Microsoft Cuts Surface Pro Price By $100 341
SmartAboutThings writes "After discounting the Surface RT tablet worldwide by 30 percent, Microsoft is now cutting the price of its Surface Pro tablet by one hundred dollars. Steve Ballmer himself has recently declared that he was unhappy with the number of tablets Microsoft has managed to sell. The price cut offer is valid between August 4th and August 29th. It might continue or stop, according to the supply. The price cut is applicable to Surface Pro 64 GB & 128 GB models."
Re:Pity it doesn't work as a peripheral... (Score:3, Informative)
Problem is that windows 8 pen input is gimped. Windows 7 has much better pen integration (see link below).
That said, there are a few programs designed to mirror input from one computer to the other but the problem with those is that they perform a weird smoothing (or lack there-of) pattern to the cursor so you get stepped lines instead of a straight one. Remote desktop is another option, but I can't see running photoshop using it.
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_8-desktop/why-doesnt-the-tablet-input-panel-in-windows-8/2150317a-6d60-43f6-8052-d80038b83281
http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/hardware/14016-using-tablet-pc-input-device-desktop.html#9
Re:Pity it doesn't work as a peripheral... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Not enough (Score:5, Informative)
If you never want to run apps on it, ever, then Windows 8 is apparently a nice interface for touch.
That is pretty true of Surface 8 RT (although there are quite a few apps for it).
But Surface 8 Pro is a full fledged 64bit Windows (wintel) device that will run just about anything your desktop machine will run, and the performance is pretty amazing. Beats the hell out of my Android 10 inch tablet in terms of speed and responsiveness. It really is pretty nice hardware.
For my day job, (where I have to do Windows Development) I've had to travel with a monster laptop, but I've now got everything on a 128Gig Pro 8 with and additional 64gig MircroSD card for storage, and the click keyboard.
I have all my source code, compilers, linkers, IDEs and a complete replication of my work environment on the device.
I can even run VMware on it. Linux in virtual machines for supporting my other customers.
Yes, run time is not that great (although its way more than the 4 hours claimed because its battery saving strategy is very good).
Yes, Its heavier than my Android tablet, but nowhere near as heavy as even a small laptop).
And, IMHO, the touch interface is less than inspiring, but I spend most of my time working in an a software development environment (desktop) anyway do I don't notice.
Expensive! That's the only serious complaint. But as a business tax write-off, it didn't hurt much.
Hate on RT as you will, but Pro is a good product, and a pretty high price.
Re:Excellent (Score:2, Informative)
Little third-party developer support? You must live in some fantasy world where Windows 95-Windows 8 never existed. A tablet that runs every 32-bit (and 64-bit) application ever written for the world's most popular OS since the mid-90's does not have "little third party developer support".
Exactly!
There is an entire world of people who still don't understand that Surface Pro is radically different than RT.
Its actually x86_64, a full 64bit quad-core Core-i5. Boots in 7 seconds flat. And its performance is amazing, and the
interface is well thought out.
When they give me my start bar back I'll be far less fumble fingered, and I'll probably stop smudging the screen at all.! ;-)
Re:Not enough (Score:5, Informative)
Bahahahahahaaha
Yeah, Icebike is a MS promoter from a long way back.
I prefer the Australian Financial Review's version:
Microsoft slashes Surface prices (for unlucky few)
Microsoft has slashed the price of its ill-starred Surface Pro tablet in countries around the world. But, in a lucky escape, the discounts don’t apply here in Australia.
Prices for the Surface Pro tumbled in the US, Canada, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan over the weekend. In the US, it’s now listed as “Starting at $799”, $US100 cheaper than it was a few days ago.
Meanwhile here in Australia, the Surface Pro still starts at $999, just like always. Fingers crossed the discounting doesn’t spread down here, otherwise people might be tempted to buy one, which wouldn’t be a good idea. Not just yet, anyway.
http://www.afr.com/f/free/technology/digitallife/microsoft_slashes_surface_prices_MjgML0oVz8scIMOLdJ78LL [afr.com]
Re:Sounds good, But! (Score:4, Informative)
Yes. Turn off Secure Boot in the UEFI firmware menu (accessed through Advanced Startup), then boot off the USB Linux boot device of your choice. I expect a modern distribution of Linux will have drivers for most of the hardware inside the Pro. Alternatively, run it in Hyper-V (or VMware, or VirtualBox, or the hypervisor of your choice), since it's an x86 Windows 8 device with hardware virtualization support.
Only the RT has the "permanently locked" Secure Boot setting. The Pro is a full-fledged i5 device that can run Linux just fine.
Re:Not enough (Score:5, Informative)
Yes.
http://techrights.org/2011/12/26/microsoft-and-nokia-astroturf/ [techrights.org]
âoeWaggener Edstrom explains its âoePerception Managementâ services,â notes Homer, who quotes: âoeUncontrolled buzz can dramatically change perceptions of your brand. [...] The Narrative Network mines online dialogue and traditional media, even foreign language media, for mentions of your brand, your company, your key executives and your competitors. Then using a social networking algorithm, it associates what they say about your brand. [...] While we monitor your narrative network over time, or before and after a product launch or PR announcement, we will find new branches of a story [graphic flashes the phrase "Negative PR"]. This allows us to measure effectiveness of the PR messaging, and insert new messages or themes into your brand storyline, and deploy the right resources to keep the story on message, or adjust tactics to manage perceptions.â