered parts
Not a chance
Just a hunch but it feels like a dud. Some sort of a hybrid between a tablet and a laptop, trying to clone an entertainment center with a work station. Lord, help us...
That's retarded
MS is getting criticism for attempting this convergence, and it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. My Transformer is fantastic for my reading, playing games, and WORKING; The only thing holding it back is the limitations of Android (which are few but noteable). My transformer tablet 810 will be the perfect machine.
still better than iFad