Microsoft airs its first Surface tablet ad

[pj123]

Since there is no any other tablet with screen bigger than 10.1", to me the (only) attractive feature of ms surface is its 10.6" screen vs my current 9.7" of ipad3. BB flex tablet sounds a good deal -- $250 is now official: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Insignia...&skuId=6815166

[xendula]

Originally Posted by pj123

Since there is no any other tablet with screen bigger than 10.1", to me the (only) attractive feature of ms surface is its 10.6" screen vs my current 9.7" of ipad3. BB flex tablet sounds a good deal -- $250 is now official: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Insignia...&skuId=6815166

They don't even bother mentioning the battery life, so it's probably bad.

[pj123]

10 hour battery life

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/articl..._for_about_250

[fjtorres]

Apparently the sold-out pre-orders really are due to the song and dance ad.
People who's job it is to measure those things have determined it is the absolue best of the best tablet-only ad of 2012. By a mile.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-57...verizes-apple/

According to Ace Metrix, the all-dancing Surface ad is "the most effective" tablet ad of the year. Yes, even better than the Galaxy Note ad. And in an entirely different realm from Apple's offerings.

Do note the Name of the Column referring to the report.

[xendula]

Originally Posted by pj123

10 hour battery life

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/articl..._for_about_250

Why would they not post this info on their product page, black on white, where they'd be held accountable? Very fishy.

[WillysJeepMan]

Originally Posted by markbot

I've decided to buy the Surface RT, assuming the reviews are good...and they probably will be IMO.

...
10. I'm convinced the app market for RT will be a success because any app written for regular windows 8 will be compatible with RT. A lot of people are going to have Windows 8 since it will be preinstalled on most new computers. This means the install base for these metro style apps is going to be very significant. 300+ million Windows computers are sold each year....so the app market should be at least as good as the market for android's tablet OS within 2 years I think. The apps could also be more sophisticated since WIndows 8 RT is closer to a full desktop OS and most people will have a keyboard attached.

I believe that you are going to be in for a rude awakening. Microsoft has a long history of deliberating introducing confusion by the names they choose for their mobile and desktop operating systems. They attempt to give the impression of cohesiveness and compatibility without actually delivering it in any meaningful way.

They'll claim that it is a simple matter of recompiling a Win8 app for use on a WinRT device. They've made those claims in the past with previous operating systems. The reality was that only the most basic apps, more like applets, could take advantage of that capability.

I've just recently retired, but I've been a software developer for over 30 years and have worked extensively on Microsoft's mobile platforms for the last 12 years. I'll need to see how many of the promises are actually delivered on before I have any confidence in what Microsoft has claimed.

[xmlgirl]

So this commercial is selling a product that makes a clicking noise? Sounds like a future broken part to me. Just trying to be "cooler" than the apple people isn't going to sell this to iPad owners.

[Graham]

Originally Posted by xmlgirl

Just trying to be "cooler" than the apple people isn't going to sell this to iPad owners.

I suspect that they're trying to sell this to non-iPad owners.

Graham

[SeaKing]

Originally Posted by WillysJeepMan

I believe that you are going to be in for a rude awakening. Microsoft has a long history of deliberating introducing confusion by the names they choose for their mobile and desktop operating systems. They attempt to give the impression of cohesiveness and compatibility without actually delivering it in any meaningful way.

They'll claim that it is a simple matter of recompiling a Win8 app for use on a WinRT device. They've made those claims in the past with previous operating systems. The reality was that only the most basic apps, more like applets, could take advantage of that capability.

I've just recently retired, but I've been a software developer for over 30 years and have worked extensively on Microsoft's mobile platforms for the last 12 years. I'll need to see how many of the promises are actually delivered on before I have any confidence in what Microsoft has claimed.

Boy, that sent a cold, cold shiver into my heart.

I just knew that "this time" it would finally happen.

[Kolenka]

Originally Posted by SeaKing

Boy, that sent a cold, cold shiver into my heart.

I just knew that "this time" it would finally happen.

Windows 8 RT is Windows 8. It is another SKU with access to the desktop crippled (no desktop SDK for ARM). That is really the only key difference folks need to know between it and Standard.

But there's the WinRT framework, which is what developers use to write apps targeting the new UI. It uses .NET technology which means you can compile once and run on both x86 and ARM. JavaScript apps aren't even compiled, which makes it even easier there.

So you have Windows 8 RT, and WinRT which are two different things. Sweet.

But, the key thing here is that the new UI on the desktop and tablets are actually the same. I'm as surprised as some others that this is actually the case.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by SeaKing

Boy, that sent a cold, cold shiver into my heart.

You're flying too high. Lower your altitude.

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by markbot

10. I'm convinced the app market for RT will be a success because any app written for regular windows 8 will be compatible with RT.

That isn't correct.
WinRT will only support apps written using the new WinRT APIs.
Anything using existing Win32 and .NET APIs will not work on WinRT and will have to be redeveloped. Those apps would work fine on 'real' Windows 8.

[Kolenka]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

That isn't correct.
WinRT will only support apps written using the new WinRT APIs.
Anything using existing Win32 and .NET APIs will not work on WinRT and will have to be redeveloped. Those apps would work fine on 'real' Windows 8.

An easier distinction here is to say it this way:

- Does it work in the new UI-formerly-known-as-Metro? Is it in the Store? It will work with Windows RT, Standard and Pro.
- Does it rely on the Windows 7-style Desktop? Then it only works on Windows Standard or Pro.

But the thing is, a tablet doesn't need to stick with Windows RT. The Surface Pro for example, is x86 and uses Windows Pro (I believe it is Pro anyways).

[murraypaul]

Originally Posted by Kolenka

An easier distinction here is to say it this way:

Here is an even simpler way:
-Does it currently exist?
If so, it won't run on the WinRT ARM tablets without being redeveloped.

[markbot]

Originally Posted by murraypaul

That isn't correct.
WinRT will only support apps written using the new WinRT APIs.
Anything using existing Win32 and .NET APIs will not work on WinRT and will have to be redeveloped. Those apps would work fine on 'real' Windows 8.

Yeah, I meant Windows 8 Metro Apps (not just windows programs) from the Windows App store....those should also be available for the RT App Store. Correct?

My thinking is that a developer will be more willing to develop for RT because they know the app can also be downloaded for Windows 8....which will have a huge user base.