Low Prices are Driving Rapid Tablet Adoption...

...Where Does That Leave Surface?

"There is no question that Microsoft is in this tablet race to compete for the long haul. However, devices based upon its new Windows 8 and Windows RT operating systems failed to gain much ground during their launch quarter, and reaction to the company's Surface with Windows RT tablet was muted at best," said Ryan Reith, program manager, Mobile Device Trackers at IDC. "We believe that Microsoft and its partners need to quickly adjust to the market realities of smaller screens and lower prices. In the long run, consumers may grow to believe that high-end computing tablets with desktop operating systems are worth a higher premium than other tablets, but until then ASPs on Windows 8 and Windows RT devices need to come down to drive higher volumes."

Low Prices are Driving Rapid Tablet Adoption, Where Does That Leave Surface? | Maximum PC
 
When did the Surface tablets become the ONLY Windows based tablet PC?
 

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Why does Microsoft have to drop its prices, we don't see Apple dropping prices, as a matter of fact they've just gone up to $1000 for their new iPad.

I think there has to be a distinction between tools and toys, I mean the latest iPod is over $400 and we're complaining that a computer costs $500 and $800.

Just to get the facts right the new iPod is $439.
 

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When did the Surface tablets become the ONLY Windows based tablet PC?

'We believe that Microsoft and its partners'

True, but the huge majority of articles and coverage in the media are on the Surface tablets and mention OEMs like HP, Lenovo, and Dell as, "its partners" when "its partners" like Lenovo are basking in Windows 8 glory.
 

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Why does Microsoft have to drop its prices, we don't see Apple dropping prices, as a matter of fact they've just gone up to $1000 for their new iPad.

I think there has to be a distinction between tools and toys, I mean the latest iPod is over $400 and we're complaining that a computer costs $500 and $800.
This is SO freaking true!

The ipad is in essences a 1,000 dollar ipod.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Whilst I don't like Apple, what I've seen of the iPad, it has some pretty good apps available which clearly make it a compelling purchase for a lot of people, even professionals. Windows 8 provides nothing like that. Is there a GPS app, an automotive diagnostics app, and bucket loads of other functional apps? Other than games (?), there is nothing really in the Windows apps store that can't be done on the desktop.

There are many professionals using the iPad as a tool, not as a toy. And if it is a toy, then that's exactly what Microsoft has produced with its apps/start menu interface and especially Surface RT. Little wonder so few aftermarket manufacturers have produced RT tablets; why try and compete with Apple and Android? Every time someone starts to defend Windows 8, they just dig themselves deeper.
 

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    Windows Phone 6, Windows CE 5, Windows Vista x32, Windows 7 x32/x64, Windows 8 x64
Whilst I don't like Apple, what I've seen of the iPad, it has some pretty good apps available which clearly make it a compelling purchase for a lot of people, even professionals. Windows 8 provides nothing like that. Is there a GPS app, an automotive diagnostics app, and bucket loads of other functional apps? Other than games (?), there is nothing really in the Windows apps store that can't be done on the desktop.

There are many professionals using the iPad as a tool, not as a toy. And if it is a toy, then that's exactly what Microsoft has produced with its apps/start menu interface and especially Surface RT. Little wonder so few aftermarket manufacturers have produced RT tablets; why try and compete with Apple and Android? Every time someone starts to defend Windows 8, they just dig themselves deeper.
No, you're not getting the point very well. The ipad is literally a giant ipod touch and has been considered a PC or a PC replacement. Would you call an ipod touch a PC or a PC replacement? I'd doubt it. That's why it's a toy and very little else. Most things that functional and useful are generally like a Swiss Army knife: it's there and you use it often as it's on you, but it pales in compare to a full tool box of that being Windows and the Desktop. That's partly why there is an allure for the Surface Pro over RT, you have that Swiss Army knife like capability while having your tool box right there with you, something ios and android have failed to offer. I'm not going to renovate a bathroom with a Swiss Army knife anytime soon.

No, there aren't many apps, but then again humanity has a tendency to not remember history. apple's app store opened to a mere handful of apps and it took a while to grow. android was pretty much the same. Windows Phone as well, but compared to android and ios, it has outpaced android's initial growth.

The most I've seen the ipad being used in a professional sense is as a POS terminal in some small businesses.

Which reminds me, there was once this Samsung commercial showing off the wireless display connectivity of one of their Galaxy phones and mocking a group of people in a board room asking if someone had a dongle. Now, dongle is used by apple instead of adapter. And I think something that looked like an ipad was used too.... Point being, having to need a small handbag full of third party accessories to make the ipad be something more than a giant ipod touch for old people is both not cost effective and takes too much time to work around simple hardware and software faults of the product. You don't see people using an ipad as a PC with a keyboard in the learning environment. You might, but that person doing so probably failed their economics class.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Whilst I don't like Apple, what I've seen of the iPad, it has some pretty good apps available which clearly make it a compelling purchase for a lot of people, even professionals. Windows 8 provides nothing like that. Is there a GPS app, an automotive diagnostics app, and bucket loads of other functional apps? Other than games (?), there is nothing really in the Windows apps store that can't be done on the desktop.

There are many professionals using the iPad as a tool, not as a toy. And if it is a toy, then that's exactly what Microsoft has produced with its apps/start menu interface and especially Surface RT. Little wonder so few aftermarket manufacturers have produced RT tablets; why try and compete with Apple and Android? Every time someone starts to defend Windows 8, they just dig themselves deeper.

Listen Ray, you know nothing about the iPad, even iPad owners rubbish it for its closed ecosystem. Most people don't buy it for its GPS or automotive diagnostic app, they buy it for Angry Birds and other stupid little games for their kids.

Admittedly it has some very nice Apps, but I'd say they make up about 5% or less of all the Apps. Even Apples own apps haven't got a very good reputation, but you'd have to own an iPad to know that.

Most people use the iPad for consumption.
 

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    Windows 8 Pro/Windows 8 Pro/Windows 7 64 Bit64Bit/Windows XP
Whilst I don't like Apple, what I've seen of the iPad, it has some pretty good apps available which clearly make it a compelling purchase for a lot of people, even professionals. Windows 8 provides nothing like that. Is there a GPS app, an automotive diagnostics app, and bucket loads of other functional apps? Other than games (?), there is nothing really in the Windows apps store that can't be done on the desktop.

There are many professionals using the iPad as a tool, not as a toy. And if it is a toy, then that's exactly what Microsoft has produced with its apps/start menu interface and especially Surface RT. Little wonder so few aftermarket manufacturers have produced RT tablets; why try and compete with Apple and Android? Every time someone starts to defend Windows 8, they just dig themselves deeper.

Listen Ray, you know nothing about the iPad, even iPad owners rubbish it for its closed ecosystem. Most people don't buy it for its GPS or automotive diagnostic app, they buy it for Angry Birds and other stupid little games for their kids.

Admittedly it has some very nice Apps, but I'd say they make up about 5% or less of all the Apps. Even Apples own apps haven't got a very good reputation, but you'd have to own an iPad to know that.

Most people use the iPad for consumption.

Or apps for cats. An ipad does pretty well there.
 

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    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
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    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
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    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
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    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
I know a number of people who use an iPad for far more than games. While the majority may use it for very basic tasks, many use it for doing a lot more. Putting the iPad down as a means of defending Windows 8 is stupid and narrow minded.
 

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I know a number of people who use an iPad for far more than games. While the majority may use it for very basic tasks, many use it for doing a lot more. Putting the iPad down as a means of defending Windows 8 is stupid and narrow minded.

The ipad IS stupid and narrow minded. I'm not using true put downs such as limited hardware support and limiting software as a means to defend Windows 8. I'm saying that because IT IS A FACT.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
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    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
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    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
The words pot, kettle and black spring to mind.
 

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    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
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    PC/Desktop
I know a number of people who use an iPad for far more than games. While the majority may use it for very basic tasks, many use it for doing a lot more. Putting the iPad down as a means of defending Windows 8 is stupid and narrow minded.

Look Ray I've got a few iPads so I think I know what I'm talking about, it's a handy little machine no doubt, that's the iPad 3 and 4, the Mini is a piece of junk.
if I could put Windows 8 on my iPads, IOS would be gone in about two seconds with no looking back. If there are a couple of apps I need I would fire up my HTC One X.
 

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I think there has to be a distinction between tools and toys.

This distinction exists in much of the corporate world and certainly with power users, but it doesn't generally exist with the general retail consumer. They don't see iPad's or Nexus 7's as toys -- they are computer that can and do everything they did on their laptops. My wife for example just reads and answers email, read books, spends time on Facebook, and dabbles around in Pinterest. An iPad does this very well and is a, to her, cool easy device to do it on.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro w/Media Center, Windows RT
I think there has to be a distinction between tools and toys.

This distinction exists in much of the corporate world and certainly with power users, but it doesn't generally exist with the general retail consumer. They don't see iPad's or Nexus 7's as toys -- they are computer that can and do everything they did on their laptops. My wife for example just reads and answers email, read books, spends time on Facebook, and dabbles around in Pinterest. An iPad does this very well and is a, to her, cool easy device to do it on.
One could do that on an ipod touch, yet it's considered a high tech toy than tool.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
You can do pretty much everything on a mobile phone nowadays as well, it's just that the screen size isn't ideal for everyone. My smartphone is significantly more powerful and capable than some of my older PCs (harking back to the 80s).
 

My Computer

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You can do pretty much everything on a mobile phone nowadays as well, it's just that the screen size isn't ideal for everyone. My smartphone is significantly more powerful and capable than some of my older PCs (harking back to the 80s).

You must have a terribly old smartphone, since when did they have a quad core 1.5GHZ CPU back then. My smartphone is quicker than the latest iPads.
 

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System One

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You can do pretty much everything on a mobile phone nowadays as well, it's just that the screen size isn't ideal for everyone. My smartphone is significantly more powerful and capable than some of my older PCs (harking back to the 80s).

You must have a terribly old smartphone, since when did they have a quad core 1.5GHZ CPU back then. My smartphone is quicker than the latest iPads.
I'm going to take this onto tangent.

WHY in the blue hell do smartphones have quad core processors and two gigs or more of RAM?! What are you people doing? Running android or something?!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
    Motherboard
    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS R9 270
    Screen Resolution
    1440x900
    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
    Windows 8.1 is installed on a SanDisk Ultra Plus 256 GB
    PSU
    OCZ 500 watt
    Case
    A current work in progres as I'll be building the physical case myself. It shall be fantastic.
    Cooling
    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
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