Windows 8 Tablets: iPad killer? iPad Competitor? Windows Killer?

[Super Nintendo Chalmers]

Originally Posted by edslunch

You can't really use touch to interact with legacy Windows apps.

Replace mouse interaction with touch. Might be awkward in some cases but it could work.

[edslunch]

Originally Posted by Super Nintendo Chalmers

Replace mouse interaction with touch. Might be awkward in some cases but it could work.

I suppose they will have gestures for things like double-click right-click etc. But I would probably plug a mouse in anyway for convenience Rather than stretching out my arm and try to locate the teeny tiny x at the top of the screen. Even with my laptop I tend not to use the trackpad much and prefer mouse for user experience.

[psyang]

Both keyboard covers (touch cover and type cover) include a touchpad.

[FlamingLonghorn]

Originally Posted by Mike F

Are you saying that because Apple hasn't done something, it's not a good idea?

Not at all, just that if there was such a large market for it, it would be a huge oversight for Apple to miss that market as they could have easily ported it that way. Maybe I am wrong I have been plenty of times.

The whole point of Windows 8 Pro (i.e. x86) machines is that you don't choose between laptop and tablet. You have a touch screen that can be used as a tablet to your heart's content, then docked to a keyboard (traditional or something like the Surface Type Cover) for any business apps that benefit from a proper keyboard.

As for battery life, the Samsung ATIV 700T comes close to his specs and boasts 8 hour battery life with regular usage.

Yep if you go to Samsung's website that 1.9 lb weight is with a 4 cell battery not the 6 cell that gets that 8 hours. 1.9 is already 1/2 a pound over other tablets so with a bigger battery it would be even more. We also know that marketing battery claims are bs. I would think there is very little use case for business apps today without a keyboard. The funny thing is that the tablet here is aimed at the consumer market and Samsung announced there business line up would run on ARM with Windows RT so they see the same thing as me.

Anyways you guys obviously like the idea I hope they release something to your liking as it is no skin off me if they do.

[FanIn80]

Just got this email...

Dear Customer,

Thanks again for pre-ordering your Surface online!

As stated at the time of order, we expect customers in Canada to receive their Surface devices between Oct. 26 and Oct. 30. We apologize for any confusion caused by subsequent emails stating an earlier or later arrival date. To make up for any inconvenience, we would like to offer you a single use coupon for up to CND$50 off your next purchase from the Microsoft online store*.

To use your coupon, please visit www.microsoftstore.com/ca, shop for the items you want, and, at check out, type the code [REDACTED] in the Promo Code box. The value of your coupon will be applied at checkout, before you complete your purchase.

If you have any questions regarding your order, please visit us online at www.microsoftstore.com/ca or give us a call at 1-877-696-7786 for English, and 1-877-248-1220 for French.

Thank you,
Microsoft online store

Sweet.

[GreenLantern]

Nice, I look forward to a full review FanIn80.

Now lets see how the Microsoft phone looks...

[Rathji]

Just ordered a couple of these for work.

Wish we would have done the pre-order thing, but I guess I can't complain too much.

edit: Looks like 3 weeks shipping

[FanIn80]

I just had a nice brown box handed to me in my office. I got pretty excited, only to discover that it was the three 3TB Seagate Constellation drives that I ordered yesterday.

Stupid expedited-overnight-shipping-for-the-same-price-as-regular-shipping.

[McG]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

Just got this email...



Sweet.

hey fanin80. i am waiting for my surface too; did you have to call them to get that email sent to you or did it just arrive in your inbox?

i can wait a day or two for $50!

[Mike F]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

One thing that really irks me about all these competitor tablets is the absence of cellular data. Yes, I know about mobile hotspot etc, but I happen to enjoy the convenience of not having to mess around with my phone just to get Internet on my tablet.

I had a brief glimmer of hope when I noticed that Dell was doing preorders for their business-class Windows 8 Pro tablets. That soon vanished when I looked into it, and saw that only the most-expensive, 3rd option has cell data - and it's just HSPA. Not to mention only 2GB of RAM and an Atom processor (these run the full desktop OS, they're not to be compared to iPads and Androids).

I want:

- Windows 8 Pro x64
- 128GB Flash storage (not 32GB or 64GB augmented with a 64GB SD Card)
- 4GB RAM minimum (8GB preferred)
- Dual-Core 3rd Gen Core i5 mobile processor minimum
- Dual-band N WiFi
- Unlocked LTE cell data
- High-res IPS display panel (doesn't have to be Retina, 1080p would be fine)
- Solid build quality

Now THAT is a business tablet. I would gladly pay through the nose for that.

FYI, Samsung announced it's lineup for Canadian products, and the Ativ Smart PC Pro (review of the British version here with good pics) comes very close to meeting your wish list.

- Windows 8 Pro x64 - check
- 128GB Flash storage - check (going by this model on Amazon)
- 4GB RAM minimum (8GB preferred)
- Dual-Core 3rd Gen Core i5 mobile processor minimum - check
- Dual-band N WiFi - check (I think?)
- High-res IPS display panel - check
- BONUS - Wacom stylus has earned rave reviews

- Unlocked LTE cell data - unfortunately, the LTE model will be Rogers exclusive
- Solid build quality - plastic cover rather than metal

[FanIn80]

Sorry for the lousy picture quality. My iPhone is charging, so I had to borrow someone's iPad 2 to take it. Anyway... more to come!

[FanIn80]

So far, this thing is pretty frickin cool! (Busy atm, but will post more later.)

[GoinAllTheWay]

Ok it's later, more plz

[Rathji]

Just got my Surface at work.

Looks like the 3 week estimate was off, as it took only a week to get here.

Impressions:

The touch keyboard is really nice and while it is obviously a little different, it isn't as hard as typing on the iPad/Playbook.

I was amazed at how well the keyboard snaps on and how well it stays until you try and remove it, at which point it comes of quite easily.

The stand seems quite stable, and while I was a little worried about it being flimsy and breaking, there is no way this is breaking unless it is intentional or something pretty heavy falls on it.

The device itself is a little slippery, but I am not sure if it is more/less so than an iPad as I don't have one here to directly compare. The cover is a cloth type surface and is easy to hold onto though. It actually prevents sliding on my desk pretty well.

Seems a little slow to open apps.

Interface is a tiny bit counter intuitive compared to what I have learned from both the Playbook and iPad, but I am willing to chalk that up to me spending less than 10 minutes on the device.

Touch screen is responsive.

Apps seem good. I like the widgets.

A couple things I have done have required me to have signed in with a MS account. That's annoying, but I assume that once I get it set up with ActiveSync that will be resolved.

Anyway, off to lunch, will give some more impressions later.

[Rathji]

So played with it all afternoon pretty much.

ActiveSync setup was not too bad. In order to set it up, the account I was logged into needed to be local administrator on the tablet, which seemed odd to me.

Remote Web Workplace eventually worked. Had to add the site to both trusted and compatibility view lists first. It also didn't work in the 'Metro' style UI, IE needed to be ran from within the Desktop Experience to allow for ActiveX to install. I assume this will come up for a few other people as different sites are accessed.

App store is easy to use, but seems a little empty. To be expected, but most of the staples are available in some form or other. In comparison, it seems to be already on par with the Blackberry Playbook offerings.

The device is a magnet for fingerprints, especially on the back. Not a big deal, but the OCD part of me is a little twitchy over it.

Charger magnetic connector seems good. No idea how it compares to the latest Mac charger though.

Wake from sleep is really fast, reboot was a bit slow the one time I did it, but there was 15 updates to do, so it is hard to say how much of that was the updates and how much was normal.

Annoying that Bing is built into everything (Maps, Search, Weather etc), and I cant figure out how to change it (or if it is possible without a new app being made)

[dissentowner]

Interesting review between the Surface and ipad 3. According to consumer reports review it is pretty good but no ipad killer.
http://news.consumerreports.org/elec...and-video.html

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Rathji

IE needed to be ran from within the Desktop Experience to allow for ActiveX to install.

I'm really confused - RT doesn't run ActiveX at all (how could it, those are x86 binaries)

[Rathji]

Well something identified itself as ActiveX, asked for permission to install in the same way that ActiveX did, which then enabled RWW to open RDP.

I am guessing there is either a wrapper or something which allows them to install in Desktop Experience, because they don't under the Metro interface. .

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Rathji

Well something identified itself as ActiveX, asked for permission to install in the same way that ActiveX did, which then enabled RWW to open RDP.

I am guessing there is either a wrapper or something which allows them to install in Desktop Experience, because they don't under the Metro interface. .

I wonder if RT ships with a very limited number of ActiveX plugins re-compiled for ARM (for example to support RDP). Very odd.

[edslunch]

Not looking good so far....

http://m.blogs.computerworld.com/win...es-were-dismal