Why Surface could harm Microsoft’s tablet success

Hardware manufacturers angry at Microsoft’s decision to launch its own tablet could scupper the software giant’s aspirations to break into the consumer tablet OS market.

Acer CEO and chairman JT Wang yesterday criticised Microsoft for producing Microsoft Surface, a Microsoft-branded Windows 8 tablet that will launch in October and compete against slates produced by Acer and other OEMs.

Source

A Guy
 
They are both right.

Oem's would love to dump MS , but they can't do it just yet.

However, that kind of comment from JT indicates thay are thinking along those lines.

Newer versions of Android are looking good.

Oem's will be selling that kind of thing - more and more if they can.

MS are taking a huge risk here.

If Win8 were to do very well - that would get them a foothold for the future , and the brisk sales would keep the oem's happy ( for a while at least).

If iit doesn't do too well - oem's will make big steps away from MS , and so will the public.

Strange that MS have gone about this in a way that makes them seem completeley indifferent to their users needs.

This is the time they desperately need to get their existing user base fully behind them.
 

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Acer sounds like a little cry baby considering that THEY are the bigger OEM than Microsoft is and the Surface isn't even going to be mass-marketed in retail. It will only be in the very few Microsoft Stores and online. On the other hand, Acer's tablets and PCs will be displayed in a plethora of best buys nation wide and abroad.

What's the fuss? What do they really have to lose? From how I see it, nothing. It's just another menial bit of competition to them. If they don't like it, tough titties. They've been competing with other OEMs for years that are also MUCH larger than Microsoft.

As for the other OEMs, really now? No one is leaving Microsoft or Windows over it. If anything, many are more excited than anything because Windows 8 for some OEMs like HP, it will be breathing new life into their companies.
 

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    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS
    CPU
    AMD FX 8320
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    Crosshair V Formula-Z
    Memory
    16 gig DDR3
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    ASUS R9 270
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    Hard Drives
    1 TB Seagate Barracuda (starting to hate Seagate)
    x2 3 TB Toshibas
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Perhaps this type of comment from Acer comes because of the fact that the mentality of the consumers may be "Microsoft builds its own tablet, they must know better than any other manufacturer how to make a Windows 8 tablet"?

While this may not really be true, I kind of agree with these thoughts. If I were to get a tablet with Windows 8 (Pro), Surface would surely be my first and, probably, my only option.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V3-531G
    CPU
    Intel B960 Sandy Bridge (2.2GHz, 2MB L3 cache)
    Motherboard
    Intel® HM77 Express
    Memory
    6GB (4+2) DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GeForce GT630M with 1GB dedicated VRAM + Intel HD
    Sound Card
    Integrated audio with 2xHigh Definition Dolby® v4 speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" HD LED Acer CineCrystal™ (high-brightness 200-nit)
    Screen Resolution
    1.366 x 768 (WXGA)
    Hard Drives
    500GB SATA
    Keyboard
    Acer FineTip & MultiTouch Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    ADSL 5M
I'm quite sure M$ thought of all this. Who's winning the game of the up and coming -> gonna-be-the-most-common-device-on-the-planet-pad?? iMe & Company! That's the target to beat here. Not Acer or others. Agree with you Coke -> Cry babies!

Let's see......I'm between the ages of 12 and 30....I've been taught at school (in the U.S. anyway) and brain-burned with M$ products....I'm standing at a store deciding on what pad I should buy? Waddaya think they'll buy?
 

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System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
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    Wireless Microsoft Arc
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    54mbp/s
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    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
I think the whining by other OEMs is pathetic. I keep going back to this article and agreeing fully with it: Microsoft and OEMs: New game, new rules | ZDNet

... But loyalty is a two-way street. And just how loyal to Microsoft have those OEMs been in the last few years? The number-one PC maker in 2010 was HP. So what did they do in 2011? Well, first they bought WebOS, which could have been a serious competitor to Windows, and announced that it would be a key component of their PC strategy. And then, in August 2011, they announced they were planning to exit the PC business completely.
I remind you: this is Microsoft’s number-one PC partner.


That didn’t work out so well, of course, and two CEOs later HP has dumped WebOS and reaffirmed its commitment to the PC business. But still, when your longtime partner tells you “I’m just not that into you anymore,” how should you react?

And we can run down the list of other hardware companies and find equally fragile, strained relationships:
Dell and Lenovo are building Android tablets. The CEO of Asus just stood on stage at Google I/O to show off its new Google-branded tablet. Samsung makes the Chromebook and an Android-powered tablet that is so close to the iPad that it’s been banned for import into the United States by a Federal judge. In short: The days of the exclusive OEM-Microsoft partnership are over.


Frankly, I see Microsoft’s hardware moves as defensive, not aggressive. It has opened a dozen or so retail outlets (with plans for 75 more) and an online store, where it sells products made by its OEM partners. The key differentiator is that a PC you buy at the Microsoft Store isn’t loaded with crapware.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Is this artical just a repeat of Acer's complaining back when Surface was announced or are they actually complaining again? I don't see other OEMs complaining, in fact many have announced that they will be releasing Windows 8 tablets come October and Intel states that over 20 tablet designs have come through them. As far as I'm concerned OEMs seem to be embracing Windows 8 tablets more than Android tablets when they first came out. I was looking at Android tablets back in January and there were maybe 5 to choose from and only 2 were worthwhile to look at.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7, Windows 8 RP
Besides, having competition from Microsoft itself is a sure way to make OEMs work harder and offer better products that can match, or even outpace the Surface. I see it as the same thing that Samsung does with its own tablets crashing against the iPad in an effort to win people over, despite the fact that the two are completely different worlds (platofrms). If Samsung can have at least some success against the iPad, why can't other OEMs' tablets match against the Surface?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V3-531G
    CPU
    Intel B960 Sandy Bridge (2.2GHz, 2MB L3 cache)
    Motherboard
    Intel® HM77 Express
    Memory
    6GB (4+2) DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GeForce GT630M with 1GB dedicated VRAM + Intel HD
    Sound Card
    Integrated audio with 2xHigh Definition Dolby® v4 speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" HD LED Acer CineCrystal™ (high-brightness 200-nit)
    Screen Resolution
    1.366 x 768 (WXGA)
    Hard Drives
    500GB SATA
    Keyboard
    Acer FineTip & MultiTouch Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    ADSL 5M
Well stated, RobR and Gornot! Competition is a great market motivator. Just as in sports.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
If the surface tablet comes in pink, I am getting one :dinesh:
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro ($39.99 upgrade)
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel I5 3570K overclocked to 4.2ghz
    Motherboard
    Asus P8Z77-V LX
    Memory
    Cosrair DDR3-1600 (4 x 4gb)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GeForce GT 610 2GB
    Sound Card
    None
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC 27" LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1920x0180
    Hard Drives
    Seagate HDD 500gb (windows)
    Seagate HDD 1.5tb (media)
    Seagate HDD 1tb (media)
    Seagate HDD 1tb (media)
    PSU
    CoolMax 700watt
    Case
    Cosiar R400 Carbide series
    Cooling
    Cool Master H212
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    Dell
    Mouse
    PowerUp 3 button mouse
    Internet Speed
    12mb down, 1mb up
    Other Info
    qty. (5) 120mm fans, four are monitored by motherboard.
    Logitech T650 Touchpad for touch screen gestures
I think OEMs are in a spot of bother here. They should.

I have a gut feeling that Windows 8 was designed keeping Surface in mind. They adjusted the OS to make it best suited for Surface. But for the OEMs, they have to adjust their devices to make them best suited for the OS. Makes a bit of difference. Public will most likely prefer M$ over OEMs in the tablet territory. OEMs find themselves helpless and I have mixed feelings for them.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Linux Mint 14
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion g4
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2330M CPU @ 2.20GHz
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    1 GB Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500 GB HDD
If the surface tablet comes in pink, I am getting one :dinesh:

LOL and a half! Right on, Bro! The ladies will love it! It'll be like carrying a small dog around. :p Although, they pay more attention to the dog. :shock:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
BTW it does come in pink ;)
At least the keyboard, I think :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V3-531G
    CPU
    Intel B960 Sandy Bridge (2.2GHz, 2MB L3 cache)
    Motherboard
    Intel® HM77 Express
    Memory
    6GB (4+2) DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GeForce GT630M with 1GB dedicated VRAM + Intel HD
    Sound Card
    Integrated audio with 2xHigh Definition Dolby® v4 speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" HD LED Acer CineCrystal™ (high-brightness 200-nit)
    Screen Resolution
    1.366 x 768 (WXGA)
    Hard Drives
    500GB SATA
    Keyboard
    Acer FineTip & MultiTouch Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    ADSL 5M
Pink would be nice. Shame about the o/s on it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
A red touch keyboard cover and the Surface.....

I want that!
 

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
Yup, yup :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire V3-531G
    CPU
    Intel B960 Sandy Bridge (2.2GHz, 2MB L3 cache)
    Motherboard
    Intel® HM77 Express
    Memory
    6GB (4+2) DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GeForce GT630M with 1GB dedicated VRAM + Intel HD
    Sound Card
    Integrated audio with 2xHigh Definition Dolby® v4 speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15.6" HD LED Acer CineCrystal™ (high-brightness 200-nit)
    Screen Resolution
    1.366 x 768 (WXGA)
    Hard Drives
    500GB SATA
    Keyboard
    Acer FineTip & MultiTouch Touchpad
    Internet Speed
    ADSL 5M
Pink would be nice. Shame about the o/s on it.
Though Windows 8's functionality on the traditional PCs is debatable, but Windows 8 on tablets is absolutely fine. It will probably be the best OS that was ever made for touch devices.
 

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    Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Linux Mint 14
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavillion g4
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2330M CPU @ 2.20GHz
    Memory
    4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    1 GB Radeon Graphics
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor
    Screen Resolution
    1366x768
    Hard Drives
    500 GB HDD
The key differentiator is that a PC you buy at the Microsoft Store isn’t loaded with crapware.

This fact alone makes the surface the better choice over just about anything else. Although it's not about to replace a "real" desktop PC anytime soon.

Still I wouldn't mind having a surface for when I'm out on the patio or traveling around where a PC just won't work.
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro WMC
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home built
    CPU
    Q9650 @ 4.05 GHz
    Motherboard
    Gforce 780i SLI FTW
    Memory
    8GB Gskill DDR2 1200Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    GTX-480
    Sound Card
    Asus D2 Xonar
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HannsG
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Gskill 120GB SSD
    PSU
    Thermal Take 1000watts
    Case
    Thermal Take Xtreme
    Cooling
    9 fans air cooled
    Keyboard
    G15 logitech
    Mouse
    G9 logitech
    Internet Speed
    50mbps
First off, to the original article ,, I say BS, whinny waaaa.

A. Apple's iPad is so over priced it is not even funny.
B. SurfaceRT, $199 with [DEL]microSDXC, USB 3.0[/DEL] microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae, Want external storage on an iPad? (Micro-SIM card tray only) Try $629 16GB storage to start with.

As for Android, if they were any kind of contender for Acer to use to compete with they wouldn't be complaining.
Sounds like Scarredy talk to me.


FYI, Windows 8, while the Start Menu does leave a lot to be desired on a desktop, it is not horrible.
Windows 8 underlying speed and other changes are way better than 7, yes, there are some peeves, but which OS doesn't have those?

EDIT: Correction Made, trying to find the site I got that info from, but found may others with same as below. Sorry about that.
Here it is, I copied the wrong side, again, sorry about that,,,, http://www.microsoft.com/global/surface/en/us/renderingassets/surfacespecsheet.pdf
But, you at least get USB.
 
Last edited:

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  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro
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    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    I7-3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS SABERTOOTH Z77
    Memory
    CORSAIR 8GB 2X4 D3 1866
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX680 4GB
    Monitor(s) Displays
    ASUS 24" LED VG248QE
    Hard Drives
    SAMSUNG E 256GB SSD 840 PRO -
    SAMSUNG E 120GB SSD840 -
    SEAGATE 1TB PIPELINE
    PSU
    CORSAIR GS800
    Case
    CORSAIR 600T
    Cooling
    CORSAIR HYDRO H100I LIQUID COOLER
    Keyboard
    THERMALTA CHALLENGER ULT GAME-KYBRD
    Mouse
    RAZER DEATHADDER GAME MS BLK-ED
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
    Other Info
    APC 1000VA -
    LGELECOEM LG 14X SATA BD BURNER -
    CORSAIR SP120 Fans x 3 -
    NZXT 5.25 USB3 BAY CARD READER -
    HAUPPAUGE COLOSSUS
B. SurfaceRT, $199 with microSDXC, USB 3.0, Want external storage on an iPad? (Micro-SIM card tray only) Try $629 16GB storage to start with.

Surface RT will have USB 2.0 not 3.0, USB 3.0 will be on the Surface Pro.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 7, Windows 8 RP
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