Microsoft's Surface with Windows 8 Pro go on sale Feb 9th

No need to worry about been trampled in the stampede to be the first in the queue :) I'm sure the demand will be in the tens.
 

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No need to worry about been trampled in the stampede to be the first in the queue :) I'm sure the demand will be in the tens.

. . .as one of your countryman said, "Another one bits the dust. '
 

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Hi there
Can I get one of these for THIS price

screen shot enc.

Cheers
jimbo
 

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Hi there
Can I get one of these for THIS price

screen shot enc.

Cheers

jimbo
Hi Jimbo,

I am with you, however, I will take two. . .:roflmao:
 

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    Foxconn - 2ADA Ivy Brige
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in·flu·ence

1. the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others.
2. the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others.
3. a person or thing that exerts influence.

And don't you forget it!
 

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Holy balls! There seems to be an advert video for the Surface Pro that looks like it will make it on the telly in a cut down form. Either I should serious consider a career in marketing or I REALLY know Microsoft's intentions, because this third latest video shows, WHAT the Surface Pro is capable of doing! How I would had marketed the Surface is LITERALLY EXACTLY how I would had done it: something of an over the top introduction (dancing the Surface stomp), something psychedelic (the advert with the digital music), and then the third would be what the Surface is capable of doing (this latest one that looks like it's running Photoshop CS6 and shows off the I/O connectivity). Microsoft seems to have executed that perfectly. Or maybe I know how to advert correctly!! :eek: This is what I wish they had done with Windows Phone 7!

Surface Pro struts its stuff on video. Looks hot. | Windows Phone Central
 

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I gather that you're excited watching someone using a computer?
 

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No, I'm excited because Microsoft advertised the Surface tablets in a fashion that I would had done, and also, the Surface Pro looks pretty juicy.
 

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That style of ad is pretty old in concept, I'm fairly certain Microsoft (or is it Apple?) has used much the same in the past. Microsoft has always made very good hardware, design and performance wise, but I'm surprised that the specifications are so conservative.

Memory should have been larger (at least up to 8GB user selectable), the SSD most certainly should have provided a choice of larger capacities. It doesn't look like you can install your own SSD and to offer a low end 64GB with a warning that ',*System software uses significant storage space.' is kind of lame. It also should have had GPS and a SIM card slot.

It's really missing features that have been available for years and specifications that also, in some respects, date back years. The price of stuff like RAM and SSDs have dropped so low nowadays that keeping to such low specs is weird.
 

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The ad style is old, the build up to it isn't.

I find the Pro's specs are top notch, they're comparable to most ultrabooks. The RAM I wonder if it's upgradable though, not soldered on the mainboard. The SSD drive storage seems fine, if you need more, you have a USB 3 port to take advantage, and a microSD card slot to use, so theoretically you add hundreds of gigs when you need them. I wonder if you can use Storage Spaces on it with an external USB 3 hard drive....

Microsoft decided against a SIM model as they found that the ipad with the base wifi is primarily what sells. So it doesn't make sense to offer a SIM version when most people don't buy a tablet with a SIM card. If you need 3G/4G service, you can buy a USB modem. Not a big deal. The GPS, I don't think they designed the Surface for that purpose. Most people don't take a PC and use it for a GPS, they already have a smartphone with a GPS navigation app or an actual GPS device. Considering they're more for a two device scenario, a smartphone and a tablet PC (or just a PC in general), they'd rather take advantage of the smartphone for the GPS.

In many ways, the Surface Pro offers a good standard with the specs. Storage could be higher, but SSD prices are kind of still high to do that. In many ways, the specs are like many ultrabooks out there. And in other ways, it offers things ultrabooks don't.

Although, there is a rumor that the next Surface Pro tablet will have an AMD quad core APU, THAT is what peaks my interest. Stellar graphical performance? YES!!
 

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    16 gig DDR3
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    ASUS R9 270
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    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.
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    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
I find the Pro's specs are top notch, they're comparable to most ultrabooks.

The issue is that it doesn't appear to provide any enhancement options, if someone wants more RAM or a larger hard drive, then they have to look elsewhere. Once you start using USB/SD ports as data storage options, you lose the speed advantages of the SSD and it's more stuff to lug around/lose. I can already put any sized SSD/HDD in my tablet, which is technology wise a relic.

While many can tether their phone to their device (though that doesn't always work), sometimes having the ability of a dedicated data SIM may be a good option. I didn't realise that Microsoft was following Apple when it came to Windows 8, only with RT. A USB/wireless modem is just another thing to carry around, when it's relatively easy to provide an integrated solution.

GPS can often be an important component, especially for tablets, as it provides a lot of additional location based services, not just navigation. That said, having navigation on a 10" screen beats the daylights out of one on a comparatively small 4" screen. Though once again, you can use a USB/Bluetooth GPS, but that's another thing to carry around.

Specification wise, the Surface is quite average when you consider what has been available for years from other suppliers. And it's not that the Surface couldn't have integrated such features, as they are all in my existing tablet, which is the same size and weight as the Surface.
 

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Do a lot of people use the tablet PC that you use?
 

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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.
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    Arctic Cooler with 3 heatpipes
    Keyboard
    Logitech K750 wireless solar powered keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Touch Mouse
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    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, but I might go back on KIS 2014
Do a lot of people use the tablet PC that you use?

I have no idea. I know of one other who bought one after I showed them mine, as it was exactly what he wanted; everyone else I know uses Android or Apple tablets. That said, there are many other brands about that provide similar or better specs, even at the time I bought mine, so I really don't think that Microsoft did themselves a service by not at least offering greater RAM and SSD capacity.
 

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Remember Microsoft isn't really out to be the best available option (mind you I feel personally that this would be fantastic), and they need to leave room for OEMs to improve upon what (other than not having 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD option in rev1 of the hardware) they've got on offer.

However, my usage patterns over the years has changed (16GB laptops, then 8GB was enough, now a 2GB tablet has been enough for awhile that a 4GB ultrabook/tablet should be enough) and the Surface (and similar hardware) should be more than enough for my needs. I still have a 32GB VM server and an 8GB dev machine to RDP into when I need those, but I just don't need those features on my primary device anymore. I know I'm not speaking for everyone, but I'd wager there are enough people for whom Surface's specs would be a sufficient daily laptop and nightly (or for travel) tablet as well.
 

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This is true, there are OTHER tablet PCs out there.... It seems that when the Surface came out, it's become the representation of Windows 8 and tablet PCs...
 

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  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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    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
Hi Ray,

Simple question: can you please give us the name along with the brand of tablets you are talking about? It just seems that if these are out there then why haven't some of us heard of them, or for that matter seen them in an ad on TV. I know of the "Safari" but no ever.
 

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    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion p1423w
    CPU
    Intel Core i5 3330 Ivy Bridge
    Motherboard
    Foxconn - 2ADA Ivy Brige
    Memory
    16 GB 1066MHz DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 5450
    Sound Card
    HD Realteck (Onboard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Mitsubishi LED TV/Montior HD, Dell 23 HD, Hanspree 25" HD
    Screen Resolution
    Mit. 1980-1080, Dell 2048-115, Hanspree 1920-10802
    Hard Drives
    1 SanDisk 240Gig SSD, 2 Samsung 512Gig SSDs
    Case
    Tower
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    Microsoft Keyboard 2000
    Mouse
    Microsoft Optical Mouse 5000
    Internet Speed
    1.3 (350 to 1024 if lucky)
    Browser
    Firefox 19.1
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    MSE-Defender
This is true, there are OTHER tablet PCs out there.... It seems that when the Surface came out, it's become the representation of Windows 8 and tablet PCs...

And therein lies the rub. Microsoft has built up an expectation of something game changing, in many respects, but expectation and reality have been two completely different things. It's a $1000 tablet, but has 4GB RAM ($10) and max 128GB SSD (<$90). Where did the dollars go?
 

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