{"id":670,"date":"2012-06-20T12:23:19","date_gmt":"2012-06-20T11:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myworldofit.net\/?p=670"},"modified":"2012-11-05T17:56:25","modified_gmt":"2012-11-05T17:56:25","slug":"microsoft-surface-windows-8-tablets-first-impressions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myworldofit.net\/?p=670","title":{"rendered":"Microsoft Surface (Windows 8 Tablets) First Impressions"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Unless you have had your head buried in the sand for the past few days you will know that Microsoft has showcased their take on Windows 8 tablet PCs.<\/p>\n

Dubbed Microsoft Surface<\/a> (the big table surface has been renamed PixelSense<\/a>) this new family of tablets comes in a ARM processor<\/strong> based version (aimed at the day to day consumer<\/strong>) and a x86<\/strong> Intel processor<\/strong>\u00a0based version (aimed at the business professional<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Microsoft are saying that the ARM based version (Windows RT) will be available at ‘competitive prices’ when Windows 8 goes on general sale (I’m thinking that could be around October) and that the Intel version will come 90 days after.<\/p>\n

The specifications sheet<\/a> of both tablets can be found on the Microsoft website here<\/a>.
\nFurthermore you can watch the 45min long keynote\/demo<\/a> from Microsoft here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Anywhos that’s enough of the facts that we know so far time for some impressions……<\/p>\n

Screen\/Case<\/h5>\n

It makes sense that Microsoft would go for the larger end of the tablet PC screen sizes, for Windows 8 to be able to multi task (i.e. have two applications side by side with one snapped<\/a>) you need to have a screen resolution of at least 1366 pixels wide to get that kind of pixel density on a 7″ tablet isn’t easy and if you want to be multi task class productive<\/strong> on a tablet PC a 7″ screen just dosn’t make sense.<\/p>\n

One thing I like a lot is the inclusion of Gorilla Glass<\/a> in the screen which makes the screen ultra strong<\/strong>, the magnesium case<\/strong> gives a very professional look to the whole device as well – it certainly is heads and shoulders above some of the plasticity cheap looking Android tablets out there.<\/p>\n

The only thing which I don’t get about the case design is the start button in the middle of the tablets bezel<\/strong> – the way I see it if the button were on the far left hand side (as it is on the Acer W500<\/a>) then if you were holding the tablet with two hands it would be more than easy for you to reach out with your thumb and get right back to start.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Kick Stand<\/h5>\n

Back in\u00a0my days of college I used to own a Asus R2H Tablet PC (at that time they were called ultra mobile PCs), one of the best things about it was it had a kick stand built right in<\/strong> – the Microsoft Surface tablets also have this wonderful little feature built right into the case which means…..no buying silly stands!<\/p>\n

As far as hardware features go this is second only to the inclusion\u00a0of a fully functional USB port (expect this on most if not all Windows 8 tablets!), you might say well you need a desk to use the stand..well…think of all those times you were<\/p>\n