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To sum up the reviews | 198 comments | Create New Account
Comments belong to whoever posts them. Please notify us of inappropriate comments.
Microsoft Surface
Authored by: Kilz on Wednesday, October 24 2012 @ 08:35 AM EDT
I wonder how the hardware would be if you installed Linux on
it? I kind of like the look of it and the fact it has some
form of keyboard, but I hate the OS.

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

To be honest: the reviews surprised me too
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 24 2012 @ 12:32 PM EDT

But not in the way one might imagine.

They surprised me because they reflect my opinion of every product Microsoft has ever released.

Historically the reviews have never contained anything actually bad and spoke to the "most efficient, stable, operating system yet".

With the change in how the reviews have been handled in the last couple years - where even the MS fans who insist the BSOD does not exist (figuratively speaking) are giving negative comments - I personally view it as a positive change.

MS will never change if the general market keeps saying nothing but praise about them. But when the market as a general group is denouncing MS - then real change has the potential of occurring.

Maybe some day MS will change enough that instead of going out of business they'll actually properly implement industry standards. Start to innovate for the first time in it's history with regards things that will help the end-user instead of continuing to focus on anti-competitive behavior.

Then again, maybe some day a procine will get its pilot license.

RAS

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

Microsoft Surface review
Authored by: Alan(UK) on Wednesday, October 24 2012 @ 12:51 PM EDT
Damned with faint praise. No doubt someone at Microsoft owns a monkey-wrench and
a hammer but I thought that Microsoft's main business was writing, or otherwise
obtaining, software. If the operating system is slow, and the applications
lacking, does it matter if it is 'beautiful'?

---
Microsoft is nailing up its own coffin from the inside.

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

Not all reviews of the Surface are glowing with praise
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 24 2012 @ 01:35 PM EDT
For example, over breakfast this morning I read a review of the Surface in the
dead-tree edition of the NY Times. It was not exactly a rave, at all.

Short version:

Wonderful hardware. Really crappy software. As extra sauce, some really scathing
comments about how so many thought until now that Microsoft is a great software
company.

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

To sum up the reviews
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 24 2012 @ 02:14 PM EDT
Its a turkey, but its the nicest looking turkey M$ has launched in ages.

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

YouTube ads
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 24 2012 @ 02:49 PM EDT
I just had a quick look at YT for your video, no luck, but I did find
three "Hands on Reviews" which were 100% untouched MS ads...

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

Microsoft Surface review
Authored by: Anonymous on Wednesday, October 24 2012 @ 07:51 PM EDT

The reviews I've seen are similar to those for the RIM Playbook. They're saying the hardware is nice, but the software isn't really ready and is missing essential functionality.

I'm not surprised the hardware is OK. Lots of companies have been making Android tablets for several years now, and Microsoft just had to shop around for a manufacturer and perhaps hand them a few concept sketches to show the styling they were looking for.

The software was always going to be problem. Third party OEMs now have the choice of taking a risk with Windows 8, or using a proven system like Android.

Part of the problem with Windows 8 is that Microsoft requires very specific hardware capabilities, so there's not a lot of room for cost reductions. Microsoft then targeted the Apple iPad as the tablet they want to match. Hardware OEMs can't produce a tablet that is significantly cheaper than an iPad, except by cutting their own throats on margin. It also means they can't just take an existing Android tablet and stick Windows 8 on it (although they might be able to share some components).

A consumer has three choices:

  • Buy something that is expensive but is the market leader (iPad).
  • Buy something cheaper (Android).
  • Buy something that is expensive as the market leader, but not as good as the cheaper option (Windows 8).

The Nokia fiasco may be the reason why Microsoft has released their own tablet. Gaining success will require staying power as well as luck, and the third party OEMs aren't going to keep pouring their own money into something that isn't selling. Microsoft however, does have a record of flogging dead horses long after everyone else would have given up. "Staying power" however can just be a euphemism for "pouring good money after bad".

Steve Balmer's replacement (whenever he arrives) may decide to pull the the whole tablet venture and refocus on enterprise business. That has to be at the back of everyone's mind, so anyone who wants to be serious about the tablet business would be foolish to bet their company on it.

[ Reply to This | Parent | # ]

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