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Forums - Microsoft - Microsoft can't catch Apple? That's what they said about PlayStation...

mike_intellivision on 19 June 2012
Darth Tigris said:
mike_intellivision said:
Several factors will go into to whether or not this is successful.

1. Adoption of Windows 8. Businesses which are just now getting to speed on Win7 may not want to move so quickly to an OS that has greater user restrictions and may require new software acquisition.

2. Integration with other devices. There are a lot of iPhones and Android phones as well as many legacy Blackberrys. There are not a lot of Windows smart phones. If you need a Windows 8 smart phone to really make this system work well, people will pass.

3. Value. At some point, something that is priced like a computer but does not fully work like a computer will be replaced by a computer. A tablet can do some things -- but not all things -- that a laptop can do. But it costs about the same. Admittedly, it is lighter and "cooler" but if I have any real work, I know which one I take. The included keyboard and ability to run real software, if it actually happens and does not cause the price to be above what the market will bear, could be a big plus for Microsoft. If it does not and ends up running shallow versions of software, then there is a problem.

Mike from Morgantown

1. There is evidence (though admittedly somewhat anecdotal) that businesses are eager to embrace Windows 8 TABLETS.  There are apparently general enhancements to the OS that businesses are wanting.

2.  Or it may make them want a WP8 device even more.  I've already heard from several people that are looking to get something else next time and it ranks high on their list.  Regardless, MS has already proven that they're supporting integration with other platforms through app support.  Native support (which is typically a better experience) will only be supported on WP8 devices.

3.  The RT version will be more featured than what you find in tablets today (including the iPad), but the Pro version IS a PC.  But you're right about pricing.  I'm still shocked people have paid what they have for iPad's (including many I know).  The Kindle Fire price is fantastic, but the iPad's are crazy expensive.  These will be that and more, but it looks like they'll be able to perform about as well as your average notebook (the Pro with ultrabooks).  That's pretty amazing stuff.

Anecdotal evidence can be right-on or can be misleading. That being said, the Pro version has the potential to be a major win for business since it offers tablet conveience and PC functionality. Come up with a way (that is easy and affordable) to output video to projectors for presentations and I will lobby my boss to replace my iPad.

The real issues come down to price and features for business since that will be what eventually drives sales.





      


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BenVTrigger on 19 June 2012

Im not even a tablet person and ill probably buy this. It looks freaking awesome



Kresnik on 19 June 2012
Mr Khan said:
Microsoft tends to be one epoch behind the game when it comes to realms outside computer software. They caught up to Sony just when catching up to Sony no longer mattered, and yet continued to aim for Sony for some time after it was clear that this was not the goal to pursue. So it is in the tablet realm, where they aim for where the market is and not for where the market is going to be.


This, absolutely this.

Aside from the fact that, as someone else mentioned, Sony 'fell off a cliff' this generation while Microsoft caught up - which is a bit of a hollow victory, I don't think releasing a competing tablet is gonna catch them up to Apple.

Apple convinced me I needed an iPod when I'd never even heard of MP3 players.  They convinced me I needed an iPhone when I'd been using a Nokia phone with really crappy internet access.  And they've convinced people like my dad that they need an iPad, even though when the idea of a tablet was introduced I remember it being mocked in a number of corners of the internet as a really poor idea.

Apple got where they are by knowing what customers want before they themselves realise it.  I think Steve Jobs has a quote to that effect, and he was absolutely right.  While Microsoft releasing such a lovely tablet is a great step in the right direction for them, it's not going to have them overtake Apple unless they too were to fall off a cliff.



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brendude13 on 19 June 2012
badgenome said:
So if Apple falls off a cliff like Sony did, Microsoft may catch them?

This is what I was about to say.

Anyway, what gives this pad an advantage over all the others? I'm not sure how it works, other than that it uses Windows 8.



Euphoria14 on 19 June 2012
Kresnik said:
Mr Khan said:
Microsoft tends to be one epoch behind the game when it comes to realms outside computer software. They caught up to Sony just when catching up to Sony no longer mattered, and yet continued to aim for Sony for some time after it was clear that this was not the goal to pursue. So it is in the tablet realm, where they aim for where the market is and not for where the market is going to be.


This, absolutely this.

Aside from the fact that, as someone else mentioned, Sony 'fell off a cliff' this generation while Microsoft caught up - which is a bit of a hollow victory, I don't think releasing a competing tablet is gonna catch them up to Apple.

Apple convinced me I needed an iPod when I'd never even heard of MP3 players.  They convinced me I needed an iPhone when I'd been using a Nokia phone with really crappy internet access.  And they've convinced people like my dad that they need an iPad, even though when the idea of a tablet was introduced I remember it being mocked in a number of corners of the internet as a really poor idea.

Apple got where they are by knowing what customers want before they themselves realise it.  I think Steve Jobs has a quote to that effect, and he was absolutely right.  While Microsoft releasing such a lovely tablet is a great step in the right direction for them, it's not going to have them overtake Apple unless they too were to fall off a cliff.


There is a problem with the way you are looking at it. For one, only the RT versio is a tablet, but the Pro version is not. The Pro version is a full fledged PC, so while it may look like a tablet and no doubt perform all the tasks a tablet can perform, it can also install and run all your windows based PC applications such as Steam, Minecraft, Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Office, Diablo 3 (should since it can run Civ. 5), etc... These things your iPad can not do, no matter how many keyboards or other peripherals you decide to buy.

An iPad can not do what this new Window 8 Pro tablet can do, not even close. Nothing you do to that $600+ tablet can place it on par in terms of functionality with an actual Laptop.

 

I am sure if it is priced right, many will love to ditch the Laptop + Tablet and only need a tablet than can do all their Laptop functions. I know I would.



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VetteDude on 19 June 2012
man-bear-pig said:
Great read, and the device looks awesome, especially the different colour keyboards. The only bad thing is that they don't fully utilise the screen. Those different colour boxes (apps) should cover the entire screen, not start 2 inches in like a TV from the 1990's. If they plan on wasting a large part of the screen then they should've just made it 6 inches rather than 10.


Have you used Windows 8? You need spare room to start edge gestures. The charms bar comes up by swiping your hand from right to left. Pretty neat, actually. With a mouse, it just comes up by hovering over.



bouzane on 19 June 2012

The Xbox brand only surpassed the Playstation due to Sony's gross incompetence, little of that victory can be attributed to Microsoft. Nobody should bank on Apple making mistakes like Sony did with the PS3. Also, the console market is slower to adapt due to the 5-6 year hardware cycle which makes a blunder like the PS3 far more costly and difficult to recover from. Finally, we can look to the extremely poor performance of the Windows Phone to get an idea of how well Microsoft is capable of competing with Apple and Google.



TRios_Zen on 19 June 2012

RT version looks nice, but the Pro is drop dead sexy.

MS dreamed up a nice competitor to the iPad here; to see if they can implement it in an ecosystem that works for them AND allows mass market penetration is the key. Specifically, if they go for price parity with the iPad/Macbook Air, I think they lose. They have to come in cheaper; because the draw of the "Apple" brand in these markets is superior to any hardware strengths that Surface might have.



maximrace on 19 June 2012

Lol @ Pezus... It's not because you hate xbox that it is a bad thing ;)



maximrace on 19 June 2012

Because there will be more games if you use an existing popular brand then if you make a new brand and so divide the games between two brands. But i'm not going to argue with you because according to you everything msft is bad and you are always right!