9 ms·

Surface with Windows 8 Pro – Pricing

108 points by tarekayna 14y ago

kimura 14y ago
Too expensive
- ConstantineXVI 14y ago
  Not for a laptop. It's right in line with the MacBook Air.
  - 35636 14y ago
    Better in most ways. The $999 Surface Pro has the same specs as the $1,200 MBA, only high resolution, lighter, and with a touch screen.
    - ConstantineXVI 14y ago
      I'd hold off on "better" until they ship; no word on exactly which i5, and no idea on battery life (bigger battery than the 11" MBA, but software + screen are unknowns). And it's really a $1100 Surface Pro, because if you're using it like a laptop, you'll want a keyboard. Still competitive, but don't be fooled.
    - mertd 14y ago
      Minus the keyboard :). Add that and the price is in line with the MBA. Surface Pro is still the better deal in my opinion, because of the newer CPU and better screen.
- jeremyt 14y ago
  You mean, as opposed to a MacBook air at 999 to 1199? This is a full-fledged laptop running the full version of Windows.
  - untog 14y ago
    Well, it's a full-fledged laptop that has no keyboard. A keyboard will cost you more- a type cover is about $149, right?
    - deleted 14y ago
      [deleted]
    - Aardwolf 14y ago
      Wow seriously? I bought a mechanical keyboard with gold plated switches for each single key for that price!
      - Nikaido 14y ago
        The markup on the typecover is hard to justify when looking at the competition. The keyboard on the asus transformer cost about the same except that it also has a big battery inside, extending the battery life of the tablet when used in laptop mode. And it can be used as a laptop, in your bed, in your lap.. not like the Surface RT which doesn't rely on the type cover but a stand that is only stable when put on a desk or table.
  - debacle 14y ago
    No one is going to pay Mac hardware prices for a piece of Windows hardware, at least not out of the gate. Unless the device is amazing, it's just too much.
- chollida1 14y ago
  Based on what? The most comparable machine I see is the mac book air. I paid $1300.00 for it and it doesn't' even include a touch screen. Maybe Apple overpriced their macbook air's?
  - dscrd 14y ago
    Since when did touch screens become a requirement or even a semi-useful thing for laptops?
    - chollida1 14y ago
      > Since when did touch screens become a requirement or even a semi-useful thing for laptops? I don't think anyone said it did. All I said was this surface is very comparable to an air but also includes a touch screen and is cheaper.
      - dscrd 14y ago
        Well, no. The macbook air has a keyboard, it has been available for a long time, and it's not running Windows 8; so it's a bit of a stretch to call them comparable just like that.
        chollida1 14y ago
        Sure, I don't want to get into a big argument here. Even with the keyboard, it's still cheaper than what I paid for my macbook air and I get a touch screen. To me that's better value, if you dont' agree, I'm fine with that:)
rwbt 14y ago
Half-nailed it.
smacktoward 14y ago
In January, Surface with Windows 8 Pro will be available in two versions and pricing will start at $899. Ouch.
- sliverstorm 14y ago
  That was about my thought process, accompanied by a whistle.
- codeulike 14y ago
  How much is a 64Gig iPad?
ChuckMcM 14y ago
Should be interesting. One of the things I've wished for was a tablet that could do both capacitive touch style interactions and more precise Wacom pen/tablet style interactions. Looks like I'll have a chance to play with an implementation of that. I agree with kimura that its a pretty high price point. Although reserve judgement on whether or not it crosses into the 'too expensive' territory. Its essentially the same machine as a Macbook Air which is $1,199 for a 128G model (vs the Surface Pro 128GB @ $999)
- FireBeyond 14y ago
  Well, no, it's arguably a "better" machine than the MBA in the sense that it can convert to a tablet, has a pressure sensitive digitizer, higher resolution, better sound system.
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
  - ChuckMcM 14y ago
    Sorry, I was being imprecise. From a Compute/Memory/Storage point of view its nominally the same as a Macbook Air. Gives context on what sort of programmatic performance you get. Agreed it has a different peripheral set which makes it 'better' for some applications and perhaps 'not as good' for others. But I haven't tried it out so its hard to know. I do have a Kagi capacitive stylus for my iPad and its not nearly as nice as the stylus I had on my old IREX e-reader or the Bamboo Wacom tablet on my Mac.
- joejohnson 14y ago
  The price is not $999; with a keyboard (to be a fair competitor to the MacBook Air), it costs $1050. At $999, it's just a crappy iPad alternative with a large hardrive.
  - yusefnapora 14y ago
    Or, alternatively, it's a decent alternative to the Modbook Pro (http://www.modbook.com/modbookpro http://www.modbook.com/modbookpro) at a $2500 discount. I'm sure there are people to whom the Surface Pro is more attractive than a normal laptop. I haven't decided whether I'm one of them, but I don't think that a direct comparison to the Macbook Air is appropriate. If we're going to be "fair" by adding a keyboard to the Surface, shouldn't we also add an aftermarket touch screen to the Air?
debacle 14y ago
I think they priced themselves out of the market.
- untog 14y ago
  What market, though? This isn't an iPad, it's a full machine. Agree that they're not doing a great job of communicating that, though. Calling them both Surface may have been a bad move.
  - debacle 14y ago
    But people are going to compare it to an iPad or other Windows notebooks (in the ~600 range) rather than an ultrabook, I think.
  - mrdodge 14y ago
    What market indeed. There has been no market for the hybrid laptop/tablet.
  - CamperBob2 14y ago
    Calling them both Surface may have been a bad move. True, but par for the course for the same company that uses "Windows" to describe the OS in everything from a data center to a cell phone.
- frooxie 14y ago
  If the pen input is comparable to that of a Wacom tablet, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Its closest competition sells for $2,200 in Sweden.
Permit 14y ago
Everyone seems really blown away by the pricing and I'm not sure why. This isn't an iPad, it houses a fully functional operating system that lets you run existing Windows 7 desktop applications. In a use-case scenario I see it being more similar to a laptop than to the iPad. If I can run Visual Studio on it and it handles all my existing Windows 7 applications correctly, I'd consider purchasing it. I don't look at it like it's a tablet I'm going to be installing a Scrabble App on, though.
- SG- 14y ago
  Oh right, scabble is the only thing tablets or iPads are good for. The rest of your thoughts were spot on, but you sort of went the troll route at the end.
- rmrfrmrf 14y ago
  I don't get it, really. They designed a tablet whose primary use-case is in laptop mode? Why not just buy a better-spec'd laptop for the same price? And why does Surface have a mission-critical piece of hardware (the keyboard) missing from it? Sorry, but at a whopping $1050 after purchasing this critical component, I'd rather just buy a 11in Macbook air for cheaper.
  - hosay123 14y ago
    Windows has supported gestures and handwriting recognition for years, and the Pro comes with a stylus. To say a keyboard is critical seems a gross overstatement. As for use cases, how about: it's a tablet, without the regular complexities of 'tablet mode'. It runs the same stuff as your desktop, acts, smells, barks and looks just like your desktop, and if you want to use it like a crippled toy in the style of an iPad, you're free to use the metro apps. Let us also not be too quick to forget that Microsoft were the first to seriously meld the desktop and tablet experience. They're the only company (out of two runners, really) with a serious story in this department. Waiting with bated breath to see if Apple wholesale copies the Microsoft approach, toy-apps-as-start-button works wonderfully.
    - 14y ago
ConstantineXVI 14y ago
It's competing with laptops, not tablets. If the price didn't kill it vs. tablets, the thickness and fans would. Terrible choice against the iPad, but potentially the right one vs. a MacBook Air.
moistgorilla 14y ago
Man this thing is cool, I want it just for the digitizer and the resolution.
deleted 14y ago
[deleted]
- joenathan 14y ago
  "The Official Microsoft Blog "
- MrMember 14y ago
  It was written by Microsoft. >The following is a post from Panos Panay, General Manager of Microsoft Surface.
majormajor 14y ago
With an active digitizer and the ability to run full apps, this looks like the perfect photography/graphic work portable workstation, that you can then dock at your desk at home. Extremely interested in it for that alone. But I might wait a round or two, or look for similar 3rd party convertible things... At $1000, currently, it would need to be something that could do everything I wanted when traveling, and I'm skeptical that the in-lap keyboard experience on one of these will be good enough to make it a true laptop replacement for me. Typing in an airport, for instance (or just a recliner, or bed, or wherever)... I want it to be able to sit in my lap. A cheaper Surface Pro in the future will appeal just for the portable photography workstation aspect. A laptop-based 3rd-party alternative with as good a digitizer, at about the same price, would appeal as my next laptop. Not sure this version 1 hits what I want, though.
- seanmcdirmid 14y ago
  Active digitizers aren't cheap, and are really great with one note (I have the Samsung tablet). My problem with this tablet is also that I can't use it as a laptop (literally, I like working on sofas at starbucks). On the other hand, the resolution looks quite promising, its almost retina! The good old tablet PCs have good digitizers on them, and they are still being made. I'm not sure what I will replace my EliteBook with...I like the digitizer but would prefer something thinner and bigger (like a Samsung Series 9 or a Carbon X1).
  - sukuriant 14y ago
    Disclosure: Microsoft employee. I'm also a photographer in my spare time, and I'm looking forward to this device, in part because a friend of mine is an artist and she wanted me to evaluate it when it comes out to see if it's worth the money to her. The digitizer is definitely the biggest thing I want to test on the device. I'm hoping that the pen has pressure sensitivity, at least; and I'm hoping that it turns the screen off far enough from the screen that I can safely lift the pen a little bit before the touch screen turns back on again. Color accuracy will also be interesting; but, since it's an x86 device, I imagine we can install color correction software that will somewhat fix any issues there might be with that. (I have a very specific screen at home I use for color-accuracy. I'm very picky.) I own a Surface RT, too, with a type cover and have experience using it for ... well, I got it the day it came out. First things first, I've worked with the device on my lap. I have pretty long legs, so the stand sits just fine in my lap; and, while I do prefer to have a hard surface underneath it, like a logitech or targus laptop stand, it's plenty usable in this situation. I use the machine on my lap at a friend's house on their futon all the time. As for the "it's almost retina!" statement, the Surface Pro is going to be, for normal intents and purposes, retina at 17" away from your face(#). That's less than a normal laptop to face distance. For the Surface RT, I've personally find myself frequently having to raise the resolution of some webpages as they day goes on, because the text is too small to read. Using the same calculations as above, the Surface RT is "retina" at 23 inches. (#) http://isthisretina.com/ http://isthisretina.com/
r00fus 14y ago
Classic Microsoft rear-guard move to protect margins for Intel and their hardware chain (and consequently trying to prop up their desktop OS appeal as well) by trying to "tablet-ify" their existing offerings. Expect a bunch of Surface clones (MS approved) to hit the market soon afterwards. This strategy won't work. Many folks who would buy a Win8 Pro surface are likely going to just buy an ultrabook or netbook + iPad/Nexus/Fire instead. Microsoft shouldn't even be competing against Apple. They should be deathly afraid of Android. Apple doesn't want to turn iOS into a desktop-like experience, however a Asus Transformer did Surface before Microsoft did.
- cooldeal 14y ago
  >however a Asus Transformer did Surface before Microsoft did Can the Asus Transformer run Eclipse? If not, can it or will it, anytime soon?
  - r00fus 14y ago
    No, but it can run AIDE: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aide.ui&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aide.ui&#3...
daigoba66 14y ago
Specifications-wise (http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-8-pro/specifications http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-...) it's actually very similar to base models of the MacBook Air (perhaps actually smaller than the Air without the keyboard cover). At about $100 cheaper.
JVIDEL 14y ago
Compared to a similar ultrabook its not that expensive, the problem is that for the average joe on a store its a $999 tablet surrounded by $200-500 tablets. Maybe MSFT should have released a surface hybrid laptop-tablet instead. The kickstand+cover combo is great compared to other tablets but is not the same than a proper laptop keyboard.
- TazeTSchnitzel 14y ago
  There's the Type Cover, which is a proper keyboard as far as I understand it.
tmister 14y ago
How much space will it take for OS+Office+other default applications? If the situation is same as Surface RT then 64 GB Surface Pro is definitely not a good choice.
- dagw 14y ago
  How much space will it take for OS+Office+other default applications Exactly as much space as it takes up on your laptop.
joejohnson 14y ago
So it's basically as expensive as a MacBook Air, but not as polished or light-weight, and it comes with Windows 8? I'm still stuck on why I need something in between a tablet and a small laptop, especially when it costs as much as a nicer ultrabook.
- simba-hiiipower 14y ago
  expensiveness: yes, including the touch cover it'd be priced exactly in-line with the 11.8" mba with the same storage options polish: based on the design and build quality of the rt version i'd say it’s a pretty safe bet that the hardware will be plenty polished (that’s in my opinion of course; as a statement either way would be purely subjective..) light-weight: 2.0lbs [1] vs. mba at 2.38lbs [2], so no.. windows 8: i'm assuming you consider that a negative (or at least are implying that it’s somehow inferior to osx), but i can’t think of any other system that’s as flexible in supporting various input methods and usage scenarios that would be made available on such a device why: well i guess it depends on how you look at it. the way i see it is, unlike most tablets this is one that is also fully functional as a laptop/desktop (input methods, ports, connectivity, a fully-featured os that supports real multitasking and runs millions of applications) when you need it.. and, unlike most laptops/desktops, it’s also one that makes for an excellent tablet (touch input, pen/digitizer, increased portability, a fast/stable os with a nice touch-friendly interface).. benchmarking against the mba i find it pretty hard to not see value there. and you may not need this (apparently most people do not need mba’s either by the way), but for some it makes for a pretty great value proposition as it really could replace both a tablet and a traditional pc. [1] http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-rt/help-me-choose http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-... [2] http://www.apple.com/macbookair/specs.html http://www.apple.com/macbookair/specs.html edit: for some reason seeing those links next to one another made me laugh a bit; simplicity.
MechaJDI 14y ago
Definitely too expensive. I could have sworn that they claimed to keep the price under $800. Looks like I'll be waiting for either the inevitable price drop or fire sale for what would amount to a 2nd laptop for me. Knowing this, I don't understand why the ultrabooks are priced so exorbitantly despite them being "luxury" devices if they plan for people to actually buy them.
borlak 14y ago
Are these still "64gb" as in it's really 45gb with the OS files and such installed?
- binarycrusader 14y ago
  Yes, if you look at the specs page there's a disclaimer noting the OS takes up a significant amount of the space: Storage 64GB*, 128GB *System software uses significant storage space. Available storage is subject to change based on system software updates and apps usage. 1 GB = 1 billion bytes. See Surface.com/storage for more details.
  - secalex 14y ago
    iOS is made out of Unicorn feathers and does not take any of the iPad's advertised space.
    - binarycrusader 14y ago
      I'm uncertain whom you're replying to as I never mentioned iOS nor implied anything about it. iOS does take less space than Windows at last check, but that's to be expected. I personally think it's pretty disingenuous that more vendors don't advertise the usable space instead of total space. I'm not thrilled about how much usable space I actually have left on my Nexus 7 16GB as an example...
softbuilder 14y ago
The marketplace isn't going to understand that this is more of a computer than an iPad. They need to hammer on "this runs Office".
- steverb 14y ago
  The only problem is that the RT also runs Office. I think the Pro looks good and I can't wait to get hands on one, but I suspect that if MS doesn't figure out how to market things it will die a swift death. On the other hand, MS is famous for continuing to do things they suck at until they get it right. One of the benefits of having deep pockets.
- jfb 14y ago
  In no wise is this "more of a computer" than an iPad (N7/Fire/&c.) It is a "Windows computer" in exactly the same way that an iPad is an "iOS computer". Thinking that "is a computer" is the same as "runs Windows" is why Microsoft is fighting the desperate, Surface-lead rear-guard action against encroachments on their turf.
mtgx 14y ago
After trying Windows 8, I'm not convinced "hybrids" are the future anymore. Everything about such a hybrid will be a compromise one way or the other. You won't get the best desktop experience as Windows 8 is annoying you with Metro, and you always have to bypass it, a 10" screen is pretty useless for any real work on a PC (too small). You'll also get about half or less the battery life of an ARM tablet (and probably several times less for idle time - an ARM tablet can last for days on a charge with light use). You also get too little storage for a desktop PC and for the price. It will get hot, and will get noise from the fans. It's 30% heavier than a 10" tablet, and people are already saying how the new iPad Mini will be the "real" iPad in the future because of its weight (half the weight of regular iPad) and size. And it's also too expensive for a tablet, if that's what you really want. Manufacturers are already saying they expect touchscreen hybrids to only be a small part of the ultrabook sales next year, and I think they got it right. Hybrids will only be a niche market, and not the "future" of tablet and PC's that Microsoft hopes it will be.
- seanmcdirmid 14y ago
  My old Sony 505g had a 10.4" screen and was plenty useful.
fumar 14y ago
As someone who likes to use Ableton Live and Adobe CS. This is exciting. I want to carry around a computer in the form of a tablet. I want to have pen input and USB. I am using Surface RT right now. Its not perfect. But all the things, I dislike are hopefully fixed with the pro. I do wish Apple made something similar.
marknutter 14y ago
Hey, cool! I had one of these back in 2003 when it was called a Tablet PC. Maybe they'll get it right this time.
fumar 14y ago
As someone who likes to use Ableton Live and Adobe CS. This is exciting. I want to carry around a computer in the form of a tablet. I want to have pen input and USB. I am using Surface RT right now. Its not perfect. But all the things, I dislike are hopefully fixed with the pro. I do wish Apple made something similar.
laura1066 14y ago
Wonder how long it might take for them to release an updated model, considering the Intel Haswell microarchitecture should be available around Q2 2013.
pixie_ 14y ago
Before even clicking the link, I thought to myself, 'What would I pay for a Windows 8 tablet?' Not more than $500 I thought. When I saw they priced it at $900 I laughed. Microsoft is a non-stop train wreck of misery at the moment. It's like Window ME and Windows Vista combined. I hope they come out of this beating with a renewed sense of reality. Maybe shed a few layers of management..
- RobAtticus 14y ago
  You can buy a Windows 8 tablet for $500: http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-rt/home http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-... This is closer to a Macbook Air competitor (with keyboard) in my opinion, that also has the ability to be a tablet and runs x86 applications. Given that, the price makes more sense.
moskie 14y ago
I don't get the general perspective that the concept of what the Surface Pro is trying to be is a pointless/undesirable thing. Now, I totally understand the Surface Pro and Windows 8 might not be a _good_ solution to a problem... but there is a problem. And that problem is that I have too many devices. I have a tablet. I have a laptop. And I have a desktop. They all serve their function well, but I do imagine that in the future all of these devices will be combined into one. I believe that's inevitable. The Surface Pro is trying to be this solution (again, whether it's a successful solution is TBD). A device with no keyboard when I want a tablet. Attach a keyboard when you need it for whatever reason when you're on the go. Throw it in a dock when you're at your desktop to get your main work done, with multiple monitors, a comfy desk and chair, etc. To scoff at this idea as not being a valid problem to tackle, and suggest the Surface Pro has no reason to even exist, seems short-sighted to me.
- rmrfrmrf 14y ago
  I disagree with your premise that 'all devices will be combined into one'. People want devices that do what they're built to do in the best way possible, not one device that tries to please everyone. That's why this idea of building a hybrid laptop-tablet drives me absolutely crazy: it is neither a good laptop nor a good tablet. The reviews of Surface confirm this. Think about it: where have you seen a good example of any of these hybrids? - Consumer Copier/Printer/Scanner/Fax machines - Integrated Graphics Cards - Integrated Sound Cards - Monitor/Speaker combos - Pants that zip off into shorts - Glittens - etc. etc. etc.
  - moskie 14y ago
    You're cherry picking bad examples. Good examples I can think of include cameras and phones. The iMac. Hell, the computer as we know it combines things like typewriters, mail, televisions, record players, phones, etc. etc. etc.
  - dpark 14y ago
    > where have you seen a good example of any of these hybrids? Did you try checking your pocket? You likely have a single device in your pocket right now that serves as a GPS, an MP3 player, a camera, a calendar, a clock, a calculator, a tiny computer for web browsing and email, oh, and also as a phone.
Irregardless 14y ago
You can have 50% of an Ultrabook for 100% of the price. Total savings of up to negative 50%! How could anyone resist? Only Apple can list 'Status Symbol' as one of the perks of their products, and I have a feeling that's one of the main features the average consumer wants in a tablet. Aside from the toy/gimmick factor and browsing the internet easily from bed (or the toilet), I'm just not seeing the mass appeal of these.
- mertd 14y ago
  It has an i5, pretty good screen, USB 3 and the light form factor. Which half is missing from the equation?
podperson 14y ago
Does anyone know how much free space is left on the 64GB model? WinRT takes up ~14GB on the 32GB non-pro Surface iirc.
jiggy2011 14y ago
Does anyone know how much RAM this thing has, since marketing speak has now taken "memory" to mean "storage space". What's funny is calling this a laptop since your lap is about the only place you can't use it (apart from as a tablet I suppose). It's really a portable desktop.
- mandeepj 14y ago
  They mentioned it very clearly - The device have 4 GB of RAM http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-8-pro/specifications http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-...
- sukuriant 14y ago
  4GM RAM (#) Also, I own a Surface RT and can use it on my lap. (#) http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-8-pro/specifications http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-...
rayiner 14y ago
I'm think that Microsoft erred severely in making a Surface RT in addition to a Surface Pro. Surface RT is too little. Why pay as much as an iPad and more than a Nexus 10 for a device with a last-generation screen and last-generation processor? Surface Pro is too much. There is a segment of people who would want to run full-fleged desktop apps on a touch-screen tablet, but I'm convinced that the number of those people is vanishingly small. The apparent usefulness of being able to run classic desktop apps decreases when you realize that the apps that won't work with Windows RT are by definition the ones that haven't been updated to be usable on a touch screen. Moreover, with the touch cover requiring a flat surface to use the keyboard, the whole "laptop replacement" angle goes out the window in a lot of situations where a 10.6" laptop would be very desirable (e.g. train commutes). It was a mistake from the beginning to have two lines. They should have focused on making one compelling product, instead of two severely compromised ones. Why are goodies like the 1080p screen bundled inextricably with the battery-destroying Ivy Bridge processor? Office is the key differentiator here, the "Windows ecosystem" is secondary. Surface should have been one device with a Clover Trail processor, 1080p screen, Office, and 8+ hours battery life. If Google can deliver the Nexus 10 at $400, Microsoft should have been able to deliver such a device at $600. Unfortunately, all of the OEM's are copying Microsoft's RT/Pro dichotomy. The Windows RT devices have low-resolution screens and last-generation processors, while the Windows Pro devices have battery-sucking Ivy Bridge processors. It's a distinction that maybe made sense to some marketing geek, but one that's totally non-sensical as a practical matter.
sliverstorm 14y ago
Do we know how thickness will compare to the RT? From the photos, this looks kind of thick.
- sukuriant 14y ago
  Microsoft says: Surface Pro: 10.81 x 6.81 x 0.53in 2lbs Surface RT: 10.81 x 6.77 x 0.37in 1.5lbs http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-rt/specifications http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-... and http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-8-pro/specifications http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-...
  - sliverstorm 14y ago
    Perfect. So it is, in fact, 43% thicker. Still pretty thin, but nice to know my eyes were not deceiving me.
secalex 14y ago
If that price included a full version of Office I would definitely get it myself. As priced, it's a no-brainer for the executive set who like to be seen with their iPads but get real work done on 5 pound, AD-joined, IT provisioned Dells. They already have volume licensed Office, and IT teams are going to make this a standard option for road-warriors and execs. I think the Hacker News set doesn't understand what it's like to work at a non-tech Fortune 500 company. Microsoft's goal isn't to replace the iPad on teenagers' Christmas lists, it's to protect the highly lucrative corporate market from further iPad (and eventually Mac) penetration. On that measure, the Surface Pro is going to crush it.
- secalex 14y ago
  To put it another way, you aren't going to see a lot of these at SXSW or at Ritual Coffee, but watch out National Association of Pharmaceutical Representatives!
numo16 14y ago
I could see this being an excellent on-the-go digital sculpting/modeling machine. If the digitizer is comparable to a Wacom, this would be great for zbrush.
bcoates 14y ago
Has anyone done disk benchmarks on the built-in NAND of either the RT or Pro? I've really gotten used to the performance difference between modern SATA SSDs and spinning disks, I'd hate to buy a surface and get performance of the bad old days.
yread 14y ago
> Surface with Windows 8 Pro will come with Intel’s next generation Core i5 processor So it's going to run Haswell?! Weren't those supposed to come out only a quarter after that?
netpenthe 14y ago
maybe it'll be good as a backup laptop. i just bought an X1 Carbon that needs to be sent back for repair.. i have done away with my desktop years ago so now i need a backup whilst my X1 is in repair.. the Surface Pro seems to fit this pretty well...

108 points by tarekayna 14y ago

kimura 14y ago

Too expensive

ConstantineXVI 14y ago
Not for a laptop. It's right in line with the MacBook Air.
- 35636 14y ago
  Better in most ways. The $999 Surface Pro has the same specs as the $1,200 MBA, only high resolution, lighter, and with a touch screen.
  - ConstantineXVI 14y ago
    I'd hold off on "better" until they ship; no word on exactly which i5, and no idea on battery life (bigger battery than the 11" MBA, but software + screen are unknowns). And it's really a $1100 Surface Pro, because if you're using it like a laptop, you'll want a keyboard. Still competitive, but don't be fooled.
  - mertd 14y ago
    Minus the keyboard :). Add that and the price is in line with the MBA. Surface Pro is still the better deal in my opinion, because of the newer CPU and better screen.
jeremyt 14y ago
You mean, as opposed to a MacBook air at 999 to 1199? This is a full-fledged laptop running the full version of Windows.
- untog 14y ago
  Well, it's a full-fledged laptop that has no keyboard. A keyboard will cost you more- a type cover is about $149, right?
  - deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
  - Aardwolf 14y ago
    Wow seriously? I bought a mechanical keyboard with gold plated switches for each single key for that price!
    - Nikaido 14y ago
      The markup on the typecover is hard to justify when looking at the competition. The keyboard on the asus transformer cost about the same except that it also has a big battery inside, extending the battery life of the tablet when used in laptop mode. And it can be used as a laptop, in your bed, in your lap.. not like the Surface RT which doesn't rely on the type cover but a stand that is only stable when put on a desk or table.
- debacle 14y ago
  No one is going to pay Mac hardware prices for a piece of Windows hardware, at least not out of the gate. Unless the device is amazing, it's just too much.
chollida1 14y ago
Based on what? The most comparable machine I see is the mac book air. I paid $1300.00 for it and it doesn't' even include a touch screen. Maybe Apple overpriced their macbook air's?
- dscrd 14y ago
  Since when did touch screens become a requirement or even a semi-useful thing for laptops?
  - chollida1 14y ago
    > Since when did touch screens become a requirement or even a semi-useful thing for laptops? I don't think anyone said it did. All I said was this surface is very comparable to an air but also includes a touch screen and is cheaper.
    - dscrd 14y ago
      Well, no. The macbook air has a keyboard, it has been available for a long time, and it's not running Windows 8; so it's a bit of a stretch to call them comparable just like that.
      - chollida1 14y ago
        Sure, I don't want to get into a big argument here. Even with the keyboard, it's still cheaper than what I paid for my macbook air and I get a touch screen. To me that's better value, if you dont' agree, I'm fine with that:)

rwbt 14y ago

Half-nailed it.

smacktoward 14y ago

In January, Surface with Windows 8 Pro will be available in two versions and pricing will start at $899. Ouch.

sliverstorm 14y ago
That was about my thought process, accompanied by a whistle.
codeulike 14y ago
How much is a 64Gig iPad?

ChuckMcM 14y ago

Should be interesting. One of the things I've wished for was a tablet that could do both capacitive touch style interactions and more precise Wacom pen/tablet style interactions. Looks like I'll have a chance to play with an implementation of that. I agree with kimura that its a pretty high price point. Although reserve judgement on whether or not it crosses into the 'too expensive' territory. Its essentially the same machine as a Macbook Air which is $1,199 for a 128G model (vs the Surface Pro 128GB @ $999)

FireBeyond 14y ago
Well, no, it's arguably a "better" machine than the MBA in the sense that it can convert to a tablet, has a pressure sensitive digitizer, higher resolution, better sound system.
- deleted 14y ago
  [deleted]
- ChuckMcM 14y ago
  Sorry, I was being imprecise. From a Compute/Memory/Storage point of view its nominally the same as a Macbook Air. Gives context on what sort of programmatic performance you get. Agreed it has a different peripheral set which makes it 'better' for some applications and perhaps 'not as good' for others. But I haven't tried it out so its hard to know. I do have a Kagi capacitive stylus for my iPad and its not nearly as nice as the stylus I had on my old IREX e-reader or the Bamboo Wacom tablet on my Mac.
joejohnson 14y ago
The price is not $999; with a keyboard (to be a fair competitor to the MacBook Air), it costs $1050. At $999, it's just a crappy iPad alternative with a large hardrive.
- yusefnapora 14y ago
  Or, alternatively, it's a decent alternative to the Modbook Pro (http://www.modbook.com/modbookpro http://www.modbook.com/modbookpro) at a $2500 discount. I'm sure there are people to whom the Surface Pro is more attractive than a normal laptop. I haven't decided whether I'm one of them, but I don't think that a direct comparison to the Macbook Air is appropriate. If we're going to be "fair" by adding a keyboard to the Surface, shouldn't we also add an aftermarket touch screen to the Air?

debacle 14y ago

I think they priced themselves out of the market.

untog 14y ago
What market, though? This isn't an iPad, it's a full machine. Agree that they're not doing a great job of communicating that, though. Calling them both Surface may have been a bad move.
- debacle 14y ago
  But people are going to compare it to an iPad or other Windows notebooks (in the ~600 range) rather than an ultrabook, I think.
- mrdodge 14y ago
  What market indeed. There has been no market for the hybrid laptop/tablet.
- CamperBob2 14y ago
  Calling them both Surface may have been a bad move. True, but par for the course for the same company that uses "Windows" to describe the OS in everything from a data center to a cell phone.
frooxie 14y ago
If the pen input is comparable to that of a Wacom tablet, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Its closest competition sells for $2,200 in Sweden.

Permit 14y ago

Everyone seems really blown away by the pricing and I'm not sure why. This isn't an iPad, it houses a fully functional operating system that lets you run existing Windows 7 desktop applications. In a use-case scenario I see it being more similar to a laptop than to the iPad. If I can run Visual Studio on it and it handles all my existing Windows 7 applications correctly, I'd consider purchasing it. I don't look at it like it's a tablet I'm going to be installing a Scrabble App on, though.

SG- 14y ago
Oh right, scabble is the only thing tablets or iPads are good for. The rest of your thoughts were spot on, but you sort of went the troll route at the end.
rmrfrmrf 14y ago
I don't get it, really. They designed a tablet whose primary use-case is in laptop mode? Why not just buy a better-spec'd laptop for the same price? And why does Surface have a mission-critical piece of hardware (the keyboard) missing from it? Sorry, but at a whopping $1050 after purchasing this critical component, I'd rather just buy a 11in Macbook air for cheaper.
- hosay123 14y ago
  Windows has supported gestures and handwriting recognition for years, and the Pro comes with a stylus. To say a keyboard is critical seems a gross overstatement. As for use cases, how about: it's a tablet, without the regular complexities of 'tablet mode'. It runs the same stuff as your desktop, acts, smells, barks and looks just like your desktop, and if you want to use it like a crippled toy in the style of an iPad, you're free to use the metro apps. Let us also not be too quick to forget that Microsoft were the first to seriously meld the desktop and tablet experience. They're the only company (out of two runners, really) with a serious story in this department. Waiting with bated breath to see if Apple wholesale copies the Microsoft approach, toy-apps-as-start-button works wonderfully.
  - 14y ago

ConstantineXVI 14y ago

It's competing with laptops, not tablets. If the price didn't kill it vs. tablets, the thickness and fans would. Terrible choice against the iPad, but potentially the right one vs. a MacBook Air.

moistgorilla 14y ago

Man this thing is cool, I want it just for the digitizer and the resolution.

deleted 14y ago

[deleted]

joenathan 14y ago
"The Official Microsoft Blog "
MrMember 14y ago
It was written by Microsoft. >The following is a post from Panos Panay, General Manager of Microsoft Surface.

majormajor 14y ago

With an active digitizer and the ability to run full apps, this looks like the perfect photography/graphic work portable workstation, that you can then dock at your desk at home. Extremely interested in it for that alone. But I might wait a round or two, or look for similar 3rd party convertible things... At $1000, currently, it would need to be something that could do everything I wanted when traveling, and I'm skeptical that the in-lap keyboard experience on one of these will be good enough to make it a true laptop replacement for me. Typing in an airport, for instance (or just a recliner, or bed, or wherever)... I want it to be able to sit in my lap. A cheaper Surface Pro in the future will appeal just for the portable photography workstation aspect. A laptop-based 3rd-party alternative with as good a digitizer, at about the same price, would appeal as my next laptop. Not sure this version 1 hits what I want, though.

seanmcdirmid 14y ago
Active digitizers aren't cheap, and are really great with one note (I have the Samsung tablet). My problem with this tablet is also that I can't use it as a laptop (literally, I like working on sofas at starbucks). On the other hand, the resolution looks quite promising, its almost retina! The good old tablet PCs have good digitizers on them, and they are still being made. I'm not sure what I will replace my EliteBook with...I like the digitizer but would prefer something thinner and bigger (like a Samsung Series 9 or a Carbon X1).
- sukuriant 14y ago
  Disclosure: Microsoft employee. I'm also a photographer in my spare time, and I'm looking forward to this device, in part because a friend of mine is an artist and she wanted me to evaluate it when it comes out to see if it's worth the money to her. The digitizer is definitely the biggest thing I want to test on the device. I'm hoping that the pen has pressure sensitivity, at least; and I'm hoping that it turns the screen off far enough from the screen that I can safely lift the pen a little bit before the touch screen turns back on again. Color accuracy will also be interesting; but, since it's an x86 device, I imagine we can install color correction software that will somewhat fix any issues there might be with that. (I have a very specific screen at home I use for color-accuracy. I'm very picky.) I own a Surface RT, too, with a type cover and have experience using it for ... well, I got it the day it came out. First things first, I've worked with the device on my lap. I have pretty long legs, so the stand sits just fine in my lap; and, while I do prefer to have a hard surface underneath it, like a logitech or targus laptop stand, it's plenty usable in this situation. I use the machine on my lap at a friend's house on their futon all the time. As for the "it's almost retina!" statement, the Surface Pro is going to be, for normal intents and purposes, retina at 17" away from your face(#). That's less than a normal laptop to face distance. For the Surface RT, I've personally find myself frequently having to raise the resolution of some webpages as they day goes on, because the text is too small to read. Using the same calculations as above, the Surface RT is "retina" at 23 inches. (#) http://isthisretina.com/ http://isthisretina.com/

r00fus 14y ago

Classic Microsoft rear-guard move to protect margins for Intel and their hardware chain (and consequently trying to prop up their desktop OS appeal as well) by trying to "tablet-ify" their existing offerings. Expect a bunch of Surface clones (MS approved) to hit the market soon afterwards. This strategy won't work. Many folks who would buy a Win8 Pro surface are likely going to just buy an ultrabook or netbook + iPad/Nexus/Fire instead. Microsoft shouldn't even be competing against Apple. They should be deathly afraid of Android. Apple doesn't want to turn iOS into a desktop-like experience, however a Asus Transformer did Surface before Microsoft did.

cooldeal 14y ago
>however a Asus Transformer did Surface before Microsoft did Can the Asus Transformer run Eclipse? If not, can it or will it, anytime soon?
- r00fus 14y ago
  No, but it can run AIDE: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aide.ui&hl=en https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aide.ui&#3...

daigoba66 14y ago

Specifications-wise (http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-8-pro/specifications http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-...) it's actually very similar to base models of the MacBook Air (perhaps actually smaller than the Air without the keyboard cover). At about $100 cheaper.

JVIDEL 14y ago

Compared to a similar ultrabook its not that expensive, the problem is that for the average joe on a store its a $999 tablet surrounded by $200-500 tablets. Maybe MSFT should have released a surface hybrid laptop-tablet instead. The kickstand+cover combo is great compared to other tablets but is not the same than a proper laptop keyboard.

TazeTSchnitzel 14y ago
There's the Type Cover, which is a proper keyboard as far as I understand it.

tmister 14y ago

How much space will it take for OS+Office+other default applications? If the situation is same as Surface RT then 64 GB Surface Pro is definitely not a good choice.

dagw 14y ago
How much space will it take for OS+Office+other default applications Exactly as much space as it takes up on your laptop.

joejohnson 14y ago

So it's basically as expensive as a MacBook Air, but not as polished or light-weight, and it comes with Windows 8? I'm still stuck on why I need something in between a tablet and a small laptop, especially when it costs as much as a nicer ultrabook.

simba-hiiipower 14y ago
expensiveness: yes, including the touch cover it'd be priced exactly in-line with the 11.8" mba with the same storage options polish: based on the design and build quality of the rt version i'd say it’s a pretty safe bet that the hardware will be plenty polished (that’s in my opinion of course; as a statement either way would be purely subjective..) light-weight: 2.0lbs [1] vs. mba at 2.38lbs [2], so no.. windows 8: i'm assuming you consider that a negative (or at least are implying that it’s somehow inferior to osx), but i can’t think of any other system that’s as flexible in supporting various input methods and usage scenarios that would be made available on such a device why: well i guess it depends on how you look at it. the way i see it is, unlike most tablets this is one that is also fully functional as a laptop/desktop (input methods, ports, connectivity, a fully-featured os that supports real multitasking and runs millions of applications) when you need it.. and, unlike most laptops/desktops, it’s also one that makes for an excellent tablet (touch input, pen/digitizer, increased portability, a fast/stable os with a nice touch-friendly interface).. benchmarking against the mba i find it pretty hard to not see value there. and you may not need this (apparently most people do not need mba’s either by the way), but for some it makes for a pretty great value proposition as it really could replace both a tablet and a traditional pc. [1] http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-rt/help-me-choose http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-... [2] http://www.apple.com/macbookair/specs.html http://www.apple.com/macbookair/specs.html edit: for some reason seeing those links next to one another made me laugh a bit; simplicity.

MechaJDI 14y ago

Definitely too expensive. I could have sworn that they claimed to keep the price under $800. Looks like I'll be waiting for either the inevitable price drop or fire sale for what would amount to a 2nd laptop for me. Knowing this, I don't understand why the ultrabooks are priced so exorbitantly despite them being "luxury" devices if they plan for people to actually buy them.

borlak 14y ago

Are these still "64gb" as in it's really 45gb with the OS files and such installed?

binarycrusader 14y ago
Yes, if you look at the specs page there's a disclaimer noting the OS takes up a significant amount of the space: Storage 64GB*, 128GB *System software uses significant storage space. Available storage is subject to change based on system software updates and apps usage. 1 GB = 1 billion bytes. See Surface.com/storage for more details.
- secalex 14y ago
  iOS is made out of Unicorn feathers and does not take any of the iPad's advertised space.
  - binarycrusader 14y ago
    I'm uncertain whom you're replying to as I never mentioned iOS nor implied anything about it. iOS does take less space than Windows at last check, but that's to be expected. I personally think it's pretty disingenuous that more vendors don't advertise the usable space instead of total space. I'm not thrilled about how much usable space I actually have left on my Nexus 7 16GB as an example...

softbuilder 14y ago

The marketplace isn't going to understand that this is more of a computer than an iPad. They need to hammer on "this runs Office".

steverb 14y ago
The only problem is that the RT also runs Office. I think the Pro looks good and I can't wait to get hands on one, but I suspect that if MS doesn't figure out how to market things it will die a swift death. On the other hand, MS is famous for continuing to do things they suck at until they get it right. One of the benefits of having deep pockets.
jfb 14y ago
In no wise is this "more of a computer" than an iPad (N7/Fire/&c.) It is a "Windows computer" in exactly the same way that an iPad is an "iOS computer". Thinking that "is a computer" is the same as "runs Windows" is why Microsoft is fighting the desperate, Surface-lead rear-guard action against encroachments on their turf.

mtgx 14y ago

After trying Windows 8, I'm not convinced "hybrids" are the future anymore. Everything about such a hybrid will be a compromise one way or the other. You won't get the best desktop experience as Windows 8 is annoying you with Metro, and you always have to bypass it, a 10" screen is pretty useless for any real work on a PC (too small). You'll also get about half or less the battery life of an ARM tablet (and probably several times less for idle time - an ARM tablet can last for days on a charge with light use). You also get too little storage for a desktop PC and for the price. It will get hot, and will get noise from the fans. It's 30% heavier than a 10" tablet, and people are already saying how the new iPad Mini will be the "real" iPad in the future because of its weight (half the weight of regular iPad) and size. And it's also too expensive for a tablet, if that's what you really want. Manufacturers are already saying they expect touchscreen hybrids to only be a small part of the ultrabook sales next year, and I think they got it right. Hybrids will only be a niche market, and not the "future" of tablet and PC's that Microsoft hopes it will be.

seanmcdirmid 14y ago
My old Sony 505g had a 10.4" screen and was plenty useful.

fumar 14y ago

As someone who likes to use Ableton Live and Adobe CS. This is exciting. I want to carry around a computer in the form of a tablet. I want to have pen input and USB. I am using Surface RT right now. Its not perfect. But all the things, I dislike are hopefully fixed with the pro. I do wish Apple made something similar.

marknutter 14y ago

Hey, cool! I had one of these back in 2003 when it was called a Tablet PC. Maybe they'll get it right this time.

fumar 14y ago

laura1066 14y ago

Wonder how long it might take for them to release an updated model, considering the Intel Haswell microarchitecture should be available around Q2 2013.

pixie_ 14y ago

Before even clicking the link, I thought to myself, 'What would I pay for a Windows 8 tablet?' Not more than $500 I thought. When I saw they priced it at $900 I laughed. Microsoft is a non-stop train wreck of misery at the moment. It's like Window ME and Windows Vista combined. I hope they come out of this beating with a renewed sense of reality. Maybe shed a few layers of management..

RobAtticus 14y ago
You can buy a Windows 8 tablet for $500: http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-rt/home http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-... This is closer to a Macbook Air competitor (with keyboard) in my opinion, that also has the ability to be a tablet and runs x86 applications. Given that, the price makes more sense.

moskie 14y ago

I don't get the general perspective that the concept of what the Surface Pro is trying to be is a pointless/undesirable thing. Now, I totally understand the Surface Pro and Windows 8 might not be a _good_ solution to a problem... but there is a problem. And that problem is that I have too many devices. I have a tablet. I have a laptop. And I have a desktop. They all serve their function well, but I do imagine that in the future all of these devices will be combined into one. I believe that's inevitable. The Surface Pro is trying to be this solution (again, whether it's a successful solution is TBD). A device with no keyboard when I want a tablet. Attach a keyboard when you need it for whatever reason when you're on the go. Throw it in a dock when you're at your desktop to get your main work done, with multiple monitors, a comfy desk and chair, etc. To scoff at this idea as not being a valid problem to tackle, and suggest the Surface Pro has no reason to even exist, seems short-sighted to me.

rmrfrmrf 14y ago
I disagree with your premise that 'all devices will be combined into one'. People want devices that do what they're built to do in the best way possible, not one device that tries to please everyone. That's why this idea of building a hybrid laptop-tablet drives me absolutely crazy: it is neither a good laptop nor a good tablet. The reviews of Surface confirm this. Think about it: where have you seen a good example of any of these hybrids? - Consumer Copier/Printer/Scanner/Fax machines - Integrated Graphics Cards - Integrated Sound Cards - Monitor/Speaker combos - Pants that zip off into shorts - Glittens - etc. etc. etc.
- moskie 14y ago
  You're cherry picking bad examples. Good examples I can think of include cameras and phones. The iMac. Hell, the computer as we know it combines things like typewriters, mail, televisions, record players, phones, etc. etc. etc.
- dpark 14y ago
  > where have you seen a good example of any of these hybrids? Did you try checking your pocket? You likely have a single device in your pocket right now that serves as a GPS, an MP3 player, a camera, a calendar, a clock, a calculator, a tiny computer for web browsing and email, oh, and also as a phone.

Irregardless 14y ago

You can have 50% of an Ultrabook for 100% of the price. Total savings of up to negative 50%! How could anyone resist? Only Apple can list 'Status Symbol' as one of the perks of their products, and I have a feeling that's one of the main features the average consumer wants in a tablet. Aside from the toy/gimmick factor and browsing the internet easily from bed (or the toilet), I'm just not seeing the mass appeal of these.

mertd 14y ago
It has an i5, pretty good screen, USB 3 and the light form factor. Which half is missing from the equation?

podperson 14y ago

Does anyone know how much free space is left on the 64GB model? WinRT takes up ~14GB on the 32GB non-pro Surface iirc.

jiggy2011 14y ago

Does anyone know how much RAM this thing has, since marketing speak has now taken "memory" to mean "storage space". What's funny is calling this a laptop since your lap is about the only place you can't use it (apart from as a tablet I suppose). It's really a portable desktop.

mandeepj 14y ago
They mentioned it very clearly - The device have 4 GB of RAM http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-8-pro/specifications http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-...
sukuriant 14y ago
4GM RAM (#) Also, I own a Surface RT and can use it on my lap. (#) http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-8-pro/specifications http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-...

rayiner 14y ago

I'm think that Microsoft erred severely in making a Surface RT in addition to a Surface Pro. Surface RT is too little. Why pay as much as an iPad and more than a Nexus 10 for a device with a last-generation screen and last-generation processor? Surface Pro is too much. There is a segment of people who would want to run full-fleged desktop apps on a touch-screen tablet, but I'm convinced that the number of those people is vanishingly small. The apparent usefulness of being able to run classic desktop apps decreases when you realize that the apps that won't work with Windows RT are by definition the ones that haven't been updated to be usable on a touch screen. Moreover, with the touch cover requiring a flat surface to use the keyboard, the whole "laptop replacement" angle goes out the window in a lot of situations where a 10.6" laptop would be very desirable (e.g. train commutes). It was a mistake from the beginning to have two lines. They should have focused on making one compelling product, instead of two severely compromised ones. Why are goodies like the 1080p screen bundled inextricably with the battery-destroying Ivy Bridge processor? Office is the key differentiator here, the "Windows ecosystem" is secondary. Surface should have been one device with a Clover Trail processor, 1080p screen, Office, and 8+ hours battery life. If Google can deliver the Nexus 10 at $400, Microsoft should have been able to deliver such a device at $600. Unfortunately, all of the OEM's are copying Microsoft's RT/Pro dichotomy. The Windows RT devices have low-resolution screens and last-generation processors, while the Windows Pro devices have battery-sucking Ivy Bridge processors. It's a distinction that maybe made sense to some marketing geek, but one that's totally non-sensical as a practical matter.

sliverstorm 14y ago

Do we know how thickness will compare to the RT? From the photos, this looks kind of thick.

sukuriant 14y ago
Microsoft says: Surface Pro: 10.81 x 6.81 x 0.53in 2lbs Surface RT: 10.81 x 6.77 x 0.37in 1.5lbs http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-rt/specifications http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-... and http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-8-pro/specifications http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US/surface-with-windows-...
- sliverstorm 14y ago
  Perfect. So it is, in fact, 43% thicker. Still pretty thin, but nice to know my eyes were not deceiving me.

secalex 14y ago

If that price included a full version of Office I would definitely get it myself. As priced, it's a no-brainer for the executive set who like to be seen with their iPads but get real work done on 5 pound, AD-joined, IT provisioned Dells. They already have volume licensed Office, and IT teams are going to make this a standard option for road-warriors and execs. I think the Hacker News set doesn't understand what it's like to work at a non-tech Fortune 500 company. Microsoft's goal isn't to replace the iPad on teenagers' Christmas lists, it's to protect the highly lucrative corporate market from further iPad (and eventually Mac) penetration. On that measure, the Surface Pro is going to crush it.

secalex 14y ago
To put it another way, you aren't going to see a lot of these at SXSW or at Ritual Coffee, but watch out National Association of Pharmaceutical Representatives!

numo16 14y ago

I could see this being an excellent on-the-go digital sculpting/modeling machine. If the digitizer is comparable to a Wacom, this would be great for zbrush.

bcoates 14y ago

Has anyone done disk benchmarks on the built-in NAND of either the RT or Pro? I've really gotten used to the performance difference between modern SATA SSDs and spinning disks, I'd hate to buy a surface and get performance of the bad old days.

yread 14y ago

> Surface with Windows 8 Pro will come with Intel’s next generation Core i5 processor So it's going to run Haswell?! Weren't those supposed to come out only a quarter after that?

netpenthe 14y ago

maybe it'll be good as a backup laptop. i just bought an X1 Carbon that needs to be sent back for repair.. i have done away with my desktop years ago so now i need a backup whilst my X1 is in repair.. the Surface Pro seems to fit this pretty well...