Comments on: Apple Surface a possibility says Bill Gates

By: Stocklone

Stocklone — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:51:00 +0000

Pen-tile screen and no microSD slot. Screw that. I’m glad you can be happy with crippled hardware. More power to you.

By: AmiRami

AmiRami — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:22:00 +0000

technically MS had the tablet way before Apple did. Apple just made a successful one.

By: AmiRami

AmiRami — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:20:00 +0000

Actually I think thats sorta his point. Apple is headed that way and will eventually get there. MS (with WP8, the surface and other tablets, and Windows 8) will technically be there by this fall.

By: AmiRami

AmiRami — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:19:00 +0000

I don’t agree. I think the iPad will have to do what the surface does now. And I don’t by any means say that because the ipad is failing cause obv it is not. But if the surface does end up providing more functionality than the iPad for the same price and form factor then they will have to keep up. And I’m not saying that the RT version necessarily will. If you look at how Apple is incorperating aspects of iOS into OSX you can see how even Apple themselves are slowly merging into a singe ecosystem rather than seperate OS’s. The only real difference is Microsoft is leaping head first into it whereas Apple is slowly merging them

By: AmiRami

AmiRami — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:15:00 +0000

You can’t say the surface is dead when it isn’t even out yet. Can you name another OS that had over 100 apps even in BETA like windows does? The fact is that Windows 8 is the successor to the largest OS ecosystem in the world. There is no way that developers will ignore it, love it or hate it.

By: AmiRami

AmiRami — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:12:00 +0000

The iPad is a nice device, but everything you arte mentioning it can do is app based and has very little to do with the device itself. As far as apps go, the surface pro will out of the gate have access to the entire windows library of apps, which blows the iPad out of the water dozens of times over. As for the RT (ARM) version, it is true it will not have as many apps out of the gate, but since this is going to run the same metro apps as the desktop equivalent, there is no way developers will ignore this as they have the windows phones.
As for your question as to syncing, the Surface will sync with skydrive in much the same way that iPad does to iCloud.
And windows being an “inefficient operating system” is neither here nor there. inefficient in what way? There is a reason Windows dominates the consumer and Enterprise markets.
As for “trimming the pig” have you used Windows 8 at all? I would say they did a remarkable job of cutting the fat. Even on a full desktop with a hard drive instead of flash/ssd, the system boots in seconds. It has less system requirements than Windows 7, which in turn had less than Vista. What exactly about it shows that it can’t fit in smaller devices? Hell, MS showed off a demo of the full blown OS running on an ASUS phone.

No ffense but there is absolutely nothing about your post that I find objective.

By: NEXUS

NEXUS — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:07:00 +0000

Your obviously buying the wrong phones!

By: turtle

turtle — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 14:06:00 +0000

And the finish line is where exactly?

By: fdsfsdfsdf

fdsfsdfsdf — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 13:57:00 +0000

Thanks..

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 02:12:00 +0000

One of the key issues that MS has lost their way on is they’re so busy trying to beat apple that they’re forgetting about the product at hand. By this I mean is all MS really has to do is make the best product they can for their customer base and let apple worry about apple. What really led apples success was just making interesting and amazing products. MS has been so focused on either trying to insult apple or directly competing with them that they’ve lost the vision of what defines MS. MS should stop trying to imitate apple and just focus on who they are and putting out products that define MS and excite their customer base.

By: lilmoe2002

lilmoe2002 — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 02:08:00 +0000

the iPad is a consumption device by definition…

By: lilmoe2002

lilmoe2002 — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 02:06:00 +0000

***You can have a rich ecosystem of manufacturers and you can have a few signature devices that show off, you know, wow, what’s the difference between a tablet and a PC.” He speaks of course of Windows as an operating system and 3rd party manufacturers such as HP, Dell, and Acer***

No, he was talking about the products that Windows OEMs will produce (rich echosystem of manufacturers), and the Surface, one of the few “signature devices” that Microsoft is launching themselves. Windows 8 is the “wow” factor that blurs the line between the PC and the tablet.

***Gates replied at first with a bit of hesitation, saying that the market hadn’t yet decided if it wants the Surface in the first place***

Your definition of “hesitation” is, well, uncommon. But what he said is that it’s too early for anyone to decide that Surface is the winner. You know, as in being humble and straightforward as he’s always been.

Give it a rest already, Chris. Your blatant attacks on Microsoft and your obvious bias towards Apple is getting old, and immature.

By: CyberGusa

CyberGusa — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 20:48:00 +0000

Uh, not exactly, OS X’s kernel isn’t strictly Unix-based. It’s called XNU (as in X is Not Unix), and it’s more a monolithic (non micro) hybrid of both Mach And BSD kernel components. So they’re more Unix variant that actually directly based on Unix.

While iOS and OSX may both shares the Darwin foundation but they were designed from the ground up differently. There’s a very different design paradigm for optimizing a OS and apps for mobile usage versus desktop usage. So more differences than just the touch UI.

That being said, iOS started out much more secure than OSX but Apple is slowly improving OSX security ever since Leopard came out.

However, given all the differences they won’t be able to just flip a switch and merge them. Rather it looks like Apple is planning to build up OSX and give it iOS like features over time until they’ll just switch to it and drop iOS.

By: CyberGusa

CyberGusa — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 20:28:00 +0000

There’s tablets and then there’s tablets. Terms tend to be overly generalized and people don’t all understand the differences even if they know the correct terms.

Suffice to say that the iPad is a tablet but it’s not a PC Tablet!

The difference being a PC Tablet is more or less intended as a laptop replacement that can run desktop OS apps and features. While a tablet like the iPad is only intended for low performance needs and/or to complement more traditional PC usage.

Basically, despite any similarities between iOS and OSX, iOS is designed from the ground up to only be a Mobile OS. This means the OS is optimized to run well on low performance mobile hardware and was never intended to run more powerful apps or handle more powerful features that are normally associated with running a desktop OS.

It didn’t help that until recently ARM processors weren’t powerful enough to run a desktop OS, but that’s starting to change now that they finally rival and are slowly starting to exceed the performance of Intel ATOM CPUs.

However, Apple has yet to take advantage of that fact and are still moving along with only mobile centric devices. So while Apple has a popular tablet, it’s not the same as a PC Tablet.

By: boovish

boovish — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 20:03:00 +0000

The older MBAs are cheaper and the new ones are still $1000. Duhh…

By: Stocklone

Stocklone — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 19:50:00 +0000

Their horribly pathetic OS upgrade system is the reason I’m leaving Android for my next phone. Going to give WP8 a try. Maybe go back to Android if Google ever figures out how to force timely upgrades. But after 4 years of it being an issue, I question their priorities.

By: jonbren

jonbren — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:12:00 +0000

Right…so how many Android phones are running that right now? Once it’s officially released then we will see. Don’t think Apple is just resting on its laurels…its a mistake many make.

By: jonbren

jonbren — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:10:00 +0000

I do believe it will happen one day…I also believe when that happens OS upgrades will be free just like iOS upgrades are now.

By: jonbren

jonbren — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:09:00 +0000

Linux is not UNIX…it runs on a modified kernel..so it’s real definition would be unix-like. I believe Apple has a bit more experience on the OS side of things compared to Android.

By: Steve Gill

Steve Gill — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:06:00 +0000

Here is the objective deal. Microsoft has its work cut out for it. They are very late to the table. The iPad is a phenomenal device. Easy to use, great battery life, and a good operating system. It syncs with the iPhone and works with Icloud. There are applications galore. It even can be used for marine navigation and to program your Raymarine navigation equipment. What is the Surface going to sync with? There are essentially no Microsoft phones out there when compared to Google and Apple. Will there be all the apps people want? Will developers tax themselves for yet another development platform to write all the apps available for Apple devices? Big question. So far Surface is just a prerelease media experience. The real world is more demanding and Microsoft, to-date, has lacked the vision necessary to penetrate the device market. On top of that Windows is one of the most inefficient operating systems ever invented and they keep trying to trim the pig to work in small devices. This is no slam dunk. have you visited an Apple store. Where is the Microsoft equivalent? Bill Gates is way out there projecting that the Surface will make Apple do anything. I have been in the computer business for decades and we have had a Windows commercial product since 1984. I cannot wait to never use a Microsoft Windows based computer again.

By: jonbren

jonbren — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:05:00 +0000

Only the x86 will run normal PC apps. The ARM version will run Metro apps.

By: mr_3cho

mr_3cho — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 07:32:00 +0000

That may or may not be true. But the fact is that he had the tablet PC, the OS, the mobile OS and the multi-touch screen many years before Apple, but he couldn’t put it ALL together into a tablet or mobile phone that took off and locked those two markets.

By: $32081693

$32081693 — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 06:45:00 +0000

Technically it will run any app that runs on a Normal PC..

By: Ocelotty1

Ocelotty1 — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 06:12:00 +0000

The real point isn’t the creation of the Surface Pro (Of which I will have one as soon as it becomes available unless the OEM’s have gotten off their collective asses in the interim) but rather the cross device ecosystem envisioned and embodied by Windows 8. Desktops, slates & phones all running off the same core.
Will it be successful, who knows, but I, for one, can’t wait.

By: Steven Zahl

Steven Zahl — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 05:20:00 +0000

With Near 0 Apps, the Sirface is dead.

By: Stocklone

Stocklone — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 03:06:00 +0000

Like Google Now laying the smack down on Siri.

By: n11

n11 — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 03:02:00 +0000

You think so? I’d love to see that, and all its implications.

By: n11

n11 — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 03:01:00 +0000

I had trouble comprehending your comment.
Fact: The current model is still about *half a year* away from release.
WTF: Viruses? Really? It’s a little out of date argument.
Fact: Use ios and apple owns your ass.

By: n11

n11 — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 02:57:00 +0000

Wait, how do you know the price of t the surface (ARM or x86)?
And are you comparing an older MBA or the newer one? Which goes for an additional $300 I believe.
Conclusion: There will be many different models you can choose from, and not just the MS tablet, but from other manufacturers as well, major win.

By: JACrazy

JACrazy — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 00:48:00 +0000

Apple doesnt have to create a Surface like device. But they will for sure have to start having touchscreens on Macs.

By: whereisrealtablet

whereisrealtablet — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 23:42:00 +0000

All, there are few things everyone missing ….

Surface or Superthin PC
Pro:Surface is a PC not a tablet. Just look with your open eyes. Its PC and will crash ( as it did during the launch)Its PC and it will get infected with all PC viruses. Cons:Surface is a PC not a tablet. Just look with your open eyes. Its PC and will crash ( as it did during the launch)Its PC and it will get infected with all PC viruses.
iPAD
Pro:
Its a tablet
It build on iOS it works, works and works.
Con:
Its Apple device. So locked down to using in its cage
Use it as u get it. Can’t build any customization unless u JB it

By: Brian Topping

Brian Topping — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 23:41:00 +0000

Checking out the comments on this and other articles, the site should be renamed “BackSlashGear”. I registered the domain, feel free to contact me. LOL!

By: VasyaPupkinsan

VasyaPupkinsan — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 23:30:00 +0000

Windows 8 on surface will cost you $1K… It’s the price of MacBook Air.

By: VasyaPupkinsan

VasyaPupkinsan — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 23:28:00 +0000

Is Gates on crack?? LOL
iPad is for creating content and ideas for 2 years and counting, while Surface is iPad-like vaporware. He is losing touch with reality

By: Deodorant

Deodorant — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 22:40:00 +0000

Lol, mate I actually preordered the original iPad (over 2 years ago which i still use) so I highly doubt I lack skill to use it. Wait! You actually need skills to use an iPad?
SHUT YOUR TRAP!

By: UrADisqwAAAYC

UrADisqwAAAYC — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 22:24:00 +0000

I think Apple’s Real Concern is to Make their money and GO, They flatten out the iphone with a dough roller and sell it for 5X the price. Now just scam as many suckers until a company actually makes a good one.

By: NeutralMike

NeutralMike — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 22:15:00 +0000

@jonbren:disqus you raise a good point, but Android is also built around Linux so i could essentially say the same thing for google

By: herbaled

herbaled — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 22:14:00 +0000

Apple usually runs the race by laying behind initially and biding it’s time. Thus, Gates et al better keep a very close eye on their rear-view mirror.

Who cares who gets off the starting line first …. it the one who crosses the finish line first that determines the winner.

By: jonbren

jonbren — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 22:11:00 +0000

Underneath iOS lays the same rock solid UNIX core that OSX is built on. Only difference is the Cocoa layer is optimized for touch UIs. Apple could flip the switch anytime.

By: herbaled

herbaled — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Is Gates this dense? Doesn’t he know that Apple is in the midst of a much bigger game plan where it’s digital ecosystem of computers, iPhone, iPod, OSX/iOS, iCloud/iTunes/etc. will all work together as one?

Apple is not concerned with being the first, and prefers to get all it’s ducks in a row before hitting the market.