Offering it as an option only increases manufacturing costs.

I heard Microsoft explain why they don't have a 3G version of the surface, and they said in doing their market research, only 1/3 of the tablets sold have 3G capabilities, and out of that 1/3, only 1/2 ever activate that service, so in their opinion, the market for the 3G is quite small. I haven't bothered to look and see how accurate those numbers are, just quoting them. Now certainly some of that is trying justify their decision not to offer the 3G tablet, but speaking to my own experience, I wouldn't pay for the monthly service to get a data, and have no interest in paying more for a tablet that is capable of it.

33% is something not to scoff at. Unless M$ gets a kickback from the mobile provider for every activation done, it seems like sound business sense to create a product geared towards the 33%.

43% of the Apple Ipads sold were 3g (Neilsen).

Apple shipped something like 44 million Ipads last year

Nobody in their right mind will turn down a market of like 19 million products.

The manufacturing cost argument is just silly, as they will just increase the cost by whatever it costs them to put in 3G. People are already paying over $100 for a keyboard that probably costs $10 to make, so it's not really that much of a stretch to think they could cover the cost of putting in a radio.

Microsoft is being stupid here. The issue is not how many people will buy 3g or not buy 3g.

Well nobody will buy it from them.

The issue is how many people who want 3G (and using their rumored quote it's 33% of the market) will instead buy another tablet that has it. Doesn't matter if people activate it or not, they will pay for it.

I missed the start of this thread, but PC Magazine and I are seeing eye to eye on this one.

It's only pure arrogance that makes MS think that they can charge $500 for their tablet. Anyone with $500 to spend on a tablet will by an iPad.

The most MS could possibly get for an entry-level tablet is $300 -- and it's only that high because they are Microsoft! Anything above this is a FAIL. The only question is how long it will take for MS to learn its lesson.

Actually, I'd get an Asus TF700 32GB and pocket the $130-ish (compared to the comparable 32GB iPad).

Ordered one yesterday. For a family with 2 iPads.

I'm wondering bout if it has a way to connect to a projector? It runs Powerpoint, so I assume that there is a way.

It's got an HD Video out port.

I am having an increasingly tough time trying to understand the target market for this device. True Outlook is one of their (few remaining) cash cows and the inherent limitations of this device and new ARM architecture are going to be very limiting.

I am not in the market, but if I were, I fail to understand why someone would not be all over the brand new Chromebook. Heck, even the new 3G model w/ 100MB a month is a steal at $349.

I just don't get who Microsoft is going after here, and I am not sure they are either. Windows 8 is not going to be well-received. The first thing I did with my install was find the utility to bring back a real desktop.

News Reports are that they have sold out all the pre order inventory, and the shipping date on new orders is slipping back. The stores will still have stock allocated to them for opening day.

Supposedly all models have sold out in pre orders.

I'm psyched to get one, but will wait to see the Pro and all the w8 ultrabooks. I like my ipad, but I liked my netbook, tablet laptop, etc.... time to move on.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-33620_3-57...-of-windows-8/

Making sense of the confusing world of Windows 8
Ready to jump into Windows 8? As if the switch from the Windows 7 interface to the Windows 8 way of doing things wasn't bad enough, deciding what type of Windows 8 or Windows RT device to purchase is another challenge.

A good story from today on Cnet about the very confusing choices of RT or 9 or Surface or other tablet or laptop, etc.

Not really helpful in reaching a decision, but it does list out many of the decisions people should be thinking about.

Completely unlike the alternative "it just works" OS. :D

good article, thanks for posting the link.

That article had a link to this one: Just what is Windows RT, anyway? (FAQ)

-David

Nope. I never really saw the need for an ipad. Apple failed to convince me it was something I needed in my life. To me, Apple products fall far short of what I want. Surface addresses quite a few of those issues. I'm not saying it's perfect. Like any product I'd wait for generation 2 to come out. Been burnt too many times on tech that becomes obsolete too quick (I paid the same for Psion 3c years ago).

I'm meeting a lot of youngsters that are giving up on ipads too. My 15 year old nephew asked his Dad to get him a laptop as he wanted a bigger screen to watch movies on and play games on - as well as to do his school work. A lot of his mates are passing their ipads down to infants to play with instead. I reckon if Surface had been around then, he would have asked for that because of the keyboard and Office functionality. I'm not bothered about outlook being missing as I used web based mail, even my office now does too! It's all in the cloud!!