I think I know what Microsoft's iPad Competitor Is..

[rdowns]

No matter how far out in front Apple is, I would have said they will have some stiff competition when others finally release theirs. However, reading about how widely businesses are adopting iPads, I'd say good luck to the Windows/Android competitors.

 

[r0k]

Anyone remember the Microsoft Surface which was released 2 years ago?
It wouldn't surprise me if Microsoft released a smaller version of it to compete with the iPad.Also,the Surface has multi-touch just like the iPad.

When I read the word released, I tend to think of something I can go down to Best Buy and purchase. M$ has never released Surface. Surface is available in a few locations such as a car rental at Heathrow and is not widely available. I would refer to it as a kind of limited beta more than a release. Also M$ almost never makes hardware with the exception of Xbox and a some ill-fated phones.

M$ has, however provided software (Win XP, Vista and 7) for widely available tablet "convertible laptops" made by HP, Toshiba and others that have had mediocre sales in the market. They are horrible, heavy machines with mediocre battery life. I should know. My daughter owns one (HP running XP SP 3) and she hates it.

I do expect M$ to port some Surface features to any future Tablet they might support but I'd rather not see the word released used to refer to an advanced design concept that is many months or perhaps years away from production.

This year, as iPad sold over a million units a month, we have witnessed the wholesale meltdown of every alleged competitor to iPad from Android to Windows 7 based. I think this is because nobody wants go up against the iPad with a competing device that is not as good. I have a Ubuntu netbook that hasn't been switched on since I got my iPad, despite the fact my iPad can't do everything the Ubuntu netbook once did. If somebody offered a Linux tablet, I wouldn't consider it now that I own an iPad.

 

[TorontoLRT]

I've used Surface and it was, to be honest, terrible.

 

[aohus]

When I read the word released, I tend to think of something I can go down to Best Buy and purchase. M$ has never released Surface. Surface is available in a few locations such as a car rental at Heathrow and is not widely available. I would refer to it as a kind of limited beta more than a release. Also M$ almost never makes hardware with the exception of Xbox and a some ill-fated phones.

Wow, 1999 is calling, they want to take the term 'M$' back to their time.

You're actually wrong, Microsoft Surface is for commercial use, hence why its not widely available. Simply googling 'purchase microsoft surface' gave me a link on how to buy the device.

 

[ssdeg7]

iDevices

I think the best stuff that offer iDevices (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad) are the applications on the App store, the device is just an amazing hardware capable of reproducing peoples dreams.

These devices are not about what the do right now, but what they are able to do, almost everything, just take a look at the games and apps in the store, some just don't stop amazing people.

 

[r0k]

Wow, 1999 is calling, they want to take the term 'M$' back to their time.

You're actually wrong, Microsoft Surface is for commercial use, hence why its not widely available. Simply googling 'purchase microsoft surface' gave me a link on how to buy the device.

Thanks for the link. I stand corrected about the general availability of Surface. When a company who normally wants to cram their software down my throat on my PC, phone, toaster, refrigerator, car and even toilet offers software for "commercial use only" it gives me the impression that it is more like an expensive and very limited public beta.

BTW, doesn't 1999 want Microsoft back as well? No? Darn.