microsoft surface Surface and Metro: This party's just gettin' started.

[TheLegendOfMart]

Okay. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Is this anyway related to the Surface technology they made for tables and stuff like that?

Not really, this is just a traditional tablet running Windows OS.

Haha just watching the Keynote, I love Microsoft keynotes when things go wrong, the tablet he was using messed up.

[dafin0]

13:41 into the video something really funny happens:

And then he can't even get to the Internet Explorer tab bar. :laugh: Afterwards it just crashes totally and he has to get another one out.

i kinda felt sorry for him, you could see him thinking "oh ****, please work".

other than that im looking forward to playing around with one.

[.Neo]

Just finished watching the keynote and it basically confirmed what I already thought: the hardware and touch cover look absolutely amazing. Windows 8 on the other hand offers anything but a smooth experience and screws up on many occasions. Having to switch to the legacy desktop for Office is just insane on a tablet. I know the OS isn't final yet, but it isn't exactly far off from being so either.

[rkenshin]

13:41 into the video something really funny happens:

And then he can't even get to the Internet Explorer tab bar. :laugh: Afterwards it just crashes totally and he has to get another one out.

Saw this too. It was odd. But then again, you have to realize that Windows 8 is an incomplete product, which is probably one, if not the number one reason why the tablet isn't available "today".

The tablet is sexy. I'd take the Pro version with the touch keyboard. However, I think MS should have waited on the press conference. An announcement with Windows 8 release would have provided more "wow" power, in addition they would have been able to sell it immediately ("Available today" sounds much better than "in a few months-ish"). This conference is treated much more as a "teaser". My assumptions is that some specs aren't finalized yet, due to Win8 still under development. I would also think they need to invest a crap-ton into Marketing this device and Win8 to enter the competing market.

Even so, MS is taking a huge risk by merging the mobile platform, tablet, and desktop experience. I think its a risk they NEED to take, and I hope its successful. I love the platform and the integration between all devices. Can't wait for its release!

With the Pro version of this device, you almost wonder if MS just killed off the Ultrabook.....but thats just me. :D

[Zain Adeel]

i kinda felt sorry for him, you could see him thinking "oh ****, please work".

other than that im looking forward to playing around with one.

yea.. it just shows their ARM Win8 builds need a lot more work yet.

[McKay]

Wow, the hatred on the article on Mac Rumors....

[remixedcat]

the more I see of this the more I like it but I hope it's affordable.... I hope the x86 version will be priced even to compete with the ipad. I would pay 700-800 if it was "better then an ultrabook" and I would have my laptop and tablet in one instead of buying both for serious work. This has me saving up some as well I put 20 aside so far last night...

and lact8 for windows8 is on! It's official... I want this....!!! anyone that wants to buy me one if I make myself lactate without a baby can buy me one I'll do it!!!

[Zain Adeel]

I think no OEM is going to top that kinda quality. If they do... We will have not one but many iPad killers. This time for real.

[TheLegendOfMart]

Damn, still watching the keynote but I really want one of those Surfaces. It's about time Microsoft nailed the Apple desirability factor.

[simplezz]

Haha just watching the Keynote, I love Microsoft keynotes when things go wrong, the tablet he was using messed up.

I noticed that too ;)

[.Neo]

Is it true the Surface has vents and cooling fans? :/

[simplezz]

Just finished watching the keynote and it basically confirmed what I already thought: the hardware and touch cover look absolutely amazing. Windows 8 on the other hand offers anything but a smooth experience and screws up on many occasions. Having to switch to the legacy desktop for Office is just insane on a tablet. I know the OS isn't final yet, but it isn't exactly far off from being so either.

Completely agree. I was impressed by the hardware and integration. It's just the software that lets it down, much like the Lumia in my opinion.

[TheLegendOfMart]

Is it true the Surface has vents and cooling fans? :/

The Win RT one doesn't the Win 8 Pro one does because its running Core i5 Ivybridge, there are no fans you wont feel the hot air its just got a vent all the way round so air can get under it without you blocking it no matter how you hold it.

[.Neo]

Something else I noticed: Not once did they show how everything works when holding the Surface in portrait. Or did I miss that in the video?

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

It's not going to be an iPad killer yet - MS and 3rd party developers have yet to create an app ecosystem comparable with the iOS ecosystem. That said, if any company can pull this off it's Microsoft for the well-known reasons - excellent dev tools, amount of developers, last but not least ubiquity of Windows. Windows 8 will be on millions of devices starting this autumn, so 3rd party devs are going to want to make sure to provide applications optimised for Windows 8/Metro alongside traditional desktop apps.

What Surface and future Windows 8 tablets will achieve is effectively the death of the Android tablet market. With Apple and Microsoft offering a coherent and user- as well as developer-friendly experience on their tablet offerings - who's going to invest into the fragmented Android market now? I can't think of any incentive for a software company to develop for Android tablets instead of iPad or Win8/WinRT at the moment.

And yes, I do want a Surface Pro.

[psreloaded]

That keyboard and inbuilt stand has me sold... Something which was missing from tablets altogether. Good for working professionals.

[.Neo]

The Win RT one doesn't the Win 8 Pro one does because its running Core i5 Ivybridge, there are no fans you wont feel the hot air its just got a vent all the way round so air can get under it without you blocking it no matter how you hold it.

Fair enough.

Completely agree. I was impressed by the hardware and integration. It's just the software that lets it down, much like the Lumia in my opinion.

Personally I really like Windows Phone 7.

[McKay]

Something else I noticed: Not once did they show how everything works when holding the Surface in portrait. Or did I miss that in the video?

He didn't show it in the video, however a while back Microsoft showed Windows 8 will work in Portrait mode.

[George P Global Moderator]

I like the fact they have two types of keyboard covers, the touch and the type cover. So depending on what you want you can mix and match. I also think having the venting all around the device is smart, no matter how you hold it you aren't blocking airflow etc. I don't know about the Pro version having a fan, while it's an i5 we don't know what type at all, it could be a lower clocked ULV i5 or something so it could not really need a fan as well? At least I didn't hear anything about a fan from them or people at the event.

Regardless, the rest is up to price, if the Pro is around $700-$800 I think it's a deal. USB3, display port, plus all the rest and you basically have a powerful PC you can dock and get work done and then take with you like a tablet. I'll have to wait and see but I could get the pro unless price and battery life aren't there, though I think they will be actually.

[.Neo]

He didn't show it in the video, however a while back Microsoft showed Windows 8 will work in Portrait mode.

Thanks for the pic. A lot of screen space being wasted away though. :/

[winlonghorn]

It's not going to be an iPad killer yet - MS and 3rd party developers have yet to create an app ecosystem comparable with the iOS ecosystem. That said, if any company can pull this off it's Microsoft for the well-known reasons - excellent dev tools, amount of developers, last but not least ubiquity of Windows. Windows 8 will be on millions of devices starting this autumn, so 3rd party devs are going to want to make sure to provide applications optimised for Windows 8/Metro alongside traditional desktop apps.

What Surface and future Windows 8 tablets will achieve is effectively the death of the Android tablet market. With Apple and Microsoft offering a coherent and user- as well as developer-friendly experience on their tablet offerings - who's going to invest into the fragmented Android market now? I can't think of any incentive for a software company to develop for Android tablets instead of iPad or Win8/WinRT at the moment.

And yes, I do want a Surface Pro.

This is a dream come true in my opinion! Finally, Microsoft is offering a true ipad competitor! :)

[Anthonyd]

Thanks for the pic. A lot of screen space being wasted away though. :/

It's a picture of the dev preview back in september 2011.

[Rudy]

Personally I think the RT version will sell fairly well but I'm not so sure about the pro one

[remixedcat]

I can see the surface pro being a big seller if the can keep it under $1000.

Probably have already been some price estimates but i havent seen any.

I'm going to start saving up for one now haha

me too or if someone will buy me one if i lact8

[efjay]

Wow, the hatred on the article on Mac Rumors....

Talk about the hatred in this very thread from a certain individual first..... :|