So no one believes in Windows RT. It’s true. OEMs don’t. Consumers don’t. I don’t either. So why am I looking forward to the Surface 2? For two reasons, because Microsoft still believes in Windows RT and because I believe in buying the product that’s right for me.
OEM support for Windows RT is, as we all know, lukewarm. Some OEMs have sworn off RT while others are still in question. In fact, the only new RT tablet coming out this fall that we actually know about is the Surface 2. There’s also the rumored Nokia “Sirius” tablet but that’s only two tablets versus a flood of Windows 8 tablets that are coming out this year and next. And it’s looking like Windows 8 tablets will offer similar prices, though I expect many will offer last gen hardware in order to reach lower price points (e.g. the Acer Iconia W3 that is currently $279 at Staples).
So it will appear that the Surface 2 is already DOA, right? Perhaps, but that’s not how Microsoft sees it. The Surface 2 is an amazing piece of hardware. Tegra 4, 1080p screen, new camera tech, 4GB RAM, USB 3.0 and a sleek chassis. That’s not the sort of hardware you expect from a DOA tablet. Once again Microsoft is taking the hard road and sticking to it. I remember the last product Microsoft tried that with. It’s called Windows Phone; a market loser that Microsoft is (very) slowly turning into a powerhouse. In fact, I don’t think it’s unfair to say that Windows Phone has a superior app market when compared to Windows RT.
Microsoft giving their full support is one of the reasons why I’m confident in buying Windows RT again (I currently own a Surface RT). I believe Microsoft will find a way to carve out a niche for Windows RT. Despite Windows RT sales being close to non-existent, Windows RT apps continue to hit the store. That’s because Microsoft made the brilliant move to combine the Windows 8 and RT app store. Even better, they made it easy(ish) for developers to recompile their Windows 8 apps for ARM. That’s very good for Windows RT. Sales may be poor but apps continue to come.
Personally, I believe the “year of RT” is still a ways off. More OEMs won’t give their full-fledged support for RT until they can hit lower price points. Plus consumers won’t fully accept Windows RT until the app selection improves and RT tablets are significantly cheaper than their Windows 8 counterparts. So like I said, I think it’s going to be a while before RT really takes off, assuming it ever takes off. However, I believe in buying the product that’s right for me and thus far Windows RT appears to be that product.
I’ve been using Windows RT 8.1 since release and I can pretty confidently say that I don’t miss Windows 8 on a day-to-day basis. I have a Windows 8 Pro computer for legacy apps but most days I don’t even turn it on. RT 8.1 is fast, more streamlined, energy efficient, full Office, great peripheral support and doesn’t offer the same headaches of regular computers. Throw in Tegra 4 and devs can actually start making graphically intense RT games. It’s exactly what I need, I just think it’s going to take a long time for RT to gain any market share.
So that’s the curious case of the Surface 2. A tablet that looks DOA that somehow still has great hardware, an ever increasing app store and software support for years to come.
OEM support for Windows RT is, as we all know, lukewarm. Some OEMs have sworn off RT while others are still in question. In fact, the only new RT tablet coming out this fall that we actually know about is the Surface 2. There’s also the rumored Nokia “Sirius” tablet but that’s only two tablets versus a flood of Windows 8 tablets that are coming out this year and next. And it’s looking like Windows 8 tablets will offer similar prices, though I expect many will offer last gen hardware in order to reach lower price points (e.g. the Acer Iconia W3 that is currently $279 at Staples).
So it will appear that the Surface 2 is already DOA, right? Perhaps, but that’s not how Microsoft sees it. The Surface 2 is an amazing piece of hardware. Tegra 4, 1080p screen, new camera tech, 4GB RAM, USB 3.0 and a sleek chassis. That’s not the sort of hardware you expect from a DOA tablet. Once again Microsoft is taking the hard road and sticking to it. I remember the last product Microsoft tried that with. It’s called Windows Phone; a market loser that Microsoft is (very) slowly turning into a powerhouse. In fact, I don’t think it’s unfair to say that Windows Phone has a superior app market when compared to Windows RT.
Microsoft giving their full support is one of the reasons why I’m confident in buying Windows RT again (I currently own a Surface RT). I believe Microsoft will find a way to carve out a niche for Windows RT. Despite Windows RT sales being close to non-existent, Windows RT apps continue to hit the store. That’s because Microsoft made the brilliant move to combine the Windows 8 and RT app store. Even better, they made it easy(ish) for developers to recompile their Windows 8 apps for ARM. That’s very good for Windows RT. Sales may be poor but apps continue to come.
Personally, I believe the “year of RT” is still a ways off. More OEMs won’t give their full-fledged support for RT until they can hit lower price points. Plus consumers won’t fully accept Windows RT until the app selection improves and RT tablets are significantly cheaper than their Windows 8 counterparts. So like I said, I think it’s going to be a while before RT really takes off, assuming it ever takes off. However, I believe in buying the product that’s right for me and thus far Windows RT appears to be that product.
I’ve been using Windows RT 8.1 since release and I can pretty confidently say that I don’t miss Windows 8 on a day-to-day basis. I have a Windows 8 Pro computer for legacy apps but most days I don’t even turn it on. RT 8.1 is fast, more streamlined, energy efficient, full Office, great peripheral support and doesn’t offer the same headaches of regular computers. Throw in Tegra 4 and devs can actually start making graphically intense RT games. It’s exactly what I need, I just think it’s going to take a long time for RT to gain any market share.
So that’s the curious case of the Surface 2. A tablet that looks DOA that somehow still has great hardware, an ever increasing app store and software support for years to come.
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