8 replies to this topic

[Jesse]

Hi Guys,

I really enjoyed the show and wanted to share some thoughts on the Surface.

As far as apps go I heard on either Entertainment 2.0 or the The End User that metro apps will work on both the RT and the full versions of windows 8. So, as Martis said, if you buy a metro app in either system it will work in the other. If I am not mistaken Microsoft will be including an RT version of office for the RT device. That is pretty huge.

It is my understanding that full blown x86 apps are not going to run on the RT version. So the question was asked, 'why would I buy the RT version if I cannot run a full on x86 app ?' (paraphrase). I would respond to that by saying that there is a very large segment of the population that don't run anything more than a browser and dont want to. Think of the user experience on an iPad vs. a full computer (pc or mac). A lot of people just want the iPad experience. A computer is like having a car. It is a powerful appliance that can take you anywhere you want whenever you want, but it is expensive to buy and maintain. An iPad is like public transportation, it will only take you a few places, but all the costs are covered by the tiny fare you pay. More than that, there is no 'brain damage.' You just pay your fare and ride. If you don't need to go anywhere besides where public transport can take you why would you buy a car? That is not me, or any of the group that listens to your show. Not to say I would not have a use for such a device, but I could not operate with only such a device.

I am thinking of my mom, my dad, my inlaws, a lot of the people I work with along with a big chunk of the folks who plunked down $500 or more dollars on an ipad. To your point, however, I still do not recommend an iPad to these people. The reasons are flash, pictures/home movies, and the fact that I still don't consider an iOS device to be a stand alone solution. In spite of cloud storage you still need a pc or mac to back these things up or clean them up if you need to re-format. The minute they discover that they cannot view some site on the internet because it is flash based, or that they cannot download the pics from their digital camera straight to the device, or that it has somehow become FUBAR and they need a computer to re-format it they are going to feel that it does not meet their needs and was to some extent a waste of money.

So what would Surface RT need to do to be a device I could recommend to someone who does not need or want a full on computer? It needs to be able to do most everything an iPad can do plus handle flash, download pics either directly from a camera or its media, and not need a pc for backup, setup, or re-formatting. If it will do these things, or even most of them, for around $500 it should be a winner. So I am hoping it will be more like an inexpensive taxi. Much cheaper than owning a car, but more flexible than riding the bus.

The apps will, of course, be a huge issue. If MS fails to attract the best apps to metro then this whole venture will fail.

My .02.

Jesse

[no-control]

Thanks for the comments!

To your last paragraph you're in luck. AFAIK Windows RT will support flash, has USB to download from a camera and Microsoft provides that ability to wipe the OS without touching your data or to blow out the whole device without the need to be connected to another PC. Though I do have to say who still uses a camera? By now everyone should be using their phone and cloud services for pictures. My WP7 will auto push pictures to my skydrive.I think its time to kill off the point and shoot. I don't think the SurfaceRT HAS to be $499. The top selling iPAD is $599 (32GB WiFi) followed closely by the $730 (32GB LTE) model. So if they can hit somewhere between $500-$600 I think they are in business. Leave the low end to their partners.

[pcdoc]

Jesse,

Thanks for the comments and your thoughts. I really do not disagree and I hope for their sake that you guys are absolutely write. I really want them to succeed at this to stem new competition and innovation. The one gaping omission (at least from MS) is the exclusion of an LTE option on these devices. Granted our moms are not going to carry these around but many people do and it would have been nice to offer it on either model. Getting past all this and assuming we can tether to our phones, my largest fear is Windows 8 itself. I hope they address many of the bugs and do a better job with the data integration then Apple did. Had apple addressed data sharing and integration, they would be unstoppable, and this is MS opportunity to show the world how different devices are supposed to work together.

[ikon]

Though I do have to say who still uses a camera? By now everyone should be using their phone and cloud services for pictures. My WP7 will auto push pictures to my skydrive.I think its time to kill off the point and shoot.

It may, perhaps, be time to kill off the Point N Shoot (although there are some coming on the market now that blow phone cameras right out of the water). However, there are still tons of people for whom a phone camera, or a Point N Shoot, are wholly inadequate. They want a whole lot more from their gear. Phone cameras and Point N Shoots have their place, but they don't satisfy the needs of a number of market segments.

[no-control]

What's you point? Not trying to be rude, I just don't see what you're trying to point out?

If you want to take serious pictures your not using a phone or a point n shoot. Although on a few occasions I've seen fools with 3" telephoto lenses strapped to their iPhone....
If you want a whole lot more from your gear then you're most likely using an SLR or something similar. You're also not using a tablet to edit them at that level you're using pro or prosumer grade gear. Like a laptop, desktop or slate. Not a tablet.

[ikon]

Not taking it as rude. I was just commenting on your statement, "...who still uses a camera?", not, "...who still uses a Point N Shoot?" or "...who still uses a low end camera?"

Some might think you meant any camera. I know that wasn't your intent, but it could be interpreted that way pretty easily. I simply wanted to clarify that the statement doesn't apply to more serious photography.

[no-control]

Agreed!

[Joe_Miner]

Finally got to listen to your show today while working outside (102 degrees right now from a high earlier of 105! -- it's not a dry heat it's about 70% humidity ) and then putting some time on the treadmill.

Great show Mike, Michael, and Tim!

Thanks!

[pcdoc]

Finally got to listen to your show today while working outside (102 degrees right now from a high earlier of 105! -- it's not a dry heat it's about 70% humidity ) and then putting some time on the treadmill.

Great show Mike, Michael, and Tim!

Thanks!

Thanks, appreciate the feedback.