I find that there are a lot of bloggers in the technology press pushing the Microsoft Surface Pro and Microsoft’s new “Windows 8” to the most extreme ends of the Earth. They simply cannot get over that Windows 8 is just strange and that nobody really likes it. They also cannot get over the fact that there is a huge marketing budget out there to push both Windows 8 and all versions of Microsoft’s Surface, and much of that money is spent on the same tech blogs.
Let’s look at that budget as reported elsewhere:
Microsoft has already announced its big plans to advertise Windows 8 across the whole world, but it appears that the company is willing to spend more than $1 billion (€773 million) to let everyone know about its new operating system.
Forbes writes that Microsoft’s marketing budget for Windows 8 could go as high as $1.8 billion (€1.3 billion), although these numbers are yet to be confirmed by the Redmond-based devices and services company.
So – $1.8 Billion if Forbes is right. If not, then just $1 Billion. That’s why you see non-stop ads all over the internet, mostly on the tech blogs, for all things Windows 8, including the infamous Surface.
One of the great weaknesses of the Surface that was reported was its abundance of harddrive space dedicated to the operating system when compared to the iPad. Recent headlines like these have come out slamming the Surface’s lack of disk space for programs and files:
Microsoft’s Surface Pro 64GB tablet hybrid will sport but 23GB of usable storage space – TheNextWeb.com
Microsoft Surface RT 32GB tablet reserves nearly half its storage for Windows, Office apps – ZDNet.com
Microsoft’s 64GB Surface Pro tablet to ship with TWO-THIRDS of its storage space already used up – DailyMail.co.uk
As the Daily Mail points out in the third of the three links above, there is a huge difference in available space on the Surface versus the iPad. Here are their bullet points:
- $899 tablet will start up with only 23GB of usable space, while its $999 128GB big brother will actually have 83GB available
- Lack of hard drive space damages Microsoft’s claims that the Surface Pro could work as fully featured laptop replacement
- Apple’s recently announced 128GB iPad, by contrast, is expected to ship with 115GB free for storing apps and files
(Bullet points from The Daily Mail)
Now – today – I see this defense article comparing the “Surface” with Apple’s Mac Book Air laptop. This is absurd. First – they are comparing the “top of the line” surface, a tablet, with a mid-level Mac Book Air. I personally have the 256 gig Mac Book Air, and have had it nearly two years. Microsoft’s Surface with 128 gigs is just due out this week. That’s the best you can get from Microsoft, although you can add memory.
This article I found to be quite a spin and somewhat disingenuous while the author uses the word “dishonest” with a question mark regarding the pro-Apple spin on the Mac Book Air when it comes to the Surface.
Here is his piece:
His summary is quite telling of his bias:
Summary: Microsoft has been pummeled by critics this week over supposedly inadequate storage space in its new Surface Pro. But those criticisms are horribly flawed. Big surprise: when you do the disk space math, Surface Pro and MacBook Air are practically twins.
Now, twins they are not. First, these are radically different devices. One has a smooth operating system that has been tried and tested for years, and basically requires no anti-virus program. It is speedy even when you have a massive number of applications on it. It’s history is to stay speedy even when you are multitasking. You can connect additional monitors to it with ease. It sports no touch screen, because it is a killer laptop. I am talking about the Mac Book Air.
The Surface is a tablet. It has a new operating system that is just plain odd. The history for Windows in earlier versions is extreme bloating. The more that Microsoft lets the hardware manufacturers control “the experience” of the user, the more likely it is to even be slow when you get it initially. The Surface does differ in that Microsoft is controlling the initial user experience as they are selling the hardware. Good for them. Nice idea. Still, as programs are added, that user experience is going to shrink.
The author is right that you have a similar amount of space if you remove the recovery partition. But, as a long time Windows user in the past I had to use the “recovery partition” quite frequently when my various Windows PC’s and laptops would get too slow to use or otherwise go to the Blue Screen of Death. That’s what saves you. Yes, I am going to delete the recovery partition from a new Windows 8 device because I am sure they got Windows 8 right this time. I don’t hardly think so.
The Surface looks absurd. I hope Microsoft sells a bunch of them. I am find with that. I just don’t like the suggestion that it is in the same league as the Mac Book Air. They are totally different devices.
Ed Bott knows better. I doubt he benefits in any way personally from the ad budgets spent by Microsoft. I just think this is a huge spin piece. His screen shots make no difference. He’s just wrong as I see it. If he was comparing the iPad only he might have a valid comparison, but the user experience is so different. Comparing the Mac Book Air to a new device from Microsoft is like comparing Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. Whatever side you pick, they are both different. There’s just no comparison.
Sources:
ZDNet Article cited above: Surface Pro versus MacBook Air: Who’s being dishonest with storage space?