A different point of view on the Surface

I’ve had a Surface for about a week. I’ll start out by saying that I have always felt, that all tablets in general, have never been a device that is worth any sort of excitement. They have a niche somewhere between a smart phone and a laptop. The Surface with RT is a little different as it can clearly serve as a light business PC, but it still is crippled by the small form factor of the tablet.

Microsoft needed to come up with an OS that is more touch screen friendly than Win7. Windows 8 does just that, and does it very well. The new tiled screen works more than just great. I don’t see the lag or slowness that some are claiming. At the same time MS needed to retain functionality for the present software. Full Windows 8 does this too. Also the common interface shared by the phones, tablets and PCs will be a real plus for the user confidence.

(FWIW I am running Win8 Pro on a couple of machines. One is a old P4 3.0 single core, with 2Gb ram. This old machine never ran as fast as it is now with Win8.)

It’s really pretty simple to understand. I can see future desktop systems using a touch screen in conjunction with a mouse and keyboard as being the standard.

Now, Windows 8 RT, is not meant to be, or advertised to be, anything more than a typical tablet OS that we have seen in the past. That being said it really does have some bonuses. Once again the tiles feel flawless to the touch experience. This OS allows the operator to have full file management. Full file management is very important to me and many others. Also it has a command line interface. The Remote desk top works flawless, which is a big plus and allows access to any software needed. The Office software works just fine. Hey, its Office, the standard of the industry on a tablet. Networking works great as does the Wi-Fi. I can find all the Windows utilities to go under the hood. The reviewers that aren’t happy with the RT OS, just need a longer learning curve for themselves, so they can feel more in control.

The apps are going to be there in time. Plenty of them, more than anyone could need. Whining about the lack of apps right now is premature. We only need a handful of quality apps, the other thousands can benefit everyone by just disappearing.

Now, the hardware, simply put. 10.1 IPS screen, USB, SD micro, all metal, Gorilla glass 2, makes it possibly the toughest tablet for the price. The hardware feels second to none.

I’m not claiming it to be it to be an iPad sales killer, or the best tablet for everyone. All I can say is that it is the first tablet that can earn its keep, in my home and business. I’m sure the Pro version will do it all, lets hope the price can relate to the world we live in. (-:

Ken

If what you say about your old PC running faster under w8, that's a first for microsoft. In every case in the past the only reason the new os were faster is because the hardware was even faster

So what can you do with it (Surface) that you can't do with an iPhone that would't be better on a 13" notebook? Not trying to be difficult here, but interested in the opportunities for the new device.

You're really asking -why use a tablet?  And Apple proved with tens of millions of sales that people do see the value in a lighter big screen device.

You will have to try it out. I’m sure each PC will perform differently. It boots faster for sure. It runs smoother and faster on this old PC than Win 7 or Xp. did. It surprised me too. All OS installs where clean with no third party software other then Office. Also the new IE under the tile works great. Much faster and resolves more websites correctly.

I don’t know what you mean.

I have a 13 inch Dell and I love it, use it all the time. I am not a big fan of tablets. There uses are limited but like I said in my OP, they have a place in between a phone and a laptop for many users. The Surface is a little less limited then the tablets I have used. That being said, if I had to give up one device, a tablet would be the first to go.

Ken

But, Windows RT is *not* Windows 8. It may share some of the same "look and feel", but software will need to be compiled specifically for the Win RT OS (as software compiled or the Intel versions of Windows 7 or 8 won't run on Win RT)

Even worse, you have to buy all software for Windows RT from Microsoft's stores, where they'll make a profit on all of it, even with products that directly compete against Microsoft's own software.

At least with Android, you can install apps without buying them via Google's Playstore.

As for the Remote Desktop features, I've been able to access my desktops from my Android phone for ages using TeamViewer. Not only can I remote control my machines running Windows, but I can also remote control my machines that are runing Linux; and the machines can be behind firewalls, too.

As for the hardware used by Surface, a number of Android based Tablets have better specs now (higher resolution displays, faster transfer rates, more storage options, etc.); and competition will only heat up as time passes.

I think Microsoft RT will probably "flop", as some review sites think it will. Here's one example:

http://www.infoworld.com/t/microsoft-windows/windows-rt-and-8-sales-signs-point-major-flop-206847?source=footer

Alternative products just have too much of a head start, and Surface specs are just not up to what some of the manufacturers offering Android tablets have to offer (screen resolution , processor speed, etc.) at this point, and that will only be more in favor of competing devices as time passes.  Manufacturers like Asus are already offering Android based tablets with much higher resolution displays, faster clock speeds from the same Nvidia chipsets, and more; and we'll see more and more competing products as time passes.

Time will tell how well Surface succeeds. Because it's brand new, I expect a sales surge to start out with. But, I suspect that interest will diminish rapidly once users start comparing other products with higher screen resolutions, more storage, more available apps, etc. for the same price.

I think Windows 8 (not the RT version) running on Intel based tablets will have a better chance of success; as we're starting to see more and more tablets using lower powered Intel based processors now. But, Windows RT on ARM? I just don't see it catching on; as there is just too much competition in that marketplace, with products that offer more than the current Microsoft Surface offerings.

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JimC
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I hope you have a good remote desktop experience form the screen on your phone, I don’t think I could get much done from that small of screen.

The fact that RT won’t install software like Photoshop, Lightroom, Quick Books, or similar programs, seems immaterial to me. The horsepower isn’t there anyhow. It’s just an arm device. The hardware is the limiting factor so RT’s limits should not be an issue.

Ken

Kind of, but there's a nuance. I know what I can do with an iPad that I can't do with an iPhone.

I'm wondering what sorts of real world things would make me reach for Surface, instead of some other thing. i.e., is it "just another tablet" or does it have something going for it.

Nah... it does work though.

But, it would be better to use a higher resolution tablet, like an iPad with a 2048x1536 pixel display, or an Asus with an 1,920x1200 pixel display (or just wait on the Google Nexus 10, which will have an even higher resolution display).   You can remote control your Windows desktop with any of them using TeamViewer.

That's part of the point.   You've got a more mature app ecosystem with competing devices (IOS, Android), with better specifications on the latest devices (higher resolution displays, faster processing speed, etc.).

So, I don't see the benefit of buying a Surface Tablet.

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JimC
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It's a tablet that can run Office apps, not a clone of Office.  It will serve the same browsing and email functionality that represent to bulk of usage for people.  If you want those common functions and office, this is your tablet.  If you don't care about office, then it's unlikely you would see any point to this device.

The ecosystem angle is a big one - will this thing be better than the Rim Playbook?  Probably - the windows development tools may make it very easy to compile for x86 and arm at the same time.  But aside from MS apps, there's little reason to think it will match up against Apple or Android anytime soon.

These small, under powered gadgets, whether they be tablet or morp into laptops are great for grandparents to Skype and check their email, internet surfing.

"Most" users of either use them 90% for the above...

There is usually always a workaround to become compatible with the business world using Microsoft products.  I wish you the best.

Ken

Sure, there are work arounds if all you need to do is remote control a Windows desktop. Even my tiny phone running Android can do that. Sure, it's not the greatest experience due to a smaller, lower resolution display. But, it still works, and I can pinch and zoom to enlarge an area of my desktop, scroll around to find what I want, etc.

With a larger tablet, no problem (I'd see no benefit to a Surface Tablet for that purpose)

In any event, I don't see businesses adopting Windows RT for anything.

It can't run legacy Windows apps, the version of Office that comes with it is not allowed to be used for commercial purposes unless you also buy a license key of something like Office 360 when using it, you don't have Outlook, you can't join a Domain with it, and more.

I think that the Windows 8 Pro tablets using Intel CPUs are more likely to be accepted by business, since they get around those issues, can join domains, be managed via group policy, run legacy Windows apps, and more.

But, even those will probably be a tough sell to IT managers, as they're going to be looking at Return on Investment, cost of maintenance with staff needing to learn more about the new OS, etc.

A netbook or laptop is usually gong to be a better bet, unless there is a specific reason someone needs a tablet instead.

As for Win RT, I think IT managers will see it as more of a social media type of OS, versus an OS that's more useful in a business environment.

Time will tell... But, everything I've seen so far suggests it's going to be a flop for business use.

Even for consumer use, I think it's a stretch for it to gain much on the alternatives, thanks to a much larger app ecosystem available for IOS and Android.

Also, where Android is concerned, there are just too many competing devices around, and consumers are very price conscious in that market segment, so they're more likely to be looking at sub $300 tablets instead that do what they want for internet browsing, social media apps, etc.

You'll see a similar competition problem with Intel based tablets capable of running Win 8. They'll be coming "out of the woodwork" soon they'll be so many of them available.

So, I just don't see Win 8 RT doing much, given competition from Android on the lower end, and competition from Win 8 on Intel based platforms on the upper end.

Perhaps I'm wrong, and it will catch on over time, as more apps become available. But, for now, I see Win 8 RT on ARM occupying a very small niche.

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JimC
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I would argue the exact opposite.  I think MS screwed up huge by now allowing Windows RT to attach to a domain.  If I could centrally manage RT, the same way I manage a laptop running Win7 Enterprise, it'd be the clear winner over iApple or Android in a business environment.  MS didn't do that, so I have no good reason to recommend RT as a choice for business.  Apple and Android currently integrate better (still not very good) into a business environment.

True.

but isnt our online life most of what we do nowadays? I have an Ipad and an android tablet and I use them constantly be it to take some pdfs or word files to work or check my e-mails when Im not at work or at home. Use something like dropbox to send things back and forward and the tablets never leave my side, my phone screen is just too small and fidgety.

after installing win8 I am interested in seeing what a tablet with win 8 can do (even RT) and Im going to buy one in the very near future, just waiting for a second generation. ipad is smoother than android but not having expandable memory and having those dam connectors is a killer for me so I am leaving the Ipad in front of the TV for browsing. If RT or full win8 works as well as win8 pro on  my computer then I will be happy. Even my Iphone is being substituted by a win 8 htc phone. My contacts and diary are synched by gmail account so I can change tablets and phones without loosing anything.

We'll likely 'punt' the same way we do with the stupid iPad. Drop a Citrix client on it and bypass all the app store nonsense from either party. Run the apps *we* want. I'm already hearing scuttlebutt it's VDI ready with a bit of tweaking.

iPad support kills us with frequent iOS updates *worse* than Windows, and Apple's infrastructure Wi-Fi support is mediocre.

I'll betcha a box of used PS/2 ball mice my friend that what Microsoft is really going after is the tablet interface and really doesn't care about the OS because they are assuming apps will come just like they did for prior OS's.

but isnt our online life most of what we do nowadays?

In what context? When one of my co-workers gets one of these gadgets and insists on using it as their primary information portal I deliberately send them messages that require replies that can't be made with a touch screen. After awhile they'll finally give in and 'respond' that they need to sit down at a keyboard and type a response -vs- short messages in abbreviated sentences to save them typing but make our work harder.

So....we've finally morphed from information consumer to productive worker....at least for a few hours.

Your bank statement or credit card is screwed up. You call customer service. Would you rather have the problem resolved via some hip teenager fiddling with an iPad or MS Surface, or somebody with a 5250 interface an keyboard off an IBM mainframe?



You will most likely need both for a while but as these tablets get better and more powerfull they will slowly but surely  replace most of the hardware we use. Its a logical progression. Do I like  the idea? Probably not but what can you do about it.

That could be useful. It would need to support the full Office feature set though, including macros. And not reformat stuff. When Surface was announced it finally made the reasoning behind the stupid Office ribbon clear.

Thanks.

I don't simply reason I'd have to lean over my desk to touch the screen! This is where Win 8 is a failure it's great for touch screen devices but damn awful for normal non touch ones.

If you remember we were told years back we'd not need a keyboard and mouse either because voice recognition technology would mean we'd be able to talk to the pc. Look where that ended up..firmly in the bin.