| superchunk said:
Look at this side image. The kickstand closes completely flat into the back, it creates zero interference with the rest of the device. See the bendable areas of the touch cover just after it connects to the bottom of the tablet. I'm betting that is for it to fold backwards around the back of the device. Additionally, it is connected by magnetic hold with fully centered pogo style pins. It can probably be turned around without any issue. I am fairly confident that MS designed this with the iPad cover in mind and therefore it has the same features plus more; i.e. the full keyboard and touchpad. |
I think we're talking about different things here. If you're using the kickstand but don't want the keyboard, it looks like you have to remove the keyboard. That's not an optimal solution. It's not a deal-breaker but I don't like having to remove things and put them back on to use a device. If the keyboard could fold into a triangle between the kickstand and the device in the image you posted, that would be fantastic. You know, like the iPad Smart Cover does (but obviously, the Smart Cover becomes the "kickstand" at that point).
When they were holding the keyboard in the keynote, it was solid. It couldn't bend. If you have to remove stuff to use the device in different situations, that device loses some of its functionality. If I'm constantly removing stuff and putting it in my bag, the difference between this and an ASUS Transformer is slightly marginalized.
I like the device a lot, I'm just not sold on how some of this stuff works together. Then again, I'm *not* the target audience for this device (yet). My laptop needs are too high for something like this (heavy Creative Suite use) and the keyboard/trackpad won't be high enough quality for me. But for someone whose needs aren't like mine? This looks pretty fantastic.
Right now, the iPad is nearly perfect for my needs. It would take something like the Surface Pro on steroids with a pressure-sensitive screen for me to consider replacing my Macbook Pro. On the other hand, if they tweak the RT-based Surface a bit, I'd look long and hard at that device.
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