Scratching the Surface
Monday, October 29, 2012 at 3:55AM A lot has been written about the Surface and Windows 8 in recent days and there seems to be divided opinions between hating it, and comparing it to everything Apple does, and expecting it to succeed anyway. Here are some notable examples-
From ZDNet- "I predict that the scenario I'm about to present here will happen over and over and over again. This is not going to be pretty.
Let's follow a typical consumer, Kevin, as he goes to buy a Microsoft Surface RT.
Last week, Sean Hollister of The Verge called a bunch of Microsoft Stores and spoke to representatives. The dialog I'm going to use for the store reps comes from real representatives who gave Sean these (very wrong) answers. Special kudos go out to Sean for doing this research."From Brent Ozar- "Every time Apple unveils a new gadget or laptop, my jaw drops and I wonder how they pulled off executing their industrial designs. Their v1 designs look so beautifully put together, not a mishmash of plastic parts and lids like the PC counterparts. Every now and then, a PC maker will bring out something similar, but it’s the very rare exception rather than the rule.
The Surface RT is Microsoft shoving their hardware partners aside and saying, “Lemme show you how this should be done. Pay attention, kids.”
This tablet hardware doesn’t just compete with the iPad – it bypasses the iPad in many ways that are significant and valuable for me..."From Marco.org- "They had set up a table and an Xbox demo in the hallway and were giving away “Microsoft Surface”-branded disposable rain ponchos (this entire mall is indoors, including the parking, and it didn’t rain today) and muffin fragments (much like when you order a soda on a plane, they pour a third of it into a little plastic cup full of hollow ice cylinders, and they don’t let you keep the rest of the can). An employee with a microphone in front of the Xbox kiosk was talking to the audience of nobody as if it were a dance party."
From PC Mag- "Unlike your typical Apple event, there are very rarely surprises at a Microsoft product launch. Everyone suspected Apple would release a new iPad mini on Tuesday, but the new MacBook, iMac, and Mac mini were surprises.
Compare that to Microsoft's Windows 8 announcement yesterday: the OS had been available for free download for almost a year and reviews of the systems had been online for weeks. This was the first time most of the world got to see a working Surface tablet, but the rest of the Windows 8 launch seemed predictable. My only surprise was that I came away from the event predicting Windows 8's inevitable success..."
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Reader Comments (7)
First gen seems fraught with bugs and confusion.
I hope this takes off. I would love to see if lots of old PC titles can be ported to Surface RT. Without a diverse software portfolio, I wouldn't get it. It's all about the apps, for me.
The beginning is a very delicate time.
It's all Marketing's fault; they won't allow any negative messages to get out there. You don't tell consumers what your device can't do.
Blame Marketing; it's the smart choice!
I'm sure similar confusion has been encountered in the past by people buying Windows Mobile and Windows Phone devices.
I think the first Surface tablet is under-powered which is why I probably won't buy one. Also Microsoft should have hundreds if not thousands of RT apps by now. Being an early-adopter is going to be frustrating.
The Surface Pro might be a better fit for me; I'll have to wait and see.
@Bug, Nice quote! Of course computers were eliminated after the machine wars, so this device might have difficulty getting market traction in that setting...
It may have a hard enough time in this setting.
Kudos for getting it :o)
Although after the very last book (by Kevin J Anderson and Brian Herbert) I reckon Microsoft might just get away with it.
@Bug, Despite the considerable negative press, I enjoyed Lynch's interpretation, and Virginia's opening with that quote was a striking way to start. I haven't read the entire epic yet, so I never encountered your reference, although I am not surprised by the cyclic manor, (Mentat demarcation issues?). I should get back to the series.
The Frank Herbert books are the best books I've ever read. Enormous depth and scope and they expect the reader to be intelligent, which is refreshing.
The prequels and sequels by the other two guys aren't in the same league but they're still great reads. I wasn't so keen on the first set of prequels, set just before the time of Dune, but I think they found their stride with the subsequent books.
It's an enormous investment of time to read them all though; I've read Frank's books maybe three or four times over the years but I've only read the other guys' books once.