I look at this a little differently -- a tablet that can sometimes function as laptop, as opposed to a laptop that is also a tablet. I have a Bluetooth keyboard for my tablet -- I don't use it very often, but when I need it, it's a life-saver. I've also got a docking station for my phone that turns it into a laptop. Again, not something I'd ever want to use as a primary computer, but handy as hell when I need it.

For those who say, get an ultrabook, it's not the same. My most common use of my tablet? Reading books. Ever try to read a book on a laptop? eBooks have been around for some time, but it's only since the proliferation of tablets and readers that they've really taken off. My second most common use? Watching television (Slingbox) or movies. Sure, you can do that on a laptop, but I find it's easier to use a tablet for this when I'm on the go. A laptop offers no advantage over a tablet with a keyboard for checking email and knocking out a quick response. And, as I said earlier, being able to run Win programs on this thing is a plus. For example, there is no play-against-the-computer Scrabble app for Android tablets. I found a way to use an old phone-based one, but it's a pain. However, I have a nifty Scrabble game on my desktop. :)

We don't usually see the Microsoft people drinking the Kool-Aid, that's usually the Apple folks.

In the past few days Microsoft has proven that they too can serve Kool-Aid.

With no real details out on the product I'm baffled how anybody can even begin to think it will or won't be useful for them.

And with just under 50% of the people out in computer land still running XP, the move to 8 will be as successful as the move from XP to everything that has come since will be.

The video for it on their website is a better advertisement for Bucky Balls than it is for a tablet. Their spec sheet says Actual size and weight of the device may vary due to configuration and manufacturing process so that's not apparently set yet either.

There are 25 stores listed, of which four are coming soon.

I can't picture them really believing they can sell this thing without stores in seven of the ten largest cities in the country.

Drink the Kool-Aid, buy it without ever having the chance to touch it since apparently they don't want you to handle it first.

I'm surprised about the demand for more details - when was the last time Apple actually released memory, clock speed or other detailed specs for the iPad? And no - "a magical CPU" is not a detail.

Guess I'm going with the new Google Tab and bluetooth keyboard solution.
 

Microsoft outsource Surface tablets to Pegatron; expected prices above US$599
Monica Chen, Taipei; Joseph Tsai, DIGITIMES [Wednesday 20 June 2012]
Sources from notebook players have revealed that Microsoft's 10.6-inch Surface tablet PCs will be outsourced to Pegatron Technology for assembly; however, there is still not a firm estimate for order volumes.

The sources also estimated the end-market price of the Windows 8 Pro-based Surface tablet PC with Ivy Bridge processor to be at least above US$799, while the Windows RT-based model, featuring Nvidia's Tegra 3, will be priced above US$599.

The sources pointed out that the industrial design of Microsoft's Surface tablet PCs should attract consumers in the enterprise market, but their high prices are expected to become the biggest obstacle in the market.

The sources also pointed out that the Surface tablet PCs have successfully attracted the attention of consumers, but the strategy also means that Microsoft will directly compete against its downstream partners in the Windows-based tablet PC market. Since Microsoft is only expected to receive limited profits from its own-brand tablet PC products, while greatly offending its clients, the strategy that Microsoft has taken is rather risky.

A tablet that runs Windows programs would be useful for me. No koolaid involved. As to whether this particular tablet will be useful remains to be seen.

Is that figure accurate? Regardless, Win7 has proven itself to be a stable and reliable OS. As long as Win8 can run my Win7 programs, though I have no intention of upgrading my desktops, I would consider it a fine option for a tablet.

People will line up outside stores to buy Apple products, regardless of the specs. MS products do not have that cachet (although MS acts like they do).

No, I just make up any numbers to prove a point :rolleyes:

According to the latest figures from Net Applications, Windows XP's finished off April with a 46.08 percent share of the desktop OS market, down from 55.84 percent one year prior and around 64 percent two years ago, but still well ahead of Windows 7 (38.67 percent), Windows Vista (7.32 percent), and various versions of Mac OS X, with the releases clinging to a 2.71 percent share of the market.

The reason I asked was because it was surprising, that's all.

Apple has mentioned specs but not consistently. They've said 1 Ghz processor or they will say 4 times more resolution or 9 times the graphics power of the previous models.

They certainly mention battery life and price at every unveiling.

They sometimes highlight browser benchmarks as well. The iPad SOCs have consistently been among the fastest for that year.

But they emphasize relative speed or new features, some of which would imply a certain level of performance or specs.

Betting nobody is more surprised month after month when the new numbers come out then the folks over at Microsoft.

When the number started going up again in January (and dropped again in February) they most have all had heart attacks.

Windows XP was officially no longer for sale with new machines in June of 2008. Considering it's still got as much of the market as it does must be killing them.

This device has promise. Obviously I have not seen one and don't know the details but what has been released about it shows some real potential....as long as it doesn't crash like the Windows OS on the phone did all the time. :)

There is still a large investment in Microsoft in the corporate world and if this can blend in nicely with that infrastructure and works as promised then they should do well with this device.

I think there is too much hanging on this for it not to work. PC market is on a down hill slide and if this indeed works then it might well help out their terrible phone market.

It will be a tough climb and they very well better get the apps. If they dont then they will only serve a small market with this new offering and that is not enough I dont think. MS took over the pc market by working with app developers and building from the small size companies up and if they are smart enough to work with application developers in this market and get them the tools they need to create apps on thise device they have potential with it.

I agree it wont be easy but I dont see anything about this that says fail all over it. There are some nice bullet points on this device...assuming they work.

lol Scott, you're cracking me up. Microsoft == Apple now? hahahaha, and Engadget is your trusted technical source?

Microsoft is no Apple. Though they are trying to emulate them with the placement of their retail Microsoft stores near where a few Apple stores are located. I've seen the Microsoft store in Valley Fair .. it's ridiculous. I think having stores is a fine idea if it helps them make money, but emulating Apple and trying to locate within eye-shot of Apple stores is a ridiculous strategy, IMHO. I still remember how they used to ridicule Apple for their market share.

Back to the tablet .. I do hope it's great and it helps push the market and the competitors.

-David

They missed the key feature, a bluetooth. Many cars had docks for ipods but also had bluetooth, if the zune had it this would have allowed it to wireless connection to many car stereos and also allow people to use their bluetooth headsets with voip software on it, a great thing for the international traveler on the go, makes carrying a GSM unlocked phone as an option instead of almost required.

Regarding MS stores -

Does anybody remember when Gateway had stores all over? They turned a fairly large company into a rather small one in short order. Apple can make their stores work because they have control over hardware, software, distribution, and any other aspect of the market for their products. Microsoft does not have any of these advantages. They have prospered immensely by using a totally different licensing model, and cannot change schemes in midstream (beg pardon for mixing metaphors). Every store they open will deplete their (admittedly vast) funds.

Retail computer sales is a cutthroat business. Remember CompUSA, Circuit City, and more local stores than you can shake a fist at? Heck, even Best Buy is hurting.

Is MS taking on their new marketing scheme in an attempt to be like Apple (which, BTW, makes 2/3 of its money from the iPhone), or because they can't generate any enthusiasm among resellers?

They have not announced that it won't have bluetooth (don't believe they announced any wireless details yet) and there's way more than a few companies hoping it has it for healthcare, etc.