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Michael Goff

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Jul 5, 2012
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I suppose it’s a summary of all the reviews. Nice to see them collate all the reviews but of course they are extracting parts to support whatever agenda they have.

I like how they took anyone who said performance was bad as gospel. Oh wait, I mean the opposite. It frustrates me.

Sometimes I get those two mixed up.
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
Here’s an in-depth review looking at all the current reviews.

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/201...s-are-in-and-theyre-a-bit-all-over-the-place/

The Surface Go reviews are in, and… they’re a bit all over the place

Hmm, as I suspected the CPU (and probably RAM/eMMC) are bottlenecks. I suppose it depends on how you use the device, YMMV. On my Surface Pro I regularly have dozens of tabs open on multiple desktops, I don't think the Go would do well in my case. I said it before, and I'll say it again, there is a reason why this was released with Windows S and not full windows, and it's the performance. Of course the secondary reason being MS wants an Apple style app store complete with the revenue that brings, but that's another matter.

This is going to get into the hands of more tech savvy consumers who will upgrade it to full windows and start complaining about the slowdowns and performance. As I've said before, MS should never have cheaped out on this as much as they have.

Still, it seems pretty competitive as a consumption, or what I refer to as a "dumb" tablet (well other than the battery life), with the benefit of full windows. I still think it will flop, but I've adjusted my expectations that there may be a small market for it. I'm going to zoom down to the MS store this weekend to fondle one, I'm really impressed with how small it is in pictures. Might be a nice portable unit, and of course you can't beat the kickstand/keyboard which just utterly trounces anything Apple has.
 

Michael Goff

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Jul 5, 2012
13,329
7,422
Hmm, as I suspected the CPU (and probably RAM/eMMC) are bottlenecks. I suppose it depends on how you use the device, YMMV. On my Surface Pro I regularly have dozens of tabs open on multiple desktops, I don't think the Go would do well in my case. I said it before, and I'll say it again, there is a reason why this was released with Windows S and not full windows, and it's the performance. Of course the secondary reason being MS wants an Apple style app store complete with the revenue that brings, but that's another matter.

This is going to get into the hands of more tech savvy consumers who will upgrade it to full windows and start complaining about the slowdowns and performance. As I've said before, MS should never have cheaped out on this as much as they have.

Still, it seems pretty competitive as a consumption, or what I refer to as a "dumb" tablet (well other than the battery life), with the benefit of full windows. I still think it will flop, but I've adjusted my expectations that there may be a small market for it. I'm going to zoom down to the MS store this weekend to fondle one, I'm really impressed with how small it is in pictures. Might be a nice portable unit, and of course you can't beat the kickstand/keyboard which just utterly trounces anything Apple has.

What do you imagine they cheaped out on?
 

TPadden

macrumors 6502a
Oct 28, 2010
771
452
You can do the same with the S9/S9 plus and the S8/S8 plus.
I agree the competition in the portable computing/tablet field is more than just between iPad and Surface. Surface Go may be DOA (Dead on Arrival) and iPad may also be DOA (Dead of Old Age).

Chromebook may be the real competition.
 

Queen6

macrumors G4
I'm up for one soon as they are available locally, exactly what I've been waiting for small form factor, full OS with Touch & Pen.

Was going to pick up the 10" Samsung, however the Surface Go, has more "go'" and not much more $$$ where I can pick one up. Looking at the largest capacity with KB & pen, will hopefully prove to be an excellent work companion :)

Q-6
 
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spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
If you upgrade you can get 8GB of ram and the storage is SSD.

The processor you can't do anything about though.

Sure, but those upgrades cost money. Nothing you can do for the bezels, no matter how much money you throw at it. Still, as I said before, I've adjusted my expectations and it does look like a decent little windows tablet. I just don't know how it will do in today's crowded market, but if you need full windows and the surface pro is too large for you then at least there is this alternative.

Looking forward to the reviews and checking it out in person.
 

SteveJUAE

macrumors 601
Aug 14, 2015
4,513
4,753
Land of Smiles
If you upgrade you can get 8GB of ram and the storage is SSD.

The processor you can't do anything about though.
No one can do anything about CPU as there is simply not an 8th Gen available currently :)

I'm not sure why there is such a hang-up on specs it's all about form factor after all the iPad has run 6 years with same non laminated screen, poor webcam, 1st gen finger print sensor low storage on base models , equally large bezels etc yet continues to sell as users want something at this size even if hardware is grossly lagging :rolleyes: other than A10 chip

There will always be users who want IOS or W10 or Android devices of this size to suit numerous scenarios

If you look at the price of IPP or even new Tab S4 which are well in to good laptop territory there will still be buyers

The IP and Go plus other tablets offer an alternative that suit many :)

You just have to choose if you want an Appy thing or a lappy thing :D
 

sracer

macrumors G4
Apr 9, 2010
10,405
13,290
where hip is spoken

Dave Lee is very positive about it.
I respect Dave Lee's opinions. His positive review of it is certainly giving me reason to continue to consider getting one. @Michael Goff 's review (if it is positive) might just push me over the edge.
lol.gif
 

Michael Scrip

macrumors 604
Mar 4, 2011
7,975
12,674
NC
The Surface Go will sell like hot cakes, maybe not to Apple people but there are a lot of Windows people who will buy!

Unfortunately we'll never know... since Microsoft never breaks down sales figures for Surface products.

And analysts don't provide an answer either... as Microsoft doesn't appear in IDC or Gartner estimates for PCs or tablets. Microsoft is somewhere mixed in with "Others" on those charts.

So... can something be "selling like hot cakes" if they can't even crack the Top 5 on those charts? :p
 

Newtons Apple

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Mar 12, 2014
22,757
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Jacksonville, Florida
Unfortunately we'll never know... since Microsoft never breaks down sales figures for Surface products.

And analysts don't provide an answer either... as Microsoft doesn't appear in IDC or Gartner estimates for PCs or tablets. Microsoft is somewhere mixed in with "Others" on those charts.

So... can something be "selling like hot cakes" if they can't even crack the Top 5 on those charts? :p

If I were Microsoft, I would be happy with being number 6. We may not know exact number but I still say they will sell like hot cakes, hope that does not bother you. More choices is always better!
 

mi7chy

macrumors G4
Oct 24, 2014
10,625
11,298
Some consumers love to bring up excessive profit as an indicator of success like it's going into their pocket when it's actually pouring out.

Even if the Surface isn't a top 3 seller it still kickstarts the industry with other companies modeling after it, Microsoft still benefit by increasing their ~90% desktop marketshare further and smart consumers have a solid modern form factor choice that can multiboot the two most relevant OS', Windows and Linux, and potentially ChromeOS and MacOS for the price of a limited toy iPad.

Ironically, the Surface is fulfilling Steve Job's mission statement "To make a contribution to the world by making tools for the mind that advance humankind."
 

Michael Scrip

macrumors 604
Mar 4, 2011
7,975
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We may not know exact numbers but I still say they will sell like hot cakes

Without numbers... you won't know if something sells like hotcakes. You're just guessing. :p

And that was my point. Microsoft doesn't post numbers... and analysts haven't estimated Surface numbers to be great either since they are never on the chart.

But let's look at what we do know.

In order to break into the Top 5 tablet chart... they need to sell over 1 million units to overtake Amazon at the #5 spot. (in the same quarter Apple sold 10 million iPads at #1)

And on the PC chart... Microsoft would have to sell over 4 million units to break into the Top 5 chart surpassing Acer at the #5 spot. (in the same quarter HP sold 14 million units at #1)

So I gotta ask... what do you consider to be "hotcake" numbers?
 

SteveJUAE

macrumors 601
Aug 14, 2015
4,513
4,753
Land of Smiles
Unfortunately we'll never know... since Microsoft never breaks down sales figures for Surface products.

And analysts don't provide an answer either... as Microsoft doesn't appear in IDC or Gartner estimates for PCs or tablets. Microsoft is somewhere mixed in with "Others" on those charts.

So... can something be "selling like hot cakes" if they can't even crack the Top 5 on those charts? :p
Relatively to Surface sales over the last few years yes as I understand they are up ~25% for the last 2 which is far better than most others

Agreed relative to total revenue they may be down in the charts and minor to Apple but for relative growth, hot cakes is close enough :)
 
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Michael Scrip

macrumors 604
Mar 4, 2011
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Relatively to Surface sales over the last few years yes as I understand they are up ~25% for the last 2 which is far better than most others

But if they're still far below even the #5 seller... is that considered "selling like hotcakes" ?

That's what I was questioning.

I'm not doubting that Microsoft will sell quite a few Surface Go especially at the $399 pricetag.

But let's be honest with the superlatives. :p

If we hear that Microsoft sells 1 million Surface Go... that would make them the #5 tablet maker but still puts them in the "Others" PC category.

That's not "hotcake" territory... :D
 

SteveJUAE

macrumors 601
Aug 14, 2015
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Land of Smiles
But if they're still far below even the #5 seller... is that considered "selling like hotcakes" ?

That's what I was questioning.

I'm not doubting that Microsoft will sell quite a few Surface Go especially at the $399 pricetag.

But let's be honest with the superlatives. :p

If we hear that Microsoft sells 1 million Surface Go... that would make them the #5 tablet maker but still puts them in the "Others" PC category.

That's not "hotcake" territory... :D
If you sell $1b worth of surfaces and now sell $5b in 4 years I would say they are selling like hot cakes :) anyone would be happy with that growth

That's before the $399 came on sale so we may see even hotter cakes LOL
 
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Newtons Apple

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Mar 12, 2014
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Without numbers... you won't know if something sells like hotcakes. You're just guessing. :p

And that was my point. Microsoft doesn't post numbers... and analysts haven't estimated Surface numbers to be great either since they are never on the chart.

But let's look at what we do know.

In order to break into the Top 5 tablet chart... they need to sell over 1 million units to overtake Amazon at the #5 spot. (in the same quarter Apple sold 10 million iPads at #1)

And on the PC chart... Microsoft would have to sell over 4 million units to break into the Top 5 chart surpassing Acer at the #5 spot. (in the same quarter HP sold 14 million units at #1)

So I gotta ask... what do you consider to be "hotcake" numbers?

You seem to only want to argue. I could really care less about the whole thing. You are also just guessing. I consider my hotcake number to be the number that Microsoft sells.

I am done here, you were several posts ago!
 

sracer

macrumors G4
Apr 9, 2010
10,405
13,290
where hip is spoken
If you sell $1b worth of surfaces and now sell $5b in 4 years I would say they are selling like hot cakes :) anyone would be happy with that growth

That's before the $399 came on sale so we may see even hotter cakes LOL
I'm seeing a lot of buzz over the Go from people and places that I wasn't expecting. I think it just might be a surprise hit for Microsoft.... provided they don't do their usual "snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory". :) All Microsoft appears to need to do is not mess up system updates for it. (which has been a chronic issue since day-1 of the Surface line).
 
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