Bill Gates: There is 'a strong possibility' Apple needs a Surface-like device - Page 5

Real men reminds me of Rock Hudson and they play with boys.

True that:



They keep on hanging on to the past. Yes yes, backward compatible and all that. I use their software at work, and have a lot of aaaahh moments.

They were in the smartphone world before Apple. I remember working on their smartphones. It was hell.

Captain Picard standing on the bridge of the enterprise, a Romulan warbird has Just de-cloaked.
"What's our status Riker?"
Riker hands Picard a MS surface the keyboard flapping about underneath"
Pickard takes the surface and goes to find a desk to set it on. He then tries to take out the flip stand which keeps on flipping back in.
"Oh ffs" Pickard says and throws the machine on the floor."
Worf walks over and steps on the machine, a grin on his face as we hear the thing shatter.
Geordie hands Pickard another surface but this one is running a virus update and will be useless for at least twenty minutes.
Data hands Pickard an iPad and says "here you are Captain, superior technology. "
"Is it Alien?" Pickard asks.
"No just better." replies Data.

 

I'll chip in though, that I still don't understand why Nokia, that had several great systems, among which a perfectly acceptable Linux alternative to Android, switched to the worst OS available at that time. I liked Nokia. I owned several of their phones and smartphones. They were durable, easy to operate... I expected them to provide what the iPhone has become.

 

So, why? Why, Nokia?

 

Moreover, since Microsoft basically sh**ed them with Windows 8, why can't they get all their remaining resources on one of their systems (Maemo, Symbian Touch... anything but M$), make it shiny, easy to use, easy to develop for, and use their amazing engineering to make something great and revolutionary?

 

If they can't do that, they're going RIM (I mean, they'll die), in my humble opinion. Since I don't trust Samsung to innovate, nor HTC, nor Motorola, and that's most of the market in the Western world (China has several other makers, but I would not dare qualify them innovative or quality-minded)... either Nokia gets their act together, or Apple will just sit on the market for time-everlasting (or at least, for a long time...) and that's never good.

 

I don't see M$ winning in the smartphone market, Android is big but not very innovative... so I guess I'll be buying more iPhones.

This will reel the sincere and offended fanboys in like chum to explain why you're wrong.  Nothing gets 'em worked up more than questioning their technical cred.  Well played, sir, well played.

Sort of like the Zune

I didn't see hi mention that it Apple needed to include CTRL/ALT?DEL in their next IOS 6.0

I certainly think that keyboard selling point is the dumbest think I have ever seen, specially that cover keyboard. How is that think supposed to stay in a lap? You can't use that if you don't have a table. Even if you have a lap plate to rest that thing you'll be stuck in its fixed angle. It's a total mess. If I would use a keyboard frecuently with my iPad I could use a Apple Wireless Keyboard with me that is small enough to carry on, or use that Logitech cover or any other option. There are a lot in the market.

The Surface keyboard cover isn't a reason to buy, that's why I think Microsoft is doomed with that device, they don't have nothing to offer besides Office in that thing. The whole presentation was 70% the keyboard and 30% "look at this design". Nothing.
Edited by lvidal - 7/4/12 at 5:34am

Technically the apple TV already has the full fledged Mac OS on it, and yet it is not accessible because it does not make sense. 

 

I seriously think that MS isn't trying to compete with the iPad, they're just trying not to be a netbook.  And if they can sell hardware to make a few extra bucks, why not.  If they were really thinking straight, they would have realized that the zune made absolutely no dent in the market as it was a crappier copycat.  If they can wipe out the netbook market, all the power to them.  As an IT person, I hate "fixing" some poor student's computer because I can't image what kind of garbage is on there.  If MS can make something more palatable for both the target consumer and technical support community, all the power to them. 

As SJ said.  The hard keyboard is a thing of the past and no longer needed.

Maybe MS should have included a stylus and a CTRL/ALT/DEL key to go along with the keyboard

It does include a stylus, or a stylus will be available, as in the presentation they demoed that even there's a magnetic zone aside the Surface to attach the stylus

Why is it so hard for some people to realize that not everyone has the same needs. For a lot of people, a keyboard on a tablet makes a lot of sense - particularly when it's so easily removable.

I think ms will have surface success if w8 phones win the hearts and minds and, they can back up their tablet/phone ecosystem with a cheap and easily accessible app store.

"I still think the iPad is crippled not having a floppy" /BG.

Someone needs to say it:

Surface: that's two dumb-ass tablets!


Dictated on my iPad

If wRT stands for "wart" -- what does w8 signify?

It will be interesting to see how well the Surface operates and competes. If Windows 8 and all supported applications perform efficiently on the new device, it will probably be successful. However, this form factor more closely resembles a modified ultra book rather than a tablet. All that being said, A successful Surface will probably cannibalize PC laptop/desktop revenues, as well as a percentage of iOS and Android sales. Key factors such as availability, functionality, reliability, versatility, and price are what ultimately drive consumer preference. High marks will spur more competition and more innovation.

AppleTV runs iOS -- the current model uses an A5X chip which runs iOS 6 (or iOS 5).

You're right...I wish I could write music on my iPad, use amplifier plug ins for my guitar rig, create literature, etc....oh, wait, I believe I DO have all that...and with no spam or virii ala windows....try again!

This new Asymco article details my hypothesis on why MS is so desperate to get a tablet on the market even if it means pissing off their vendors.

• http://www.asymco.com/2012/07/04/the-building-and-dismantling-of-the-windows-advantage/

It isn't hard for me to imagine that some people really need a physical keyboard. What is hard for me to imagine is that people would prefer a Surface over an iPad for such irrelevant thing when there are a lot of solutions for the iPad out there. If you couldn't use a physical keyboard with the iPad, I could give Microsoft that as a selling point, but that's not the case. Since day one the iPad has been able to use bluetooth keyboards. So, that's why, for me, that keyboard isn't a game changer at all. 

Interesting article, thanks for sharing. A prime example of the results of resting on your laurels...and not having a clue about your competition...

I do not think the Surfaces will be usable in portrait mode because of the aspect ratio of the display. The keyboards are attached in landscape mode. I don't recall seeing any demos using a virtual kb in either portrait or landscape.

Can you envision someone standing, holding a Surface in portrait mode making a FaceTime connection while standing a convenient 22 degrees to one side (which side?) with the detached kb conveniently stuffed under one arm. How convenient is that? Then to add to the agony, flipping the Surface around to show what you see (compensating for the 22 degrees) to the FaceTime contact (while, likely, dropping the kb). I suppose you could flip out the kickstand for use as a handle and/or alignment guide.

Another scenario, you're sitting in coach with the seat in front tilted all the way back for a long (really long, as it turns out) flight. You whip out your Surface Pro to get some "real work" done. Because the kickstand tilts the Surface back, you must move move it towards you to compensate for the seat back in front -- with the "real kb" poking you in the chest. There you sit, with your elbows at your sides and your hands by your chin (like a praying mantis) ready for several hours of productive touch typing... Then the guy in the window seat [pun intended] has to go to the bathroom...

Honestly, a real laptop is more flexible and useful in this real-world environment -- you can tilt the screen. Backward or forward as needed and adjust the distance to the kb.

Finally, I think MS performed a slight-of-hand. By calling the Surface a tablet, they knew we would immediately think of an iPad... And make assumptions that the Surface would deliver the same basic "tablet capabilities". But, the Surface doesn't deliver -- it is a laptop with a touch screen and a detachable kb.

During the preso, they referred to it as a PC!

 

For posters like Ewan, a "real OS" or "full OS" contains all the baggage of x86 Windows. They are probably IT guys who don't "Contact your Administrator" because they ARE the Administrator, or a hacker. These guys freak out if they can't get into the BIOS screen and throw every switch. They want a computer that spits out "Keyboard error or no keyboard present. Press F1 to continue or DEL to enter SETUP".

So it needs to have Adobe Flash and Real Player, too?


On a more serious note, will the x86 Surface still have a BIOS?

Thanks for that link; good article.

Also liked the comment from a poster: JohnDoey:
“Why is [Steve Jobs] doing [the Apple comeback]? He must know he can’t win.” — Bill Gates, 1999."

 

No, I think the question HAS been answered. You just aren't paying attention. The answer is: About as many people who flocked to the Windows Tablet PCs over the last 10 years. Don't say it's because those tablets were just convertible laptops and therefore too heavy (they were), because Samsung has been selling an impressively thin and light Core i5-based Windows 7 tablet (it even runs Windows 8 Consumer Preview quite nicely, I've used it). And it's not vaporware: you can buy that Samsung tablet TODAY and install Windows 8 CP, and it runs all your "heavy duty apps".

 

And are they flying off the shelf?

 

Nope.

 

PC makers are getting good at hiding the BIOS prompt during boot, but it should be there. I'm sure the first person to load Ubuntu on a Surface will be celebrated on slashdot as a god among geeks.

• Excellent points. I thought about the airplane situation as well after seeing that boring demo; it's not gonna fly.
• Your window seat pun; too funny!
• I really think this Surface won't Suffice. I don't know how W8 will work on the SurfPro version of their Surface Family (sic), but I did enable Screen Sharing on my Mac and tried to 'operate' it through a free VNC app on my iPad. That was NOT a pleasant exercise.

After all these years; this one still is funny!

So PCs aren't using EFI yet?

 

this is much too dismissive. i agree, you probably won't use a keyboard/cover around the house. but i take my iPad around town a lot, and on the road of course. for that you need a cover of some kind anyway to protect it. i use the Logitech keyboard cover (last year's - the new one is nicer). it is really handy. first, just to prop up the iPad at a good hands free viewing angle, while i drink coffee/beer (which i do a lot), eat a sandwich, etc. and second, to type stuff of course. us old schoolers usually prefer an actual keyboard for writing everything - if it's handy. but, yes, you can't do that riding in a car, another place we use the iPad a lot. great for hotel rooms tho.

 

btw, to break the bluetooth link all you have to do is flick the keyboard/cover power switch to Off. like, when you take it off and put it aside at home anyway. i don't think that is really much of a problem to cite ...

Bill Gates seems to forget Apple has MacBook Air to fill that gap in much better way than his awful creation ( specially the 11 inch version).

do you know the difference between surface and a netbook? 

 

 

Nice response my friend.....God bless Apple!!.....the world is changed for the better as a result of Steve Jobs and Apple!!!!!

lol, no. Not even Windows 8, if I remember correctly.

Actually, the kb need not (and should not) be the defining element of a "heavy-duty" app.

FWIW, there are CAD and video editing apps running on the iPad (and iPhone)... iMovie, Avid studio...

I suspect we'll see FCP X running on an iPad long before we see an equivalent "heavy-duty" video editor running on a Surface.
Edited by Dick Applebaum - 7/4/12 at 10:23am

MSFT will be $25 long before it hits $35, if ever. I shorted it with a Feb 2013 expiration. 

"Surface won't Suffice"

You nailed it!

Ha!

Except the laptop image should have a bidirectional arrow to indicate that the user can reposition the screen to any desired angle!