Report: Microsoft Surface Tablets to Be Wi-Fi-only at First
Microsoft's Surface tablets will initially only have Wi-Fi connectivity when they launch later this year.
When Microsoft announced its Surface tablets earlier this week, it kept quiet about the finer details of these tablets. Sure, we know that the Windows RT model will run on an ARM processor and the Pro version will pack Intel's Core i series of processors, but Microsoft didn't reveal important details such as RAM or connectivity (or pricing, for that matter).
Today, the rumor mill is churning out reports that the Surface tablets will be Wi-Fi only when they launch. Bloomberg cites two people familiar with the matter who say Microsoft's iPad rival will launch without 3G or 4G LTE connectivity. The news outlet goes on to cite one analyst who says this might present an issue for marketing, as Microsoft on Monday touted the device as an ultra-mobile device suitable for working on the go.
Marketing efforts aside, Microsoft is aiming for business professionals with the Surface Pro, and business people might take issue with the fact that using the device on the go will rely on having a Wi-Fi network close by. Those with devices like the iPad or the Galaxy Tab might not mind Wi-Fi-only (indeed, the lack of a data contract is a plus for many), but Microsoft's Surface, with its high-end specs, a full version of Windows, and Microsoft Office, is designed less for the casual user and more for the constantly-moving professional.
The important thing to note here is that Bloomberg's sources say the Surface will initially go on sale without data connectivity. Whether this means one or both models will ship without it, or that Microsoft plans to release 3G models not too long after the initial launch, remains to be seen. However, what is clear is that Microsoft apparently does have intentions for a 3G version, so it won't be missing in the 3G tablet market for long.
wrong. they have.
http://www.microsoft.com/global/surface/en/us/renderingassets/surfacespecsheet.pdf
That's on their website, btw. surface.com.
As an iPad owner (first generation) I’ve wanted an SD slot on my iPad, and also a USB Port, but Apple has dictated I neither need these nor do I really want these features, and hence I’m merely a confused consumer. However, with Microsoft now jumping into the ring (with these very features) and if they survive the initial first rounds, I’ll be willing to bet we see a change in Apple’s attitude and new competitive hardware features added to Apple products in the future. I also hope Android takes-off and brings out a few innovative surprises as well, as this will only add fuel to the fire and bring whole new levels of unique innovation into the mix. Competition is great, and is the very foundation of Capitalism (which I love) so let’s all hope all three survive and last into the coming decade!
To yachtman's point, that's not a spec sheet, not a full one anyway. Those may be important details, but that's far from a complete picture of the final device. No mention of the specific processor, amount of RAM, type of graphics, that's really just a very bare list of features they've given, and, as the article indicates, there is no mention of the form of connectivity involved. I don't know whether the design is finished yet or not, but it would seem to me they still have a little time to add 3G or 4G if they want.
I expect that any delay in 3G or 4G options will have more to do with them trying to pick a carrier and work out the pricing on that end. MSFT hasn't been in this business before, so they don't have a norm to jump to, so they have to be careful, although the idea of selling a non 3G or 4G model only to sell one that has it a little later would probably be a bad idea.
Considering how Apple treats its customers, you have little, if any, room to talk.
work, restaurants, church, coffee shops, several local businesses, anywhere down town (we have a free wireless network down town provided by the city), my home, all of my friend's homes... Really, other than while on the road (where I still have to drive until Google get's their car sorted out) there is no place I go that is not wifi capable. I only see this being a problem for a few power business users.
Look, the pot is calling the kettle black!
Plus it's not really a laptop if you can't use the keyboard on your lap, and with that kickstand it's going to be tricky. If you need furniture to use the dedicated keyboard, this pretty much fails as an ultraportable laptop.
Oh come on; let's all be nice now!
Just because he . . . oh, no . . . I am not going down that road :-)
Actually you can use this on your lap pretty easily. Please see this review
Also they are pleanty powerful unless you except it to be a full on gaming replacement or act as a server which would just be silly. I have gotten to play with Win 8 Pro on an older tablet, it have an i5 core, and it was pleanty quick for every day applications like VS 2012 which was running on it.