I’ve been reading quite a bit online about yesterday’s announcement for Microsoft’s Surface tablet. As I mentioned last night, I’m thrilled. But I can’t say the same for everyone else. For some inexplicable reason there’s a lot, and I mean a lot, of negative press online today in regards to Surface. Some are simply Microsoft haters, others Window haters, and of course there’s the Apple fanboys, and so on.
Many are comparing Surface to the iPad which is ridiculous as they’re completely different machines. That’s simply not the right comparison to make. I’ve written about my thoughts on that before so I won’t bore you by repeating myself here. Suffice it to say, one is a mobile OS and the other isn’t.
What I find most interesting about all the negativity is that Surface hasn’t even hit the shelves yet. We’re still months away from getting our hands on one of these beauties. I wonder how many of the “writers” I read today have spent any quality time with Microsoft’s new tablet? I’m going to step out on a limb here and say not many. How can one write about the negative aspects of something they’ve never used? It’s a mystery to me.
What Microsoft has done is join the fight. They’ve created a machine designed to meet the needs of Windows OS instead of trying to cram the OS into a new tablet; there’s a difference. Ignoring a couple of minor glitches during the keynote (video below), it’s apparent that they’ve put a lot of time, energy, effort and thought into not only the design of the tablet, but the Touch Cover and Keyboard Covers as well. They’ve tried to cover all aspects of the user’s needs. It’s clear to me that Microsoft has awakened from a decade’s long nap and decide to jump in with both feet.
I look at Surface and wonder if I can finally eliminate half the stuff in my travel bag. Microsoft has done what I’ve been asking for. They retooled Windows into a more touch friendly OS and built a tablet that’s designed for not only consumption, but production as well. Is it really that hard to see the benefits of having the power of a desktop machine in the compact design of a 10-inch tablet?
I have an iPad, two Android tablets (a rooted B&N Nook and a 7-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab), an HP TouchPad, and even a BlackBerry Playbook. All neat devices, but none can replace my Lenovo X201t convertible tablet PC. Not even close. Not a single one allows me the same functionality as a full blown tablet PC. With Surface that’s all changed. It’s a new game and I for one am looking forward to being a participant.
Regardless of the future of the Microsoft Surface tablet, I can guarantee you one thing: I will have a Surface Pro tablet the minute it goes on sale. I can’t wait to get my hands on one. It’s really that simple.
Leave a Reply