blizzard7 Aug. 27, 2012 at 17:02
It depends on what they put in it. If they use Intel's Ivy Bridge processors like they did with their prototypes, I'd expect it around January/ February. If they're waiting for the newer Haswell architecture, I'd guess around March/ April (Microsoft may even be able to get Intel to give them processor priority like Apple did with some of their MacBooks).
matt101101 / MOD Aug. 27, 2012 at 18:30
but how com the normal surface will come out much sooner
Economics...
blizzard7 Aug. 27, 2012 at 21:16
but how com the normal surface will come out much sooner
What Matt said + the design involves a fan, which makes it a lot more complicated. Microsoft will want to get this hardware launch right first time (I'm sure I don't even need to mention the Xbox 360).
Pondlife Aug. 27, 2012 at 23:56
Launching Surface Pro in April makes as much sense as launching WP8 in October/November..
Oh.
matt101101 / MOD Aug. 28, 2012 at 05:04
but how com the normal surface will come out much sooner
What Matt said + the design involves a fan, which makes it a lot more complicated. Microsoft will want to get this hardware launch right first time (I'm sure I don't even need to mention the Xbox 360).
I'd forgotten about the fact an Intel processor would need active cooling. Also, companies always ship the cheaper versions first, hoping people will buy them and then possibly upgrade to a better version at a later date (a la 64GB SGS3).
blizzard7 Aug. 28, 2012 at 08:47
Launching Surface Pro in April makes as much sense as launching WP8 in October/November..
Oh.
What's wrong with either of those launch dates? *confused*
Pondlife Aug. 28, 2012 at 13:06
Well if you assume that they'd quite like to take some of Apple's sales for themselves waiting in each case for them to launch theirs and sell huge numbers and limit your potential sales as however good it is very few will dump a phone/tablet after a month.
If they don't want to sell many then yeah can launch them anytime and doesn't make much difference.
blizzard7 Aug. 28, 2012 at 15:11
Well if you assume that they'd quite like to take some of Apple's sales for themselves waiting in each case for them to launch theirs and sell huge numbers and limit your potential sales as however good it is very few will dump a phone/tablet after a month.
If they don't want to sell many then yeah can launch them anytime and doesn't make much difference.
For WP8, I don't think iPhone users are currently in the marketing firing line for Microsoft. Right now, their strongest focus will be keeping loyalty from WP7 and 7.5 high and grabbing people with dumb and feature phones with their easy-to-use interface.
As for the new new iPad, the Surface Pro isn't competing with the iPad, that's the Surface RT's job. The Surface Pro is going after laptops and ultraportables/ MacBook Airs.
Pondlife Aug. 28, 2012 at 16:04
They've said they want to compete with Apple in every market to go in with wp8 hoping to keep the few people who bought wp7 is pretty much rolling over and looking for tummy tickles while Apple makes them their bitch.
Most Useful Answer blizzard7 Aug. 27, 2012 at 21:16
but how com the normal surface will come out much sooner
What Matt said + the design involves a fan, which makes it a lot more complicated. Microsoft will want to get this hardware launch right first time (I'm sure I don't even need to mention the Xbox 360).