How Do You Like Microsoft’s First Commercial for ‘Surface’?

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How Do You Like Microsoft's First Commercial for 'Surface'? Listen to this article

How Do You Like Microsoft's First Commercial for 'Surface'?

Last night while watching a rerun of The Mentalist, a commercial for the upcoming Microsoft Surface tablet came on. Clearly the focus is on the design, and in particular the magnetic click-on keyboard/cover, as well as the integrated ‘kickstand’. In fact, that is pretty much ALL you see in the video other than a few touch-gestures to make it clear this is a tablet device, and someone tapping to start a video and to end the commercial. Oh, and a user interface paradigm NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT (i.e. Windows 8, only tech folks have a clue about it yet).

For me it is somewhat reminiscent of the iPod ‘Bounce’ commercial … but instead of an established market-leading product, we have an unidentified product doing something that reminds me of taking a Smart Cover on and off over and over again as if THAT is some sort of ‘feature’. No features, no specs, no actual use, no pricing … nothing.

UPDATE: After I wrote this Microsoft announced pricing – $499 for 32GB base unit without keyboard, $599 for 32GB WITH keyboard, and $699 for 64GB with keyboard, all WiFi based. My initial reaction is that pricing isn’t so high as to be a non-starter, but it is high enough to kill ‘impulse buys’. For me that means Microsoft needs to do better than ‘iPod Commercials’ to get traction.

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About the Author

Michael Anderson
I have loved technology for as long as I can remember - and have been a computer gamer since the PDP-10! Mobile Technology has played a major role in my life - I have used an electronic companion since the HP95LX more than 20 years ago, and have been a 'Laptop First' person since my Compaq LTE Lite 3/20 and Powerbook 170 back in 1991! As an avid gamer and gadget-junkie I was constantly asked for my opinions on new technology, which led to writing small blurbs ... and eventually becoming a reviewer many years ago. My family is my biggest priority in life, and they alternate between loving and tolerating my gaming and gadget hobbies ... but ultimately benefits from the addition of technology to our lives!