That's the one.

Then the Surface Pro looks a lot like the ASUS netbook one. As said, seems not the best "Pro" keys experience.




They probably thought about it but didn't want a low-quality plasticky keyboard instead a proper, no attachments, quality built bluetooth one.

Yes, the keyboard is the cover and what do you do when you don't really want to use the keyboard? You detach it so it's pretty much like a BT keyboard. Plus the support built into the surface is a movable part that everybody knows will end breaking sooner or later.

Well... I think you will find reasons to justify either choice, no matter what, oo, let's wait and see. I'm not a share holder of any of them, therefore, I am just curious about what happens. I have my opinion, but it's just that.
By the end of the year we will probably already have a better picture.

Acer head honcho, Wang threatens to send da boyz aroun' to Redmond over their having had the temerity to intrude on the hardware biz with Surface. "Think twice, Mr Balmer". There were no reports on whether he was stroking a chinchilla or whether he professes to abhor violence.

Oh give me a break. The case-as-a-keyboard argument was tired a month ago, and it's still tired. The bluetooth Apple keyboard works fine if you want to use it, and there are a bunch of aftermarket cases with keyboards as well.

That's not going to be the deciding factor as to whether or not the Surface will be a success.

Right now I carry my ipad in a backpack, and don't have to carry any keyboard. If I'm traveling and need a keyboard, I toss the tiny lightweight Apple one in the same backpack I'm already carrying, and it works fine.

Oh look - another Apple fanboy. Give you me a break. You don't need a keyboard, nor a real computer, capable of running real applications? Then you're fine. But there are others that need more and want more. As I said previously, I don't see myself to ever spend money on a tablet, just because I don't feel the need to "carry my ipad in a backpack". If I need to, I am perfectly able to carry a real computer in a bag. But I understand why you think weird the need of a keyboard - where would you use a keyboard inside the iPad and it's "app" world?
Anyway, I am not interested in another Apple vs Microsft thread. By the end of the year we'll have a clearer picture. But I definitely welcome diversity and competition (others prefer fight it with lawsuits).
BTW - I have an iMac and I put aside the bluetooth keyboard, because it was literally "devouring" batteries. I connected an USB keyboard and I am using it. And I don't use the Apple mouse either, but a regular USB mouse. Go figure - the ones wonder is others shit.

I like that saying!

I was commenting on the keyboard case aspect, and stating that that's not a particular selling point of the Surface over the iPad, because there are tons of keyboard/case combos for iPad. That's it. This isn't an iPad vs. Surface comment. If you need a keyboard, that's wonderful. You can get the keyboard case for the Surface, you can get any one of a dozen or so keyboard cases for the iPad. Get it?

Where would I use a keyboard inside an iPad? The same places you'd use it on the Surface RT, the latter being no more a "real computer" than the iPad. Web, Office docs, Citrix, Evernote......oh I dunno, anywhere there's text entry.

It sure is easy for you to toss out the "Apple Fanboy" comment though, isn't it? It saves you the trouble of actually understanding and commenting on my point. I've never understood the Internet sensation that as soon as you say you've got an {INSERT APPLE DEVICE HERE} you're A. automatically an Apple fanboy, B. you hate Microsoft, and C. you hate Google. I must be wasting and hating my entire working life then, because all I do is work on MS server platforms all day.

OK, Sorry about the "Apple Fanboy". No offense intended, but you really expressed yourself like one.

But, since you asked, let's comment your post thoroughly: You said something about that the argument of keyboard-as-cover is not a valid point, and that if you would need a keyboard you would be satisfied with the Apple BT keyboard.

First of all, it's completely different carrying a separate piece of gear instead of something that's integrated in the package. I think everybody understands that. Apple decided (rant - as they always do, because they always know what people need, and those that do not agree it's because they are unable to "see the light" - end of rant) that tablets don't need a keyboard. Microsoft decided that they do. People finally have a choice - it's a good thing, IMO.

I replied that, if you are happy with something that's not a real computer, then you would not understand why those that want a "real" computer would feel the need for a keyboard. It is implied in the "real" computer that I was referring to the Surface Pro, which is what I consider really revolutionary here: a tablet that doubles as a "real" computer. Got it?

Of course, being an iPad user (and I will avoid the term "fan") you think in terms of Surface and Windows RT - but you should have understood that in this thread people are referring to the "real" Windows 8 (not Windows RT - got it?), and the Surface Pro, because that is the one able to run EVERYTHING that's available for ANY PC. Not "apps", but real applications.

I again stated that I personally don't feel that need, but if I did, I would certainly go through the path of Surface Pro, not the iPad.

You're going to comment on my posts thoroughly, and then you proceed to completely ignore me mentioning a couple times that keyboard cases for the iPad are readily available, making the need to "carry something separate" moot.

Additionally, perhaps you've not read the whole 12 page thread, but it's not just about the X86 Pro, it's about both the Pro and RT and the differences between the two.

You're also completely misunderstanding what I initially meant by the keyboard comment. If you're going to get a tablet, but ALWAYS use a physical keyboard because you'll never use the virtual keyboard, why not just get a laptop? That's my point. I don't question why someone would want a physical keyboard. I'd question why someone would spend the time and money on a touch tablet if they prefer a physical keyboard. Right tool for the job and all.

MS says that the Pro will be in the Ultrabook range. If you always want to use a real keyboard, that's wonderful. But then you might as well buy a regular Ultrabook.

If it were the case where sometimes you'll use the virtual keyboard, sometimes physical, then a tablet makes sense.

Example: if I wanted something small with great battery life, but hate virtual keyboards, I'd get an 11" MacBook Air (or similar Windows machine). If I wanted a tablet where I'd sometimes use the virtual keyboard and sometimes physical, I would get a tablet with either a separate keyboard OR a keyboard/case combo. Whether or not you get a tablet that can run full desktop applications is subjective, and up to the individual.

Goodbye, Surface Pro.

https://twitter.com/verge/status/233338581660360704

This was already rumored and discussed here, but now it's looking even more promising. 1.3 pounds with 10 hour battery life, and still x86? That's awesome.

This is another great option for a Windows 8 based tablet/laptop. In what way is this "Goodbye, Surface pro". And then you say you don't hate Microsoft.
If you would be really independent, you'd say "hooray, another option". That's what I say, at least.

I don't hate Microsoft. But just because I like Microsoft doesn't mean I can't say "goodbye Surface" when something that's far lighter coming to market a lot sooner is announced.

Stop being such a combative jerk.

The Surface Pro is quite a bit (for a tablet) heavier, no word on battery life, and doesn't come out to Q1 2013. With stuff like the Thinkpad coming out, as well as stuff from other OEMs, the Surface Pro will be dead in the water.

And Microsoft, being a software company, won't care. I wouldn't be at all surprised if they just announced the Surface stuff, showed a couple prototypes, just to stoke the fires a bit with OEMs.

Maybe you're right, but that would be fine to me. I don't care if it's Microsoft or someone else, I just want something in the tablet side that is able to work like a real computer, and not like a toy. I'm tired of seing the limits lowering in so many fields, and corporations trying to convince us that worst things are better.

I can completely understand wanting a full computer for a tablet, however stating tablets like the iPad or Android tablets are "toys" is extremely short-sighted, and makes me think you've never really spent any considerable time with one.