Uh Oh, Microsoft's Surface Tablet Is Getting Some Awful Reviews

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Hardworking Tablet With PC Chops

With this device, called Surface, Microsoft is adopting the model of its longtime rival, Apple, which has always believed that the better way to deliver digital products is to build them end-to-end, including hardware, operating system and core apps, and an ecosystem of downloadable apps and content. That is what Microsoft is doing now with the Surface tablet, two and a half years after the iPad was born.

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A Guy
 

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The Verge is known to be apple thumpers, if you look at their site and reviews, especially today, there are like over eight articles over three new apperexic devices from apple today. Even their Microsoft guy seems like an apple thumper too considering his odd, seemingly lack-of-knowledge reviews.

But still, Windows RT is already being hit with confusion. I don't find it odd, I find it mildly confusing as I really want to look at the file system of one and be more confused at how it works and why.
 

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I'm not sure what folks expect from a "version 1.0" but the reaction is not too surprising. Given time to work out some of the issues, Microsoft may have a winner on its hands.

The final verdict does not lie with a handful of reviewers but rather with the end users. I am not going to run out and drop a bundle of money on one but if someone were to hand me one and ask for a review I would happily lend my opinion based on my own usage.
 

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Doubt it. They've over-hyped and worse - overpriced it. (Its what Microsoft does after all - it's worked for Apple you see)
 

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The reviews I'm seeing from sources I trust are only criticize the confusion factor about what you can run on RT versus full Windows 8 -- the fact that you can't run full windows applications (versus apps) on the RT. All other comments seem positive to me. I don't trust certain sources that appear to drink the cool aid (or apple juice).
 

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When I plan to go buy something new I read the reviews from consumers, not the media opinions. I'm looking for what everyday users have experienced and what they think. An opinion based on bias or a couple of hours playing with a device, or someone's opinion of the manufacturer, isn't worth my time.

That all said, at this point in time I would opt for something other than a Surface if I were in the market for a tablet. I'm usually reulctant to try "version 1.0" of something. Give it a couple years to "mature" and we'll see what happens then.
 

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I would expect many to agree with my general feelings and that's

1). The beauty of the Surface over any other tablet is that it's closer to a computer and does more.
2). Since the RT version of the tablet, won't run standard Windows software, it loses much of the appeal of #1

I would also think that trying to use the keyboard docks with these devices is going to be less than ideal with the device sitting on your lap. For tablets and such, I'm usually using it sitting on a chair or my couch or in bed. Unless it's super sturdy and works the same as my laptop (which is physically connected KB/screen), I'm unsure I would see this device as any type of replacement for a full featured computer. It's priced too high to consider it anything but, (IMHO).
 

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I thought that seemed to fit Windows 8 real well, the version labeled 8 has a score review of 8.8.

If you find their reviews of Office 2013 with a Windows RT tablet, you'll find that there's is an over exaggeration of being unable to use the Desktop with touch, which I dispute as it's really better with the RTM versus Release Preview. There's also the fact that apple has much more coverage with The Verge, I assume as it's because they're indirectly involved with apple as the site was announced on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon from their tech guy, and the show itself is sponsored by apple, and they use apple products on the show.
 

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They say that the biggest weakness of Surface is the lack of applications. At the same time MS seems to pay large sums to application developers to come up with new apps. So over time they may be OK.
 

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Lol @ The Verge. If it's not an iPad, iMac or iPhone it doesn't matter to them.
 

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The apps will come. This has to be the biggest bomb in the history of bombs for them not to. When Android came out it was the same thing. Now there are a gazillion Android apps. A bunch of them suck, nonetheless, quantity isn't an issue any more. Seems like MS is keeping an eye on quality so I hope they don't run into the Android situation.
 

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Lol @ The Verge. If it's not an iPad, iMac or iPhone it doesn't matter to them.

Nor does it matter to quite a number of people for the very same reasons.
 

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They say that the biggest weakness of Surface is the lack of applications. At the same time MS seems to pay large sums to application developers to come up with new apps. So over time they may be OK.

I was just thinking about this last night and I believe you are correct.
 

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They'll be more than ok. If Windows Phone with it's small following can get over 100,000 Apps, which by the way could NOT be ported over from iOS or Android, then there will be plenty of Apps on the way. The easy portability of iPad and Android apps from their extensive library is going to propel Windows 8 Apps rather quickly I believe.
 

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I doubt it's that bad. But can Surface or any of the windows 8 tablets use legacy software? (Not that I could use any of the software with touch) If not then it's not that great considering the desktop is mostly useless. It's definitely not hard to use touch but it's exactly easy. I haven't used one so I cannot give an opinion. It's definitely going to be easier to use this than a desktop without a touch screen that's for sure. Also visually it's better too (as the scroll bar isn't hideous looking as the mouse and keyboard version of it. Overall I'd say it's probably just like any tablet it's not good or bad but mostly for leisure use.

Some sites are definitely bias towards a company but Microsoft mostly has been and still is mostly releasing software. They don't even have the zune anymore (which is one of their best products) it's not like microsoft could sponsor a show or a website with products since they don't really even make much products. Also Macs seem to be the computer to use in all things that are in media and such. Creative working people usually don't use pcs. There are exceptions but most people use a mac professionally. PCs are more for finance and other types of work that usually isn't in the creative field. Maybe windows at some point can change this.
 

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Dumb question - is it possible to attach a mouse to Surface and operate with it.
 

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