Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet

Re:Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet by aik on Monday June 18, 2012 @08:38PM (#4129546)

And it failed. I think the point is that it's nothing that anyone has tried recently, as the technology just hasn't been good enough. We're in a completely different world than the one in 1993. The question now is whether the technology today is good enough to be usable. No one else has tried it recently, meaning common understanding is that even today it's too complicated/not good enough. Until now.

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Re:Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet by Samuel_Michon on Monday June 18, 2012 @08:57PM (#4129625)

Microsoft has been trying to sell stylus based tablets for years, and they never stopped: Windows for pen based computers, Windows XP Tablet PC Edition, UMPC, Courier, Slate PC, etc etc.

I'm all for experimenting by releasing products in the wild, hoping that the next iteration will finally find its market. But seriously, it's getting a little ridiculous.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Tablet_PC#History

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Re:Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet by snowwrestler on Monday June 18, 2012 @09:18PM (#4129711)

Computerized handwriting recognition will never be good enough because even people have trouble recognizing handwriting--even their own.

And once the recognition fails, you're left with computer text that needs to be corrected. How? With a keyboard. So most people just gravitate toward using the keyboard in the first place.

A stylus is better for drawing (see: Wacom) but most people don't draw.

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Re:Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet by hcurtiss on Monday June 18, 2012 @10:19PM (#4129907)

Onenote is a really great compromise. The handwriting remains, and it converts to text in the background. It's not perfect, but it doesn't have to be.

As a TabletPC user and a lawyer, I've been waiting for this form factor for years. IMHO, the only reason the TabletPC didn't thrive is (i) short battery life, and (ii) weight/size. This machine is, to me, the great promise.

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Re:Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet by noveltyaccount on Monday June 18, 2012 @10:52PM (#4129997)

Yes. This machine may be The One. I've been craving a handwriting-friendly OneNote Extender for ~5 years. I envisioned it back then with e-ink for good battery life and as a dedicated, OneNote-only device. Times have changed.

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Re:Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet by rapind on Monday June 18, 2012 @10:52PM (#4129998)

Could the future be Gregg shorthand via stylus? Apparently over 200 wpm...

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Re:Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet by stcredzero on Monday June 18, 2012 @10:17PM (#4129901)

Computerized handwriting recognition will never be good enough

Yes, but making eInk good enough is just a matter of getting latency down low enough.

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Re:Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet by dedward on Tuesday June 19, 2012 @12:10AM (#4130217)

I recall the newton did a better job of recognizing my handwriting than I did...... so that won't hold.

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Re:Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet by ttrashh on Monday June 18, 2012 @10:30PM (#4129947)

I have the Samsung reference tablet from Build. The stylus works very very well. Being able to lay my hand on the screen and write accurately is great.

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Re:Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet by jasonkolb on Monday June 18, 2012 @10:17PM (#4129895)

I bought a bamboo stylus for my iPad and love it. I use it all the time.

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