Wile the clients using the cloud might not be running Windows, the cloud itself often IS. Last time I saw any data, just about 2/3 of the virtual machines running in the Gartner-designated "leaders'" clouds were running Windows Server.

That trend will continue. VMware is the next Netscape.

The W8 tablets, known as "Surface", will dominate. They are true laptop replacements, not merely consumer toys (see: iPad).

Hard to believe that you still think that people *want* laptop replacements.

Here's how things are going to go down:

Apple will release a 7" tablet and sell the living hell out of them, while actually making a profit. This ends up being something that none of the other OEMs can't do.

The Nexus will get hit the hardest, but Google may actually be losing money on each of those units anyway. It probably remains the best Android tablet out there, and therefore great for folks that dump all their stuff into the Google ecosystem.

Samsung will continue to get down into the mud with expensive advertising that appeals to their base, release tablets that won't ever see an operating system upgrade and won't see much, if any, profit from it. Their nasty ads do a great job of riling up their fan base but alienate potential customers and drives Apple to stop buying components from them within two years.

People that hate Apple on principle will point to sales of Android tablets as some sign of victory against the Man even though nobody actually makes money off Android tablets. Great for people that like cheap devices, yelling on the internet and feeling different because you don't carry Apple hardware. Not so great for anyone invested in OEMs making Android tablets except for Amazon.

Amazon still won't say how many Kindle XYZs they make but will have high revenue numbers. They break even on their devices and make it up on content.

Microsoft will eventually release the Surface, which will be overshadowed by how terrible Windows 8 reviews are. They end up pushing their OEMs to Android because they want license fees for each copy of Windows 8 and the OEMs are pissed that suddenly they're really in competition with Microsoft. Ballmer has already come out to say they want an integrated solution. Google (with the Nexus) doesn't care. The Nexus is a reference device for their OEMs and make money off the advertising.

The Microsoft hardware will be OK, but their cover will under deliver. This ends up hurting both the Windows and Office brands overall. Office will suffer more because once the general consumer realizes that the experience of using Office on a touch device sucks and realizes that they've been getting along fine without it on iOS for quite some time.

So to recap:

Apple: Releases a 7" tablet and makes $$$
Google: Doesn't care about their hardware but the glut of Android devices delivers lots and lots of ad words
Amazon: Continues to make a decent pile of $$$ from selling content on their branded devices
Microsoft: Sees their brand diminished on the desktop, remaining marginalized on tablets and phones while they continue to do cool shit on the server side. Inexplicably Ballmer keeps his job.
RIM: Bankruptcy by June

Android partisans: Claim victory based on market share even though none of these companies stay in business because of market share alone while amassing a larger pile of obsolete cheaply made hardware
Apple partisans: Love their stuff, still looks at Android as a cheap knock off
Apple investors: Talk to their accountants about buying some RIM stock to offset their obscene gains on AAPL for tax purposes

I'm not an Android fanboy. I think tablets, at this point, are consumption devices. And Amazon and Apple kill google there. Apple has tried to move a bit towards production too, but I don't find their apps very good. I think the biggest disaster in design today is in App development - it drives me crazy. But that's probably for another thread.

But I still would have a hard time recommending an Android tablet over an Apple or Amazon device, if that's what the user wants.


I think Microsoft will do **** all though. But we'll see - I have been wrong before. And I agree with the statement that people don't want laptop replacements - they serve two different needs. That's part of why I think MS will fail.

I'll bite. What do you mean? App approval? Objective-C?

The Windows 8 tablets with AMD processors will be able to run Android apps. Link

Regarding the idea that "Office" will be dead in a few years in favor of cloud and web based applications, somebody missed the memo... Office is already web-based and on the cloud. Link

Surface RT tablets begin at $500 - Report

http://www.gamespot.com/news/surface...report-6398321

Pricing for new Windows RT tablet line to begin at $500 for 32GB model without Touch Cover; scaling to $700 with covers and additional memory.

Microsoft has, perhaps prematurely, unveiled pricing for its upcoming Surface tablet line. Pricing for the RT models appeared on Microsoft's official website today, and was quickly removed, but not before TechCrunch snapped a screenshot of the page.


According to the screenshot, a 32GB Surface tablet running on Windows RT will cost $500, and will not come bundled with a Touch Cover (a magnetic screen cover that doubles as a keyboard). The same 32GB model with a Touch Cover will run $600, and a 64GB model with a Touch Cover is pegged at $700.

The Surface RT tablet line is expected to launch alongside Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system on October 26. This pricing is in line with Apple's newest iPad iteration, which begins at $500 for a Wifi-only version and scales to $700.

Microsoft's Surface RT edition, which runs on a Nvidia ARM processor, is one of two models the company is planning. The other is an Intel Core processor-driven Windows 8 Pro unit. Information regarding that model is expected to arrive sometime later.

Both Surface tablets will feature a 10.6-inch "HD display" with Corning Gorilla Glass 2.0, as well as a full-size USB port, microSD card port, and multiple configurations of system RAM. Microsoft is also touting built-in kickstands for the Surface tablets, as well as screen covers with built-in keyboards. The cover combos will come in two varieties: the Touch Cover will provide a 3mm-thin gesture-sensing keyboard for typing, while the 5mm-thin Type Cover offers moving keys for those who prefer a standard keyboard feel.

What do you guys think of this tablet?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-pla-_-NA-_-NA

I have the newer Infinity and it's solid hardware. I heard rumors that the all metal shell of the older Transformer tablets cause some issues though. Not sure if that specific model has the problems.

Android(even after upgrade to jelly bean) is annoying but it's a solid tablet

I just don't understand why Android isn't better than it is ... they have had plenty of time to produce a mature product.

At that price point, why would anyone want one of the Surface tablets? I was wanting one earlier, but for the same price, I could get an iPad with a better display and a bajillion apps. Microsoft currently has, what, less than 600 apps in their store? At that price point, they are dead in the water. It is now between Google and Apple. It will be interesting what the Nexus 10 will be like...I hope it has the stylus option like the Galaxy Note 10.1......

The apps aren't what makes it appealing. Running full blown MS makes apps completely irrelevant. You could load Office 2010, just like a desktop PC. And run full blown Outlook, and any other desktop app. Some Windows only apps are essential to the enterprise world, and currently won't run on any tablet.

I really think there would be a big demand for that functionality on a tablet. A lot more so in the enterprise environment, where they don't care about overpaying for technology. The manufacturer could overprice it, and it would still sell well just because it's a legit Windows environment.

People underestimate the value of Windows coverage, and how it hasn't translated to tablets very well yet at all.

Pretty much this!

As I have said in other threads, I work for a school in IT. We ordered
6 RT tablets today for testing, and will order 6 pro ones when they come out.

The reason being is that we will be going to a 1:1 program with students, we thought that would be with iPads, but to be honest, on top of being almost utterly useless for teachers in a classroom environment, they are even worse for students. But, if you could have a full blown MS OS on a tablet sized device, that would be pretty much amazing for all involved.

Now to be fair this is what would work in our environment since we are a Microsoft house, in others it might not be as ideal.

@davenull

ROFL if you think laptops are on their way out. Try and use an iPad in an anything but a consumption type of manner and you will find it immensely annoying.

Actually, Android is very good for its short amount of time in the market.

OS and Windows have been around for nearly 30 years.

Android? 5 yrs.

That is the thing, though, you can't run full blown MS on the RT tablets. On the Pro tablets, sure, but you are looking at another $4-500 for that, apparently--several months down the line. Ultra books will do the same exact thing that the Pro tablets will do; they make the Pro tablets redundant--unless you are absolutely dieing to be able to use finger navigation on a spreadsheet, lol.

Microsoft needs to do away with the RT line and focus on their Pro line, that is where their niche will be. They also need to work on the price point because not nearly the amount of people will drop $1000 on a tablet as they would if the price were say, $600. The Pro's NEED to be competitively priced or MS is done.