Microsoft Surface pricing

Pretty rubbish pricing considering you will be buying a product with an underdeveloped app ecosystem. I guess the pricing is high because they don't want to kill the sales of partner devices. I'd rather just wait for the Surface 2 or get something else.

The Surface Pro on the other hand is quite a cool product provided it doesn't cost too much. Atleast with that you can use existing Windows applications, which is kinda the whole dream behind choosing a Microsoft tablet over Android or IOS in the first place.

In a year or so the ecosystem will mature and it'll be very compelling - but not yet.
 
Well on the one hand yes, on the other hand.. this is a full fledged Windows tablet we're talking about, and the specs are really great, and the build quality looks better than 90% of other tablets esp anything in the Android space and most of what's out there for Windows8. The touch keyboard case is genuinely exciting actually. So it could be compelling.
 
cerebus said:
Well on the one hand yes, on the other hand.. this is a full fledged Windows tablet we're talking about, and the specs are really great, and the build quality looks better than 90% of other tablets esp anything in the Android space and most of what's out there for Windows8. The touch keyboard case is genuinely exciting actually. So it could be compelling.
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The Surface RT is not a full fledged Windows tablet in the traditional sense, because it can't run traditional Windows apps other than office. Microsoft aren't allowing app devs to run their existing desktop apps on Windows RT even if they port them to ARM, they have to build for metro.

I've been running Windows 8 for month and haven't yet seen metro apps good enough to warrant being stuck in metro all the time. In 6 months to a year perhaps, but not yet.
 
Zyzzyva said:
I've been running Windows 8 for month and haven't yet seen metro apps good enough to warrant being stuck in metro all the time. In 6 months to a year perhaps, but not yet.
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That is because not all the apps are available yet. Only a select few that Microsoft hand picked, is available right now.
 
AlphaJohn said:
That is because not all the apps are available yet. Only a select few that Microsoft hand picked, is available right now.
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Yeah, i'm really interested to see what devs have come up with.
 
You can be sure that on launch day there will be a raft load of things on the store...

I want to see the pricing on the Pro version tbh, because its more where I want to me, and if I can run a second monitor on it then my home PC may just fall by the wayside.
 
One thing I really like is how much choice their is for a potential Windows 8 tablet. I want one an x86 based one, so that cuts out some options at least. The Sony Vaio DUO 11" slider is looking like my best bet at the moment, though I still need to check out the offerings from Asus and Samsung. Would like a stylus as well, which I think the Surface Pro will have. Oh, to be so spoilt for choice :)
 
Although I think the price is steep I would buy one the moment it becomes available in SA. This also opens up the opportunity to develop software for the new Modern/Metro Windows platform running on WinRT - for which the market would just grow over the next few years.
 
Nuro said:
It's difficult to switch platforms once you have already started investing in paid apps for either iOS/Android
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Depends.how much did you really spend on those apps? I don't think I've crossed the R200 mark yet (excluding books and magazines that are cross platform).

To me, as bad as I want one, it's just not worth spending THAT much money to replace a device that does similar functions. Same with the Windows Phones. I'm not a marketing expert but I'd assume that going in at a cheaper price to gain market share and raising it later is a way better approach in the long run than just being expensive from the start.

So now I am stuck again, do I replace this iPad with an Android or Win8 device. Hmmmmm...?
 
Hamster said:
Depends.how much did you really spend on those apps? I don't think I've crossed the R200 mark yet (excluding books and magazines that are cross platform).

To me, as bad as I want one, it's just not worth spending THAT much money to replace a device that does similar functions. Same with the Windows Phones. I'm not a marketing expert but I'd assume that going in at a cheaper price to gain market share and raising it later is a way better approach in the long run than just being expensive from the start.

So now I am stuck again, do I replace this iPad with an Android or Win8 device. Hmmmmm...?
Click to expand...

Just one app would put you close to that number, Look at the Office applications going for R120 a pop, then add Offline GPS like Garmin or TomTom and you hit the R500 mark. We haven't even started with other productivity apps like DSL Controllers or Back-up software, never mind Games. You will be suprised how quick the little R2-R10's can build up to a hefty number.

Other items that can lock you down even more is Docks and home eco systems, cradles and car kits. So yeah if you add up everything it really does become an issue when switching ecosystems.
 
AlphaJohn said:
Just one app would put you close to that number, Look at the Office applications going for R120 a pop, then add Offline GPS like Garmin or TomTom and you hit the R500 mark. We haven't even started with other productivity apps like DSL Controllers or Back-up software, never mind Games. You will be suprised how quick the little R2-R10's can build up to a hefty number.

Other items that can lock you down even more is Docks and home eco systems, cradles and car kits. So yeah if you add up everything it really does become an issue when switching ecosystems.
Click to expand...

OK well if you went all out and bought a crap load of stuff that is different. Me... Waze, Google Docs etc. cheap or free apps.
 
sounds a bit on the expensive side :-(
as we all know the price will be ramped up quite a bit when becoming available here.
sounds like it will still be quite a bit more than iPad/Android, so probly still not in same market.
Still... i guess, with current pricing of Win7 tablets >R11K, the new Win8 tablets, coming at same price level (for the Pro version)
it could be an improvement... win8 on tablet is way better than win7
hopefully we can at least get proper Win8 drivers for current Dell & Fujitsu (win7) tablets
 
CeeBee said:
sounds a bit on the expensive side :-(
as we all know the price will be ramped up quite a bit when becoming available here.
sounds like it will still be quite a bit more than iPad/Android, so probly still not in same market.
Still... i guess, with current pricing of Win7 tablets >R11K, the new Win8 tablets, coming at same price level (for the Pro version)
it could be an improvement... win8 on tablet is way better than win7
hopefully we can at least get proper Win8 drivers for current Dell & Fujitsu (win7) tablets
Click to expand...

I worked on one of those Dell Win7 tablets...most painful experience I've ever had to endure on any sort of computing device. Win7 is simply TERRIBLE on touch devices.
 
You could always fake it, till it becomes something worth getting?

Cheap older gen iPad, or Android tablet + (Splashtop & Win8 PC) and you have the full power of Windows 8 on your tablet with full gesture & touch support.
 
Hamster said:
I worked on one of those Dell Win7 tablets...most painful experience I've ever had to endure on any sort of computing device. Win7 is simply TERRIBLE on touch devices.
Click to expand...
yeah, Win7 is really not optimal for tablet.... but with Win8 on the Lattitude ST, its like a totally different machine.
Even the Fujitsu Q550 is much improved with Win8... but still not all 100% working drivers from Dell/FJ website.
so hopefully they can update drivers, for us who already have the windows tablets.
for new units will rather go for proper win8 tablets.
still had hoped they'd come in closer to ipad pricing.... guess its still Microsoft, and still Windows, so they expect us to pay more :-)
 
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