Doh hit reply too soon. I'm a highly mobile IT guy and it's basically a godsend. If you've ever had to walk a multiple story datacenter doing audits with an excel spreadsheet then you realize the value of this (even an RT would've worked well).
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Doh hit reply too soon. I'm a highly mobile IT guy and it's basically a godsend. If you've ever had to walk a multiple story datacenter doing audits with an excel spreadsheet then you realize the value of this (even an RT would've worked well).
Yep, count me in the "more-productive" category. Unfortunately, corporate market share is starting to be driven by consumer market share. People get familiar with iPads at home, so now they want to shoehorn them into a productive role at work. Obviously a more capable device like a surface pro is better in the corp world, but it's a big leap to re-tool to surfaces when everyone's familiar with iPads (or androids). Microsoft's problem is the corporate market is much smaller than the consumer market - especially since Apple is already the first thought when a firm decides it needs some tablets. So by limiting themselves to a smaller market, they will get less revenue, less public appreciation, and ultimately the surface will be in the same boat as RIM. It's a downward spiral that they need to break asap.So if you don't have much in the way of productive needs, a cheap tablet or phone will suffice, agreed. That said there are actually people that do want to be able to do work on a tablet and certain tasks like note taking or drawing do work very well on Windows. That's a niche but that is a niche what will pay more for their devices so it's not a bad niche to be in. No doubt cheaper 7" Windows tablets are necessary to get much share in the mainstream tablet market.
Yep, count me in the "more-productive" category. Unfortunately, corporate market share is starting to be driven by consumer market share. People get familiar with iPads at home, so now they want to shoehorn them into a productive role at work. Obviously a more capable device like a surface pro is better in the corp world, but it's a big leap to re-tool to surfaces when everyone's familiar with iPads (or androids).
Hmm ... a 64GB ipad for $500 or I could get a lesser version the Surface for $800.
I guess it depends on your business - I work in the financial sector and I'm seeing widespread dabbling into iPads in our firms and our competitor's firms. But most people only need them to quote stocks, show presentations, or pull up client info. There's also a clear shift to web-based tools or webapps to ensure cross platform compatibility and to control data security (i.e. no data is actually stored on the device).There are a number of advantages that Windows tablets have in business environment already with Windows infrastructure. Domain support, hardware and software compatibility with existing investments, Modern apps can be developed in Visual Studio for environments that have Windows developers and tools. I think given all of that that it's much easier to make the case for Windows tablets in the enterprise than to the general consumer. I just found out where I work we are beginning to do some pilot testing and projects for Windows 8 tablet apps for sales and marketing lines of business. Give our enormous Windows infrastructure it makes a lot of sense to at least do some investigating into it.
I guess it depends on your business - I work in the financial sector and I'm seeing widespread dabbling into iPads in our firms and our competitor's firms. But most people only need them to quote stocks, show presentations, or pull up client info. There's also a clear shift to web-based tools or webapps to ensure cross platform compatibility and to control data security (i.e. no data is actually stored on the device).
I still think the surface pro is a great deal at the new price. MS has an uphill battle and unless they find a way to penetrate the popular consumer (non-corp) market, surface will continue to struggle. This price drop helps, but they are really struggling with their PR (see Xbox One).
I hate to say it but I'm waiting for the improved battery life and cooling of the next gen processors before looking at w8 slates again. That's bad to day because there is always something better on the horizon, but in this case it sounds like there are significant improvements coming.... Throw in a Bay Trail and a 1080P screen and then it could even be somewhat compelling, even to a consumer. But yes, cheaper devices are needed.
I hate to say it but I'm waiting for the improved battery life and cooling of the next gen processors before looking at w8 slates again. That's bad to day because there is always something better on the horizon, but in this case it sounds like there are significant improvements coming.
Even if they fix the battery life, the apps just aren't there. Just 54% of the top-100 apps are on Windows 8 They can't even get the most popular apps on Windows 8. "Windows 8 still doesn't support the No. 1 social app, Facebook, the No. 1 paid-content app, HBO GO, the No. 1 sports app, Watch ESPN. These, and others, are the same apps that I've been griping about for over a year, and they're still not supported."
"The numbers just reinforce the challenge that Windows 8 still has in apps," said Moorhead. "Windows 8 still doesn't support the No. 1 social app, Facebook, the No. 1 paid-content app, HBO GO, the No. 1 sports app, Watch ESPN. These, and others, are the same apps that I've been griping about for over a year, and they're still not supported."
Windows 8 supposedly only has 54% of, when you throw in web sites and Flash support it's actually more like 90% of that list is supported.
No, it's actually more like 54%. It's not a list of websites it's a list of apps.
There are a number of advantages that Windows tablets have in business environment already with Windows infrastructure. Domain support
From the users perspective does a dedicated app matter in this case when a web site does the same thing? The reason you need an app for iOS and Android is because they don't support Flash, so Windows get's docked for not having an app because it has a better web browser? T
I refer you to the title of this thread.
Keep trying to make excuses that apps aren't needed, because they are in cases where its appropriate. In that example of playing back Amazon prime vids on a Surface Pro, there would be a lot more fiddling around for the end user to do - poking at tiny text and finding the "enlarge to full screen" button, etc. Not a great experience and app works much better and more foolproof that you wont fat finger the wrong thing..
You said quote "Windows tablets". I just wanted to be clear so people don't get a false impression by a broad statement.
Mos apps are not needed, in fact they are a disease on the entire computing landscape. Why the heck do you need an app to do what a web browser can do? Develop one good website and your shit work on every computing device in the world, develop and app and it only works on 1 OS. There is no reason at all for about 80% of the apps. But MS is caught in a messed up middle ground, because the whole point of windows 8 was to try to kickstart and force windows app development. But in a way the irony is that because they left backwards compatibility in, no one was going to develop apps, why would you develop a metro app when you can develop a desktop app that will work on ALL versions of windows even XP?
So heatless is half right, apps are not needed and having flash plus web browsers gets rid of the need for stupid crap like facebook apps. But on the other hand that very advantage that windows 8 has is also giving their opponents a target to attack and removing any motive for people to develop for metro.