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0 pointsjoshuapants10y ago0 comments

I don't entirely disagree, but my point was that it's a lot harder to use a computer without a physical keyboard/mouse than it is to use an Xbox without a Kinect. You can certainly use a Surface with no type cover, but even in Modern IE and other apps I prefer to type with a hardware keyboard.

Let me put it this way: by having a computer (even if it has a tablet form factor, it is a Real Computer) without a mouse/keyboard, you give up half its potential (if not more, depending on how you use it). By having an Xbox without a Kinect you give up none of its core capabilities, just some of its extra navigational features and a distinct minority of exclusive games.

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WorldWideWayne10y ago

It depends on how you work, so I disagree that you always lose the core functionality. I could totally go without the type cover if I wanted to because I just don't travel much.

As a matter of fact, I think when the Surface Pro 4 comes out, I will not buy the type cover and take the savings instead. In any case, I really, really disagree that Microsoft is being sleazy by offering a choice. It's more like they're going all-in on the idea that you can use all of Windows without a physical keyboard.

joshuapantsOP10y ago

> I could totally go without the type cover if I wanted to because I just don't travel much.

But also because you have another keyboard and don't mind forking over money for a docking station or plugging in. You're replacing the type cover with another keyboard, but that's still something you had to buy.

> when the Surface Pro 4 comes out, I will not buy the type cover and take the savings instead

Microsoft has announced that the SP3 type cover will be compatible with the next Pro model, so you wouldn't have to at any rate :D

> In any case, I really, really disagree that Microsoft is being sleazy by offering a choice.

I agree with you, but I don't think they're offering the choice you think they are[1]. They bill it as "The Tablet That Can Replace Your Laptop," right above a picture of the products with the type cover on them. The intended use-case clearly involves the type cover.

[1] http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/26m9cu/we_are_panos_pa...

In case you don't want to follow the link: the choice is the color of the cover, not whether or not to have a cover.

WorldWideWayne10y ago

> "The Tablet That Can Replace Your Laptop,"...the intended use case.

So, what is your point here? That they should always bundle the keyboard so that users like me have to pay $100 more every single time? I don't understand what your complaint is or what you think Microsoft is doing wrong.

From the reddit comment that you linked to from the Surface Team:

> "... and some people definitely wanted to buy without cover."

That's going to be me when I get the Surface Pro 4. I don't have a Surface Pro 3, so I don't already have a compatible Type Cover already.

If I buy one to replace my Dell Venue 8 Pro (which I use fully without a keyboard), I will not need a keyboard at all...and I still count it as a laptop replacement since I can (and do) everything that I could on a laptop by using the virtual keyboard. If buy one to replace my Surface Pro (1st gen), then I'm going to use a $30 full size keyboard when I'm sitting and the virtual keyboard when I'm walking around with it. So, I'm glad that they don't bundle the keyboard.

In any case, I just don't understand how anyone could possibly have a problem with this.

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WorldWideWayne10y ago

It depends on how you work, so I disagree that you always lose the core functionality. I could totally go without the type cover if I wanted to because I just don't travel much.

joshuapantsOP10y ago

> I could totally go without the type cover if I wanted to because I just don't travel much.

> when the Surface Pro 4 comes out, I will not buy the type cover and take the savings instead

Microsoft has announced that the SP3 type cover will be compatible with the next Pro model, so you wouldn't have to at any rate :D

> In any case, I really, really disagree that Microsoft is being sleazy by offering a choice.

[1] http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/26m9cu/we_are_panos_pa...

In case you don't want to follow the link: the choice is the color of the cover, not whether or not to have a cover.

WorldWideWayne10y ago

> "The Tablet That Can Replace Your Laptop,"...the intended use case.

From the reddit comment that you linked to from the Surface Team:

> "... and some people definitely wanted to buy without cover."

That's going to be me when I get the Surface Pro 4. I don't have a Surface Pro 3, so I don't already have a compatible Type Cover already.

In any case, I just don't understand how anyone could possibly have a problem with this.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse