Microsoft Surface: Join the Windows 8 teardown
Good enough to touch? Readers had their say, LIVE, at 2pm
Live chat PC makers’ slipups have forced Microsoft into designing its Surface tablet, but can a software company succeed where the HPs and Dells of the world have failed... can it become more like Apple?
Sure, the computer makers have slipped up badly on tablets. They are also in the dock for cramming PCs with crapware and selling you the machine they want you to have instead of the PC you deserve.
During its Surface announcement, Microsoft claimed to have a "30-year history" of hardware engineering that it can bring to bear. We must have missed that, between dodging mice and watching an Xbox that’s just 11 years old pile up losses.
Yet, despite a history of getting hardware wrong (Zune), Microsoft has set some tough conditions for any PC maker that wants to get Windows 8 on their tablets, too.
Join fellow Register readers, Microsoft watchers Mary-Jo Foley and Tim Anderson and Reg software editor Gavin Clarke for an interactive LiveChat on Surface and Windows 8 this Friday.
Topics on parade:
- Does Surface deliver Microsoft’s knock-out punch to Apple?
- What’s missing and what could be improved in Surface and Windows 8?
- What’s been your experience of the Windows 8 RC so far – “ho-hum” or “oh-no”?
- Would you buy a Surface tablet from the world’s largest software company?
Join the discussion right below at 2pm BST on Friday 22 June.
COMMENTS
I don't...
...and neither does anyone I work beside. Isn't anecdotal evidence fun?
Re: I don't...
I do, and so do - well there was someone else in the office a moment ago
Typical media stupidness
"Yet, despite a history of getting hardware wrong (Zune), "
lol Ok. So tell me "Gavin", since your an electronics expert, what exactly was wrong with the zune? I mean other than it didn't feature a stupid apple with a bite out of it. Anyone? What exactly was wrong with the zune hardware? cricket..cricket..cricket
Re: This is soooo MSFT
MY WP7 is 18 months old, I don't know if you've noticed or not, but most contracts still give you a new phone every 18months to two years. Also, I just checked and it's still working as a phone, with all the installed software, all the current software in the store, it still does email (outlook and Googlemail) and works with facebook, linkedin, etc, etc, etc.
Nope, not obsolete.
Re: This is soooo MSFT
"Your WP7 phone just became obsolete. MS has announced WP8 and there will be no upgrades of WP7 phones to WP8."
I would be more concerned about this if I heard people who actually used a WP7 moaning about this. But all I hear are people who obviously don't like the phone anyway telling people who do like the phone why they shouldn't. I have a WP7 (Lumia 710). I paid £160 for it SIM-free and t works really well, And I expect it to continue like that for a good long time. You think it's suddenly going to become incompatible with email, or Outlook or Word?
