Bill Gates Backs Microsoft's Surface Tablet Solo Venture

Windows 8 tablets will replace the desktop, says Bill Gates.

Former chief executive and current chairman of Microsoft Bill Gates knows exactly why the company seemingly punched its partners in the gut with the introduction of the Windows 8-powered Surface tablet. Even more, he thinks Microsoft has done the right thing by going solo, and that Windows 8 is going to kill the traditional PC. Whoa.

Bill Gates made this revelation on Charlie Rose Monday night as he talked about Microsoft's decision to make its own tablet. As previously reported, Surface will arrive in two flavors: x86-based featuring Windows 8 Pro, and ARM-based using Windows RT. It will feature a unique cover that also serves as a super-thin keyboard, and go head to head with other Windows 8 tablets manufactured by HP, Dell, Asus, Lenovo and others.

"I actually believe you can have the best of both worlds," he said. "You can have a rich eco-system of manufacturers and you can have a few signature devices that show off, wow, what's the difference between a tablet and a PC?"

To Microsoft's defense, Google is taking the same route with its Nexus 7 tablet and the other "Google Experience" tablets planned in the near future. These will be "signature" devices offering the best of what Google has to offer while manufactured by one of its top-tier manufacturers. However these devices will be competing not only with Amazon's Kindle Fire and Apple's iPad, but all the other Android tablets on the market.

As for Bill Gates' vision of the future, he openly admitted that Windows 8 tablets will replace the traditional PCs. Is he right? After all, All-In-One PCs seem to do well in the general consumer market. They're not as thin as tablets, but they're more compact than the traditional desktop and typically sport touchscreens. Maybe it will be this specific sector that tablets while annihilate first.

"You can get everything you like about a tablet, everything you like about a PC, all in one device. That should change the way people look at things," he said.

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3

LePhuronn , July 4, 2012 2:38 AM

A 13" or 15" x86 Surface with keyboard dock would probably kill the Ultrabook/high-end portable sector, but no way will it kill the desktop PC.

Desktop PCs include gaming rigs - Surface won't touch them. Desktop PCs include workstations - Surface won't touch them. Desktop PCs include office terminals and workhorse units - Surface won't touch them.

In fact, I doubt Surface will touch mom n pop's cheap desktop that they Facebook, e-mail and eBay with.
2

santfu , July 4, 2012 8:52 AM

The desk. It has been around for thousands of years. Why? Because it is ergonomic. A chair and you fit it very well. On mine there is 3 screens, it is great for gaming, coding and my maths and physics course work. The keyboard is comfortable and the mouse is fantastic. Why would I get rid of all that screen space? Why would i pick up the device thereby constraining my hands? Why do people think that a tablet is the better way to interact with their software? (and why has software been renamed apps?)

These and other things boggle my mind.
1

rajaawad23 , July 4, 2012 8:41 PM

I have a desktop PC, a laptop, tablet, PS3 and a smartphone, non of these replace each other, each one is used for a certain purpose and as much as I try I cannot replace one with another, desktop for gaming, PS3 also for gaming but different games and for me I would not sell My PC for a console, Laptop is for my uni work and when my PC is being used by my bro, the tablet is for when on the train I watch movies play games on and check my Facebook and my smartphone is for basic communication, I have tried getting a laptop instead of my desktop ... didnt work I use both though, then got a tablet to replace laptop, not as useful as laptop for writing and research. but would never get rid of one for another. Microsoft are right and wrong, tablet are replacing desktops but will come to a point where it cannot completely replace it, they may replace media players, netbooks and e-books but when comparing with a desktop PC, they both do different tasks although some tasks may be done on both.
Microsoft wants to win, they are going with tablets because they are following statistics and short term sense, long term though, they will have to go another path to find a replacement for all of these and yes even a desktop Pc, this will be replaced one day, but not FOR A WHILE.

software are now called apps because apple want to call them apps, and as we all know apple knows best, so software is now called apps (sarcasm)