[border]

Apple is just beloved company and there's no point in pretending all the interest their generating is purely thanks to cold analys of their products.

Apple's following is pretty well-gained and well-established. To expect product announcements of some no-name OEM to receive the same level of coverage as an Apple product announcement is a little silly. It's like whining about press bias because the Gizmondo launch wasn't as well covered as the Nintendo DS launch. In theory it sounds nice that every viable product should get equal press attention, but in practice the press is going to cover well-entrenched and insanely popular platforms more than it covers relatively new platforms. Blogs need hits, and if there's 20 times more interest in WWDC as there is in Computex, then they will probably generate 20 times more articles.

[Cheebo]

wouldn't the Tech press kill Microsoft if the announcement was going to be small.

Problem is Microsoft probably thought their E3 conference was a big deal too and look how well that went.

[AdrianWerner]

Apple's following is pretty well-gained and well-established. To expect product announcements of some no-name OEM to receive the same level of coverage as an Apple product announcement is a little silly. It's like whining about press bias because the Gizmondo launch wasn't as well covered as the Nintendo DS launch. In theory it sounds nice that every viable product should get equal press attention, but in practice the press is going to cover well-entrenched and insanely popular platforms more than it covers relatively new platforms. Blogs need hits, and if there's 20 times more interest in WWDC as there is in Computex, then they will probably generate 20 times more articles.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I know this and don't expect it to change. If any other PC company would release retina laptops it wouldn't get even 5% of the coverage new Macbook Pro.

[Bluemercury]

Whats so special about a tablet with windows 8 on it???

[Jason Raize '75 - '04]

Buy Win8 testbed from Splashtop.

Whats so special about a tablet with windows 8 on it???

Just watched this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHcxM...eature=related

Wow

[Cheebo]

Just watched this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHcxM...eature=related Wow

But that is Win8 not WinRT, this tablet would almost assuredly be a WinRT tablet.

[Damon Bennet]

But that is Win8 not WinRT, this tablet would almost assuredly be a WinRT tablet.

still works the same way, just minus the legacy programms

[Dreams-Visions]

still works the same way, just minus the legacy programms

the "just" is killing me there. lol.

it's a huge difference that must be pointed out.

[Antiwhippy]

Oh, don't get me wrong, I know this and don't expect it to change. If any other PC company would release retina laptops it wouldn't get even 5% of the coverage new Macbook Pro.

They would be if they were the first to release such a high resolution one.

I agree that it won't be on the level of apple, but it would still be pretty big.

still works the same way, just minus the legacy programms

From what I've read no, just no.

[AdrianWerner]

I agree that it won't be on the level of apple, but it would still be pretty big. .

Yes...5% as big as Apple's annoucement :)

[Jason Raize '75 - '04]

still works the same way, just minus the legacy programms

the "just" is killing me there. lol. it's a huge difference that must be pointed out.

??

[Damon Bennet]

??

There will be Windows 8 on Intel chips with legacy support and everything, but there will also be systems running on ARM chips (now called: Windows RT) which are only able to run the metro apps and a few selected Desktop programs like Office.

From what I've read no, just no.

what did you read

[Antiwhippy]

Yes...5% as big as Apple's annoucement :)

Eh, alright I probably agree, but it's a microsoft branded flagship device I'd say it would be alot higher. Just based on OEMs alone they won't have the reach of the big two.

??

Desktop being limited to IE, utilities and office without the ability to install anything else does not justify a "just". WindowsRT is severely limited if you want capabilities that extend just beyond a tablet device.

[derFeef]

Problem is Microsoft probably thought their E3 conference was a big deal too and look how well that went.

Yeah, they almost closed down!

[HollovVpo1nt]

Problem is Microsoft probably thought their E3 conference was a big deal too and look how well that went.

Well, given their performance (and Sony's), I highly doubt they thought their conference was a big deal.

[goomba]

How long till this announcement ? It's 11pm on the 18 th here and im sleepy.

[HollovVpo1nt]

How long till this announcement ? It's 11pm on the 18 th here and im sleepy.

What? Where you from? I think the announcement isn't due for another 9 hours i think..

[gcubed]

I'm curious to see why Verizon is there. People dont want a tablet on contract. (Or a 699 tablet with an LTE radio)

[goomba]

What? Where you from? I think the announcement isn't due for another 9 hours i think..

New Zealand , ok cool, thanks. Bed time for me then.

[infinityBCRT]

The way MS hyped up this announcement, they hyped it up to the level of a Next Xbox/Xbox TV or an acquisition of a company (like RIM or Twitter). At least that's how the guys from The Verge felt on their last podcast. If its just a Windows RT tablet, they are going to get killed in the press for sure.

[brotkasten]

The way MS hyped up this announcement, they hyped it up to the level of a Next Xbox/Xbox TV or an acquisition of a company (like RIM or Twitter). At least that's how the guys from The Verge felt on their last podcast. If its just a Windows RT tablet, they are going to get killed in the press for sure.

They're going to get killed either way. People just tend to read too much into this.

[Matt]

I'm curious to see why Verizon is there. People dont want a tablet on contract. (Or a 699 tablet with an LTE radio)

Some certainly do.

[numble]

I doubt there are a 100M + IOS users out there. Your not accounting for the fact that cell phones have a 2-3 year life span at most and that many ipad users also own iphones.

In the last 2 quarters, Apple sold over 72 million iPhones and over 26 million iPads. The iSheep must now be on quarterly upgrade cycles!

[gcubed]

Some certainly do.

Sure some. I meant no numbers of significance in a hardware launch.

[Matt]

Sure some. I meant no numbers of significance in a hardware launch.

Getting a carrier to support you at launch is certainly helpful. It provides another point of sale for your product and another advertising partner. There is a reason why there are so many tablets sold by carriers.

[Mr Swine]

So why a tablet when MS has already announced Xbox glass?

[Hoo-doo]

So why a tablet when MS has already announced Xbox glass?

SmartGlass is an application that will run on many tablet platforms. It's not a tablet.

[Matt]

So why a tablet when MS has already announced Xbox glass?

Umm, why not? What does one have to do with another?

[Mr Swine]

SmartGlass is an application that will run on many tablet platforms. It's not a tablet.

Oh ok, I thought that Xbox Glass was a tablet, my bad :/

[Bitmap Frogs]

Oh ok, I thought that Xbox Glass was a tablet, my bad :/

Available on WP, iOS and Android.

[PhatSaqs]

Oh ok, I thought that Xbox Glass was a tablet, my bad :/

Google.... lol

[gcubed]

Getting a carrier to support you at launch is certainly helpful. It provides another point of sale for your product and another advertising partner. There is a reason why there are so many tablets sold by carriers.

makes sense

[Jason Raize '75 - '04]

There will be Windows 8 on Intel chips with legacy support and everything, but there will also be systems running on ARM chips (now called: Windows RT) which are only able to run the metro apps and a few selected Desktop programs like Office.

Desktop being limited to IE, utilities and office without the ability to install anything else does not justify a "just". WindowsRT is severely limited if you want capabilities that extend just beyond a tablet device.

How is this different to the iPad?

[strata8]

How is this different to the iPad?

Are you talking to the people you quoted...?

[Jason Raize '75 - '04]

Are you talking to the people you quoted...?

Well, anyone really

[Matt]

How is this different to the iPad?

Well, it's not. But that's the thing, it gives up one of the advantages that a Windows Tablet would have over an iPad. And considering that the amount of software available on Windows RT vs iOS will be so vast, it makes a huge difference.

[strata8]

Well, anyone really

I said this a bit earlier on, but it probably still applies here:

Somewhat, but you have to remember that it's still Windows running underneath it, so it supports things like proper file management, input devices such as mice and keyboards, mass storage devices, HDMI-out, proper sharing between PCs, standard printers, etc, none of which the iPad supports. I'm not sure about Android tablets.

So from the app availability perspective, no, there's no difference, but that's discounting the other advantages that a Windows tablet would offer.

[ralexand]

The biggest game changer here would be a winrt based tablet with xbox game playing capabilities. Would be difficult to pull off though. MS should figure out a way to put xbox on a chip.

[derFeef]

The biggest game changer here would be a winrt based tablet with xbox game playing capabilities. Would be difficult to pull of though. MS should figure out a way to put xbox on a chip.

The tag applies here really.

[Antiwhippy]

How is this different to the iPad?

Not really comparing it to the iPad, I'm comparing full Windows 8 vs WindowsRT. "Just minus legacy programs" is a really reductive way of showing the differences between full and RT.

[JaggedSac]

Balmer spent three years telling everyone about how awesome Windows 7 was for tablets

Better than saying, "Well...shit...we dun fucked up."

Then they talked about WP7, and it has been a major failure as well.

Wait for Apollo.

[coldfoot]

How is this different to the iPad?

iPad is cheaper with hundreds of thousands of apps available from its appstore.

[strata8]

iPad is cheaper with hundreds of thousands of apps available from its appstore.

Christ, you and eastmen are so fucking annoying with your rabid fanaticism.

[brotkasten]

Here is the text of the invitation:

You are invited to an exclusive Microsoft media event in Los Angeles, California on Monday, June 18th. Doors open at 3:30 PM. This is an invitation only event and you are allowed to register up to one additional guest from your publication. All guests must be registered by replying below. Additional information regarding the specific venue, address and parking information will be sent via e-mail to registered attendees on Monday morning, June 18th, no later than 10:00 AM. This is a non-transferrable invitation, however, if you would like to send your local colleague in your place, please submit that name and it will be reviewed. If you would like to bring a photographer please register that person as your additional guest. Please note – still photography and video will be limited. All attendees must be registered with exact names and done so in advance, no later than Sunday, June 17th at 10:00 AM, Pacific. You will be responsible for securing your travel and lodging. Registration will be first come, first served. To confirm your registration and to register a guest, please respond to the below e-mail address with name, phone number, e-mail address and outlet affiliation. This will be a major Microsoft announcement – you will not want to miss it.

[dkeane]

This better be something big. NPR had it as a news item on the radio this morning saying it'll be a tablet.

It's also very strange to have a press announcement that late in the day. The east coast will all be having dinner.

[Fatalah]

Here is the text of the invitation:

Pretty generic invite, there's nothing there that promises the unveiling of King Kong.

[eastmen]

Well, it's not. But that's the thing, it gives up one of the advantages that a Windows Tablet would have over an iPad. And considering that the amount of software available on Windows RT vs iOS will be so vast, it makes a huge difference.

Windows RT will share its app store with windows 8 and developers will be making metro apps that work on both platforms.


The thought here is to create a store in which the devices focus around just like apple did.

Apple created itunes and spent money getting exclusive songs and lots of companys on board at the bigging. It created momentun for people to return to apple ipods and continue to grow their library of drm'd songs. Then they rolled out the iphone and a few months later the istore came out which tied in the itunes music. People started to invest in the istore which made it much easier to buy more i products.


Apple approached this from mobile devices. MS will come from the desktop down .



So the thought with windows RT is that as people adopt Windows 8 and invest in the app store they will want to bring their app store purchases on the go with them and thus they will invest in windows RT for mobile unless they need the power or legacy of x86/64 tablets.



Windows RT will be a tough sell this fall as it will have limited support , however its popularity should grow in 2013. I doubt it will sell even close to ipad numbers but it could rival some of the better selling andriod tablets.

The real question for windows RT is what happens as intel and amd move to newer process nodes. x86/64 have come along way in the last 2-3 years in terms of reducing power consumption . Amd is on 40nm on the low end for brazos , what will happen to the power profiles when they move to 32/28 . Intel is on 32nm for atom , what will happen when they hit 22nm .

Windows RT may never get off the ground if Windows 8 can run on hardware that rivals ARM's power envelope.

[HollovVpo1nt]

Pretty generic invite, there's nothing there that promises the unveiling of King Kong.

The invitation would have been generic, but those douches at MS thought it was funny to add
"This will be a major Microsoft announcement – you will not want to miss it."

[Salvor.Hardin]

Has to be a Barnes & Noble/ Microsoft collab tablet.

[ralexand]

The tag applies here really.

Why?