Microsoft Surface Pro to debut in February

Piece of junk with high cost.

This first generation Surface Pro may not take off as anticipated - despite the design, build quality and uniqueness of this device being second to none. That will be saved for the 2nd gen version without a doubt.

Nevertheless, I will import this in a second if theres a way to guarantee Japanese text support on the touch cover.

This is the first true device to seamlessly incorporate the productivity of an ultrabook (no, you cant be productive on an iPad) and content consumption of a tablet - the best of both worlds.

Furthermore, the Surface is a sexy device. Would be a breath of fresh air to be working on this rather than being another me too at Starbucks with a Macbook Air/Pro...

Come on, does the Air have touchscreen? No? What a disappointment. Can you use a Digitizer on the Air? No? What a PoS.

Zichi, this is a full x86-64 machine, it will run anything you throw at it, as with any other PCs. It's still kinda thick, but what else can they do, tech does have a limit. Given the price, the demise of Air has come. Adios

It looks like its design and, errr, "efficiency", belongs to 1999. Only people who love being target of funny stares will spend this amount in a stillborn device. I certainly will drop my jaw if I see a ceazy-looking guy using one in the local Starbucks.

My boyfriend comment on this photo: it looks like a trablet. Trouble + windows tablet.

Surface Pro will be the world's fastest 10" category tablet when it comes out, full power of an i5 processor ,rather than the scrawny ARM chips of competitors, means you can actually use this for work, and unlike the atom tablets, it can actually run photoshop without issues. Only people who hate this tablet are those still drinking applejuice.

@LostinNagoya It's ok, not all of us can foresee emerging trends in design and engineering.

But thanks for coming out and commenting anyway. Also, feel free to give a "funny stare" to the Surface user at Starbucks - they'll gladly reply with a raised middle finger.

@ziohi "Cult of Mac" - nuff said.

Now, while I agree that the start screen is not for everyone - the fact that the functionality of Windows 8 is the exact same as Windows 7, but only faster and with more features and security just underlines the kneejerk reaction of most people to anything different than what they're used to (ala Surface).

Shinjuku 108Jan. 24, 2013 - 05:26PM JST

Also, feel free to give a "funny stare" to the Surface user at Starbucks - they'll gladly reply with a raised middle finger.

They'll probably be too busy doing work, playing games, surfing the web, or all three to care to toots about some random guy with too much envy in his eyes.

Now, while I agree that the start screen is not for everyone - the fact that the functionality of Windows 8 is the exact same as Windows 7, but only faster and with more features and security

Interestingly, the start screen is much better than a start menu for everything but a laptop. And on a laptop, start menu isn't really all that great. Not to mention the ability to right click in the corner and get full access to the control panel without enabling it in the start menu then opening and clicking. Quite beautiful when you use a high dpi gaming mouse and care more about not missing the target than having to use windows search (anyone who doesn't use search shouldn't be complaining because start screen is faster on every format than clicking through menus)

Can't say the functionality is identical, application hooks have been completely redone (for the better, no more apple garbage overwriting file open settings) and some account management changes (don't affect normal people unless they want to use the new feature of logging in with your email account). It still runs all Windows 7 apps though, any apps that don't work there never really worked (they were just lucky to get away with not crashing).

Tablets should become like this - able to run regular PC programs, not just PC-lite versions. Apps could only do so far. Hopefully in the future, I could play my PC games too with any tablet.

This is just the first version. Remember the first cellphones and even the first iPods were pretty thick too compared to now; yet now many people can't live without those. As tech improves, it'll get thinner, lighter, and cheaper. PC and tablets converging.

lostrune2Jan. 24, 2013 - 07:49PM JST

Tablets should become like this - able to run regular PC programs, not just PC-lite versions. Apps could only do so far. Hopefully in the future, I could play my PC games too with any tablet.

What do you think the surface-pro does? Unfortunately it doesn't have the GT3 graphics chip or a dedicated one from AMD/Nvidia (though those two would kill battery life), so you'll be running it at lower resolution with things like HBAO and particles turned off (but otherwise the same). Second gen tablets using the 10W and 17W intel chips, or even the AMD ones, should be able to give you full gaming experience you would get in any laptop (though not comparable to desktop, because you're talking about an order of magnitude or even two orders higher power consumption)

@lostrune2

Razer Edge Pro. Win 8 tablet with a dedicated graphics card. It's not the greatest PC gaming hardware, but it'll run every game out there today. Albeit, in lower settings and your battery will only last 1 hour while gaming.

I've got the Acer W700 and I play Quake 3, Dungeon Defenders, RF Online, and other lower power requirement games. It still drains my battery like crazy though when playing games.

@zichi

$600 for an iPad that can't even do 1/2 or even 1/4 the work that a Surface Pro can. Having the inability to upgrade storage, use USB devices on it, or run normal OS programs. I mean, exactly what does Apple make that even compares to the Surface Pro in specs and price? At an extra $100, the 11" Macbook Air is still worse than the Surface Pro spec wise.

I think Microsoft introduced the Surface tablet in the middle of last year and began sales in time for the holiday shopping season.

Korlacan KhanthavilayJan. 25, 2013 - 12:26AM JST

At an extra $100, the 11" Macbook Air is still worse than the Surface Pro spec wise.

Yup, sports an entry level 1366x768 screen rather than surface's 1920x1080 (with 10 point touch and pen input), heavier by 10%, 30% smaller battery, 50% thicker, and no ability to output video without expensive adapters (that use power). Even with the type pad it's a better deal for anyone that actually needs to do work.

The benefit is you'll have other alternatives aside from just the Surface Pro. If you don't like the Surface Pro, no big deal. Dell, HP, Acer, Sony, Asus, etc have their own tablets you can choose from.

Don't like the Macbook Air, too bad. That's all you get in that category.

Last week our group of friends went to a psychedelic trance party with 30+ top artists and DJs from everywhere in the world. All of them using Macs of every type. Did not see any other sort brand been used. Not a single one. This tells all.

LostinNagoyaJan. 27, 2013 - 06:31AM JST

Last week our group of friends went to a psychedelic trance party with 30+ top artists and DJs from everywhere in the world.

Your first statement explained the second, too many drugs lead to bad choices.