Surface Mini May Hit Stores After All

[exfileme]

False alarm, people; the Surface Mini is back in production.

Surface Mini May Hit Stores After All : Read more

 

[TechyInAZ]

Surface mini in my opinion isn't going to do well unless Microsoft makes a mini touch cover for it (and makes it cheaper than the ridiculous $129.99).

Too bad it's also using a ARM processor, only reason I would buy windows 8 tablets is so I can install programs that aren't limited by the windows Store.

 

[Darkk]

I think the Surface Mini will flop. To be sure they should release it small batches to test Market and see how it goes. The last flop cost them big time.

 

[w8gaming]

The only way for Surface Mini (which runs on ARM) to be successful is to be cheaper than typical 7" Android tablet. And it is difficult to undercut that. At this point it is really hard to see how Microsoft can compete in this segment without Google first making some major missteps, such as raising their Nexus price to $399 so to leave plenty of rooms for other players to undercut them.

 

[teh_chem]

It's interesting, if you listen to interviews of tech folks who usually get Microsoft info virtually 100% correct, they all said that the mini was going to be the debut device at the June conference, and were shocked when the SP3 was the showcased device. Even leaked documents referenced specifically the Surface Mini, not the SP3. Curious why MS made the change. Maybe last-minute pressure from the OEMs who already offer smaller Windows tablets.

 

[DjEaZy]

... Surface Mini May Hit Stores After All? Poor stores... i don't know, if the stores can survive a hit like that...

 

[kawininjazx]

Let me make a comment as an ACTUAL surface RT owner. I love it, the snap touch keyboard is amazing, the FULL IE browser is pretty much all you need. There are some apps and games to screw around with, but it's like having a super portable laptop and tablet in one. They are dirt cheap now, and with the updates and some tweaks they run great. I feel the mini can do well if the price is right. You can't run x86 programs on an ipad either, and can you plug your Galaxy S5 into your ipad's USB port and copy your pictures off your SD card? Didn't think so. Does an ipad have microSD or HDMI out? Nope. It has a lot going for it, and I imagine the Surface 2's Tegra 4 is even better.

 

[therealduckofdeath]

Surface mini in my opinion isn't going to do well unless Microsoft makes a mini touch cover for it (and makes it cheaper than the ridiculous $129.99).

Too bad it's also using a ARM processor, only reason I would buy windows 8 tablets is so I can install programs that aren't limited by the windows Store.

I don't think there's a big demand for keyboard covers on 8 inch devices. Though I agree this one will probably fail as much as any other RT device. They really ought to consider using Atom processors for the low budget Surface tablets instead of ARM.

 

[burkhartmj]

While I'll never be a fan of RT's continued existence, an 8 inch product based on it makes WAY more sense than a 10 inch device. People can complain all they want about it not supporting legacy programs, but who exactly is using such applications on an 8 inch tablet? Considering their plans to merge WinPhone and RT, I think it'd make a lot of sense to have this device based on ARM and make the 'low' end Surface 10 inch an Atom tablet.

 

[kawininjazx]

I have heard from a lot of developers that their programs can be recompiled for ARM and run on the desktop with no problem.

 

[stevejnb]

I'm interested in one of these - depending on price. I will *not* pay more than $250 for a mini tablet, and at that price point it had better blow me away. For $250 I'm expecting a digitizer, at least a USB 2.0 port, micro-hidmi (or equivalent) out with decent storage options and a processor that doesn't chug unless I really tax it. Windows RT blows the competing tablet OS's out of the water for productivity and pretty much anything but app selection, so I'm interested, but if they keep on charging for their products just shy of ridiculous iPad pricing, it makes it hard for me to justify.

 

[MANOFKRYPTONAK]

Yes more competition, I love having more to choose from. I like my laptop, but tablets are just nicer for reading and reviewing notes. I also hear windows RT for production is good, I wonder if any med students have reviewed this?

 

[hannibal]

It don't have to cheaper, but it can not be very much more expensive. I would like to see surface mini with real win8.1 though... It could be most usefull! So new and better atom or AMD apu inside and we are rock en roll!

 

[ntrceptr]

wow there's someone who actually bought a surface. I've never seen one in someones hands outside of the store.

 

[kawininjazx]

wow there's someone who actually bought a surface. I've never seen one in someones hands outside of the store.

I think the surface is just a great device as anything on the market, it just gets a bad rap. I will admit the windows store isn't that amazing, but I really like the surface, use it way more than my Nexus 7.

 

[hannibal]

The win8.1 is great for hybrid tablets! I have used android, windows and iPads.
iPad is the best for content reading and watching. It also have best aps!
Windows is best for content creation because it support so well keyboards and mouses (because there is normal desktop also in there)
Android are great because of the price factor. The competition is hard in there. Also there are quite many aps also.

The windows is just great for tablet usage. It still have it problems. The aps will be released later to it compared to iPads and Android, but the app selection is quite nice at these days. It al depends on what you want to do with your tablet.
I personally use iPad air for reading and watching videos. For work usage the Windows tap is best. If I have to take only one device with me the windows solution is the best, though I still prefer real win8.1 tablet better than RT-versions because you can even play some of you Steam games with real win8.1 tablet!