Surface Mini coming & info

[GoodBytes]

This is all but rumors, but Neowin, SlashGear and ZDNet both have say that their sources says that the Microsoft will release the Surface Mini (not official name).

The device is said to be an 8inch device designed of note takers. It will include a digitizer pen. They say that the device will be more like the Tegra Note or Galaxy Note 8.

So that means it is either using Qualcomm’s Ultra Sound NotePad technology or NVIDIA’s Tegra-based pen technology, depending if a Qualcomm's or Nvidia Tegra processor is used.

This also means that it will be running Windows RT, meaning it will also include Office 2013.

It said to be a consumption class device, so note taking, watching video, playing music, gaming and so on. So a keyboard is not expected.

Rumors suggest for a spring 2014 release.

Sources:

http://www.zdnet.com/microsofts-surface-mini-not-until-spring-2014-7000021165/

http://www.neowin.net/news/surface-mini-a-few-more-details-about-the-upcoming-device

http://www.slashgear.com/surface-mini-details-hit-the-rumor-mill-10324676/

If the Surface Mini comes a reality, would you be interested in buying one?

[flibberdipper]

No. Not even x86 based. Disgusting. At least throw a quad-core Atom in there.

[Guest]

No. Not even x86 based. Disgusting. At least throw a quad-core Atom in there.

Windows + ARM = FAIL

[hawaiims]

No. Not even x86 based. Disgusting. At least throw a quad-core Atom in there.

there are many great quad core atom tablets out there. The Dell Venue 8 pro was selling for only 180$ yesterday (MSRP of 299$ and usually selling for 230$)  

 

Fantastic 8 inch ips quad core atom windows 8.1 tablet. 

[hawaiims]

Windows + ARM = FAIL

Any operating system + ARM = Fail

 

I'm still waiting for a 5 inch phone with windows 8.1 that I can plug into my monitor, keyboard and mouse

 

I imagine that microsoft will discontinue windows rt because it's essentially useless due to windows phone 8.1 as well as the awesome new x86 atom processors that don't actually perform like shit and have great power efficiency.

[AMICLG]

Microsoft still doesn't realize.

[GoodBytes]

there are many great quad core atom tablets out there. The Dell Venue 8 pro was selling for only 180$ yesterday (MSRP of 299$ and usually selling for 230$)  

 

Fantastic 8 inch ips quad core atom windows 8.1 tablet.

Right, but the pen is abysmal. No wonder Dell didn't ship the pen to reviewers, and reviewers had to buy it, to be able to fully test the device.

Fun starts at 3min and 5sec

[SMURG]

As a surface pro 2 owner, no. x86 or bust.

[GoodBytes]

As a surface pro 2 owner, no. x86 or bust.

I am open for ARM, if they open the OS to allow outside apps, basically desktop apps.

Already, with the Surface 1, it was jail broken, and people started to recompile popular x86 open source software for ARM, and it runs them fairly well. Mind you they are not big programs either. There is also Rainmeter that was adapted for it. But I don't think this will happen.

Basically what I am suggesting is like we have 32-bit Windows and 64-bit variant. TO have an ARM version. This will also create some competition against Intel, something I think we need.

Maybe Windows 9.

[AlexGoesHigh]

microsoft should just kill windows on arm even on phones, WP devices using baytrail, would make their one integracion, much easier, because they would all run essentially in the same hardware

[xxTigerShark]

When will they learn, no matter what they do, no one will buy one unless they stop making compromises...

[SMURG]

I am open for ARM, if they open the OS to allow outside apps, basically desktop apps.

Already, with the Surface 1, it was jail broken, and people started to recompile popular x86 open source software for ARM, and it runs them fairly well. Mind you they are not big programs either. There is also Rainmeter that was adapted for it. But I don't think this will happen.

Basically what I am suggesting is like we have 32-bit Windows and 64-bit variant. TO have an ARM version. This will also create some competition against Intel, something I think we need.

Maybe Windows 9.

Oh I love Intel's products but we definitely need some competition. LGA 2011 has been seriously gimped because Intel know they have literally no competition in the high-end space. The new awesomeness to the Atom lineup is down to competition from ARM imo, and I'm thankful for it.

[Warcony]

If they can keep the price the same or lower than the venue 8 pro than I am sold! I feel like I am one of the few people in the world who actually likes the surface line and appreciate how brilliant they are.

[beebskadoo]

RT should have been a direct offshoot of WP8. Same apps, same everything.

[Matthias2556]

well, if its like the tegra note, cant be that bad, right?

i wont be getting a tablet (or anything, really) untll i build my new pc, and i gotta get a phone before THAT.....this techie teen needs a some dough

[Serotheo]

I'd want to but I feel the burn from the original Surface RT a little.
I still love it by all means but I get random reboots when it idles for too long (i.e. Not using it for 2 days).

Need to get off RT and ARM, as powerful as it can be with say a Snapdragon 800 or better or even a Tegra 4 I don't expect it to be very useful.

I've personally weaned myself off taking my Surface to class for notes because working from a tablet from a small space is very difficult, replaced its use case with an Acer C720. However, I still love using my Surface as a media consumption device and I'm sure the successor (the 2.. of course) is even better with close to no slowdowns on the beefier chip.

That being said, I imagine this would pop in at a price point less conceivable than purchasing an alternative, more capable Atom tablet running full Windows priced around $300.

Honestly I can't see how well a Surface Mini would do without being priced at $199 against the strong competition in the smaller-sized tablet space.

I'd handily take Dell's, Asus's or Lenovo's tablet offerings anyday paired with a nice stylus.

Especially considering how I'd need compatibility with true IDEs, Chrome, and some other essentials - though I won't refuse IE Touch.

[elecxonica]

As nice as this would be, I'd just pick up a larger tablet with a proper keyboard then one where i have to use handwriting.

[beebskadoo]

I'd want to but I feel the burn from the original Surface RT a little.

I still love it by all means but I get random reboots when it idles for too long (i.e. Not using it for 2 days).

Need to get off RT and ARM, as powerful as it can be with say a Snapdragon 800 or better or even a Tegra 4 I don't expect it to be very useful.

I've personally weaned myself off taking my Surface to class for notes because working from a tablet from a small space is very difficult, replaced its use case with an Acer C720. However, I still love using my Surface as a media consumption device and I'm sure the successor (the 2.. of course) is even better with close to no slowdowns on the beefier chip.

That being said, I imagine this would pop in at a price point less conceivable than purchasing an alternative, more capable Atom tablet running full Windows priced around $300.

Honestly I can't see how well a Surface Mini would do without being priced at $199 against the strong competition in the smaller-sized tablet space.

I'd handily take Dell's, Asus's or Lenovo's tablet offerings anyday paired with a nice stylus.

Especially considering how I'd need compatibility with true IDEs, Chrome, and some other essentials - though I won't refuse IE Touch.

Microsoft introduced unnecessary confusion by forking 8 into RT and X86. The surface RT would have been a lot more popular if they would have just made it like WP8. Instead they decided to give it a full operating system look and feel but none of the apps to support that. I've seen countless numbers of these things returned because of the lack of compatibility with programs. They made it too similar to Windows 8 that it just pissed people off, and what did they end up doing? Bought an iPad instead.

Microsoft is missing the point entirely.

I know I hate on them a lot but they aren't making good decisions as a company and I keep waiting for them to remedy it but they aren't. I mean it's fucking obvious...

Listen to the damn customer!

Find out what things work and what things don't instead of shoehorning everything.

Microsoft executives need to take a year and work in retail because Windows 8 is a bad word now, worse than Vista was.

But as always, Microsoft are their own worst enemy.

What I'm trying to say is that Microsoft needs to make a tablet, not a pseudo quasi touch enabled clusterfuck extravaganza machine.

Make it like WP8 and I will buy it!

[TheGosuStandard]

Wish they would come out with a surface ultrabook 13.3

[GoodBytes]

Wish they would come out with a surface ultrabook 13.3

You mean a 13inch Surface? Because, an Ultrabook would defeat the entire point of the Surface line of products.

[TheGosuStandard]

You mean a 13inch Surface? Because, an Ultrabook would defeat the entire point of the Surface line of products.

Yea, but what's wrong with a ultrabook surface?

[beebskadoo]

Yea, but what's wrong with a ultrabook surface?

I think a well optimized ultrabook from Microsoft would be awesome.

Offer a few different models in the 13-15 inch form factor, for casual users and professional users.

But they won't so...

[GoodBytes]

Yea, but what's wrong with a ultrabook surface?

Because the idea of the Surface is a device that is an ultrabook like device, and can flip in a fast way to a tablet.

This is a key features of the Surface Pro which makes it able for a user to super quickly switch from typing notes to writing and back to typing notes. For the Surface, it switching for work to consumption quickly.

 

While possible with the Lenovo Yoga, ignoring patent issues, it is cumbersome to switch back and forth on the fly.

[SpaceSquid]

Dell venue 8 pro is still better

[GoodBytes]

I think a well optimized ultrabook from Microsoft would be awesome.

Offer a few different models in the 13-15 inch form factor, for casual users and professional users.

But they won't so...

 

Well, they are performing ultrabooks available. And getting a Microsoft Signature one, will get you a device that is junk free.