surface tablet

VILCABAMBA, Ecuador--Growing up in the 1980s, I remember thinking it was too bad that all the adults had to work all day long in the same place doing the same things every day. And maybe I should be a librarian, because then at least at work I'd be surrounded by books with pictures of cool places.

Turns out that Eric Mack circa 1985 was quite the small-minded and silly boy.

Technology -- and the Internet, in particular -- have since disrupted (and will continue to disrupt) every aspect of our lives. It's the reason that I can sit on top of a hill somewhere in the Ecuadorian Andes and draft this missive about the imperfection of the current selection of technologically advanced devices that I can use to research, write, and submit said missive.

That's right, folks. Today I'll be exploiting the fruits of our remarkable age of instantaneous global information and connectivity for what's become quite the popular 21st century pastime -- marveling at the limitless possibilities of today and then quickly turning around to complain that the abundance of awesomeness that surrounds so many of us 24/7/365 isn't completely perfect just yet.… Read more

Chalk this one up as a one-source rumor. But the source is supposedly pretty solid, according to my Windows Weekly cohost Paul Thurrott.

Thurrot said he was told by one of his most trusted sources that Microsoft is poised to begin making its own Surface RT devices -- the ARM-based pablets/TCs running the Windows RT operating system -- available through channels beyond Microsoft's own brick-and-mortar and online stores. And this is supposedly happening sooner rather than later, he blogged today.

Phase one of the rollout will happen in markets where there are no Microsoft brick-and-mortar stores, meaning everywhere … Read more

CENTURY CITY, Calif.--As of this weekend, Microsoft has a hot product on its hands.

Reviews notwithstanding (some have been pretty negative), on Friday my local Microsoft store in Century City (in Los Angeles) was buzzing with curious customers keen on trying the Surface RT tablet, as lines snaked outside. Other stores drew crowds too.

(And all three Surface models are back-ordered three weeks on Microsoft's online store.)

I was surprised to see any line at all. After reading some reviews, you would have thought that the thing was DOA.

Fortunately, I had plenty of time to try out … Read more

Seems like there's been a new tablet released almost every other day. While I'm excited that the tablet market is showing no signs of slowing down, speaking strictly from a personal standpoint, I could use a break.

I won't be getting one, though! Starting this week, we'll see new Windows RT and Windows 8 tablets from Microsoft and its partners. Then, over the next few weeks, expect major tablet releases from Apple, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and possibly Google.

Are manufacturers flooding the market with too many options? Hey, as long as the quality remains high (and in some cases gets higher), I think we'll be fine.

With the release of the Surface, I thought it would be interesting to compare the current full-size flagship tablets running Windows, iOS, and Android.… Read more

Well, it's official. Apple today announced the iPad Mini, a 7.9-inch version of its immensely popular iPad.

Available beginning November 2, the $329 device should be a top-seller this holiday season. In fact, it's a safe bet that the iPad Mini will join products such as the Kindle Fire HD, Nook HD, and Nexus 7 in winning big sales. But, considering this space is already so crowded, just how will the iPad Mini directly affect Android tablets, and in what capacity?

A pricier point As is the case with other Apple products, the iPad Mini is priced … Read more

Windows RT tablets are coming. Soon. Very soon. What's Windows RT, you ask? Well, it would take a scientist to explain it and we unfortunately don't have one on staff (yet). Thankfully, we do have Seth Rosenblatt, who's all too happy (or as close as he gets to happy) to break it down for you.

For those not looking to have anything broken, I'll give you the gist. Windows RT is essentially the "lite" version of Windows 8. It runs on ARM processors (cheaper and more energy-efficient than its Intel counterparts) and is optimized for Microsoft's Windows 8 Metro interface.

Of the first batch of RT tablets, the most anticipated is undoubtedly the Microsoft Surface. The future of Windows tablets is riding on the success of the Surface, which starts at $499 with a release date of October 26. That's for the basic 32GB version.

For $599, you get a 32GB version with a Touch Cover keyboard, and $699 will net you a Touch Cover and a 64GB-capacity Surface. The Touch Cover itself will retail for $120.

Anyway, here's a list of the first wave of Windows RT tablets. All of which should be on shelves by the end of the year.… Read more

The latest rumors say so, but we'll explain why the latest rumors are probably wrong. Also on today's episode, we learn why IBM might want to buy RIM's secret treasure chest, and we decipher the tea-leaves of iOS 6. What is Apple not telling us about the new OS for fear of giving away iPhone 5 secrets?

And finally, the next Xbox may hit soon, another rumors suggests. This tweeted image of a swirl of colors supposedly indicates that the Kinect 2 might be awesome. To us it just looks like, well, modern art. But you guys … Read more