What are people’s thoughts? How did Microsoft do with the latest revisions of the Surface Laptop and Pro? What were your thoughts of the Surface Neo and Duo? Android FTW!
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I’m going to say that pre-announcing for a year later is a little suspicious. I can only assume it is meant to wake up Microsoft’s co-opitition to get them making comparable products too… (With enough lead time to clone all Microsoft’s great ideas.)
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No windows phone OS? (jk)
Nice job today, IMO.
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Agreed @PHolder, there is literally a lifetime until these products get released. It wasn’t a product announcement, it was a Windows feature announcement that happened to have some hardware loosely attached to it.
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I liked the announcements. The lack of Thunderbolt is disappointing, but everything else is really impressive. Showing off things like user-replaceable hard-drives and access to the insides of a device is incredible for devices of that thickness. We’ve been conditioned by Apple to believe that users can’t be trusted with this, so I really like this.
The vision for Duo and Neo was also nice. Due to their similarity, I wouldn’t expect a person to have one or the other, not both - especially if the USB Type C port can drive a monitor (and thus allow the device to be docked for a full-screen experience). For me - announcing the Duo and Neo early is Microsoft’s way of letting it’s partners have their chance to make a case for their own versions of these device. Microsoft’s stuff will likely be more expensive than the competition - but that’s what they do to help keep harmony with their partners.
But the real success (IMO) is Surface Pro X - as the first really credible example of an ARM-based replacement for a PC device. I like the aesthetics of it, on top of the form factor. What would be really cool is if MS released a keyboard for it that turned it into a Surface Book -type device - i.e. a keyboard dock with extra battery and a GPU (or storage, or whatever)
I’ve really liked the tone of Microsoft events over the past several years. There’s a distinct sense of pride and workmanship without the accompanying sense of superiority from Apple events. That’s my take, however, and others may view Apple in a more charitable light.
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Mentioned a couple of times within the event were comments like “We are nervous to be announcing so early… We want to get developers to start thinking about these things…”
When would you announce this idea if you were in charge? Would you hold a special event? Push it out at the next Build Event?
I like the idea of “One more things…” and then something that no one posted about came out.
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Well, firstly, why are the so worried about developers… exactly? Isn’t Microsoft one of the largest shops full of developers on the planet? This product has been rumoured to be in development for years, so surely they could have some people inside using them and coming up with some apps. It’s not really clear to me how you develop a properly thought out API for developers if you aren’t trying to use said same API to actually develop apps yourself.
Anyway, I’m no business mogul… but I think if they gave tens of thousands of them away as clearly pre-release devices, they would probably quickly get back real life feedback on what works… and find out if the product has legs. Microsoft is usually not known for getting things right until version 3… so I think they need to plan around iterating it [quickly] a couple of times anyway.
Either way they need to spend lots of money on marketing… they can do lots of ads or they can give the thing to thought leaders and let them buzz it up…
I pretty much agree with Ron’s overall summary in the final paragraph:
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I hope the dual screen is a prototype for a foldable e display. And the year wait is to allow production to mature
I’m excited! But I’m a Windows guy. That being said I feel we don’t get many of these honest-to-goodness “that’s pretty unique” moments. And them announcing a partnership with Google to make an Android device— I thought that was very interesting!
I’m already using a Surface Pro 6, so I’m less interested in the Surface Pro/Laptop stuff but that Surface Neo and Duo— those look interesting! I want to know more about Windows10X. I hope us Fast Ring Windows Insiders get to take that baby for a spin (maybe on other devices since some early version accidentally got leaked a few months ago).
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This is a great announcement, many great and interesting products, especially the Pro X, and the Neo, and the Duo…
I think they announcing it now because of the lesson they learned from Windows Phone. Not enough apps, lack of developers support, which led to its eventual demise.
At that time, people are so busy with iOS and Android development, they were just not willing to split their time to develop for Windows Phone. It was quirky with those flipping tiles, I liked it for what it was.
Now Microsoft have to really hype up these products for the developer to get onboard.
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Just finished watching the TWiT special, and I’m excited for the Neo and Duo. The other Surface device announcements were refinements, but welcome ones.
Panos Panay really needs to tone down the magician-meets-youth-pastor style, though. I get that everyone feels compelled to be Jobs-ian for these keynotes, but I think he was most relatable when he just dropped into regular speech patterns at times later on in the show. I know it’s just marketing, but it’s just a tad too thick.
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I loved loved loved everything that was announced today! Including the Surface Pro X, Surface Pro 7, Neo, Duo, Surface Laptop 3 and the Microsoft Earbuds. I pre-ordered the Surface Pro X with the keyboard and Slim Pen and I can’t wait for when it ships!
One thing that annoyed me a little today (but I know couldn’t be helped) was when Mikah and Ant were doing their live commentary and they cut away at the ‘end’ to do an ad, then came back and had no idea what was going on. If you watch the official MS stream, you’ll see that Panos had “one more thing… that the journalists didn’t get right” was that the Duo was announced - after what people thought was the end, including me! haha… I had to go back and view the MS stream. I’m not complaining, just pointing that out that if any of you want to see that whole Duo presentation to watch the original stream (or on YouTube) to see that. Otherwise, a great wrap up by Ant and Mikah (if not a little too harsh on Panos… he is only doing what Steve Jobs and Tim Cook got/gets away with all the time… hyping the product and telling a story… albeit in their own quirky fun way.) Let’s pay him the same courtesy and let them do their thing and shine, too. 
Again, not admonishing, just pointing my viewpoint out and you guys are amazing.
I really thought MS put so much into this presentation and it really showed, plus I loved the song at the end. Panos and Satya were awkwardly geeky and lovely as usual. I really love the innovation going on at Microsoft these days. It really is amazing if you think about it, and we owe them so much to innovation, as well as Google, Apple, and so many others. It’s nice to see MS in the game again and shining.
PS I think it is smart for MS to announce the Duo and Neo so early. For starters, as was stated by Panos, they desire developer feedback and integration in with their new device category. I also think it’s good to come out of the gate and show the world what you’ve been working on. I bet Microsoft’s stock price jumps tomorrow, or soon. They also are giving their hardware partners time to create similar devices and/or ecosystems for users and creatives to use these devices within. It also sparks competition, and for us, that’s a good thing!
Keep up the great work, TWiT team, and thanks for getting up so dang early! We appreciate you, Mikah and Ant!
BB
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I disagree, but to each their own. I think it’s smart to announce early in this case. (See my post.)
BB
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Panos is also just a strange (but lovely and geeky, imho) individual and proud Father. You could also say the same about Tim Cook and how he looks more and more like a glazed over Zombie each year and how whats-his-name’s pants get higher and higher each year, almost to his neck now! I actually think the MS presentations would be boring without a little character and quirkiness
BB
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@ant_pruitt @mikahsargent I’m laughing my butt off. I watched the event yesterday straight from Microsoft. I just watched your event specifically to see how you guys would react to the Duo…AND YOU MISSED IT!!!
To answer the question: I (my business) owns three Surface devices. I love 'em. Now I have to decide if it’s time to upgrade. Laptop 3 15" looking very tempting. Luck for me the Duo won’t be out until next year 'cause I just got an 11 Pro Max.
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The phone sounds interesting. But, I think announcing it over a year in advance was a mistake, especially with the new Pixels being announced in a couple of weeks, and with the fact that Samsung already has a dual screen. I have a Pixel 2 and most likely will upgrade to a Pixel 4 when its released. If the new phone was coming out sooner, I might be interested.
yes! He was totally telling the attendees “thank you and good bye” then dropped that bomb on us. Lol! Surprised us both with the smaller form factor and Android OS
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A hinged design is smarter than a foldable plastic screen that will wear and break, but the entire idea is addressing a market that doesn’t exist. If it did, there would be lots of competition in the space already. After all, clamshell phones and computers are as old as dirt at this point and there’s little To no advantage to offering what amounts to a limited version of an iPad.
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It is not. Two separate displays.