I doubt MS can make a $200 windows tablet any time soon and that's the price point they will need to hit.
Two things:
1) Why do you think they need to hit a $200 price point? The Surface isn't competing against the Nexus 7. It's competing against the iPad.
2) You don't think MS could make a $200 7" tablet if they wanted to. Asus has the supply chain efficiency to do it but Microsoft wouldn't? I'd wager that you're completely wrong here.
Besides nearly everyone who wanted an iPad or iPhone probably has one by now, even if they normally use a PC.
And what about the people like me that have been wanting to purchase a tablet but don't want an oversized iPod? I actually want to be able to get work done on my tablet. I actually want to run more than one app on the screen at once. I actually want to use a digitizer and stylus and I multiple people at work that feel the same way, that aren't happy with the lack of functionality with the iPad. People WANT these things and nobody except for Samsung (Galaxy Note 10.1) is providing them. There is a HUGE market for people that actually want to get things done on a mobile device other than basic keyboard input.
I think Windows 8 will drive millions of PC owning, happy iPad/iPhone users into the arms of Apple rather than entice them them to ditch their iPads and buy a Windows 8 Tablet. They are already tempted and if they have to learn something new, it may as well be Apples OS.
How much is Apply paying you by the way? I hope it's enough to cover that new miniPad that Steve said was DOA.
The crop of PCs from the last 3 or 4 years are already overpowered for most home users.
You just hit the nail on the head. This is exactly why Microsoft is forging ahead into the mobile space. There isn't any more need for increased desktop paradigm. When the vast majority of the populations interactions with a computing device are checking Facebook, playing small/simple games, and browsing the internet what benefits Microsoft more? Continuing an antiquated desktop paradigm or investing into touch-friendly, cloud-storage-based mobile interfaces? Ask yourself that question and answer it fairly. Try to keep your staggering Apple bias out of it.
It's pretty obvious that Microsoft's ultimate goal here is to create an Apple-like walled garden. Initially, the wall won't be as high but there will be a wall. Don't forget this. They desperately want a successful iTunes/Apps Store/Google Play, etc...
News flash, corporations exist to make money. You aren't blowing anyone's mind here.
Apart from "metro" There's little in Windows 8 that couldn't have been included in a Win 7 SP2. And nothing important that you can't already do in Windows 7 with a few downloads.
Y'know, aside from the OS running on shittier hardware than the one before it. I get that kind of stuff from service packs and downloads all time.
Nobody asked for this.
This is where you're completely wrong. The entirety of the computing industry has asked for this. The vast majority of people don't need bleeding fast desktops, you said this yourself. Obviously people value mobility, connectivity, touch interfaces, etc. Microsoft isn't worried about the current Enterprise market. All these IT "pros" here on Slashdot should know this but they keep beating on this "I'll never install Windows 8 on a corporate computer. It's terrible and will kill Microsoft" drumbeat. Apple has proven that the Halo effect works, if you capture the consumer market it will bleed over into the enterprise market.
Patents are open to the public. Patent licensing agreements however are not. How is this hard to understand?
Between your childish use of 'M$' and your complete lack of knowledge about what the article is about it seems pretty obvious which side you're on.
Also, Microsoft is scared? What the hell Slashdot. This used to be the place I came for real tech news. Not some user's blatant bias.
Slashdot Mirror
shoving "Metro" down everyone's throats.
Looks like we know what news channel you watch.
I doubt MS can make a $200 windows tablet any time soon and that's the price point they will need to hit.
Two things: 1) Why do you think they need to hit a $200 price point? The Surface isn't competing against the Nexus 7. It's competing against the iPad. 2) You don't think MS could make a $200 7" tablet if they wanted to. Asus has the supply chain efficiency to do it but Microsoft wouldn't? I'd wager that you're completely wrong here.
Besides nearly everyone who wanted an iPad or iPhone probably has one by now, even if they normally use a PC.
And what about the people like me that have been wanting to purchase a tablet but don't want an oversized iPod? I actually want to be able to get work done on my tablet. I actually want to run more than one app on the screen at once. I actually want to use a digitizer and stylus and I multiple people at work that feel the same way, that aren't happy with the lack of functionality with the iPad. People WANT these things and nobody except for Samsung (Galaxy Note 10.1) is providing them. There is a HUGE market for people that actually want to get things done on a mobile device other than basic keyboard input.
I think Windows 8 will drive millions of PC owning, happy iPad/iPhone users into the arms of Apple rather than entice them them to ditch their iPads and buy a Windows 8 Tablet. They are already tempted and if they have to learn something new, it may as well be Apples OS.
How much is Apply paying you by the way? I hope it's enough to cover that new miniPad that Steve said was DOA.
The crop of PCs from the last 3 or 4 years are already overpowered for most home users.
You just hit the nail on the head. This is exactly why Microsoft is forging ahead into the mobile space. There isn't any more need for increased desktop paradigm. When the vast majority of the populations interactions with a computing device are checking Facebook, playing small/simple games, and browsing the internet what benefits Microsoft more? Continuing an antiquated desktop paradigm or investing into touch-friendly, cloud-storage-based mobile interfaces? Ask yourself that question and answer it fairly. Try to keep your staggering Apple bias out of it.
It's pretty obvious that Microsoft's ultimate goal here is to create an Apple-like walled garden. Initially, the wall won't be as high but there will be a wall. Don't forget this. They desperately want a successful iTunes/Apps Store/Google Play, etc...
News flash, corporations exist to make money. You aren't blowing anyone's mind here.
Apart from "metro" There's little in Windows 8 that couldn't have been included in a Win 7 SP2. And nothing important that you can't already do in Windows 7 with a few downloads.
Y'know, aside from the OS running on shittier hardware than the one before it. I get that kind of stuff from service packs and downloads all time.
Nobody asked for this.
This is where you're completely wrong. The entirety of the computing industry has asked for this. The vast majority of people don't need bleeding fast desktops, you said this yourself. Obviously people value mobility, connectivity, touch interfaces, etc. Microsoft isn't worried about the current Enterprise market. All these IT "pros" here on Slashdot should know this but they keep beating on this "I'll never install Windows 8 on a corporate computer. It's terrible and will kill Microsoft" drumbeat. Apple has proven that the Halo effect works, if you capture the consumer market it will bleed over into the enterprise market.
Wasn't the Mojave project a pretty big success?
MetroAG is the fifth largest retailer in the world. I'm pretty sure it has a little something to do with that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metro_AG
Patents are open to the public. Patent licensing agreements however are not. How is this hard to understand? Between your childish use of 'M$' and your complete lack of knowledge about what the article is about it seems pretty obvious which side you're on. Also, Microsoft is scared? What the hell Slashdot. This used to be the place I came for real tech news. Not some user's blatant bias.