Microsoft launched the ingenious Surface tablet yesterday and early reviews have emerged in favor of the compelling and exceptional hardware with a few pointing software and usability flaws within the Windows RT environment. And among the few who aren’t in favor of the Surface device is Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook. After calling Windows 8 a combination of a toaster and refrigerator, he called Surface a confusing product!
During the company’s earning call early yesterday, Tim Cook said:
I haven’t personally played with the Surface yet, but what we’re reading about it is that it’s a fairly compromised, confusing product.
In all honesty, the above statement by Tim is pretty laughable, more so when it comes from someone who hasn’t used the product, but is more than willing to lend his ‘expert opinion’. Agreed that Tim Cook is the CEO of a major software company and that he does possess sound knowledge of the software devices and their ecosystem but a Surface device cannot be gauged upon from its first looks instead as can be done with the iPad, which seemingly has the same UI since its inception. Microsoft Surface runs on Windows RT, a fresh, new operating system especially suited for tablets and touch-slates and brings along a new and exciting user experience.
Tim Cook pointed out that the ‘iPad competitor might be biting off more than it can chew’. Well as a consumer myself, I’d prefer a tablet device which does ‘more‘ for me having almost similar specifications/dimensions than its competitor. Here, Surface not just does ‘more’ for the consumer but it does it in a fresh new way armed with the Modern UI.
According to Tim:
I suppose you could design a car that flies and floats, but I don’t think it would do all of those things very well. I think people when they look at the offerings will really want an iPad.
Not really!
An iPad was indeed a revolutionary device when introduced but it isn’t the same in the present scenario where we have a new iPad launching every six months and Apple announcing no support for the earlier versions. That’s almost like asking consumers for their hard-earned money and later throwing back a sign at their face which reads ‘YOU ARE OUTDATED’. Not good at all.
And given the recent gaffes which went Apple’s way, including the disastrous Apple Maps introduced with iOS6, the consumer’s perception towards Apple has changed significantly.
No one would want to buy a ‘new iPad’ or whatever the naming convention they follow, only to see a new version with little modifications emerge within few months.
The highest rated comment on CNET on an iPad-launch related article was by an Angry iPad owner – “To Apple: Thanks for making my ‘new iPad’ obsolete”. No one would also want to search for a place in Brazil and be directed to head over to Russia (Apple Maps)… except die-hard Apple fans.
As far as Surface is concerned, it’s definitely worth a try, if not a buy. But use it for a few minutes and you’ll want to take the beauty home! As for Tim Cook, if you are reading this, please do search for the hashtag #surfaceflyingcar on Twitter. You might do your day with some amazing hilarious responses!
Reminds me of a quote by Mahatma Gandhi – First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win!
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