Surface, new iPad or Android tablet?

Remember surface isn't the only win8 tablet. Nicest looking. But not the most feature packed.


Fallen god said:
In terms of Google products you are locked in, but for everything else you have much more freedom, with android you can pick a web browser, media player, and other things and make them the default. This removes the need for the 1st party apps, you can't really do this on other platforms.

E.G I love to use chrome and I use it on my desktop and such but if I want to use it as default on a iOS I can't, every time I want to open a link I need to copy it, open chrome, paste it.

This is what I think it means when its more open, I can really replace every 1st party app with things I like instead.
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You totally miss what being locked in means.

You can choose media player, browser and everything else on windows.you are not locked in like you say. Even in iOS you can have different browsers etc.


Being locked in refers to buying apps and media which are non transferable to other systems. That doesn't matter if you go go iOS, win8 or android. If you buy apps/media and change ecosystem, you lose all that money investment.
 
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cu3ed said:
No, you are locked in that ecosystem.

What you are talking about is just what and how those ecosystems works, its doesn't make them any more "open" than the next, you can certainly talk about the differering way in which they do things, but that is within THAT ecosystem.

When you buy an Android device you are locked to the Android way of things and their market place.
On that device or only other Droid devices.
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Yes, but not having to use the 1st party apps all the time means its easier to switch from the android ecosystem. It is also generally good at plugin into other ecosystem, like I use iTunes for both my iOS and android devices. You are locked into Google, but with some freedom to use other things and not also locked into the way Apple believes you should do things.

Glaucus said:
Being locked in refers to buying apps and media which are non transferable to other systems. That doesn't matter if you go go iOS, win8 or android. If you buy apps/media and change ecosystem, you lose all that money investment.
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But apps/media isn't the only thing that makes up a ecosystem is it, I use a lot of things more then just use apps/media. I never really bought any media using Google, instead I used iTunes for most or ripped old CDs, so if I can have my media free from the Google ecosystem it proves that it is not completely locked too that ecosystem. Most of my files (docs and such) are on dropbox, I dont use google drive for that, and it is very simple to share things to dropbox from android compared to iOS which doesn't let you share to many things.

I never used a wp before so I can't comment on that bit when I switch between iOS and Android I generally feel a lot more freedom with Android. Till the latest update I couldn't even share my photos directly to Facebook, where as Android lets you plug into anything really. With the different media player and browser on iOS you cant set it as the default which is a problem for me, every time I want to open a link it will still use safari, or I have to copy the link, open Chrome, put the link in, it is just a lot more hassle and apple want to force you into using their solution. I have no idea how this works on wp again since I have never owned one but I would expect it to be similar.

You are still locked to Google's ecosystem but I personally feel I have a little more freedom with what I want to use, with iOS I always have to use what apple wants me too.
 
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Glaucus said:
Remember surface isn't the only win8 tablet. Nicest looking. But not the most feature packed.
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So what are the other options then? Price around the same?

I do like the look of the Surface tablets and will be used as a media device to start with, streaming etc and with office included is also a bonus.
 
Keen to hear peoples thoughts on this actually as I'm in the same predicament at work as the senior managers all want tablets so i'm on a speccing mission. It would be good to have Windows style devices so the user experience is not too dissimilar to what they use at the moment.

I like the look of the Surface.
 
True_Scotsman said:
So what are the other options then? Price around the same?

I do like the look of the Surface tablets and will be used as a media device to start with, streaming etc and with office included is also a bonus.
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I dont think its a push to belive that Sony, Nokia, Asus, Acer, HP etc will all be working on RT style tablets not to long after the official release.

I wonder how updates are going to work, will RT see big yearly updates etc as iOS does?
 
R.O.S.S.I said:
Keen to hear peoples thoughts on this actually as I'm in the same predicament at work as the senior managers all want tablets so i'm on a speccing mission. It would be good to have Windows style devices so the user experience is not too dissimilar to what they use at the moment.

I like the look of the Surface.
Click to expand...

I think Surface is a good idea as I guess you have outlook/exchange mail and it would be nice to sync everything, the hardware is also really nice.

cu3ed said:
I dont think its a push to belive that Sony, Nokia, Asus, Acer, HP etc will all be working on RT style tablets not to long after the official release.

I wonder how updates are going to work, will RT see big yearly updates etc as iOS does?
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I think RT might be upgraded along windows, I have a feeling MS is going to quicker more iterative updates like Apple with the desktop.
 
jonneymendoza said:
And this is why you should sit for the pro version
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But the pro version is heavier, thicker, has a fan to cool it and will probably have a worse battery life. On the plus it does have a higher resolution screen but will be twice the price. If you're thinking of either an iPad, android or surface tablet then you're probably looking at the RT than the pro. The latter being for more specialist use/as a TRUE laptop replacement rather than a consumption device.

I'm interested in the Pro because it has pen input and can run full fat PhotoShop but most people don't care about that, even I'm tempted to see what the RT version is like. OP I suggest waiting until the 26th and seeing the reviews of the surface, then make your mind up. As already mentioned though there are plenty of RT tablets announced and probably available from the 26th, worth looking at them too (although personally the surface looks the best option).
 
Dimple said:
Are there any 7" Win8 tablets being released?
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Not ATM, expect a second flood of tablet in jan/feb when non launch partners can make tablets.

Same with wp8 allthough by the looks of wp8 these will be mostly cheaper phones from Chinese Manufactures.
 
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I'll be getting a Surface Pro or other Win 8 tablet. I've waited years for tablets to actually be useful and worth getting.

With a Win 8 tablet + dock you essentially have an Ultrabook with a touch screen thats also detachable. They will obviously cost more than most tablets as you also get laptop hardware (i5/i7, 4GB+ RAM and SSD) but then, being as it can replace a laptop you don't have to waste money on a laptop + tablet. So it's cheaper if you look at it like that.

Everyone i know who has a Android/iOS tablet also has a laptop, which i find amusing as it basically proves my point about how useless and limited these tablets are. There should be no need for two separate devices. This will change in 4 days time.
 
MR.B said:
I'll be getting a Surface Pro or other Win 8 tablet. I've waited years for tablets to actually be useful and worth getting.

With a Win 8 tablet + dock you essentially have an Ultrabook with a touch screen thats also detachable. They will obviously cost more than most tablets as you also get laptop hardware (i5/i7, 4GB+ RAM and SSD) but then, being as it can replace a laptop you don't have to waste money on a laptop + tablet. So it's cheaper if you look at it like that.

Everyone i know who has a Android/iOS tablet also has a laptop, which i find amusing as it basically proves my point about how useless and limited these tablets are. There should be no need for two separate devices. This will change in 4 days time.
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this. i have been waiting for a proper usable tablet that acts more then just a web browser. howerver, in 4 days time the windows RT gets released not the pro.
 
Not everyone has the same requirements, for me at this moment I just want a consumption device. Surface RT will be perfect for this.

I have a couple of i7 laptops but even the Pro is lacking in some respects so I'd be forced to compromise performance for form factor. When they're getting tired I'll then look at getting a hybrid, and hopefully the specs will have improved by then, and any compromises that may exist between RT/Pro tablets (weight, heat, size, noise, etc) will have been reduced.

A lot of it's common sense, but an interesting article about how to choose what type of tablet is best based on your intended use http://www.zdnet.com/how-to-choose-a-windows-8-tablet-that-is-right-for-you-7000005620/
 
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ChileanLlama said:
It seems no one has the same view of what an ecosystem is ;)
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cos its a dumb expression, even if its the accepted one used i still personally hate it. :p


I really want a W8 tablet but not as these prices... ill be waiting for the 2nd wave of manufacturers and then also consider making my home PCs run on win 8 too if its decent.
 
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ChileanLlama said:
Not everyone has the same requirements, for me at this moment I just want a consumption device. Surface RT will be perfect for this.

I have a couple of i7 laptops but even the Pro is lacking in some respects so I'd be forced to compromise performance for form factor. When they're getting tired I'll then look at getting a hybrid, and hopefully the specs will have improved by then, and any compromises that may exist between RT/Pro tablets (weight, heat, size, noise, etc) will have been reduced.

A lot of it's common sense, but an interesting article about how to choose what type of tablet is best based on your intended use http://www.zdnet.com/how-to-choose-a-windows-8-tablet-that-is-right-for-you-7000005620/
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What does the pro lack? it has a i5, good decent ram. able to plug any usb device on it, runs a full desktop OS. whats missing compared to a normal laptop?
 
Glaucus said:
Not ATM, expect a second flood of tablet in jan/feb when non launch partners can make tablets.

Same with wp8 allthough by the looks of wp8 these will be mostly cheaper phones from Chinese Manufactures.
Click to expand...

I can see a potential massive cluster **** of confusion when some manufacturers start making 7" tablets that run Windows Phone 8, and others start making them running Windows 8 RT. If someone then also manages to make a 7" Windows 8 Pro tablet its going to be a minefield of "why does X not work on Y"?
 
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