Anyone watching the MS-BN announcement?

[fjtorres]

10.6in screen, 1.8 lbs including keyboard cover.
RT version - comparable to ARM tablets - US$400-600
x86 Version - comparable to Ultrabooks - US$700-900

For *those* features, I might do either or both.
But for starters I'll target the x86 version.
The pen support will make it a killer editing tablet for documents. And the timing is perfect; I was looking for an ultrabook upgrade for the fall.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by kevinp

Ultrabooks are in the $1,000 range. I'll never pay that much for a tablet.

Uh, no.
I was pricing them last week at OfficeMax and OfficeDepot. $700-900. You have to go all out to hit >$1000.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-57341890-64/how-low-can-ultrabooks-go-toshiba-drops-to-$699/

http://www.officedepot.com/a/product...-P360-133-LED/

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

10.6in screen, 1.8 lbs including keyboard cover.
RT version - comparable to ARM tablets - US$400-600
x86 Version - comparable to Ultrabooks - US$700-900

For *those* features, I might do either or both.
But for starters I'll target the x86 version.
The pen support will make it a killer editing tablet for documents. And the timing is perfect; I was looking for an ultrabook upgrade for the fall.

I think you're a bit optimistic on your pricing. I read comparable ARM to mean iPad, and iPads sell for $600 (32GB) and $700 (64GB).

[SensualPoet]

It could be a hit. You can quote me.

Of course, I never thought the iPad had much future and I couldn't see the value in a touch screen eink device.

It's bad news for B&N but not too worry: B&N has much more bad news coming at 10 am tomorrow morning when they report year end results as at Apr 30.

But, back to MS. Execution is everything and the company IS capable of doing that very, very well. MS absolutely MUST get into the mobile space and perhaps this, along with its Nokia partnership in phones, will get them on track. The press event on The Verge was slick, even mouth watering. But, it is a 10" tablet, not a 7" one so Amazon Kindle Fire is probably not directly challenged (in form factor or price).

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

But, it is a 10" tablet, not a 7" one so Amazon Kindle Fire is probably not directly challenged (in form factor or price).

Agree... the Surface is a business device; whereas the Fire is a consumer device.

[SensualPoet]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

10.6in screen, 1.8 lbs including keyboard cover.
RT version - comparable to ARM tablets - US$400-600
x86 Version - comparable to Ultrabooks - US$700-900

I don't see anything about wifi vs LTE wireless editions ... is this something Verizon might sell? And are they targetting US only or an international audience?

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

I don't see anything about wifi vs LTE wireless editions ... is this something Verizon might sell?

Tack on another $100+ if they include a cellular radio in it.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Tack on another $100+ if they include a cellular radio in it.

Which I have no use for. WiFi suits me fine.

Here's some specs:
http://www.microsoft.com/global/surf...especsheet.pdf

x86
OS Windows 8 Pro
Light 903 g
Thin 13.5 mm
Clear 10.6” ClearType Full HD Display
Energized 42 W-h
Connected microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
Productive Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block
Practical VaporMg Case & Stand
Configurable 64 GB, 128 GB

ARM
OS Windows RT
Light 676 g
Thin 9.3 mm
Clear 10.6” ClearType HD Display
Energized 31.5 W-h
Connected microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
Productive Office Home & Student 2013 RT, Touch Cover, Type Cover
Practical VaporMg Case & Stand
Configurable 32 GB, 64 GB

[wallcraft]

I'm not convinced the Windows RT version is a good deal vs iPad or Android. MicroSoft is also going to have a potential OEM issue if they charge the reported $80 and $95 for a RT license and sell their own RT tablet. How could any of their OEMs compete on price?

On the other hand the Windows 8 Pro tablet looks like an Ultrabook killer. Intel spends millions on ultrabooks, and MicroSoft eats their lunch. My laptop is connected to a large display and an external keyboard when at home, and the Windows 8 Pro tablet would presumably work just as well in this mode with greater portability when on travel.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by wallcraft

My laptop is connected to a large display and an external keyboard when at home, and the Windows 8 Pro tablet would presumably work just as well in this mode with greater portability when on travel.

Plus you get Pen support.
I was just showing the pics and specs to my sister, who's been pricing ultrabooks (see above).
Her take: "...a couple hundred more and I get a full PC as well as a tablet? No brainer!"

On the ARM side, note that it comes with Full Office Home and Student.
Which means Word, Excel, and One-Note.
That alone justifies the license fee.

[wodin]

Ohhhh, Shiny!

I covet one!

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by fjtorres

10.6in screen, 1.8 lbs including keyboard cover.
RT version - comparable to ARM tablets - US$400-600
x86 Version - comparable to Ultrabooks - US$700-900

For *those* features, I might do either or both.
But for starters I'll target the x86 version.
The pen support will make it a killer editing tablet for documents. And the timing is perfect; I was looking for an ultrabook upgrade for the fall.

Based on what they said, I think your price estimates are about right, noting that the cover-with-keyboard is going to be an additional expense. But final pricing is probably something Microsoft isn't going to announce until they are ready to take people's money (this is one Apple launch event feature they were unable to clone, apparently).

I haven't been thinking about getting an ultrabook, but Surface/Win8Pro does interest me because it could replace 2 devices I currently carry around now (MacBook Pro & Xoom), and shave my "payload" significantly (not to mention caring and feeding overhead). I think Surface is hitting a sweet spot, and am looking forward to some hands on reviews to confirm this impression.

[SensualPoet]

Regarding LTE wireless ...

Originally Posted by fjtorres

Which I have no use for. WiFi suits me fine.

If the tablet is aimed at a higher end business market, having credible wireless is a must have for many buyers. And, if you are investing in a $800 or $1000 device, you don't want an aging 3G radio, you'll want LTE which currently delivers landline speeds (ie 25 mbps in the real world with decent latency).

[tomsem]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

Regarding LTE wireless ...



If the tablet is aimed at a higher end business market, having credible wireless is a must have for many buyers. And, if you are investing in a $800 or $1000 device, you don't want an aging 3G radio, you'll want LTE which currently delivers landline speeds (ie 25 mbps in the real world with decent latency).

So, get an LTE USB modem or wifi hotspot? I'd rather do that than pay $130 extra up front and get locked to a given provider, without upgrade ability (as with iPad wifi+cellular models).

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

Regarding LTE wireless ...



If the tablet is aimed at a higher end business market, having credible wireless is a must have for many buyers. And, if you are investing in a $800 or $1000 device, you don't want an aging 3G radio, you'll want LTE which currently delivers landline speeds (ie 25 mbps in the real world with decent latency).

I'm not a business user.
Just a serious PC user.

I suspect that LTE support may come by release time.
But it doesn't have to. Not from Microsoft.

Remember, the MS Surfaces won't be the only Win8 and RT tablet products out there; they explicitly said that OEM partners would have feature and price parity with the MS-branded versions.

These are basically reference designs/flagships for the Windows Tablet space.

MS is challenging the OEMs to be better and, in effect, saying they're not going to concede the Tablet market to Apple or Google just to coddle them. So they're leaving room for their partners but those partners are going to have to step up and be better and/or cheaper.