The Surface Pro 3 genuinely seems like a nice piece of hardware. An i7 processor in a package the size of the original iPad is a fantastic achievements.
However, it seems like Microsoft's marketing team isn't quite as on the ball...
Holy Crap! So the detachable keyboard is an advantage for the Surface—no mention of the fact you have to pay extra for it—but on the MacBook Pro it's "Non-detachable keyboard available", making it sound like it's an extra-cost option! I knew Micro$haft were lying sons-of-bitches, but seriously?
I watched part of the video, got bored with their defensiveness. I do agree that they are making improvements but a 25% improvement on the previous model's runtime means nothing if we are in the 4 hour range. It's 10-12 hours or bust in my book.
I love my Windows PC and Win7, they just took such a wrong turn with Win8 and they are too obtuse, or arrogant, or both to back away from it and they will pay the price. Too bad, they actually make me wish them ill will.
They are backing away, but a bit too slowly for most people taste. Next Windows (or next update for Windows 8.1) will return full desktop with updated start menu, and Metro apps running windowed on desktop. Metro GUI will also be there for people who want to use it (and it actually works great on 10" tablets.
25% battery improvement over Surface 2 would actually be nice, though I'm doubtful they are getting that much. If they are, however... The Verge's battery test on Surface Pro 2, after last firmware update, gave them 8 hours, 51minutes on Surface Pro 2. Granted, it is probably light workout test (browsing and such), but result is still decent. 25% over that would put Surface Pro 3 in 10 hours zone easily... again, if they are getting 25% improvement.
Holy Crap! So the detachable keyboard is an advantage for the Surface—no mention of the fact you have to pay extra for it—but on the MacBook Pro it's "Non-detachable keyboard available", making it sound like it's an extra-cost option! I knew Micro$haft were lying sons-of-bitches, but seriously?
Can I sue Apple for not giving me the tick box where I could NOT get this non detachable keyboard?
Well most of the crowd was using MacBooks for a reason. Thats because they work. The rt doesn't have a nice design. It also doesn't have a wide variety of apps. The design isn't any were as beautiful as the iPad Air's or MacBook Air's. What about battery life? Camera, Music, Anti virus, the services you get with Apple are much more and much better. The pen wasn't to bad, but in a better track pad would be good. I find a MacBooks trackpad works a lot better that a laptop that's running windows. Also the keyboard can be a pain. What about splitting it? Free app of the week?
Holy Crap! So the detachable keyboard is an advantage for the Surface—no mention of the fact you have to pay extra for it—but on the MacBook Pro it's "Non-detachable keyboard available", making it sound like it's an extra-cost option! I knew Micro$haft were lying sons-of-bitches, but seriously?
Can I sue Apple for not giving me the tick box where I could NOT get this non detachable keyboard?
They've been sued for stupider things that that, so I say have at it! If that doesn't work, you can sue Microsoft for inspiring the expectation in you.
ETA: Be sure and save a screencap of that ad—things like that have a way of disappearing down the memory hole.
Apple and Google already ran away with this market. The only way MS can be relevant is if they change the game completely. Which just isn't - and never was - in their DNA.
I have to disagree! A lot of creatives will be drawn to using Photoshop with a direct on-the-display stylus interaction,
Can't do that on either an Apple Laptop or an Apple Tablet.
I also expect to see CAD and Drafting apps developed to take advantage of this capability!
After watching one of the videos at The Verge, I'm interested in the sensitivity of the pen, but I'd like to see a more capable person demo it using Photoshop. With a more complex graphics/paint program, the performance probably takes a significant hit.
... For most people, the use cases for a tablet and a PC are different, and the different OSes reflect that. This is why Apple won't merge MacOS and iOS, at least not for a very long time yet, and why Google developed ChromeOS separately from Android. Microsoft, however, are still trying to get everyone to run Windows on everything, which leaves them with a UI that is not quite optimised for either a tablet or a PC (and is downright unusable on a server).
The difference between touch and mouse centric input is overblown.
Apps must be adapted to support touch in a meaningful way and that will take time (and some thinking), the OS must facilitate like for example a virtual keyboard that's transparent so you can see your work while you type and still have all the screen estate (I won't patent the idea so anyone can use it freely) and a windowing system that is easy to use with touch. No big deal, just a lot of work.
Remember that most of the reasons iOS is different have to with limited hardware, and this is rapidly changing. Current ARM CPU/GPU combinations are as powerful as desktop systems a few years ago and screen resolution is already better than a MacBook Air. Screen size and storage are lacking, but that will change soon.
Microsoft still haven't figured out that their Surface needs to be better than an Apple but as cheap as Android. $799 for the entry price i3 64 GB but you really only get 28 GB useable space compared to $599 for a 32 GB iPad Air. They are way over priced by $200 dollars on the entry model.
I do need Windows for work and was thinking about getting it, but then remembered on could always use bootcamp on a macbook to install Windows (hopefully 7 Pro).
any comment on run time? These things need to run for at least 8 hours, preferably 10!
Not that I've seen but I did notice it's the same capacity battery with a larger 12" display with a more square aspect ratio which also adds to the backlight area, as well as a higher pixel display. Hopefully they were able to reduce power costs elsewhere, but I'd be surprised if they made any gains over the Surface Pro 2.
nine hours of battery life- but that is just for web browsing, right?
I would like to know how much battery life there is when viewing content (movies), using it's own power gobbling MS Office, and listening to music.
If last year's number are anything to go by I'd say it's about 8 hours of video playback if in fact it can get 9 hours of web usage.
All their comparisons were based on Apple's iPad and MacBook Air leading one to believe that they are terrified of Apple products. Proof that Apple products are the standard and benchmark.
The difference between touch and mouse centric input is overblown.
Apps must be adapted to support touch in a meaningful way and that will take time (and some thinking), the OS must facilitate like for example a virtual keyboard that's transparent so you can see your work while you type and still have all the screen estate (I won't patent the idea so anyone can use it freely) and a windowing system that is easy to use with touch. No big deal, just a lot of work.
Remember that most of the reasons iOS is different have to with limited hardware, and this is rapidly changing. Current ARM CPU/GPU combinations are as powerful as desktop systems a few years ago and screen resolution is already better than a MacBook Air. Screen size and storage are lacking, but that will change soon.
I made no claims about differences between touch and mouse-centric input. I mentioned the use cases. Tablets and PCs are used in different ways for different things. These differences in use necessitate differences in the UI and, to an increasingly lesser extent, the hardware.
Microsoft's problem is that they want the Surface to be all things to all people. That means trying to be a tablet and a PC, and not really succeeding at either.
It's still crippled by being tied to Windows 8 and a half baked app ecosystem. I've yet to find a lightweight Windows PC at any price that comes remotely close to the MacBook Air keyboard & trackpad combination.
C'mon Microsoft, make up your mind. Are you going to build a world class tablet with a world class tablet operation system and user experience - or are you going to build a world class notebook with a world class notebook operating system and user experience? Pick one, or pick both as separately optimized products. The Great Compromise of Windows 8 does nothing exceptionally well. It's the El Camino of the computing world, sucks as a car and sucks as a truck.
When tablets exploded we found out that most people where using their laptops for more consumption than productivity. Browsing the web, watching videos, Facebook, email, etc. Microsoft has basically created a laptop that is just an okay tablet experience. Apple should do the opposite. They should double down on making the best tablet experience with enough productivity baked in that people can replace their laptops but with a device that is 1 pound and doesn't require a fan. Apple should double down on making the best mainstream consumer product and let Microsoft Surface be relegated to niche status.
Incidentally go to any tech website tonight and people are basically wetting themselves over this device. How come this enthusiasm never actually shows up in sales figures? If this device was actually selling well Microsoft wouldn't be losing money on it and they would announce sales figures.
All their comparisons were based on Apple's iPad and MacBook Air leading one to believe that they are terrified of Apple products. Proof that Apple products are the standard and benchmark.
Yep, though they can't really compare it to PC OEM products can they? That would really piss off their partners who I'm sure are annoyed enough that Microsoft has decided to get into hardware.
Comments
Holy Crap! So the detachable keyboard is an advantage for the Surface—no mention of the fact you have to pay extra for it—but on the MacBook Pro it's "Non-detachable keyboard available", making it sound like it's an extra-cost option! I knew Micro$haft were lying sons-of-bitches, but seriously?
Could this be any uglier?
Yes... just turn it on!
They are backing away, but a bit too slowly for most people taste. Next Windows (or next update for Windows 8.1) will return full desktop with updated start menu, and Metro apps running windowed on desktop. Metro GUI will also be there for people who want to use it (and it actually works great on 10" tablets.
25% battery improvement over Surface 2 would actually be nice, though I'm doubtful they are getting that much. If they are, however... The Verge's battery test on Surface Pro 2, after last firmware update, gave them 8 hours, 51minutes on Surface Pro 2. Granted, it is probably light workout test (browsing and such), but result is still decent. 25% over that would put Surface Pro 3 in 10 hours zone easily... again, if they are getting 25% improvement.
They've been sued for stupider things that that, so I say have at it! If that doesn't work, you can sue Microsoft for inspiring the expectation in you.
ETA: Be sure and save a screencap of that ad—things like that have a way of disappearing down the memory hole.
Nothing to really see here.
I have to disagree! A lot of creatives will be drawn to using Photoshop with a direct on-the-display stylus interaction,
Can't do that on either an Apple Laptop or an Apple Tablet.
I also expect to see CAD and Drafting apps developed to take advantage of this capability!
After watching one of the videos at The Verge, I'm interested in the sensitivity of the pen, but I'd like to see a more capable person demo it using Photoshop. With a more complex graphics/paint program, the performance probably takes a significant hit.
The difference between touch and mouse centric input is overblown.
Apps must be adapted to support touch in a meaningful way and that will take time (and some thinking), the OS must facilitate like for example a virtual keyboard that's transparent so you can see your work while you type and still have all the screen estate (I won't patent the idea so anyone can use it freely) and a windowing system that is easy to use with touch. No big deal, just a lot of work.
Remember that most of the reasons iOS is different have to with limited hardware, and this is rapidly changing. Current ARM CPU/GPU combinations are as powerful as desktop systems a few years ago and screen resolution is already better than a MacBook Air. Screen size and storage are lacking, but that will change soon.
With it's attached keyboard, the SP 3 is a tiny bit heavier than an 11" air.
Somewhere Johnny Ive is smiling.
Tim Cook is preparing another "the competition is confused" sign.
nine hours of battery life- but that is just for web browsing, right?
I would like to know how much battery life there is when viewing content (movies), using it's own power gobbling MS Office, and listening to music.
Microsoft still haven't figured out that their Surface needs to be better than an Apple but as cheap as Android. $799 for the entry price i3 64 GB but you really only get 28 GB useable space compared to $599 for a 32 GB iPad Air. They are way over priced by $200 dollars on the entry model.
I do need Windows for work and was thinking about getting it, but then remembered on could always use bootcamp on a macbook to install Windows (hopefully 7 Pro).
Not that I've seen but I did notice it's the same capacity battery with a larger 12" display with a more square aspect ratio which also adds to the backlight area, as well as a higher pixel display. Hopefully they were able to reduce power costs elsewhere, but I'd be surprised if they made any gains over the Surface Pro 2.
If last year's number are anything to go by I'd say it's about 8 hours of video playback if in fact it can get 9 hours of web usage.
Is it that heavy of a keyboard to put it above the 11.6" MBA's 2.38 pounds? Doesn't that men the keyboard is more than a half a pound?
Microsoft's problem is that they want the Surface to be all things to all people. That means trying to be a tablet and a PC, and not really succeeding at either.
C'mon Microsoft, make up your mind. Are you going to build a world class tablet with a world class tablet operation system and user experience - or are you going to build a world class notebook with a world class notebook operating system and user experience? Pick one, or pick both as separately optimized products. The Great Compromise of Windows 8 does nothing exceptionally well. It's the El Camino of the computing world, sucks as a car and sucks as a truck.
Windows 8 - It's a cuck.
Incidentally go to any tech website tonight and people are basically wetting themselves over this device. How come this enthusiasm never actually shows up in sales figures? If this device was actually selling well Microsoft wouldn't be losing money on it and they would announce sales figures.