will initially be Wi-fi only and they won’t posses a mobile network connection, as reported by Bloomberg. This is a disastrous decision from Microsoft as they are yet to establish themselves in the tablet market. Their main competition is with the iPad which supports mobile network connection.  Other cheaper Android tablets also posses mobile network connection. This could be  a major setback for the users who are always on move and don’t have access to Wi-fi all the time. Since mobile networks are not supported, their won’t be any calling feature either. If you remember, Surface will be running Microsoft’s next-generation Windows operating system and will mark the company’s first foray into the ever-expanding tablet market. Though the software giant has unveiled Surface, it has yet to release all the details on the specifications.]]>
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As long it has wifi you can tether using your phone and mobile contract so its not that big of a deal. I always thought its more sensible to get a mobile contract with a massive data plan than sign up to 2 or even 3 contracts for all separate devices. Having a single contract is more cost effective (even compared to pay as you go). I always tether and have never had any problems.
I agree, you can use a this as a tablet and a laptop alternative, but it can never be a phone. As long as you have a phone, why pay for 2 internet connections?
Don’t do this MS! You have designed the whole OS around integrating internet services! Why do this?
Are they holding back for Windows 9? Strategically this would only be to drive consumers/users to buy a Surface AND a phone. I’ll hold off a purchase until there’s a Windows Phone/Windows RT that does portrait AND landscape, that can run Powerpoint, Word and Exel and does phone calls. Look at the success of the Galaxy Note – there is room for a midsize tablet that does it all.
It seems daily that Microsoft shoots themself in the foot on the Surface. The Pricing is going to put a lot of people off, the Pro version not likely to launch until Q1 2013, and now this. I have always thought Windows 8 would fail on the desktop but be successful on mobile touch devices, now I am starting to question that.
I have an Asus Transformer Prime which is beyond Awesome! and have been thinking about the Asus Infiniti Pad once launched but then got excited about Windows 8 Tablets. I am still excited about the Windows 8 Tablet but that has waned abit.
Bad news? Not from where I stand. This means Microsoft plans to put these in retail stores for all to get. Not having the wireless carriers stockpiling them adding all kinds of BS tariffs on them. Hell, wifi is king. But they will eventually make it to the wireless joints. Probably head to my fav wireless carrier AT&T first. Sprint won’t ever see it.