All of a sudden, Microsoft Surface is good for something...

The Bluestacks emulator will be very helpful: Now you can run any Android App on your Surface (Pro only), and you won't need to try and find those non-existing Metro Apps.:thumbsup:
Good thing nobody is developing those anyway...

 

That's awesome. Now i can spend $1000 to run $0.99 apps that are designed for a $99 phone. Oh micro$oft, you make me laugh

 

I find OP to be very funny.
You are a funny guy OP.
Please make some moar funny threads.
Cool feature nonetheless.

 

Find me another device besides a Surface Pro or its stylus-equipped OEM competitors, the Vaio Duo 11 and Ativ Smart PC Pro, that can run ArtRage Studio Pro (an x86 art program dependent on digitizer stylus input). You want something you can do on a Surface Pro that you can't do on either an iPad or a traditional laptop? Here you go:



Features like THAT are why the Surface Pro exists.

As for running Android apps, that feature is like the ability to play Angry Birds on a Retina MacBook Pro. Nice and convenient, but not the raison d'etre for the device's existence. Then again, the fact that someone may play minesweeper on an Alienware M18x doesn't mean that's all the device can do.

 

If I want to doodle, I can do that just fine on an iPad. If I am into more serious stylus-based applications (as in, doing this kind of thing for a living), I'd check out Wacom's offerings. And I certainly wouldn't be using hobbyist software for 50 bucks...

 

The Surface Pro's stylus IS Wacom. Both this an the N-Trig digitizer stylus on the Vaio Duo 11 are completely different than the capacitive styluses you can buy for the iPad. Comparing drawing with a capacitive and digitizer stylus is like comparing arrow keys to a joystick as an input device for a flight simulator.

And this isn't just for art; this also matters for note-taking and other handwriting.

Listen, if you don't have a need for an x86 convertible tablet, don't buy one. Problem solved. But arguing online at length that they're pointless is like the guy with a desktop gaming PC complaining that nobody should buy a gaming laptop. It's inaccurate and annoying and fails to recognize that other people have different needs and priorities than you do.

 

I am fully aware of that. Notice that Wacom sells a range of digitizer products, for a range of applications, at various price points.

I did not "compare" them. As a matter of fact, proper reading of what I wrote will reveal that I contrasted them.

The "annoying" part is clearly in the eye of the beholder.

 

No one will argue that a tablet is a waisted product. They definately have their uses and with Windows 8 may find a few more. Just don't expect them to all replace every productivity machine out there. Eventually products such as the surface pro or the sony etc will find people to pay the premium for what those devices are.

This is the epic fail though, M$ wants all machines to be this and consumers do not. If you look at the market there is a myriad of machines to fit all niches. Even to todays market tablet pc's have had, or been one, of those niche markets. Consumers will not be strapped to the design or incumberances of only tablet availability.

M$ knowing the sales numbers had come out and is now saying this is a marathon and not a sprint. They are softening the news so it does not crash their stock nor shock the investors when the real numbers are released. Personally I truely hope M$ gives up this "Marathon" idea as I would hate this to be the straw that breaks their back, setting them on a long road towards failure. The longer they wait the more they will loose, and the harder it will be to get back, product brand loyalty from consumers.