Microsoft Surface South Africa launch window announced

good news, for the Pro to come here.
still sucks that it takes so long to get here when the Samsung Ativ PC tablet with Win8 Pro has been available long time already... and works really well as it is, even though only Atom CPU
 
Last edited:
gotta wait to see Rand prices....
US$ price quotes tend to grow disproportionately when it eventually lands here....
 
I read articles like these and I think to myself... Microsoft is not really serious about tablets.

I can try and tell non-technical people about how they should consider a MS tablet. They just stare at me and blink. It cost twice as much as an Apple iPad. And even if you manage to convince them the thing is not actually even available to be bought. People in our company have actually started to switch to iPads as their primary computing device. And it is working for them, people can see it is working for them and are sold on the iPad.

So I have to wonder.. why the delay in launching in this market? Are the device selling so well overseas that they don't have enough stock?
 
My bet is it will launch on 31/12/2013:D
 
Johand said:
I read articles like these and I think to myself... Microsoft is not really serious about tablets.

I can try and tell non-technical people about how they should consider a MS tablet. They just stare at me and blink. It cost twice as much as an Apple iPad.
Click to expand...

Please let me know where I can get a 32GB iPad for around R2283. :) My grandmother wants a cheap iPad and I've been looking for good deals.

And even if you manage to convince them the thing is not actually even available to be bought. People in our company have actually started to switch to iPads as their primary computing device. And it is working for them, people can see it is working for them and are sold on the iPad.
Click to expand...

What kind of business are you in where people can use an iPad as their primary computing device? I can see a couple of types of businesses where this is possible. The biggest drawback that I've seen so far is that people don't want to move over to iPads because they can't find alternatives to the software that they are using. Especially with custom software.

So I have to wonder.. why the delay in launching in this market? Are the device selling so well overseas that they don't have enough stock?
Click to expand...
I've also wondered about that. Silly Microsoft. :(
 
I'm definitely going to buy a second generation Win Pro (when released), now if only FNB could get them as fast as they pick up apple products :/
 
This is still no proof that the Pro will even come here. Let's see how the RT does first.
 
What a coincidence!! I've been thinking of getting the Pro off bid or buy. Some dude is flogging them for R13k there for the 128GB, and the article states R9k at current rates!!! I'm so gonna get one :D
 
Some people seem to think because the surface pro has an i5 processor inside it, this automatically results in dunking your keyboard mouse and PC in the trash can.

This is not true, though the surface pro is definitely quick, most people will find it frustrating to use that small form factor for anything serious, which defeats the purpose of it in the first place.

I'm currently using a cheap tablet for testing (the tablet itself is under testing at my company), its equipped with the same specs as the surface (i5, 4gb ram, ssd etc) but I loaf testing our enterprise Metro App on it because it is incredibly uncomfortable to hold and use for such serious work.

The tablet I'm using is made from plastic, and has a docking mechanism just like the Asus Transformer (extended battery)

Even though its made from plastic its quite heavy, way more heavy than an iPad.

The only reason I could think of using the surface pro if you have some serious budget, need to be mobile, not use it for hardcore work like Auto CAD etc.

Otherwise a good laptop (for that price anyway) will smoke it.

EDIT: I edited this post as I misunderstood the post about the tablet pricing, the surface pricing will be slightly more expensive than an iPad.

Unfortunately everyone sees the iPad as a premium product, selling the surface RT tablet at that price wont work well for MS here.
 
Last edited:
Really Microsoft? A year later we get tech that no one in the entire world wants to buy? Gosh, we're so lucky.
PS: I too was excited about the Surface Pro... until I read the reviews - for those still excited about it pick any respected tech site, read the review, and then come back to us. And then there's the RT version - a tablet on which you can do absolutely nothing (Blackberry Playbook anybody?)
 
oronte said:
Really Microsoft? A year later we get tech that no one in the entire world wants to buy? Gosh, we're so lucky.
PS: I too was excited about the Surface Pro... until I read the reviews - for those still excited about it pick any respected tech site, read the review, and then come back to us. <snip>
Click to expand...

Challenge accepted! :D

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2013/02/25/final-review-microsoft-surface-pro/
http://reviews.cnet.com/microsoft-surface-pro/
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/...rfect-windows-8-hybrid-laptop-tablet-who-can/
http://www.penny-arcade.com/2013/02/25/the-ms-surface-pro
http://www.tabletpcreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3921&news=Microsoft-Surface-Pro-Review
http://www.wired.com/geekmom/2013/02/surface-pro/

Quick google and now I'm back. :p
 
for real work on a tablet, you still need to connect keyboard, mouse, and monitor, and for companies (like ours) where wifi doesnt give access to the AD network, a LAN cable connection too .
luckily on windows tablet, all these connections are available, albeit with adapter for video and lan.
but all that add cost.
tablet only is really just for mobile use.
 
Solitude said:
Please let me know where I can get a 32GB iPad for around R2283. :) My grandmother wants a cheap iPad and I've been looking for good deals.
Click to expand...

Because there is no point to the WinRT tablet. If you can't run your existing applications, join it to domain or any of the other things Windows does you might as well get an iPad.

Even if you convince somebody to get the tablet based on the fact that it is "Windows" (even though for the use it won't be)... the mere fact that it is a reduced functionality version of something else (Surface Pro) will mean most users will get annoyed. Even if it does everything the iPad does. It is not about logic... it is about perception.

So no... I didn't even consider the WinRT versions and promptly ignored their pricing. I will definitely not replace my current iPad with a WinRT device - no point. But I might consider replacing it with a Win x86 device though.

And yes ... it is not fair towards MS...but user perceptions are user perceptions.
 
Solitude said:
Challenge accepted! :D

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonevangelho/2013/02/25/final-review-microsoft-surface-pro/
http://reviews.cnet.com/microsoft-surface-pro/
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/reviews/...rfect-windows-8-hybrid-laptop-tablet-who-can/
http://www.penny-arcade.com/2013/02/25/the-ms-surface-pro
http://www.tabletpcreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3921&news=Microsoft-Surface-Pro-Review
http://www.wired.com/geekmom/2013/02/surface-pro/

Quick google and now I'm back. :p
Click to expand...

Well I stand corrected, all the early reviews I read seemed to be quite negative, I guess either the software issues were solved or it's grown on reviewers who've spent more time with it. Perhaps it merits a second look. Still think the price is too high (unless MS bring it in SA for less, also assuming they actually bring the Surface Pro to SA). I stand by my words on RT though.
 
The terrible battery life is a dealbreaker for me. What's the point of having a tablet if it has to spend most of it's time tethered to a power cable?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X