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Hands On With The Microsoft Surface Tablet

Hands On With The Microsoft Surface Tablet
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Surface for Windows: RT Edition

Microsoft announced that it will bring two of its own tablets (no OEM branding in sight) to the masses in the near future. While the Pro model might not appear until 2013, the RT tablet will launch either alongside or shortly after Windows 8 this Fall. We got up close and personal with the RT model at Microsoft's Surface event today, and got some limited hands- and eyes-on time with the hardware.

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  • 0 Ð
    southernshark , June 19, 2012 10:00 PM
    I mean it is slightly interesting.... with a certain day late dollar short feel to it.

    The real issue will be price. The ARM tablet has to price in the same range or lower than an Ipad 2 (not Ipad 3).

    The x86 version still needs to price sub $600.

    I suspect MS will price both tablets above what I have quoted and will essentially price themselves out of the market.
  • 1 Ð
    mcd023 , June 19, 2012 10:47 PM
    I think the RT is going to be 1366x768, since that is the minimum resolution for snapped apps/windows
  • 1 Ð
    mcd023 , June 19, 2012 10:59 PM
    mcd023I think the RT is going to be 1366x768, since that is the minimum resolution for snapped apps/windows

    never mind. it is going to be 1280x800. weird. Though the Pro version makes me really want it. I can't wait to swap my iPad for a Win8 system (assuming that a pilot chart app comes soon).
  • 0 Ð
    jhansonxi , June 20, 2012 1:34 AM
    It interesting to read comments on all the other news articles about these. Many clueless fanatics are saying these are better than the iPad because of the number of Windows applications available. Obviously that's not true for the RT version since it is not x86 compatible. I expect there will be many complaints by people who buy the RT version to play Crysis. :D 

    I like the keyboard/cover concept but can't see anyone typing on the touch version for long periods of time. It's good enough for the occasional email.

    Note to TH webmasters: Having the slideshow change slides whenever I use arrow keys in a text box is really annoying, especially when they change the height of the slide frame and cause the whole page content to move up and down.
  • 0 Ð
    egmccann , June 20, 2012 1:52 AM
    Have to agree about the "day late" feel, price being a potential issue - and somewhat about the keyboard, though it's the same concept as my brother's Android tablet (and his cover with a keyboard built in) - just as flat, but for quick input now and again, works fine.

    I can't help but wonder if having two versions of the tablet (RT and Pro) isn't going to end up coming back to bite them, though. "My Windows 8 tablet can't run XYZ!" "Sure, mine can!" Cue call to tech support for "broken" tablets... or maybe I'm just pessimistic.

    As much as I don't like Win8 on the desktop, I am looking forward to seeing how it behaves and feels on a tablet.
  • 0 Ð
    dconnors , June 20, 2012 5:14 AM
    mcd023never mind. it is going to be 1280x800. weird. Though the Pro version makes me really want it. I can't wait to swap my iPad for a Win8 system (assuming that a pilot chart app comes soon).


    The RT might be 1366x768. I guessed 1280x800 in the article because most 10-inch tablets use that rez right now.
    -Devin Connors, Tom's Guide
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