The REAL tablet wars are about to start

[AustinChief]

Up until now the choices have actually been rather spartan when you compare the tablet market to the PC space. That is about to change in the next two months... and prices are going to reflect the change. (Though I doubt right away, it will take some time to shake it all out)


New tablets coming soon:

Windows 8 tablets: these are the most interesting due to the fact that they can double as a laptop and run x86 based programs. In theory these should dominate the market over time but in reality pricing will determine their adoption rate. Color me skeptical for now.

Windows RT: meh... basically windows version of an Android or iOS tablet, I see very limited potential here but who knows.

iPad Mini: Also will depend on pricing. If it isn't at least CLOSE to the $200 price point, I can't see any compelling reason to purchase one other than the typical Apple fan "have to have the cool new thing" factor. Of course, we know jack shite about their specs so I could be way off here... but it's always good to have more choices.

As for all the other Android tablets... I see a number of major price drops heading our way.. take a look at the new Kindle Fire HD 8.9 at $299 and the Nook HD+ at $269.. that's unreal. We are about to have quality tablets getting close to the $250 mark.

EDITED TO ADD RUMORS:

Google is supposedly releasing a $99 tablet and a 10.1" Nexus with REALLY high end specs (made by Samsung) both are rumored to start manufacturing in December.

Any thoughts?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

I guess I am a little different.

I use my laptop for work too (docking station at home and at the office), so it gets shut down regularly. And I replaced the battery a year or so ago, so it will sleep all evening while I'm at home. If I use it much, I have to plug it in, but you have to do that with an Ipad also.

My work PC has a piece of corporate crapware that prevents it from using S3 mode. I also can't leave it logged in overnight because if I do, it installs patches and shuts down, terminating everything running whether I want it to or not. Even if this wasn't the case, you can't consistently use sleep mode with Windows and expect it to behave properly over long periods of time.

I don't know what your business desktop environment is like but between the Windows domain stuff (trying to contact AD before a VPN tunnel exists) and the corporate bloatware, my work PC takes a good 3-4 minutes to boot to Windows desktop, so there's absolutely no comparison between it and the iPad for convenience.

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Coincidentally, my buddy has an Ipad, and every time I hop on it to check the weather or whatever, it has like 3% battery left.

Now that's just sheer laziness.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

My work PC has a piece of corporate crapware that prevents it from using S3 mode. I also can't leave it logged in overnight because if I do, it installs patches and shuts down, terminating everything running whether I want it to or not. Even if this wasn't the case, you can't consistently use sleep mode with Windows and expect it to behave properly over long periods of time.

I don't know what your business desktop environment is like but between the Windows domain stuff (trying to contact AD before a VPN tunnel exists) and the corporate bloatware, my work PC takes a good 3-4 minutes to boot to Windows desktop, so there's absolutely no comparison between it and the iPad for convenience.



Now that's just sheer laziness.

I don't have any of that crap to deal with anymore. Thank freaking god. The only thing I have is a windows profile for the exchange server. So I have a logon for the office and another one for my house unassociated with the Exchange.

[Mr. Laz]

Amazon debuts Kindle Windows 8 app

By Brian Heater posted Oct 25th 2012 12:40PM

With all the hubbub surrounding today's Microsoft event, who can blame Amazon for wanting to get in on the action? The mega-retailer used the opportunity to announce the Windows 8 version of its popular reading app. Interested parties can download the thing for free from the Windows Store, giving them access to the company's selection of 1.5 million titles. The app is available in English, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese and offers up good old Amazon features like Whispersync. Amazon also used the opportunity to announce that Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo and Samsung will be pre-loading the app on their devices. More information can be found in the source link below.

[WoodDraw]

A few leaks today on the Nexus 10. Looks like Samsung is the manufacturer choice, which kind of sucks. But I'll wait and see.

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

My work PC has a piece of corporate crapware that prevents it from using S3 mode. I also can't leave it logged in overnight because if I do, it installs patches and shuts down, terminating everything running whether I want it to or not. Even if this wasn't the case, you can't consistently use sleep mode with Windows and expect it to behave properly over long periods of time.

I don't know what your business desktop environment is like but between the Windows domain stuff (trying to contact AD before a VPN tunnel exists) and the corporate bloatware, my work PC takes a good 3-4 minutes to boot to Windows desktop, so there's absolutely no comparison between it and the iPad for convenience.



Now that's just sheer laziness.

I'd kick an admin's ass. No reason for that in a properly configured AD environment. Yeah, there's some laziness, and it's on your network admins and AD designers. I've trimmed that **** up on multiple networks, and that's just wrong.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Braincase

I'd kick an admin's ass. No reason for that in a properly configured AD environment. Yeah, there's some laziness, and it's on your network admins and AD designers. I've trimmed that **** up on multiple networks, and that's just wrong.

Dude, our admins are in India and the Help Desk staff (in the Phillipines, no less) either 1) don't speak English or 2) can't spell "PC".

That's just one of the many, many issues with my work PC. A full 40% of the physical memory is permanently allocated to running corporate inventory, patching, and monitoring tools. In some cases, I've found that 2 or more applications actually perform the SAME FUNCTION. They install stuff via Marimba remote and if it works great. If it doesn't, or if they decide to stop using it, it never gets removed. Of course, I can't remove it either because we're not allowed admin rights.

I work for a Fortune 5 company. It's much, much more productive to just live with it.

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Dude, our admins are in India and the Help Desk staff (in the Phillipines, no less) either 1) don't speak English or 2) can't spell "PC".

That's just one of the many, many issues with my work PC. A full 40% of the physical memory is permanently allocated to running corporate inventory, patching, and monitoring tools. In some cases, I've found that 2 or more applications actually perform the SAME FUNCTION. They install stuff via Marimba remote and if it works great. If it doesn't, or if they decide to stop using it, it never gets removed. Of course, I can't remove it either because we're not allowed admin rights.

I work for a Fortune 5 company. It's much, much more productive to just live with it.

I'll light a candle for you at church. I think I just became happier I work for a company of 60 people.

I taught 8 this week, went smooth. Found some interesting tricks, but I'm getting used to it. I think it will be a solid tablet OS, and has potential as a desktop OS.

Right now, I'm figuring out if I can swing an ASUS TaiChi Ultrabook when they become available.

(And please keep in mind, I am biased, so take my comments with a grain of salt. My career is pretty much Microsoft dependent.)

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Braincase

I'll light a candle for you at church. I think I just became happier I work for a company of 60 people.

I taught 8 this week, went smooth. Found some interesting tricks, but I'm getting used to it. I think it will be a solid tablet OS, and has potential as a desktop OS.

Right now, I'm figuring out if I can swing an ASUS TaiChi Ultrabook when they become available.

(And please keep in mind, I am biased, so take my comments with a grain of salt. My career is pretty much Microsoft dependent.)

Don't get me wrong, I'm not really complaining. For what I get paid, I'd put up with a lot of shit. Especially considering that I work from home.

Interesting that you think 8 has desktop potential. I really don't. As a tablet OS, yes. But after using Consumer Preview for a few months, I just don't get it. It's Windows 7 with an XBox (and somewhat useless) front end.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Interesting that you think 8 has desktop potential. I really don't. As a tablet OS, yes. But after using Consumer Preview for a few months, I just don't get it. It's Windows 7 with an XBox (and somewhat useless) front end.

This. I dont see many companies jumping from Win7 to 8. Maybe from Vista if they havent already migrated to 7.

[kaplin42]

Just unboxed my RT now, going through the setup process. First impressions on form.

It thin and sleek
Some design like the power remind me of Apple's design, but it's a good thing
The external keyboard connection is awesome.

Will post more after I use it some.

[WoodDraw]

Originally Posted by kaplin42

Just unboxed my RT now, going through the setup process. First impressions on form.

It thin and sleek
Some design like the power remind me of Apple's design, but it's a good thing
The external keyboard connection is awesome.

Will post more after I use it some.

Oh let us know how it goes!

How comfortable is it to use off the desk? Can you just sit back in a chair with it, or does it feel a bit awkward?

What keyboard did you get? One of the touch or type covers?

[kaplin42]

So just trying to explore the device and get used to Win. 8, these are more first observations.

• The external keyboard is nice. It’s touch, but will take a little while to get used to, but I really like it. Way better than anything I have used for the iPad. With this in mind, the way it physically connects is via magnet like the power adapter, and unless you get it exactly right, no external keyboard for you.
• The Win.8 interface is different. Im not sure I like it, but then it’s always hard to get used to something new.
• Much like the iOS, instant on is pretty slick. Apps just pop up and away you go.
• Yes there is an app store, yes it has popular apps, no you won’t be left out in the cold. More apps will obviously be coming in the immediate and long term future.
• OMG, Office 2013 comes with. You mean I can use this as a production device and not just a consumption device right out of the gate. /mindblown
• Forced to use Bing, which I hate. But hopefully that will change soon.
• Can access your Homegroup if you’re already a Win. 7 user. Mega bonus right there.
• Has a full Computer Management section just like all other versions of Windows.


I will be using this as my home mobile device for a while just to see how it works compared to an iPad. So far, I’m skeptically impressed. I like the way they are going with it, I just hope MS doesn’t leave it in the dust like they do so many other things.

[Braincase]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

This. I dont see many companies jumping from Win7 to 8. Maybe from Vista if they havent already migrated to 7.

I'm dual booting with it right now. Normally in 7 I'll use Virtual Box to run my virtual machines, but in 8 there's a Client Hyper-V that has some interesting potential. That, and I'm exploring some of the productivity apps.

[KCFalcon59]

Originally Posted by kaplin42

• Forced to use Bing, which I hate. But hopefully that will change soon.[/IMG]

http://www.google.com/homepage/windows8/

[DaveNull]

Originally Posted by kaplin42

• OMG, Office 2013 comes with. You mean I can use this as a production device and not just a consumption device right out of the gate. /mindblown
• Forced to use Bing, which I hate. But hopefully that will change soon.

I will be using this as my home mobile device for a while just to see how it works compared to an iPad. So far, I’m skeptically impressed. I like the way they are going with it, I just hope MS doesn’t leave it in the dust like they do so many other things.

Watching some videos of Win8 generally makes this look like it lives in some weird reality where Apple went out of business years ago. Questions:

How's it work for things like streaming media out to external speakers or video receivers at your house? What do you use? Is there something built in? I'm guessing that if it is, then it requires an Xbox.

Even though it's running on ARM, are you planning on running AV and Anti Malware software on there? That seems like a big problem with their Intel version of the Surface.

I played with an Asus RT tablet the other night at Microcenter and found working within Windows Explorer with my finger to be maddening. Do you find yourself punting to the smart cover when you need to make a new folder?

Does the start screen/metro portion of the OS make enough sense for touch that you think it was worth it for Msft to integrate it so deeply into the desktop OS?

I really want Windows 8 to be something cool and useful...something that could really replace XP running in a VM for those times I need it. Right now, I'm not seeing the love.

Oh...

- I'll never understand the "it has office it's for creation" comments in relation to the iPad since you can read and write in Doc format from Pages.
- I'm a big fan of using the Apple Wireless Keyboard with the iPad. It's the same keyboard they give out with iMacs and can't be beat. Check it out if you end up ditching the surface.
- You *really* would have thought that Microsoft would have avoided getting heat from the EU and DOJ by not jamming Bing down as a search provider.