Who is the Microsoft Surface for, exactly?

Surface, Microsoft's new tablet / Microsoft

This story originally appeared on CBSNews.com's sister site CNET.com.

(CNET) Microsoft threw a surprise hail mary in Los Angeles today with the unveiling of its new line of Windows 8 and Windows RT tablet-laptop hybrids dubbed simply "Surface." But some big questions remain, like -- when? how much? and who is this for?

Surface is a bit larger than an iPad with an HD display, full-size USB port, Microsoft's next-generation operating system, a built-in kickstand, and a detachable cover that doubles as a flat keyboard and touch pad. That's what we know from today's unveiling, but there's much more that we don't know.

The biggest question mark -- the price.

The company says Surface will be competitive with comparable ARM tablets for the RT device and the Windows 8 Pro version will hold its own against ultrabooks with similar specs. OK, so that's maybe $500 for the lower-end tablet that comes with an RT version of Office Home and Student 2013. Sounds like a nice deal, until you realize that this extra is likely to ease the pain of the fact that your existing Windows applications aren't likely to run on the ARM tablet. That brings us to another of those questions -- who is this thing really for?

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Staying with the RT tablet, it seems it's for anyone who's been waiting very patiently to pay iPad prices for the Windows environment on a tablet, even if that Windows environment is about as familiar to most users as the roster of names on Greenland's soccer team. But you do get a pretty cool keyboard as part of the deal -- maybe. It wasn't completely clear if the keyboard cover would be an added accessory or included in the price of the tablet.

Knowing what little we do right now, it seems that low-end tablet might be a hard sell to anyone but the Windows faithful, and we all know how that approach worked out for RIM and its PlayBook.

The Windows 8 Pro Version could be a little more interesting, even with a higher price tag, provided that it does really deliver the same level of performance as an ultrabook and top flight iPad rolled into one. An awful lot of people in the world still live their lives in Windows (a disturbing number of us in XP), and it continues to be awkward to live a double life of sorts between assuming our Windows persona in the office and then having to change into our iOS / Android outfit every time we go out or hang around on the couch with a mobile device. Surface could be the bridge between at-the-desk computing and being connected everywhere else.

There's an awful lot of outreach to developers that's going to need to be done to the lay the foundation for that bridge in the meantime.

Not long after the iPhone came out, I opted instead to purchase a Windows Mobile phone in the hopes that it might be that bridge. Oh, how wrong I was. Even today Windows Phone struggles to bring a little bit of Windows to the mobile experience while also trying to compete with Android and iOS. In fact, it's not doing terribly well at either. Windows 8 could truly be a revolutionary operating system, but only if Microsoft is participating in the revolution and the universe of developers creating for Android and iOS stay on the sidelines, Surface could end up hanging out with Microsoft Bob in the annals of great Redmond flops.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told the Verge after the unveiling that the idea behind Surface is to "prime the pump" for Windows 8 and get more of those developers and partners on board.

But Redmond didn't even seem to get the memo about Surface to all of its own departments.

So far there's been no word of how Surface might integrate with other hit Microsoft products like Xbox or the recently announced Smart Glass concept, which would seem like a natural feature to integrate into a new tablet, or any new piece of hardware, for that matter.

Of course, there's still another Microsoft event coming up quick, this one having to do with Windows Phone, so we may be hearing more about how Surface plays into Microsoft's plans in the coming days.

But for right now, with no word on pricing, availability or any other way to actually get your hands on one, I can say confidently that in the near-term Microsoft Surface is for...nobody.

24 Photos

A closer look at Microsoft's Surface tablet

[Mathion]

I'm not a tablet user. I'm a "power" PC user. I make large demands on my systems. So unless it can render a video and play WoW - at the same time and the same speed - it isn't something I'll be interested in.

[Jhihmoac]

I'll stick with my bulky, outdated laptop amd Win 7 for right now, thank-you-very-much....

[twmat311]

I told the staff at my father's nursing home that when we all get to that age, they'll have to establish separate Microsoft and Apple wards, keep them sealed off from each other, and have battle trained staffmembers. It'll make arguments about the Brooklyn Dodgers seem like nothing. They laughed.

Can you see this generation bickering at that age? "You so-and-so sum-in-a-batch, Macs have been no good since Win95 came out, you don't know what you're talking about..." etc etc, canes swinging.

[hypnotoad72]

Um, I've used Windows back since 3.0.

Win95 has a decent GUI (though MacOS still has more going for it) but don't say it's better as the registry has angered many techs who, unlike you I suspect, are in the business.

Each platform has ups and downs, but even for Mac's foibles, there's no registry to become corrupt by a fragmentation-prone file system, and both of those have led to far more troubles...

[L84WRK]

I think Surface will be for me. Although the iPad is an awesome product, it comes with the whole Apple ecosystem and there are many people besides myself who shy away from Apple because of that. We don't like being locked down to one hardware choice. I'm looking forward to checking out Surface as well as the Windows 8 tablets from Samsung, HTC, Lenovo, HP, Dell, NVidia, Nokia ...etc. I think the connectivity with MagicGlass, X-Box, SkyDrive, Office will be a huge winner in the long run. If not, well, there's always Android (phoey).

[the0racle]

Another Zune-typical love affair, doom imminent. Only chance of survival would be those that are like beaten and abused lovers that come back for more abuse.

[Mathion]

the difference being, unlike Zune, which imitated something already demonstrably superior to it, this give people the thing they've always been asking for: A keyboard.

Basically, it's a different style of laptop. But it's exactly the kind of thing to address the "wish lists" of what I've most often seen and read about in surveys of what people want in a tablet.

And in that case, even Apple doesn't do that.

So this is different. Whether it will fly remains to be seen. I won't be buying one, myself. I have laptops that do all I need to have done - none of them Apple.

[vista8635]

I'm a Microsoft fanboy. I have a Windows PC, and a Windows Phone. My next laptop or tablet will run the Windows operating system too. Microsoft is the best.

[hypnotoad72]

I'm platform agnostic and don't care for fanboys on either side. Not until I get paid to do so...

[askagain]

There is no question that the Ipad is a great product but some of us have the perception that the Ipad is somewhat like a crippled computer. Although I have only used an Ipad belonging to others, it is my understanding that the Ipad lacks connectivity or limits connectivity to desktop computers. If I am wrong, please correct me. In my case, having a small but powerful computer the size and weight of a pad is highly desirable. Further, as a very satisfied user of Windows 7, it is my hope that Windows 8 will be just as good.

[askagain]

nolalou2 - Thank you for the information.

[Transatlantique]

U..G..L..Y. you ain't got no alibi your UGLY. Is everyone at MS colourblind? They try so hard to be like Apple, but they are so off because they are still nerds using a lame operating system. I don't care if "surface" can transport me somewhere without a car. I am a loyal Mac fan because of their operating systems/products, and because I can't stand Billy Gates gruff.

[forumcomments]

Price and functionality will dtermine the success. As an iPad user and fan there are times when windows configuration options would be beneficial. As for Apple the competition will hopefully reduce the level of proprietary limitations currently inherent in their system. Remember when IBM was king in the pc market. Knowing Microsoft expect a good system that is competitive. Because Apple has such a head start in the market price will have to be very competitive or functionality that is better than the iPad for the tablet to be successful.

[hypnotoad72]

What, marketing - which includes predatory actions - don't count toward success? Ask anyone who has been in this industry for a couple or more decades... Microsoft has quite the fun laundry list of predatory tactics, including demanding licenses for their software be sold even if the customer does not use it. That's effectively stealing, since they didn't earn the money, but it's part of the contract - and a good way to ensure your product getting wider coverage, especially if it's tied into an existing known name-brand...

[HyperionVek]

I like it, but I have to disagree with NYC-Fellow on a couple of points. I welcome a Windows tablet and I hope they make a great run at it. But the success of the iPad is not all hype. I know the people who hate Apple just because it's fashionable to hate Apple, don't think so, but there is a lot more to why others have not made a significant dent in the tablet market. I for one wish that Google's Android focused on reining in all the bad tablet makers and focus on the few who have done well at it. e.g. B&N's Nook Color, Galaxy, just to name two.

Secondly it's important to remember that the iPad works because of the larger eco-system behind it. As a musician I can compose, model sounds and amp setups and more. I know real estate agents, claims adjusters, teachers and merchants who use it in their respective professions. The usage is not just pilot programs, but full blown deployments for some companies.

I have the Nook Color and the iPad and I have really been impressed with both. Just my two cents...not trying to start a fight.