Watch the entire Microsoft Surface keynote

[Master Devwi]

If you’re like me, you’ve probably spent the last nine hours seeking out every single detail you could possibly find about Microsoft’s first-ever in-house laptop/tablet combo, the Surface. In fact, you might very well have had the announcement trailer playing on repeat more times than you care to admit. No? Well, even if you aren’t that obsessive about Redmond’s latest project, it’s probably well worth your time to sit down and watch the entire keynote.

In the video, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and President of Windows and Windows Live Stephen Sinofsky unveil the Surface and detail just how much work went into the product’s design. The keynote is relatively short by Microsoft standards—just 47:23—but it’s very exciting. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but an actual video is even better.

What do you think of the Surface announcement?

[Microsoft News Center]

[CrowdAds]

[Carson Dyle]

Meh. Just another Microsoft bandwagon product.

I wonder how long it will be on the market before they throw in the towel and go back to making their billions by churning out Office 2xxx and Windows 9 and 10 and 11 in five different versions, each at price points to suit market segments in first, second and third world countries.

[Mikerman]

Originally Posted by Carson Dyle

Meh. Just another Microsoft bandwagon product.

I wonder how long it will be on the market before they throw in the towel and go back to making their billions by churning out Office 2xxx and Windows 9 and 10 and 11 in five different versions, each at price points to suit market segments in first, second and third world countries.

Microsoft has had some success with hardware projects, such as the Xbox. This likewise may fall into that category, as people have been looking for iPad alternatives, and the use of a unified OS between hardware (Windows Metro) may be very attractive.

[aimran]

Originally Posted by Carson Dyle

Meh. Just another Microsoft bandwagon product.

I wonder how long it will be on the market before they throw in the towel and go back to making their billions by churning out Office 2xxx and Windows 9 and 10 and 11 in five different versions, each at price points to suit market segments in first, second and third world countries.

I think the whole point of Microsoft releasing the Surface is to set a minimum standard for their OEMs. Microsoft doesn't want their OEMs to release half-attempted products that will hurt the image of ecosystem.

[nathan]

It's alright but nothing spectacular. I guess setting a standard or model for OEMs to reference isn't a bad idea. That what the purpose of the Nexus line suppose to be for Google. Is this suppose to come out during the fall or Christmas? If so, it's kind of early for them to announce it. If it's released before the release of Win 8 big M is going to have a lot of angry OEMs towards them and as an OS you really don't want to do that.

[Olley]

This is no Nexus as far as I can tell. MS took this challenge in-house, locked the doors, then threw the best of what they knew and the best people they have at it. Google lets other make their nexus devices, and so far none of them have raised the bar as high as Surface just did. None could probably even afford the R&D that MS spent to get to this point.

That said, I believe there needs to be a 7.2" version as well. I have a few 10.1" tablets and they are more than a handful. The Kindle succeeds not just for being $199. It's a paperback book in hand as well. Even the iPad is a hand full, and it sucks for movies.

[Mikerman]

Originally Posted by Master Devwi

If you’re like me, you’ve probably spent the last nine hours seeking out every single detail you could possibly find about Microsoft’s first-ever in-house laptop/tablet combo, the Surface. In fact, you might very well have had the announcement trailer playing on repeat more times than you care to admit. No? Well, even if you aren’t that obsessive about Redmond’s latest project, it’s probably well worth your time to sit down and watch the entire keynote.

Thanks for the post and links--I might even torture myself by listening to and watching it today (while doing other things online . . .).

[nathan]

Originally Posted by Olley

This is no Nexus as far as I can tell. MS took this challenge in-house, locked the doors, then threw the best of what they knew and the best people they have at it. Google lets other make their nexus devices, and so far none of them have raised the bar as high as Surface just did. None could probably even afford the R&D that MS spent to get to this point.

That said, I believe there needs to be a 7.2" version as well. I have a few 10.1" tablets and they are more than a handful. The Kindle succeeds not just for being $199. It's a paperback book in hand as well. Even the iPad is a hand full, and it sucks for movies.

Am I missing something? How did they raise the bar? How is this going to better than any other tablet running Win 8 RT? The keyboard in the smart cover looks like somewhat interesting idea but I can't imagine it being that much better than the touchscreen keyboard and will fall way sort compared to a decent quality physical keyboard on the Asus Transformer. There's nothing really interesting about the hardware and they release no release date or price. Really, what's the point of even announcing the device if you don't even know when you can pick up the darn thing?

[Mikerman]

I think that this pre-release marketing is an attempt to build anticipation and to get some people to refrain from purchasing other devices in the meanwhile, awaiting the release. And I bet it works at that.

[nathan]

Originally Posted by Mikerman

I think that this pre-release marketing is an attempt to build anticipation and to get some people to refrain from purchasing other devices in the meanwhile, awaiting the release. And I bet it works at that.

This announcement I guess makes window 8 RT tablets more tangible in the minds many. However announcing things to early can backfire. People minds (especially the emotional OMG I must have this part) generally work for the near future. I think that's why Apple and now Samsung have been so successful with product releases. I was exited about the whole metro interface/startscreen a few months ago but now I just think it's meh.

I still think they should had at least some balls and stated a price range. Just saying "it will be competitive with other ARM devices" just sound scatchy/ they don't actually have a finished project. The fact that they also didn't release any real specs doesn't help either.The key factor for people buy the Nexus tablet (assuming that's going to be announce in a couple of weeks) is getting a well performing device for a low price ($250 or less). I believe tablets are the natural replacement to netbooks and anything priced over $300 that's doesn't have a fruit logo on the back is not going to have mainstream success.

Hopefully they clearly articulate the fact that apps have to be written for ARM processors for them to work on an ARM deice. If not, they'll have a bunch of short term success having people think the could run any Windows application on the device but anger many customers at the same time when they find out that's not the case. In a couple of years people might be looking to another platform for their tablet-ing needs.

[Olley]

From what I've read , any app written for Windows 8 Pro can simply be re-compiled to run on Windows RT or even Windows Phone 8. Of course the pen interface on the Surface Pro is a feature you don't get on Win RT or Phone8 so apps using it won't run on lesser hardware without deleting whatever pen features it had.

So one programming effort now has four platforms to sell-to: Any Windows 8 desktop, Surface RT, Surface Pro, and any Phone8 device.

If Microsoft can prove this all works as described, then they've just put iOS and Android on check. Time will tell if it's a checkmate.