Quote :

"Buahahahahahaha. Right. If you're going to come up with stupid shit like this, why waste your bandwidth?"

Just for fun, I did a little Google search for "Windows Virtual Desktop" which lead me to VirtuaWin the top result. According to Sourceforge, it's been downloaded 1,807,223 times

...since 12/2002.

There have been over 525,000,000 copies of Windows 7 sold.

WHY WON'T MS SPEND TIME TO DEVELOP A FEATURE THAT 0.3% OF THEIR USERS ARE REMOTELY INTERESTED IN?

6/25/2012 1:09:31 AM

it's actually (0.3/39)% as that download count is for all the versions, since 1999, which is 0.007%

multiple desktops is a useful feature on a free OS in an emerging market where people can't afford screen real estate. at $99 for a 24", why would I want virtual desktop space to lose track of what I'm doing when I could just buy more actual space so cheaply?

I have a 27" and 2x24" on my main machine and my only gripe is not having a task bar for each monitor. however, I realize I'm a corner case and I've had free software to do it for years, developed by other folks in the niche. if you don't like the FREE software available to help serve your niche, write some yourself.

[Edited on June 25, 2012 at 8:37 AM. Reason : neglecting win2k, winxp, and vista users]

6/25/2012 8:36:50 AM

Yay someone else in the 2x24" and 1x27" club!

6/25/2012 9:01:31 AM

so who's getting a winrt surface tablet? supposed to drop in 2 weeks for $199

10/12/2012 1:39:37 PM

No way it's that price

10/12/2012 1:53:54 PM

I'd buy it at that price, but it won't be at that price

At the price it will be offered, I'd rather get Pro so I have the full version of Windows behind it and can switch into desktop mode when necessary

10/12/2012 2:08:39 PM

i'll watch the presser and see what it's all about

10/12/2012 3:12:18 PM

winrt has desktop mode in addition to metro..

10/12/2012 5:33:21 PM

Where are you seeing there is regular desktop for RT? You can't use Win32 APIs.

10/12/2012 6:49:11 PM

Any student pricing on W8 yet?

10/12/2012 7:07:39 PM

^^ There is a desktop but it doesn't do much. You have to use it for office and to adjust some settings.

Most people think it shouldn't have been included at all.

10/12/2012 7:28:45 PM

Gotcha, well what I said before except where I said desktop insert real desktop.

10/12/2012 7:36:23 PM

Surface RT
32GB- $500
64GB- $600
Keyboard- $100

That's pretty comparable to iPad for a much more capable device. Microsoft is building 5 million units for this pre-holiday quarter.

I'm still waiting for reviews on other devices, but I may distribute these to my staff for Christmas. We planned on iPads but they tested so poorly as useful work devices, we are hoping these work a little better.

10/16/2012 8:53:21 AM

source?

10/16/2012 9:02:50 AM

http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/16/3271243/microsoft-surface-tablet-pricing-availability

[Edited on October 16, 2012 at 9:12 AM. Reason : was hoping for $400]

10/16/2012 9:10:53 AM

The pricing is still $100 less than the iPad, although a 16 GB version to undercut the iPad completely would be better.

10/16/2012 9:19:01 AM

^they cant do a 16gb version and have any reasonable amount of disk space left for apps and files. Unlike iOS and Android, Windows 8 takes up a funktard amount of initial disk space.

Also at the prices, and that the keyboard is another 120 bucks. That I'm an employee so I'll get one for free.

[Edited on October 16, 2012 at 1:45 PM. Reason : .]

10/16/2012 1:44:54 PM

I don't think this is overpriced per-se, for what you get with it and the features. Plus even if MS could afford to undercut Apple it would be a poor strategy, since not only would the Surface not be profitable but their OEMs wouldn't be selling either since everyone would be buying Surfaces.

But still since I have an ipad I wasn't really interested in the RT version unless the pricing blew me away, which it doesn't. I'm still looking forward to see what the Pro version has in store, shame it's not coming until January.

10/16/2012 2:12:29 PM

Quote :

"But still since I have an ipad I wasn't really interested in the RT version unless the pricing blew me away, which it doesn't."

Exactly why I . I've got an iPad3 as well, and there's no way I could justify spending another 500 bucks on a tablet.

That said, the fact that the surface RT has a MicroSDXC slot is pretty freaking huge. SD memory is cheap as hell now, more than doubling the usable storage for a pittance.

10/16/2012 2:17:53 PM

The tech blogs I see are being critical that we are 10 days from launch with no reviews, but I wouldn't be surprised if that is a strategic decision. A lot of tech writers have already decided that Windows 8 and the Surface is a failure, so why give them a platform to proclaim the product a failure?

10/16/2012 3:39:01 PM

Wonder how critical they will be of the ipad mini when it releases a week after the first time the shit is even confirmed, like every other apple device.

Don't know why these tech sites are holding it against Microsoft that they were shown a product earlier in the development cycle than other tech companies do.

10/16/2012 4:04:22 PM

I don't understand why Microsoft waited so long after announcing, same with WP8 (well announced so early).

When items are not available soon after announcing, you miss out on being able to leverage the press hype from the launch. Apple has always done this well, when they announce something it is either available immediately or pre-orders are available very soon after. Microsoft should have waited until the product was ready, then announce it and have pre-orders available within 2 weeks. Right now, all the energy from the Surface launch is gone and most of the energy from the Windows Phone announcement is gone.

10/16/2012 4:11:27 PM

if there's a cisco vpn client for this thing i can't wait to get it for meetings and traveling. i have a mobile dev station that's 17" and I HATE bringing it to meetings or customer training things when everything I need is in the datacenter(s)

10/16/2012 7:25:29 PM

Quote :

" A lot of tech writers have already decided that Windows 8 and the Surface is a failure, so why give them a platform to proclaim the product a failure?"

Sometimes it's really a shame that TWW limits the amount of icons to 10 per post.

10/16/2012 8:26:40 PM

I just need a bigger font, for my in response to yours

10/16/2012 8:28:26 PM

Quote :

"Surface RT 32GB- $500 64GB- $600 Keyboard- $100 That's pretty comparable to iPad for a much more capable device. Microsoft is building 5 million units for this pre-holiday quarter. "

No. It's not.

You'll be able to use like 16-20 GB of that 32 GB for your shit. Then the apps. I need software to use. Apple's platform beats the shit out of MS in that area.

Yeah, perhaps the specs are better. But that's pretty moot when I can't do anything with it. I wouldn't even put this as being comparable to an Android tablet.

WP 7 and 8 may have great UIs. But if I'm paying Android and iPhone like prices for a phone that has 10% of the apps available for the device, then why should I get it? Because it's beautiful?

10/16/2012 8:30:48 PM

Okay, so if you can only use 16GB it's the same price as the iPad

What apps do you want/need that you don't think will be available on Windows? That's the uncertainty for me, but with the potential for the largest market share very quickly, I imagine there will be plenty

[Edited on October 16, 2012 at 8:36 PM. Reason : It's either the same price or less expensive, doubt the OS requires 16GB]

10/16/2012 8:34:03 PM

I'd really like it if this could take over syncing duties for my WP7 from my laptop.

I feel like odd urge to buy one despite not having any real use case for it. I imagine this is what it's like to be an Apple fan.

10/16/2012 11:19:49 PM

Quote :

"You'll be able to use like 16-20 GB of that 32 GB for your shit. Then the apps. I need software to use. Apple's platform beats the shit out of MS in that area. Yeah, perhaps the specs are better. But that's pretty moot when I can't do anything with it. I wouldn't even put this as being comparable to an Android tablet. WP 7 and 8 may have great UIs. But if I'm paying Android and iPhone like prices for a phone that has 10% of the apps available for the device, then why should I get it? Because it's beautiful?"

Unlike iOS and Android, all those millions of win32 apps still have a path forward. There is still a win32 api that legacy apps can be redeveloped against for both arm and x86/64. The biggest change/restriction for WinRT devices is that ALL apps must be distributed through the App Store.

I don't doubt for a second that we will see ports of core and OSS apps like VLC, Chrome, torrent clients, newsreaders, emulators and all the rest.

10/17/2012 1:57:01 AM

Microsoft did a reddit IAmA and answered some questions about Surface

Quote :

" Surface supports Xbox 360 USB controllers for gaming USB will recognize almost all devices, including cameras and will charge your phone No NFC due to the Mag case interfering with the antenna 32GB device will have 20GB available for storage for apps/games; SD card is for movies, pictures and music SDXC is supported; cards can be swapped on the fly Touch Cover has a Microsoft invented smart digitizer, can infer if you meant to press the key or not TouchCover/TypeCover detect orientation relative to the Surface, so it will disable the KB when closed or flipped back Why no 3G/4G mobile broadband? Microsoft looked at tablet sales data: 2/3 WiFi, 1/3 Mobile Broadband. Of the 1/3 sold, only1/2 were ever activated. On the display not being super high resolution, Microsoft addresses this through a three pronged method: ClearType for pixel smoothing, Custom designed 10.6” high contrast wide angle screen and optically bonded the screen with the thinnest optical stack anywhere on the market. In turn, the reflectiveness of the Surface’s display is much lower than the iPad, resulting in higher contrast of colors and more visible detail Why no USB 3.0? Microsoft chose USB 2.0 instead of 3.0 based on capability of the ARM SoCs during their development timeframe. Source: Reddit"

http://www.wpcentral.com/microsoft-fills-some-details-surface-rt-during-reddit-iama

10/17/2012 12:21:57 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/16/microsoft-surface-skateboard-steven-sinofsky/

10/17/2012 12:24:25 PM

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/P0m6tq8vK7E" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

not sure why the embed doesn't work, video here:
http://youtu.be/P0m6tq8vK7E

[Edited on October 17, 2012 at 12:32 PM. Reason : I don't know why this doesn't work, ]

10/17/2012 12:31:25 PM

10/17/2012 12:39:25 PM

was in the microsoft store today trying to pre-order a surface. the employees really don't understand winrt vs win8. pretty big disservice to the customers. winrt apparently doesn't have an outlook client, just something called "mail." not having full outlook makes this thing pretty worthless, even more so than an ipad. no cisco vpn client either :-\ I want the battery life of rt but the functionality of pro.

10/21/2012 2:18:48 AM

Quote :

"not sure why the embed doesn't work"

you're not a premie

10/21/2012 3:12:25 PM

is there a way to get hired as a Surface evangelist? I'd be willing to use one in public for 5-10 hours a week to get one for free.

10/21/2012 3:56:59 PM

http://gizmodo.com/5953866/microsoft-surface-rt-review-this-is-technological-heartbreak

I predict lots of people disliking Win8 because WinRT isn't being differentiated very well. The surface looks beautiful too, it's ashame the Surface Pro isn't available yet

10/23/2012 10:19:23 PM

Pcmag review was extremely positive and gave it 4 stars. Strange discrepancy there.

10/23/2012 10:36:25 PM

10/23/2012 10:38:39 PM

What is that even supposed to show?

I'm 90% sure I could snap the iPad I'm typing on right now in half with my hands.

10/23/2012 10:42:16 PM

With your hands? No way in hell. Have you ever seen the will it blend video with an iPad? That guy beat the shit out of the thing and barely got it to break in two, and that was after they removed the back first. No way you could break an iPad in half with just your hands. Crack the screen, maybe.

I have no idea why the wired guy did that. He said he just wanted to see how easy it was to break the stand. Said it took almost all his weight to break it of like that.

10/23/2012 10:47:50 PM

Yeah, another review said the same thing. It can break, but not easily and not with normal use.

I do like the PC mag and Wired reviews much more, they are a lot less reactionary. I was trying to decide about a windows tablet, from these reviews I'm definitely interested in an RT tablet... just not yet. I think I'm gonna get a full Win8 ultrabook for now and when the Windows Marketplace fills in some get an RT tablet.

Damn this thing looks good, wish there were more apps with launch. Very curious what app support they will announce Friday.

10/23/2012 11:13:12 PM

Well yeah I feel kinda the same. I want this to be good but I'm not particularly interested in the rt version.

10/23/2012 11:27:04 PM

"don't hold it like that"

10/23/2012 11:30:49 PM

Is it x86 based?

After reading the ars review, it seems like an underwhelming product, especially for the price.

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/10/microsofts-first-stab-at-a-pc-surface-reviewed/2/

They seemed to knock some aspects out of the park, but did mediocre jobs with other aspects (reminds me of the Zune launch).

So far, I predict this will take the Zune's path. By the time it's an awesome product, no one will care.

10/23/2012 11:47:28 PM

This one is arm. The pro coming in January will be x86

10/24/2012 12:02:41 AM

^^one reason this is different is that unlike Zune there will be other RT devices from other manufacturers, and apps are not only RT so app developers will have access to the entire Windows 8 user base which will be huge.

10/24/2012 12:13:21 AM

Even though there has been little coverage of it, the new gen of intel atom processors may be the real WinRT alternative. Based on anandtechs review, the atom powered win8 tablets are not only more powerful, but are also x86 based and so open to the huge library of existing software. The big question with atoms is battery life and pricepoint. If intel can match the battery life and pricepoint of the tegra 3, we will have a really compelling alternative.

10/24/2012 12:26:42 AM

Some of the reviews keep comparing this to a laptop, they should be comparing to an Android tablet or iPad. It's a tablet, not a laptop.

10/24/2012 9:13:33 AM

Quote :

"Sometimes it's really a shame that TWW limits the amount of icons to 10 per post."

[Edited on October 24, 2012 at 10:38 AM. Reason : ]

10/24/2012 10:38:08 AM