Last night Microsoft preannounced the Surface. It's a tablet with a keyboard and integrated stand that attaches magnetically. There are two versions - Intel and ARM. The ARM version weighs about the same as an iPad but the Intel version is c900gm. Price was not disclosed but likely to be competitive with Apple's iPad at the higher end. Probably available in late Q3/Q4.
Although I am an Apple fan, I welcome competition. I'm on holiday this week and I notice that it is a sea of Amazon Kindles around the pool - not iPads. I also accept that I still use Microsoft Office for all the 'heavy lifting' business stuff I do. So a Microsoft tablet with fully integrated Office capabilities (as in the ARM version of the Surface) and some of those useful slots (like USB) does have real appeal. An appeal that will doubtless be replicated in many enterprises.
Although Microsoft has been in hardware for 30 or more years, with the possible exception of the XBox, it doesn't have a great track record - as the Zune demonstrates. Also, it is bound to upset Microsoft's existing hardware partners. On top of that, Windows 8 has come in for some amount of criticism. Users of Microsoft's existing operating systems find it quite unfamiliar. Personally I find having to change the way I do the most basic tasks with every new upgrade very annoying. If I have to change anyway, why stay with Microsoft?
But, as I said earlier, I welcome competition. A tablet world consisting only of Apple would be most unhealthy.
(Anthony Miller writes: As perhaps a poignant post script, the launch of the Microsoft tablet comes just days after pioneer handheld device innovator, Psion, accepted an 88p a share offer from Motorola Solutions. Of course, Psion had morphed into a somewhat different company than that founded by David Potter, and its latter years were much troubled (e.g. see Psion warns on profits). But it’s a great shame nonetheless to see another great British IT icon set sail across the pond.)
