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Video Game Industry Thread: May is done, go to the next one
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A good point is that there are no comparable tablets at this time. But that phrasing sounds aimed right at iPad.
(it won't because it would cost at least $1500 if it did)
Even better: Pressure sensitive keyboard-cover w/ trackpad AND multitouch screen.
However, for my professional life and my work clients, I'm salivating. God DAMN do I hate iPads in a business environment, and these suckers will give us an awesome toolset and still be centrally manageable.
Edit: DoR, go grab the Release Candidate for Win8 and throw it on a virtual box. It's actually really, REALLY good.. the only downside is that it isn't as easy to use on a PC versus a tablet. So as I said, this thing is perfect.
I hope people don't bitch about the drive space in earnest. Because this is a device with a specific appeal, and NOT a replacement for people's "my freetime is spent on the computer and I live in the shadowy basement" crap.
Eh, has a USB port. Lots of things you can do with those for a Laptop/tablet product. Plus, with the mention of cloud computing, there could be some crazy network stuff in the works for a home/work environment.
Dammit, you might have sold me one if thst's the case.
Right. Storage on the device is moot. But I imagine somewhere out there angry-nerds on the net are getting pitchforks about the drive space.
Again - the Rt model is an iPad, the Pro is likely going to compete with the Macbook Air.
Sounds like everything I actually wanted from a Tablet.
You and me, shryke. You and me.
I was expecting to just kinda dismiss this thing, but it sounds alright.
I've got a Transformer tablet and they do exactly that. It's pretty great. Oh, did I mention the part where the keyboard piece is also a secondary battery, doubling the already-huge battery life of the tablet? I should've. Because it's awesome.
Of course the big question is, will the public bite?
Part of me suspects that folks will have a negative reaction to Win 8 on regular PCs, and that'll have a reverse-halo effect on the Win 8 tablets... even though Win 8 appears to be best on tablets.
Also it sounds expensive.
It's launching alongside Windows 8.
The ARM version will probably in iPad range. $399-499.
The Intel version will be Ultrabook price. $799-$999.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/
I write about video games and stuff. It is fun. Sometimes.
Ipad range for comparable sizes(32,64gb) is 599-699. so I guess I was a bit high on the $800.
macbook airs run $1000-1200, comparable windows models run $800-1500, so it's a wide range but $1000 wouldn't shock me at all.
A little pain now could help establish a user base, though. Which is what they really need.
But can they afford pain? Unlike Xbox, this is NOT something you can sell as a loss leader, because it doesn't have the appstore to back it up. And you don't have OS sales either. So unless they sell it for a profit, all it can possibly do is hurt their company.
Plus, the way they were going on about design and the special materials it is made of... Well, it just sounds like they are going to be in trouble.
Hooray, two of the worst things I hate about computing mashed together: Windows & Tablets.
Switch: 6200-8149-0919 / Wii U: maximumzero / 3DS: 0860-3352-3335 / eBay Shop
But, every twenty minutes a kitten pops out!
How can ya not love that?
This morning on the Stern Show, before the unveiling, they discussed it in the way of "what is it" and "Apple long since beat them to the punch." They also had some clips on hand of people on the street commenting on it with the same idea. The public perception seems to not hold this in high regard. But anyone who bothers to look at the details, there's some evidently different things about the MS tablet that make it legit to compete.
That sounds like something called the Zune
I don't really remember it either
It does have an app store. Windows Store. It's a big part of Windows 8/RT, and the RT version can't run classic applications. I wouldn't be surprised if the Surface RT is sold at razor-thin margins. The Pro version is another ballgame.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/
I write about video games and stuff. It is fun. Sometimes.
Perception is everything, which is why MS could make a lot of headway by just getting them into peoples hands. This age of social media means for good or ill anyone who gets one can plaster their impressions all over the place.
With the improvements to xna, the new version of unity and actual windows program support that gives it a huge selection from the start and the ability to expand readily.
While the iPad 3 was nice it was by no means revolutionary and a lot of people are always looking for the next big thing.
Can the Redmond tablet find headway and be a success? Sure can. Microsoft did it with the Xbox. Is it a uphill battle? I think so.
Android was floundering til Samsung came out with the galaxy, which pretty much became an Android cornerstone. (hell the pre order numbers on the s3 are staggering.)
MS had been working on the app issue, now its about making hardware that appeals to the market.
Think of people going to buy a laptop and someone goes "Hey, this ones also a tablet!".
This thing, especially the keyboard, looks nice and if it can be made with the same TLC that the Zune was, I will definitely give it a look.
http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/12/ios-revenues-vs-android/
Developers making universal apps make six times the money on the smaller userbase of iOS. More people may own Android phones, but more people spend money on iOS, and spend more of it.
Microsoft, ESPECIALLY on the RT version, has a major uphill battle coming up if they are going to try to break into this market, and simply dumping hardware at low cost isn't going to cut it. They need to entice developers to build meaty apps in Metro; something that hasn't happened on their phones yet, despite having really nice hardware through Nokia, and significant advertising. And after they have these apps, they need to get these products into peoples' hands and let them see that this is something they need.
And they need to be willing to stick with a market failure for at least a couple generations like they did the xbox (lets face it, there will be more google tablet users than RT users for the immediate future, and iPads will shit all over both of their numbers), and spend a lot of money in hopes of making it back at some point in the future when they eventually get dominance.
It is not impossible; they stepped into a really difficult market with the xbox 1 (competing against three other consoles when it was announced, landed squarely in 3rd place internationally), and now the 360 is the undeniable winner this generation in the numbers game.
Let's play Mario Kart or something...
Hnnnnnnnnnnngh damn you! Good point. Maybe this MS thing will fall on its face.
On a related note, the improved portability of unity4 can only help both Android and MS. ease of porting is always a consideration.
Funny what a few slick commercials can do.
To bring this somewhat back on topic though, when discussing the notion that perception is all that matters I do wonder how Nintendo will manage to get lightning to strike again with the WiiU. My dad was one of those casuals who picked up a Wii after being sold on the motion controls, and my in-laws eventually opted for a 360 with Kinect. For my dad it was his first game console since the Atari 2600, and it was the first console for my in-laws period. I don't see any of them being sold on the WiiU at this point in time. Tablets are all the rage and all, but they all own tablets of their own already, with the kind of casual games they're drawn to (Angry Birds hooooooooo). Buying a whole new console just to be able to use a tablet with some games on the tv is unlikely at best for them. Selling the hardcore audience on a console shift seems rather difficult as well, with gamers more and more being tied to the console that maintains their friends lists and downloaded titles (XBLA/PSN). Not that I think the WiiU will do poorly, but right now it seems like this next gen is wide open. If I had to pick one company to take the lead this time around I guess I'd have to go with Microsoft, since Live has been such a huge success for online play.
If it's reasonably priced them I'll definitely pick one up.