Microsoft Surface Tablet

[GREED]

BBC News - Microsoft unveils Surface Windows 8 tablets

[MYK-IT]

Surface by Microsoft

 

Good morning! For those of you that choose to sleep on a Monday night you may have missed the announcement made by Steve Ballmer in LA at about midnight last night. Microsoft are releasing our own devices, and they’re called “Surface”.

 

There are two models in the Surface family – Windows RT and Windows 8 Pro. We don’t have a release date yet but to keep up to date with information please visit Surface by Microsoft.

 

There is an official launch video which you can see here.

 

Surface for Windows RT tablet

 

Processor: NVIDIA Tegra-based ARM chip

Weight: 676 grams

Thickness: 9.3 millimeters

Display: 10.6-inch ClearType HD capactive touchpanel

Battery: 31.5Wh

I/O: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae

Software: Windows RT + Office Home & Student 2013 RT

Accessories: Touch Cover, Type Cover, VaporMg Case & Stand

Capacity: 32GB / 64GB

Availability: "Around" the Windows 8 launch (fall 2012)

Pricing: To be determined

 

Surface for Windows 8 Pro tablet

 

Processor: Intel Core i5 (Ivy Bridge)

Weight: 903 grams

Thickness: 13.5 millimeters

Display: 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD (1080p) capactive touchpanel

Battery: 42Wh

I/O: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, 2x2 MIMO antennae

Software: Windows 8 Pro

Accessories: Touch Cover, Type Cover, VaporMg Case & Stand, Pen with Palm Block

Capacity: 64GB / 128GB

Availability: "Three months after" the Windows 8 launch this fall

Pricing: To be determined

 

We are really excited about this announcement. Any questions at all then please let me know.

 

Kind Regards

 

Sean

 

Sean O’Shea

Schools Business Manager, Microsoft UK

 

tel: +44 118 9094136 | mob: +44 7875 599852

[email protected] | Schools Blog | Live@edu Blog

[jamesfed]

Goes to show Microsoft arn't going to let any OEM muck up Windows 8

 

IMO - I WANT

[teejay]

Oh joy, my computing experience goes full circle, back to ZX81 style keyboards...

[tommej]

Would of been nice to see some hands on with this.

[garethEds]

One point - it has to be cheap enough for schools to purchase. Schools in the Swansea area are pro-iPad in a big way. If MS want this to get into the classroom they need an education model with education pricing.

 

Gareth

[localzuk]

Clever idea using the cover as a keyboard/trackpad. Kudos to MS for that.

 

And I don't know about an educational model/pricing - Apple have done pretty well in education, and they seem to have done everything they possibly can to make life difficult.

[Pottsey]

Why have they used such and outdated slow Soc? Tegra is a real offput for the RT tablet. The Pro oen looks nice as long as its not to costly. Edited June 19, 2012 by Pottsey

[localzuk]

Why have they used such and outdated slow Soc? Tegra is a real offput.

 

Stability and reliability, combined with battle-testing and time to develop the best possible drivers.

 

Apple do the same thing with their gear - it means you end up with a more stable environment, which leads to better impressions by the public of the device and system together.

[jamesfed]

Why have they used such and outdated slow Soc? Tegra is a real offput for the RT tablet. The Pro oen looks nice as long as its not to costly.

 

I don't know if you have ever used a Windows Phone 7 however with just a 1.0 Ghz CPU it flys faster than anything I have ever seen.

 

If Microsoft is using the same software to run applications (which it looks like they are to some degree) in the Windows RT Surface then it will do just the same

 

I do think it is a case of we have gone from bloted software on poor hardware (Windows Vista) to well tuned, lightweight software (Windows Phone/Windows RT/8) on hardware that dosn't look all to impressive but runs great.

[rpenhale]

Agree Windows Phone is very slick but tends to get slated by imho people who have yet to experience it, 2 years on it still feels fresh. I think Surface has a great deal going for it, although I think the Windows 8 Pro version could be the better options for schools as it will have access to the huge range of x86 software. Does anyone know if the x86 version will still be able to run the RT version apps, I assume so but haven't been able to clarify this yet?

[tommej]

Why have they used such and outdated slow Soc? Tegra is a real offput for the RT tablet. The Pro oen looks nice as long as its not to costly.

 

That email quoted above is the only place I've seen someone say it's actually using a tegra chip.

[elsiegee40]

looking at the spec... it has at least one plus point over an iPad... USB

 

And I bet you will be able to manage it through standard network tools as well... WSUS in charge of updates, etc.

[sonofsanta]

That email quoted above is the only place I've seen someone say it's actually using a tegra chip.

 

Microsoft Surface with Windows RT runs an Nvidia Tegra processor | The Verge

 

I think they need a lower-powered version of the Intel one as well... the x86 one is clearly going to be a powerhouse intended for execs, because they want corporations (eager for GP administration) to stump up for the pricey one, where the ARM/RT model is aimed squarely at the consumer market.

 

I doubt very much they'll shift Apple's mindshare for consumers, though, and within two years they'll be concentrating solely on corporate with x86 models, some of them running on the newer Atom that's due out in the next year or so (iirc). And at that point, they'll be reasonably priced and prime for educational use.

[elsiegee40]

According to CNET:

 

"Surface for Windows RT" uses a Nvidia Tegra chip.

 

"Surface for for Windows 8 Pro" uses Intel Core i5 "Ivy Bridge." Tihis machine is larger and heavier than it's Tegra based sibling and an iPad.

[Norphy]

looking at the spec... it has at least one plus point over an iPad... USB

 

And I bet you will be able to manage it through standard network tools as well... WSUS in charge of updates, etc.

 

You'll definitely be able to manage the Intel based one using standard tools. Probably not the ARM one though as WinRT can't be joined to a domain.

[sonofsanta]

Also worth reading: AnandTech - Microsoft Surface - We Go Hands On [uPDATE: Detailed Impressions]

 

Pictures of the type cover as well as the touch cover (i.e. a real keyboard integrated into the cover... just marvellous) and impressions of it in the hand. However, it does mention a couple of killer details: the battery is only 31.5Wh compared to the iPad's 42.5Wh, and even worse, the screen is only 1366x768, which will look like garbage when compared to the Retina display. I suspect the iPad 3's screen caught Microsoft off-guard and they were too far down the road to respond with this generation, but maybe next time.

[Jawloms]

I suspect the iPad 3's screen caught Microsoft off-guard and they were too far down the road to respond with this generation, but maybe next time.

 

Or they're "doing an Apple" of release it with poor specs now so that the new one in a year or so seems really impressive.

[tommej]

Also worth reading: AnandTech - Microsoft Surface - We Go Hands On [uPDATE: Detailed Impressions]

 

Pictures of the type cover as well as the touch cover (i.e. a real keyboard integrated into the cover... just marvellous) and impressions of it in the hand. However, it does mention a couple of killer details: the battery is only 31.5Wh compared to the iPad's 42.5Wh, and even worse, the screen is only 1366x768, which will look like garbage when compared to the Retina display. I suspect the iPad 3's screen caught Microsoft off-guard and they were too far down the road to respond with this generation, but maybe next time.

 

Again the "hands-on" is more of an "eyes-on" and doesn't really speak much about the actual performance of the device

[LosOjos]

the screen is only 1366x768, which will look like garbage when compared to the Retina display. I suspect the iPad 3's screen caught Microsoft off-guard and they were too far down the road to respond with this generation, but maybe next time.

 

Or it's for compatibility - if it's going to be running the same apps as on a standard desktop (where I believe 1024x768 is still the most common resolution?) then having a huge resolution will mean apps will either look stupidly small or stupidly spaced out as they've not been designed for such huge resolutions, or they'll be scaled to a point they actually look worse than on a lower resolution. Don't forget that the iPad's whole OS has been designed around the massive resolution, right down to the huge icon sizes and it can do that because it's a stand alone platform.

 

EDIT: I'm talking carp

Edited June 19, 2012 by LosOjos

[SYNACK]

We are just trialing this: ICONIA TAB W Series | Product Series at the moment, low power consumption dual core chip which we'll chuck W8 on when it comes out.

 

I would have put W8 CTP on it but it literally walked away on a plaform of hype and excitement away from me with the teachers (W7 Pro). I should have got two on demo, they are stupidly cheap rivaling and bettering an ipad in some cases. Sure it is the older style CPU but it will still fly with W8 and be fully domain managable. With a propper GPU, two USB ports, HDMI, SD/Memorycard etc. and 3G along with a keyboard and Ethernet dock means that it can be used as both a tablet and a laptop depending on what level of interaction the school needs them at the time. They should be rather epic for versatility despite their brand if the project goes ahead.

 

It is good that MS if finally using the successful surface branding to show metro's liniage and push the whole thing foward as for touch interfaces it really is good.

[enjay]

Certainly impressive. The USB port is a nice addition, and I do like the slim case rather than having a sleeve or bulky leather add-on case like iPads and Kindles have (the official Samsung bookcase cover for Galaxy Tab is the same, and by far the nicest case I've had for it). That keyboard is extremely slick, too.

 

The big plus point here is the full integration and central manageability. Tablets have a definite place in education (both as staff devices and pupil devices), and this nicely settles the "how the !"£$%^& do we make this talk to our network?" issue. That is a feature of it having an Ivy Bridge not ARM processor, right?

 

I would still be inclined to wait until nearer Win8 release date and see what other manufacturers do, however the bar has definitely been set.

[elsiegee40]

Something to look forward to playing with at BETT next year

[glennda]

TBF the Samsung S3 I have in my hard is about as powerful as that first Arm model (ok maybe not quite but its bloooming quick!)

[Quackers]

I cannot help think that Microsoft might have missed the boat. My best friend hires computer contractors, and he says tablet deployment in enterprise is through the roof at the moment, and its all iPads, at home it seems to be iPads is king, and i cannot see enterprise saying lets just bin all our iPads now Microsoft have a tablet. Add to the fact Windows 8 may get a tarnished name like Vista from the traditional desktop users who are not happy with the start menu removal to name just one of a few gripes.

 

It could be a about as sucessful and Windows Mobile 7.5.