Surface tablet anyone?

[obgyn65]

Is anyone going to buy the new Surface tablet ? Microsoft Store Online

I think I may get one, even if I bought an iPad a few months ago...

 

[Midpack]

I'm anxious to see one, along with Windows 8 in person, but I'm reserving judgement. My '08 Dell PC and iPad are serving me well enough...so I'd probably have to be blown away by Microsofts new products.

 

[GrayHare]

Yup, but waiting for Windows 8 compatibility. Looks like only Windows RT is available for the tablet initially.

 

[ERD50]

I like the fact it has HDMI, a USB port, and micro-SD. The lack of some of those makes the iPad less attractive for the way I would want to use it (more like a 'regular' computer from time to time).

But I'll probably hold out for an Android or other Linux-based tablet, but I'm in no rush.

-ERD50

 

[MichaelB]

I like the fact it has HDMI, a USB port, and micro-SD. The lack of some of those makes the iPad less attractive for the way I would want to use it (more like a 'regular' computer from time to time).
-ERD50

I agree. No rush to buy but happy this product & feature set are coming to market.

 

[obgyn65]

Surface is not running Windows 8 ? Not sure if I am missing something... According to CBS News, "Microsoft's Surface tablet features a 10.6-inch display, a full version of the Windows 8 operating system, Gorilla Glass, a built in kickstand and a tactile multi-touch keyboard."
Microsoft Surface tablet, Windows 8 coming Oct. 26 - CBS News

Yup, but waiting for Windows 8 compatibility. Looks like only Windows RT is available for the tablet initially.

 

[GrayHare]

Microsoft's site is currently accepting pre-orders for the Surface w/RT only. Unless I missed it, the Surface with Windows 8 says "Coming Soon". Perhaps that will be Oct 26; I saw no specific date at Microsoft's site.

 

[obgyn65]

I just checked Microsoft's website. You are correct.

Help me choose which Windows tablet is best for me - Microsoft Surface

Microsoft's site is currently accepting pre-orders for the Surface w/RT only. Unless I missed it, the Surface with Windows 8 says "Coming Soon". Perhaps that will be Oct 26; I saw no specific date at Microsoft's site.

 

[samclem]

I'll probably get some kind of Windows tablet after Win 8 is out for awhile. I'll let others work the bugs out (I happily skipped right over Vista), avoid the early-adopter "tax" on new hardware, and buy from a reliable non-Microsoft hardware manufacturer. A "when you need it" keyboard with the thin-ness and touch-screen of a tablet sounds great, especially if I can get the USB port my iPad lacks.

 

[explanade]

They're thicker and heavier, especially the Pro versions.

But yeah if you want to run Photoshop or some PC program, they do offer an alternative.

I think they're more suited for using on tables instead of being held though. Some W8 tablets are being called "tabletops."

 

[photoguy]

It's not clear to me what this would offer over an iPad. Given the large body of apps already available for iOS and the existing integration I don't see a compelling reason to switch.

 

[obgyn65]

There are some applications such as Practice Fusion EMR which I need to access remotely. Practice Fusion is not available on IPad.

It's not clear to me what this would offer over an iPad. Given the large body of apps already available for iOS and the existing integration I don't see a compelling reason to switch.

 

[Midpack]

There are some applications such as Practice Fusion EMR which I need to access remotely. Practice Fusion is not available on IPad.

I take it this isn't it iPad EMR | Secure iPad EHR Software.

 

[obgyn65]

I actually called them a few weeks ago. Practice Fusion is not ready for iPad yet. The only way to run PF on iPad is to use a link application onto a PC which you access remotely from your iPad. Too much of headache for me, so I will wait for Surface instead.

I take it this isn't it iPad EMR | Secure iPad EHR Software.

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

It's not clear to me what this would offer over an iPad. Given the large body of apps already available for iOS and the existing integration I don't see a compelling reason to switch.

Ding ding ding! Nokia and RIM have already discovered the power of a fully fleshed out ecosystem. Its not about the device anymore.

I suspect these will be a niche product for people who need a specific application that you can really only get on windows. The non intel hardware and new version of windows for it means lots and lots and lots of compatibility issues, without reducing the cost or providing any meaningful advantages over more mature products from companies with an actual ecosystem, like apple, amazon and google.

It seems that microsoft's product strategy is "wait for years after someone has a working product, then clone it, shove windows onto it and hope for the best".

 

[rbmrtn]

There are some applications such as Practice Fusion EMR which I need to access remotely. Practice Fusion is not available on IPad.

I have some folks using eclinicalworks. They were sold it with the promise you could use it on an IPAD ( haha ). I've been trying to explain to them why it doesn't work. You could remote desktop from it via terminal server but that requires all the setup/hardware for that.

I think windows 8 will be right up there with windows ME as a flop. I've been running prerelease 8 on some standard hardware. I don't see any business user moving to it because you can't do any work with it.

I think you might try something with Win 7, in either a tablet or tablet PC form.

For a cheap android tablet, this looks interesting...

Amazon.com: Ainol Novo 7 Aurora II 1GB RAM/ 16GB Android 4.0 Tablet PC, Dual Core 1.5GHz CPU & GPU Structure: Computers & Accessories

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

I think windows 8 will be right up there with windows ME as a flop. I've been running prerelease 8 on some standard hardware. I don't see any business user moving to it because you can't do any work with it.

I agree, its ME and Vista all over again, although vista was somewhat less crappy than ME.

I don't see much reason to go to win8 unless you have more than 4 cores (the win8 scheduler is better) or you're hankering for a small improvement in kernel speed. I ran the preview for a while...basically win7 with an annoying phone interface wrapped around it, and with the phone interface turned off, its windows 7 only with compatibility issues and bugs.

They should call it 'windows meh'.

I'll keep 7 on my existing machines that are all newish, and see whats around in ~3 years when I buy or build again.

 

[rbmrtn]

I'll keep 7 on my existing machines that are all newish, and see whats around in ~3 years when I buy or build again.

I use linux for the most part and would get more people to switch to if wasn't for the fact that most small bizs are setup around using a specific piece of software. For accounting, billing, practice management, inventory... you name it. It's likely a windoze only product, a lot times it's still only supported on XP ( which is fine, since it works ) so they ain't movin...

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

I use linux for the most part and would get more people to switch to if wasn't for the fact that most small bizs are setup around using a specific piece of software. For accounting, billing, practice management, inventory... you name it. It's likely a windoze only product, a lot times it's still only supported on XP ( which is fine, since it works ) so they ain't movin...

It always sounds good, but I've never been able to install linux on a machine without hunting for drivers and editing 12 configuration files, plus getting razzed by teenagers on support forums when you ask a question.

I've had all sorts of issues ranging from "There is no driver for that device" to "there is one, but its not open source so its not included, and you have to download it by hand and tweak the configuration files to make it work".

I'm sure if I did it 30-40 times, I'd get the hang of everything thats needed. I've been using unix products since the '70's, so basic understanding isnt the problem.

I've actually had better luck hackintoshing machines instead of putting ubuntu on them.

 

[explanade]

Supposedly iPads are popular with doctors. But maybe more so for browsing and entertainment than actual work software?

Though there are suppose to be apps. for viewing X-rays and MRI scans and such.

 

[rbmrtn]

It always sounds good, but I've never been able to install linux on a machine without hunting for drivers and editing 12 configuration files, plus getting razzed by teenagers on support forums when you ask a question.

Never had an issue installing linux, but I built my own distro. Sometime there are problems specific to a distribution. Biggest problem has been with people trying to use windows only hardware like printers/modems that only work with windows software. For instance the latest ubuntu has issues with wireless adapters, but that is an ubuntu problem not a linux problem.

The hackintosh is neat... did one a while back but haven't updated it in while.

 

[Sirka]

late to the game

It seems that microsoft's product strategy is "wait for years after someone has a working product, then clone it, shove windows onto it and hope for the best".

+1
MS is late to the game, again. Windows 8 is foisting tablet paradigm on Windows user and it will fail like Vista did IMHO!
Their new tablet will be thicker and come in at 2 lbs. I would wait for 2.0.

 

[rbmrtn]

Here is an opensource project that replaces/restores the windows classic shell interface, can be used with 8

Welcome to Classic Shell

 

[ERD50]

Never had an issue installing linux, but I built my own distro. Sometime there are problems specific to a distribution. ...

I've put Ubuntu, and now Xubuntu (Xfce on Ubuntu) on a few machines, and experimented with Mint. I really have not had any significant problems with drivers, but I did do a little homework first to see if other people were successful with Ubuntu on that same hardware. There can be issues of course, but they haven't hurt me.

To the contrary, I'm still using an old, old scanner on Xubuntu that hasn't been supported on OSX or Windows for years.

And when I buy peripherals, I try to find ones that don't need drivers. This protects you against future support issues anyhow, and you can move it from machine to machine w/o worrying about whether the latest drivers are installed. For webcams, look for UVC capability - this is a standard interface supported by just about everything.

I don't understand why everything needs it's own driver anyhow. Don't all printers print, and scanners scan? Shouldn't there just be a generic driver that they all work with? For me, this is the beauty of USB - every USB HDD and flash drive, basic mouse and keyboard just plug in and work. Nice and simple. And if I plug in a monitor, it's just a matter of the interface and resolution being supported, I don't need a driver to switch from an Acer monitor to a ViewSonic monitor. And so on.

-ERD50

 

[rbmrtn]

I don't understand why everything needs it's own driver anyhow. Don't all printers print, and scanners scan? Shouldn't there just be a generic driver that they all work with? For me, this is the beauty of USB - every USB HDD and flash drive, basic mouse and keyboard just plug in and work. Nice and simple. And if I plug in a monitor, it's just a matter of the interface and resolution being supported, I don't need a driver to switch from an Acer monitor to a ViewSonic monitor. And so on.

-ERD50

If we could get all hardware manufacturers to agree on the same interface design then it would be simple. All hardware has drivers, over time those drivers get incorporated into OS so that a separate driver installation is not needed. Especially true for things that have standard design like USB. But the OS still has to send something to that printer that it understands, the driver does that converts what you see on screen to a printer language, like PCL or postscript. Monitors typically have VGA connections which has been around since late 80s so it pretty well standard, so monitors don't have drivers, but the graphics cards do. Windows 98 for example didn't come with driver to support USB storage, so if you plugged in a USB drive you get an unknown device. Some people wrote a free driver to make USB storage work with 98.