I honestly thought MS had stopped doing surface hardware. Nice stuff, bit overpriced though. Do they do a tablet only or are they all convertibles -- I'll have to Bing it.
they're all tablet only untill you buy the essential keyboard and pen. It's a whole line now with a range of smaller tablets, laptops and the most desirable all in one around.
And yes they're expensive, but the tablet is a unique proposition that fits my workflow perfectly. I've also never bought one for full price. There are some good sales to be found when the yearly update launches.
See news below. I don;t think MS is going to get out of hardware, but I think there is something to these undercurrent stories coming out of GDC. I am getting serious SEGA going multi-plat vibes from back in the decline of the Dreamcast days.
I agree with te strategy, keep XBOX going so normal people can understand the concept of Gamepass and keep releasing your titles day one as part of Gamepass, but make all the other platform users pay through the nose to play the games on their own console until the end consumer appreciates the value of Gamepass.
I don't know. How long will it take them to realize that this relegates the hardware to little more than a very expensive advertising campaign? They'll sell less and less consoles to the point where it's just not worth investing the sunk cost.
I feel that their phones and computer hardware have generally been very well built. Their phone business was an attempt to break into the smartphone market and launch windows as a mobile OS, which predictably failed misserably. I still use a Windows skin on my android phone though, the UI at least was very pleasing. As for their surface line, it's all very premium stuff, but I don't think their laptops justify the cost. MS really did create a whole new type of device with the original surface tablet convertables which Apple then gratefully copied. As for their all-in-one, it's the best looking computer in my opinion. A bit of a shame that the components always seem to lag a gen or two behind on the cutting edge stuff, and the price is very steep for what is in essence a beautifull monitor with a middling computer jammed into it. I saw that in the US MS offers their own refurbs at a reasonable price. If they did the same in Europe I'd be mighty tempted to buy one.
I feel that their phones and computer hardware have generally been very well built. Their phone business was an attempt to break into the smartphone market and launch windows as a mobile OS, which predictably failed misserably. I still use a Windows skin on my android phone though, the UI at least was very pleasing. As for their surface line, it's all very premium stuff, but I don't think their laptops justify the cost. MS really did create a whole new type of device with the original surface tablet convertables which Apple then gratefully copied. As for their all-in-one, it's the best looking computer in my opinion. A bit of a shame that the components always seem to lag a gen or two behind on the cutting edge stuff, and the price is very steep for what is in essence a beautifull monitor with a middling computer jammed into it. I saw that in the US MS offers their own refurbs at a reasonable price. If they did the same in Europe I'd be mighty tempted to buy one.
Didn't they make an mp3 player called Zune or something?
I initially loved my Windows phone, so I bought another more powerful one. It worked okay at first, before eventually randomly resetting itself. They as tike went gone, not only was there an absence of popular apps. Apps which I had been using started being withdrawn, Ebay, WhatsApp etc.
It was miserable.
My surface Pro 4 was pretty decent, but the battery lasted about 3 hours. My previous Asus tablet had an IPS screen and lasted for 8hrs, but became so slow over time. The Surface isn't bad but when I realised I could do most stuff on my phone it became redundant. I even use my phone over WiFi to print shipping labels.
I just wish Steam was on my new phone and that decent controllers weren't so expensive.
I've had good luck with Microsoft Surface adn Phones.
I do need to get a tablet, I've had some android ones which were utter garbage, and I don't like iOS or overpaying for Apple, so I'll see what they have. My Kindle White just died after 15 years of abuse, so I'll have to explore what they are up to these days as well (talking about black mirrors).
The paths that lead to nowhere, turns out some of them are for when you expand the levels. I've actually been enjoying the third level, feels almost identical to Banjo kazooie.
So basically the choice the game gives you, actually works against your enjoyment. To play this game in an enjoyable way, you must learn all the moves from the top down in sequential order.
And you must expand each level as soon as you can.
Getting pretty hyped for Visions of Mana. Game is looking and sounding pretty good. Releases in Summer of this year.
I wasn't aware of this at all untill I saw an article on it on EG yesterday. Looks very nice. I haven't played any of the Mana games, so can't really comment on it other than on the quality of the graphics.
I wonder if the game will require multiple playthroughs to complete a single run. My gaming time these days is so limited that I hardly ever replay games after having beaten them once. In which case it doesn't matter how many lego pieces the set contains. I'm sure I'm not alone in this and it seems like a huge waste if they don't somehow incorporate the neccessity for multiple runs.
So I got an hdr tv. Watched some hdr videos. Can't see any difference.
I only really notice the difference on AAA PS5 games. Gran Turismo 7 looks amazing in HDR and has the best implementation I've seen yet. Dark games like Resident Evil series make great use of it. HDR sucks on Windows PC, though, but that may be due to my older graphics card.
HDR is more subtle than media like DF makes it out to be. It's about increased detail in shadow areas and brighter light sources. It's also dependent on how your TV picture settings are calibrated. It took me while to get it just right.
I wasn't aware of this at all untill I saw an article on it on EG yesterday. Looks very nice. I haven't played any of the Mana games, so can't really comment on it other than on the quality of the graphics.
Think it’s a bit of a hit and miss franchise. Secret of Mana on the SNES is probably the best. It’s definitely my favourite. I did get the remake and Trials of Mana but have yet to play them.
Think it’s a bit of a hit and miss franchise. Secret of Mana on the SNES is probably the best. It’s definitely my favourite. I did get the remake and Trials of Mana but have yet to play them.
The first four games in the series were great. Very innovative action RPGs. The menu system (in games 2 - 4) was a little wonky, but once you got the hang of it, it was a blast.
Then for some reason around 2006, Square declared it, "The Year of Mana" and introduced a bunch of new games in the series, but they moved them to different genres. They started out bad, and only got worse from there. Each one was just worse than the next and it got so bad that the series was put on ice for almost 15 years.
The remake of 3, Trials of Mana, was fantastic though. They did an amazing job of transforming a 2D world into a 3D World, but still making it feel kind of old school at the same time. I'm glad everyone seems to agree and that it boosted enough interest for a new one in the series. And I agree, that new one looks really really good.
HDR is more subtle than media like DF makes it out to be. It's about increased detail in shadow areas and brighter light sources. It's also dependent on how your TV picture settings are calibrated. It took me while to get it just right.
Maybe on games where you can switch HDR on or off you see the difference? Watching an HDR video, there's no option to turn it on or off.
I just don't see any difference than an ordinary TV.
Speaking of tv features, a family member got a new TV with A.I picture mode, hyped up to be analysing the screen frame by frame and improving the picture quality.
It hardly does anything, it's terrible. Reminds me of mattress technology speak. Sounds fancy, does nothing.
I was excited because I bought a hdr 4k tv then RDR2 came out a few weeks later. It did have the option to switch the hdr on or off and I still didn't really see any difference. Maybe I need to hire a tech guy to work on my setup.
they're all tablet only untill you buy the essential keyboard and pen. It's a whole line now with a range of smaller tablets, laptops and the most desirable all in one around.And yes they're expensive, but the tablet is a unique proposition that fits my workflow perfectly. I've also never bought one for full price. There are some good sales to be found when the yearly update launches.
I don't know. How long will it take them to realize that this relegates the hardware to little more than a very expensive advertising campaign? They'll sell less and less consoles to the point where it's just not worth investing the sunk cost.I'm a little burned out on Microsoft physical technology. I've bought Windows phones and Surface tablets and Xboxes.
I feel like they've looked at others succesful products, tried to do the same and just either faded away or failed to be successful enough to care.
I feel that their phones and computer hardware have generally been very well built. Their phone business was an attempt to break into the smartphone market and launch windows as a mobile OS, which predictably failed misserably. I still use a Windows skin on my android phone though, the UI at least was very pleasing. As for their surface line, it's all very premium stuff, but I don't think their laptops justify the cost. MS really did create a whole new type of device with the original surface tablet convertables which Apple then gratefully copied. As for their all-in-one, it's the best looking computer in my opinion. A bit of a shame that the components always seem to lag a gen or two behind on the cutting edge stuff, and the price is very steep for what is in essence a beautifull monitor with a middling computer jammed into it. I saw that in the US MS offers their own refurbs at a reasonable price. If they did the same in Europe I'd be mighty tempted to buy one.
Didn't they make an mp3 player called Zune or something?
I initially loved my Windows phone, so I bought another more powerful one. It worked okay at first, before eventually randomly resetting itself. They as tike went gone, not only was there an absence of popular apps. Apps which I had been using started being withdrawn, Ebay, WhatsApp etc.
It was miserable.
My surface Pro 4 was pretty decent, but the battery lasted about 3 hours. My previous Asus tablet had an IPS screen and lasted for 8hrs, but became so slow over time. The Surface isn't bad but when I realised I could do most stuff on my phone it became redundant. I even use my phone over WiFi to print shipping labels.
I just wish Steam was on my new phone and that decent controllers weren't so expensive.
Otherwi
I've had good luck with Microsoft Surface adn Phones.
I do need to get a tablet, I've had some android ones which were utter garbage, and I don't like iOS or overpaying for Apple, so I'll see what they have. My Kindle White just died after 15 years of abuse, so I'll have to explore what they are up to these days as well (talking about black mirrors).
I don't want to slut shame Microsoft or anything but...
Phil Spencer now wants rival storefronts on Xbox
“Majority of games” from Xbox coming to PS5
The Xbox Series X Replica 8-Can Mini Fridge Is Down to $29.98
I gotta chuckle. Anytime someone starts a sentence with "Now, I'm not "blank" but, .... " (where blank = racist, homophobic, liberal, anti-gun, pro-life, religious)
No. Shut up, you are a "blank", whatever you are about to say will cancel that out.
Oh another blank was filled in with Yooka Laylee.
The paths that lead to nowhere, turns out some of them are for when you expand the levels. I've actually been enjoying the third level, feels almost identical to Banjo kazooie.
So basically the choice the game gives you, actually works against your enjoyment. To play this game in an enjoyable way, you must learn all the moves from the top down in sequential order.
And you must expand each level as soon as you can.
Getting pretty hyped for Visions of Mana. Game is looking and sounding pretty good. Releases in Summer of this year.
I wasn't aware of this at all untill I saw an article on it on EG yesterday. Looks very nice. I haven't played any of the Mana games, so can't really comment on it other than on the quality of the graphics.
Ken Levine reveals details on his ‘narrative Lego’ Judas
I wonder if the game will require multiple playthroughs to complete a single run. My gaming time these days is so limited that I hardly ever replay games after having beaten them once. In which case it doesn't matter how many lego pieces the set contains. I'm sure I'm not alone in this and it seems like a huge waste if they don't somehow incorporate the neccessity for multiple runs.
So I got an hdr tv. Watched some hdr videos. Can't see any difference.
I only really notice the difference on AAA PS5 games. Gran Turismo 7 looks amazing in HDR and has the best implementation I've seen yet. Dark games like Resident Evil series make great use of it. HDR sucks on Windows PC, though, but that may be due to my older graphics card.
I couldn't either.
Think it’s a bit of a hit and miss franchise. Secret of Mana on the SNES is probably the best. It’s definitely my favourite. I did get the remake and Trials of Mana but have yet to play them.
The first four games in the series were great. Very innovative action RPGs. The menu system (in games 2 - 4) was a little wonky, but once you got the hang of it, it was a blast.
Then for some reason around 2006, Square declared it, "The Year of Mana" and introduced a bunch of new games in the series, but they moved them to different genres. They started out bad, and only got worse from there. Each one was just worse than the next and it got so bad that the series was put on ice for almost 15 years.
The remake of 3, Trials of Mana, was fantastic though. They did an amazing job of transforming a 2D world into a 3D World, but still making it feel kind of old school at the same time. I'm glad everyone seems to agree and that it boosted enough interest for a new one in the series. And I agree, that new one looks really really good.
Maybe on games where you can switch HDR on or off you see the difference? Watching an HDR video, there's no option to turn it on or off.
I just don't see any difference than an ordinary TV.
Speaking of tv features, a family member got a new TV with A.I picture mode, hyped up to be analysing the screen frame by frame and improving the picture quality.
It hardly does anything, it's terrible. Reminds me of mattress technology speak. Sounds fancy, does nothing.
I was excited because I bought a hdr 4k tv then RDR2 came out a few weeks later. It did have the option to switch the hdr on or off and I still didn't really see any difference. Maybe I need to hire a tech guy to work on my setup.