Apparently Microsoft announced a new product called the surface recently. I was watching Hulu this weekend and saw a comercial for the Surface tablet and I did an immediate double-take. What? I’ll admit, I was immediately disappointed.
Why? Because more than 5 years ago, Microsoft announced a product they had developed called Surface. I wrote about it here. Below is a video.
Yes, the video above looks like the future, right? Apparently, they only made a handful of these tabletop computers which made their way to high end hotels and such. I never saw one personally. Instead, Microsoft launches a new product last week called the surface, and it didn’t look like the future.
The Microsoft Surface (the new one), is Microsoft’s entry into the tablet market. Innovative and compelling? Hmmmm, not really.
It’s a widescreen format tablet with a pretty cool detachable keyboard cover and a built in kickstand which makes this thing feel more like a laptop when you want a laptop. It seems to have the touch and feel of a tablet, but it comes built in with a “Windows desktop” where you can run MS Office, access documents, network drives and such.
Sure, there are a handful of pros about this device, but here’s why I feel like the Surface is an epic fail.
The original surface that was introduced five years ago was something that had never been done before. Using RFID technology and such, it turned an entire tabletop into a multi-touch screen. It looked innovative and pushing the boundaries of what is next. The recently released surface? Total opposite. It’s like Microsoft is introducing a product for those who aren’t ready to go to a tablet and need something in-between a tablet and a laptop. There are so many features about this device that caused me to shout at the computer (I was watching video reviews) “Just buy a laptop!!!” Even the inclusion of a Windows desktop sealed the deal for me. Yes, it’s comfortable and familiar, but this isn’t propelling us toward the future and toward what is next, but hanging on to the past.
Sorry Microsoft. I’ve been hearing over the past few months how Microsoft is positioning itself to be the innovator they where a couple of decades ago, but Surface isn’t evidence of of innovation.
I’ve been running the public betas of Windows 8 since February and think it is amazing OS. I’ve had the opportunity to use a Surface at a preview event, and I am thrilled at the idea of getting one.
I have an Android Phone, and use an array of iOS devices at the church, and believe that Win8 is innovative and is a major step toward making Windows touch friendly. There are also subtle elements of the surface table that are available, while I agree the RFID is missing, this go around. The Surface table was incredibly expensive, and I imagine as the technology becomes cheaper, some of those advanced features will be introduced down the road.
I was disappointed when I saw those commercials because I’ve wanted one of those “REAL” Microsoft Surfaces (like on the new Hawaii Five-O).
But, I also inspected this little tablet thing closely because my son was looking to get either a new laptop or tablet. Upon close examination, I realized that this little Microsoft Surface tablet has horrible specs. Basically, it’s just a cool party trick — “Hey, I can take my laptop apart!! Ya’ll watch this!!”. And for that cool party trick and horrible specs, it’s very expensive.