Last week we asked you about the future of desktop computers. With laptops and tablets getting stronger and more popular, we were wondering where you think desktop computers are heading. The results, and especially the comments, were fascinating, with some very cool visions of the future of desktops.
Out of a total of 757 votes, the results were as follows: 7% think desktops will disappear in less than 5 years, 10% think desktops will disappear in 10 years, another 10% think desktop will stay only in offices, 22% think desktops might disappear, but that laptops are not their replacement, and a full 49% think desktops are here to stay. 3% voted for “other”, and chose to tell us what they envision for desktops in the comments.
Full results and this week’s poll after the jump.
This week’s poll question is: Will You Buy The New Microsoft Surface?
A bit over a week ago, Microsoft announced its new tablet/laptop hybrid, the Microsoft Surface. The new Surface, not to be confused with the old, huge table-top show tablet now referred to as PixelSense, is a Windows 8 tablet with a detachable keyboard that will be sold in two versions: a weaker, Windows RT version, and a stronger Windows 8 Pro version. While the device was announced last week, it’s not expected to be sold until the fall. With rumored prices of $599 for the RT version and $999 for the Pro version, the Surface is trying to be more than just an iPad competitor. But will you buy it?
Don’t forget to tell us in the comments why you voted as you did, what you like or dislike about the new Surface and what you think about its rumored price compared to other available options.
Hide 52 Comments
I’ll stick with desktops for as long as I can.
That’s exactly like saying “I’ll just use a flat head screwdriver, I don’t need any phillip’s head “. Tools: use more than one
No, a flat hard, and a Philips head are two different types of screw driver that serve different purposes. I have a desktop, laptop, and tablet. To me my desktop can do all the things the latter two can, better.
That is not green at all.waste electricity,those components and etc.thats not very wise.One who thinks your way will say i only have a flat head screwdriver and phillips screwdriver,i should also get a torx screwdriver and this goes on and on till you get pretty much every type of device in earth.some things are just not needed.
Hard to answer when Microsoft won’t tell us so much about it. What’s the battery life? What’s the price? When will it be released?
The Windows RT version is no good, too — the Pro version that can actually run real desktop applications may be interesting.
Microsoft didn’t even let journalists play with it, so it’s impossible to say how well it and the keyboard work. Microsoft has a reputation for vaporware and they’re at it again — wake me up when it’s a real product. Whatever you think of Apple and Google, when they announce something, you can buy it immediately. Microsoft wants people to hold off on iPads and Nexus tablets in the hopes of a Surface sometime next year — not good enough, Microsoft.
I tend to agree. I’m not sure why they had to rush the announcement when there’s no actual product. My guess is that they knew other things were coming, and wanted us to know that we can choose to wait for Surface. But not many people would choose to wait for a product they don’t know much about.
As for prices, the rumored prices are $599 and $999, but that’s just a rumor.
Maybe they rushed the announcement to partially plaacate their hardware partners ( or should I say, former hardware partners).
I don’t know about that. They’ve freaked out their hardware partners by entering their ecosystem as a competitor.
I mean, it’s understandable — PC OEMs have done a terrible job. But Microsoft is still spooking them.
That is the only tablet that has an OS that fascinates me really, not too impressed with android and Apple’s products are a no no for me, so out of personal preference, I welcome a new entree into the tablet market.
Are you referring to the RT version or the Pro version? I’m very curious about the pro version, a tablet that’s also a laptop with full-blown Windows. Wish I could see it in action, though!
I am referring to the version that includes the full pro version of windows 8.
Which sounds really nice, and useful, but what about Joe Six-pack, who will probably look at the RT as a cheaper iPad alternative, with a cover and keyboard at no extra cost?
Well, the RT version is certainly a nice alternative to the iPad for any one who wants something different than what’s available but at a lower cost than Apple’s iPad. In my opinion, the RT version would be great for students as it comes with the 2013 office suite, so yeah, it’s also a nice option.
The only problem is, if its price really is going to be $599, it’s too expensive to be an iPad alternative.
Complete PC with PC OS(with complete keyboard, trackpad, USB, video exit, etc.) + Complete tablet with tablet OS (App store, multitouch gestures, drawing, etc.) = Epic Win!!!
Just curious, what price would you be willing to pay for it? It does sound really good, but there’s a limit to how much I would be willing to pay…
I’d buy one if the price were comparable to a similarly equipped laptop: processor, etc. <$1,000 for a multitasker sounds okay to me.
It is really a fail as Windows is for computer only and could never be compatible with tablet in our mind, first tablet are a content consuming device primarily but Windows is a solid software that is used in the professional work and for producing big things, but Microsoft is doing something without actually listening to feedback, it might have a market, but, there is already Windows 7 tablet by some normal company so there is no need to do something big while everyone is saying no also Microsoft did not let people test it and did not provide technical data and how they could dissipate heat generated without a fan which is really a problem if we play something big on “Pro” version, so no for it iPad or Galaxy do better as they are specialized in the thing .
Why do you think users don’t want a Windows tablet? I know the Windows 7 tablet was pretty much an epic fail (I’ve never even seen one), but this should be something completely different.
Even if they could improve interface to meet users need, they could not alter the way we use Windows as I’m a programmer and I use Windows to write code in my Laptop but I do not feel any comfortable to use a tablet Surface or not to do my work, other job like accounting, design, engineering and things in company offices could never be accomplished using tablet so I think if Microsoft want to target the tablet market they did better make a nice mobile OS for them that does exactly what other tablets do “content consumption” then pack it with their Store to sell that content, personally I prefer to buy the new Nexus 7 tablet due to it’s price in hand and for doing what a tablet should do .
By “we” you mean programmers, like yourself. Not everyone is a programmer, nor even wants to be.
Oh well, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what it’s really like!
I also don’t know how they will dissipate Intel processor heat and look that they didn’t give information about the type and clock, if there is no fan there would be a overheat problem .
Sounds pretty much what they said about the “horseless carraige” Surface may fail, but it seems to be a meme changer. The iPad was one also. You can win big, only if you take big bets.
I write software on the Windows platform mainly using VB. Though there are other platforms out there, they all require that I learn other programming languages and this is not a bad thing. I am just very comfortable in Windows. The ‘learning another language’ fact has kept me from seriously considering developing for tablets. With the Microsoft Surface however, I can seriously consider developing for tablets. I definitely will require to learn some new things but I can leverage what I already know on Windows.
Nice point! I wonder if developing Metro apps is very similar to Windows software.
I didn’t liked the rumored pricing.They are too much.I also think that it’s heavier than iPad and other tablets in the market.So,I think that Surface must be considered as a new form of laptop and not a tablet.
I think you might be right, and if these prices are close to the truth, they’re also priced as laptops, not as tablets.
1) So far it’s vaporware, all we’ve seen are mockups and demo models. No pricing, no real reviews, zip.
2) So it has a keyboard. Woop. There are hundreds of the damn things for both Android and Apple tablets, and Logitech’s Apple offering is pretty slim too.
3) Like RIM’s Playbook was, It’s a foetal product running a foetal operating system with a foetal app store. By the time a decent ecosystem gets off the ground the device will have been superceded several times over. Keen developers only, at this stage… and, like with the Playbook, already the grumbling devs have started to Surface.
It’s funny, the Playbook really didn’t do very well, but when I played with it in a store once, it was one of the best tablets they had there. All the other Android tablets were much less responsive. This was almost a year ago, but still, I was very surprised.
Doesn’t surprise me, really – first impressions were pretty good if I remember right. The problem is they rushed it out too soon in a panic.
Seems to be a nice product.
There are several Windows tablet out there.
This one is surely going to be locked as an iPad.
But it needs much testing and software quality control to adapt to multiple apps.
I’ll be getting a cheap android tablet, that can be made to run custom apps and hardware accessories such a keyboard dock or wireless.
The only problem with the ‘Surface’ is that it should be placed on a proper surface to work. It can’t stand on your lap as a laptop, or being used as handheld unless you don’t use the keyboard cover,
The ‘Surface’ needs a surface to work.
Damn, I can’t type with the cover keyboard while on the bus…
I’m assuming it will have an on-screen keyboard as well. It would be silly not to have one, for when the actual keyboard is not connected. Also, the better keyboard, that one with the actual keys, can be used on your lap, I believe.
I was saying about using the device almost anywhere except on a table. But it seems impossible with the supplied keyboard.
Using it as a tablet without the keyboard cover is like using any other tablet with another OS.
On-Screen keyboard will surely be available, MS folks are not that stupid…
By the time it arrives on the market, we’ll see how it does with the competition….
Microsoft products are some of the shoddiest in the marketplace. There is no creativity at Microsoft anymore. All they do is copy whatever Apple does, but they don’t do it nearly as well. Microsoft’s glory days are long gone… and probably never returning.
That’s the first time I hear that point of view. Where do you feel Microsoft are copying Apple? I can’t think of a major resemblance between anything they do to Apple products…
I do think Windows, in its original form, is a bold copy from Apple, though. But Apple were so small back then, nearly no one used a Mac.
Microsoft came before apple so in the long run apple copied Microsoft
On the long run, I must say I don’t think either copied either. It’s like saying Samsung and HTC copied Apple with their smartphones.
Good technology ends up looking similar, and I think Mac OS X and Windows or Windows Phone and iOS are VERY different, at the end of the day. Even if an initial idea was copied by someone, they’ve taken it to completely different place, and we’re all the better for that.
The Micro-Soft Surface is awesome i will buy it!
Microsoft is the best.
Micro-Soft owns my life and i have a nokia lumia 5 xboxes (3 Xbox 2Xbox 360)
And i have 2 Micro-Soft HP PCs
5 Xboxes! Now that’s impressive. :)
If it support hard working, such as Programming, Video Editing, 3D Animation, I’ll surely buy one… I love surface computers as they are so cool with my fingers… lol
waiting for more update regarding specs and pricing (hopefully the price is “competitive”)
However, like too many Microsoft things I am afraid that it will be buggy through a few upgrade stages.
Like too many Microsoft things I am afraid that it will be buggy and have glitches through some upgrade stages.
Well I think the RT version would be just a direct iPad competitor. I’m not sure just how much value their is in the RT version when the iPad already has a well established ecosystem. Lets not forget that it’s really the app ecosystem that has seen Apple dominate the tablet market. I’ve got an iPad and played with some other tablets. The transformer prime can match the iPad 2 in both hardware and a pretty smooth UI, but the lack of a solid app ecosystem has seen it never threaten the iPads sales. I also feel that if this came out sooner they would have a better chance of cracking the market. by the time Microsoft releases this and windows 8 the next generation iPad launch will be fast approaching. I honestly can’t see this tablet taking many sales away from the iPad until they develop a solid ecosystem of Apps.
The Pro version i feel completely differently about. I think this could be a hugh success. a tablet running the Ivy Bridge intel processors is a mouth watering prospect. Whether I buy this over an ultra book will completely come down to battery life, quality of the display and keyboard, and Price! If Microsoft can get these right it will be a fantastic product.
For those that doubt Microsofts hardware making credentials, take a look at the X-box 360. it is a real solid machine… It will be difficult but with Microsofts resources, they can pull this off.
I think you’re right about apps. If Android tablets are struggling, and there are lots of Android apps, the RT version that only runs Metro apps is bound to have a problem.
The pro version does sound fantastic, I really hope they can get the price right and not go overboard.
Well, first of all, Microsoft always does give licenses to OEMs first. I think October is the month we’ll get to see Surface Tablet. And I don’t know why people hate MS even when they can’t live without their Windows? iPads have failed to give a proper productive machine, I always see tablets as ‘very large PMPs’. With Surface and new Windows, MS can change that. Price? Apple sells iPads around $800-900. We’ll be seeing Surface around $700-900. Stop hating MS, appreciate that they’ve started to innovate again and that could be serious problem of other companies and Incs. Give ‘em chance, try, show their problems/flaws and you’ll get better product next time.
PS: I’m not a MS fanboy neither am Apple fanboy. Just being a jealous or raged person doesn’t make sense guys.
First of all, I totally agree that there’s no reason to hate or get angry. I love seeing new things, no matter from which company, and at the end of the day, we can each choose what to buy. No body is forcing us to do anything.
I must say, though, that the iPad is not selling for $800-$900. If you want to get the 64GB version with 3G, you’d pay around $800, but the simple models are $500-$600. If Microsoft want to compete with that, they have to get the price right.
The Microsoft Surface looks real sweet! Hoping to get it when it comes out.
First will see the surface when it released then will decide to…..
buy or not
The fact that so many techies seem to be adamant about saying its better than the iPad even before its release tells me that this thing ain’t worth the price they will surely be asking for.
With MS’s history, the Surface Pro could end up like the MS Tablet PC, the Zune and the Win 7 Phone. MS has the tendency to play catch up or to create technologies that more innovative companies like Apple and Google can take further.
MS seems to do best with Office and gaming software. Maybe its time to forge an entirely new direction and leave tablets to Android and iOS.
It looks great, but I have to look at it first.