Microsoft surface - the iPad killer?

[viking60]

Microsoft has presented surface a pad with a cover that can be used as keyboard. Microsoft has realized the obvious - that a keyboard taking up screen space does not necessarily improve anything. So they have made a "pad" with a keyboard or a flexible laptop. This thing looks good and might even be productive. It will come with Windows8. Surface will be 9,3 millimeter thin, and have a 10,6 " display. This is the first time Microsoft present their own hardware. In terms of shutting other OS'es out, that is a fairer approach. Simply because you do not have to buy it, unlike a traditional laptop deal at the local store. There you have to buy Windows - even if you do not want it. Surface will be able to stream from Xbox and maybe even replace your cable TV providers! So this is clearly supposed to compete with Apples iPad - it remains to be seen if they will be successful. So far it looks interesting.... I wonder if I can put Arch on this thing...

[R_Head]

That is what Netbooks are for

I have an EeePC and we take it to travel, is even better than a pad is more powerful and does way more.

[rolf]

on the off-screen keyboard. I was an early adopter of the EEE-PC 701. With USB Modem, I can tether my Treo and enjoy mobile internet on the Sprint network on the road. There is also wireless capability. For mobility, my requirements would have functionality and power-saving at the top of the list.
So, this keyboard design looks slick but mobile multimedia device is not an item, for me.

[dedanna1029]

I think it a safe bet that MS not only is after the ipad with Surface, but is also after itself. Seems that they're not exactly the brightest of bunnies. (No desire here for either, btw. My netbook does just fine for me, and I can take it anywhere with me.)

"Microsoft's Surface isn't just an attempt to take on the iPad or an articulation of MS's independent design philosophy — it's a fundamental threat against the OEMs who've spent decades as Microsoft's partners and collectively destroyed the industry's perception of the PC as a high-value product. The adversarial roots run deep. Microsoft didn't tell its partners about Surface until three days before the event and gave only the most minimal details on the product. Only the largest vendors even got a phone call; Asus and Acer, the 4th and 5th largest PC manufacturers worldwide, have stated that they had no idea anything was coming. For OEMs who have spent decades working in lock-step with Redmond, that's deeply unsettling."

Well, now, ain't that just grand...

http://slashdot.org/story/12/06/22/1314 ... y-surprise

[viking60]

Time for them to turn to Linux then. All we lack is a lot of OEMs willing to hand out pre-installed Linux.

[dedanna1029]

Yep, but I don't think it will be much longer now.