I went to the Microsoft store in Times Square yesterday to see for myself the new Surface tablet with the spiffy keyboard, since
nobody I know actually has one yet.
nobody I know actually has one yet.
I had an open mind [“Open” in the sense that
he assumed the Surface would be unnecessarily complicated given Microsoft’s
Achilles’ Heel, which is the need to promote Windows in everything it does—ed.],
and was hoping that it would give me something unusual to
say: i.e. that Microsoft had finally figured out what consumers actually want.
[Fat chance!—ed.]
he assumed the Surface would be unnecessarily complicated given Microsoft’s
Achilles’ Heel, which is the need to promote Windows in everything it does—ed.],
and was hoping that it would give me something unusual to
say: i.e. that Microsoft had finally figured out what consumers actually want.
[Fat chance!—ed.]
And first impressions about the store itself weren’t
bad: while small relative to the Apple mega-store on 57th Street, the
Microsoft store has most of the same touches, i.e. glass windows and long
counters with tethered products to play, and plenty of blue-shirted Microsoft
people to help.
bad: while small relative to the Apple mega-store on 57th Street, the
Microsoft store has most of the same touches, i.e. glass windows and long
counters with tethered products to play, and plenty of blue-shirted Microsoft
people to help.
Unfortunately, they do not have many customers
to help—for despite long lines at the TKTS discount booth just a couple of blocks
away, and the usual pre-holiday masses streaming by on the sidewalk right outside, there were no more than two dozen potential customers in the Microsoft
store itself, and none were lingering at the tables playing with the merchandize with
wide eyes and no sense of the time, the way they do at Apple stores.
to help—for despite long lines at the TKTS discount booth just a couple of blocks
away, and the usual pre-holiday masses streaming by on the sidewalk right outside, there were no more than two dozen potential customers in the Microsoft
store itself, and none were lingering at the tables playing with the merchandize with
wide eyes and no sense of the time, the way they do at Apple stores.
And playing with a Surface tablet, I found out
why: the Surface feels a bit chunky, i.e. not as smooth as an iPad, and it has more
of a toy plastic play-thing feel than a smooth, business-ready metal-thing feel. [He’s not much for technical jargon, is
he?—ed.]
why: the Surface feels a bit chunky, i.e. not as smooth as an iPad, and it has more
of a toy plastic play-thing feel than a smooth, business-ready metal-thing feel. [He’s not much for technical jargon, is
he?—ed.]
But it’s not the feel that’s the problem: it’s
the way it works.
the way it works.
And the way it works is non-intuitive. Unlike your
first time with an iPad or a Galaxy, it’s hard, in a short period of time, to
figure out how to find what you might want to play; how to get out of programs
once you’ve gotten into them (weirdly, things somehow feel more like programs than apps on
the Surface); how go back to where you began; and how to look for new
stuff.
first time with an iPad or a Galaxy, it’s hard, in a short period of time, to
figure out how to find what you might want to play; how to get out of programs
once you’ve gotten into them (weirdly, things somehow feel more like programs than apps on
the Surface); how go back to where you began; and how to look for new
stuff.
Certainly, you can run spreadsheets on it, and
yes you can use Word, but the cool new keyboard, being flat, is not easy to type
with. Anyway, not many people were bothering
to even try the keyboard, once they messed around with the screen.
yes you can use Word, but the cool new keyboard, being flat, is not easy to type
with. Anyway, not many people were bothering
to even try the keyboard, once they messed around with the screen.
I like to poke fun at Microsoft’s new product
approach by claiming they make so many versions of things there’s even a “Model
Train Enthusiasts’ Edition.” And while there was no “Model Train Enthusiasts’
Edition” of the Surface [That he could see—ed.], it does seem like, once again,
Microsoft has been undone by its corporate culture of striving to make
everything for everybody, in one package, that promotes Windows.
approach by claiming they make so many versions of things there’s even a “Model
Train Enthusiasts’ Edition.” And while there was no “Model Train Enthusiasts’
Edition” of the Surface [That he could see—ed.], it does seem like, once again,
Microsoft has been undone by its corporate culture of striving to make
everything for everybody, in one package, that promotes Windows.
Apple’s Tim Cook has been saying for some time
he didn’t see the need to blend two form factors—notebooks and tablets—because
you’d end up with a compromised muddle. Converging “a toaster and a refrigerator,” is
how he put it.
he didn’t see the need to blend two form factors—notebooks and tablets—because
you’d end up with a compromised muddle. Converging “a toaster and a refrigerator,” is
how he put it.
He’s right.
But that’s not just my opinion. I
saw not one person actually purchase anything, or look like they were getting ready to purchase something, or just be really engaged in a product, in the brief time I was there.
But that’s not just my opinion. I
saw not one person actually purchase anything, or look like they were getting ready to purchase something, or just be really engaged in a product, in the brief time I was there.
Jeff Matthews
Author “Secrets in Plain
Sight: Business and Investing Secrets of Warren Buffett”
Sight: Business and Investing Secrets of Warren Buffett”
(eBooks on Investing,
2012) Available now at Amazon.com
2012) Available now at Amazon.com
© 2012 NotMakingThisUp,
LLC
LLC
The content contained in
this blog represents only the opinions of Mr. Matthews. Mr. Matthews also acts as an advisor and
clients advised by Mr. Matthews may hold either long or short positions in
securities of various companies discussed in the blog based upon Mr. Matthews’
recommendations. This commentary in no
way constitutes investment advice, and should never be relied on in making an
investment decision, ever. Also, this
blog is not a solicitation of business by Mr. Matthews: all inquiries will be
ignored. And if you think Mr. Matthews
is kidding about that, he is not. The
content herein is intended solely for the entertainment of the reader, and the
author.
this blog represents only the opinions of Mr. Matthews. Mr. Matthews also acts as an advisor and
clients advised by Mr. Matthews may hold either long or short positions in
securities of various companies discussed in the blog based upon Mr. Matthews’
recommendations. This commentary in no
way constitutes investment advice, and should never be relied on in making an
investment decision, ever. Also, this
blog is not a solicitation of business by Mr. Matthews: all inquiries will be
ignored. And if you think Mr. Matthews
is kidding about that, he is not. The
content herein is intended solely for the entertainment of the reader, and the
author.
10 replies on “The Surface: I Came, I Saw, I Left”
I went to the MS store in Austin to see the Surface. I thought it was kind of cool, but there was one big difference to me… Someone had to give me a couple of tips before I knew how to work it. "Swipe in from the right to get this menu," etc…I didn't need that with an iPad.
Upstream orders allegedly cut by half
http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20121128PD215.html
in the old days MSFT would have got it right by v3, but they don't have that luxury any more.
If it is any further indications, I have not had one student come to me and proudly show off their Surface tablet. Not one has said to me they wish they get a Surface for Christmas. A high school is a pretty good indicator of how tech is "taking."
I think your condescension to MS is a bit overdone…
In fact, for a serious business tool, the ability to import your sensitive files and keep them out of the cloud is critical.
Being able to edit the defacto standard files in their native tools (Office) is also important.
And having to nicely integrated AND POWERED keyboard that is light and doubles as a screen cover is really clever… no need to lug around a separate bluetooth or USB board powered with AA's.
I think you guys are so stuck on worshiping Steve Jobs that you are missing the things that MS did right.
Anonymous may be right. Maybe all that stuff matters more than the stuff Steve Jobs obsessed over, like ease of use, quality design, simplicity.
We just tried the product and reported on what we found. No worshipping of Steve Jobs was involved, just trying it out like the kind of consumer Microsoft has been losing for years now.
JM
I looked at a Surface in the store. Didn't by one, since I want the x86 compatibility. Yes, there are the added edge gestures which are not obvious at first, especially since the iPad doesn't have them. But once you know edge gestures are there and how to use them, I think the Surface UI / Win 8 is a much more versatile UI than iOS.
Everyone expects a new tablet to be as "simple" as iOS, but in reality, iOS can be a pain to use. It's popular to criticize Microsoft because they have made a lot of mistakes. But Jobs himself said that Microsoft is not to be underestimated since they keep working on things until they get it right. Win 8 is rough around the edges, but it really does offer a better experience than iOS which is now dated, IMHO. I also thought the Touch cover and trackpad were easy to use. I have an iPad – I don't plan to buy another one.
Based on your June 27 post of this year, I can't help but wonder if you pre-decided to hate the Surface. Confirmation bias, anyone? Nevertheless, MS still has enterprise by the short hairs. Don't be surprised if this product upends the current BYOD trend since corporate IT departments will probably love it.
Yep, shoot the messenger.
JM
I am just surprised that Steve Ballmer reads this website.
Jason, that was a priceless comment.