Ballmer gets a bit cocky about Microsoft Surface

included. It is quickly becoming THE Windows RT device worth buying for many consumers (even though it isn’t the only option out there). This is probably why Ballmer is being a little cocky with hist recent statement in an interview with CNBC:

You can go through the products from all those guys … and none of them has a product that you can really use. Not Apple. Not Google. Not Amazon. Nobody has a product that lets you work and play that can be your tablet and your PC. Not at any price point.

While the Surface seems to be doing pretty well, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. While some reviews have been very positive, others have been mixed when referring to the new device. Potential criticism to the platform aside, let’s analyze his actual statement. No platform besides Surface offers a true experience that can replace your PC and your tablet. He specifically mentions Apple and Amazon, but he probably also means other Android and even Windows 8/RT devices in that statement as well. Is there any truth to it? Onuora talked about how he is possibly ditching his expensive MacBook Pro in favor of the Surface, as long as they get a decent photo-editing app. The question is what makes the Surface different? Devices like the Android Transformer line provide a keyboard/tablet hybrid experience that is certainly capable of real work. Even the iPad has optional 3^rd party laptop docks that make it more functional in this capacity. Why is the Surface better as a PC replacement when it too doesn’t offer x86 application support? The answer probably lies in your own preferences, but it might have to do with form factor as well. Sure, other dock/keyboard devices exist but most of them are clunkier and not nearly as sexy as what you find with the Surface. Personally, I don’t 100 percent agree with Ballmer on this one. I’m not a huge Apple fan, but I think they have decent hardware. Same with many of the Android devices out there. If I were to reword Ballmer’s statement as my own, here is what I’d say:

You can go through the products from all those guys … and none of them has a product that is able to create a hybrid experience that is as sexy as the Surface. Not Apple. Not Google. Not Amazon. Nobody has a product that lets you work and play that can be your tablet and your PC without comprising the quality of the design. Not at any price point.

Almost every other hybrid device just doesn’t look as attractive when docked as the Surface does. That’s probably where it wins. It is highly functional AND looks better docked, too. Again, this is probably largely a matter of opinion. What do you think of Ballmer’s statement? Agree or disagree? [ source ]]]>