Posts by A Butler

To pricey for a Huawei

Price kills the device; Huawei is a Chinese brand that cannot command Apple prices no matter how much the reviewer loves the device. Its doomed.

Ah the MS hatred alive and well

God the vitriolic bile and hatred towards Microsoft here on what has been a pretty successful OS release is pretty incredible really. Maybe the Linux die hard’s are hoping the lazy main stream media that peruse this site will alter their view of the launch and adapt a more pessimistic Windows 10 upgrade narrative.

I have upgraded plenty of machines of various ages and spec and from the outset apart for a few niggles most have been fine. I had 1 user that had to go back to Windows 7 because an old Toshiba GDI printer/copier would not work with it and that’s about it.

I get the lack of choice and the pushing out of the OS upgrade and how everyone loves their Windows 7; however from Microsoft’s perspective they want a model similar to Apple when it comes to OS support yet no one complains about their behavior. If MS did not push retirement of old OS’s we’d still have people bitching and expecting support on Windows NT!

As another poster pointed out Apple have had their fair share of upgrade pain recently, as for Linux yes its free however we all know the advocates here are charging well for their services (as they are well entitled to) so it’s not FREE really.

Orderly queue please for the down votes…

On a positive note...

Just for a bit of balance the Surface Pro 3 is doing a storming business and deservedly so, its one of the best tech devices out their currently, plus is competing at the MACBOOK level of purchasing and winning. Of course it does not have an Apple logo on it or runs Android so no points here on old El Reg!

The XBox outsold the Sony PS and is making money after years of MS sticking with the product; a lesson there for short sighted accountants that run other businesses!

Microsoft is still making stack loads of cash, has little or no competition in the business Server / PC current install base environment. Admittedly the consumer device environment is fragmented like never before, however I still see every domestic house ends up with a least 1 laptop (usually Windows sometimes MAC) regardless of how many crappy Android tablets they play around with or their kids destroy with poor quality games and apps!

Plus Windows 10 is on the way and looks promising. Interesting year ahead as for commentary of MS's demise lets review that next year!

Their are issues with Google drive aswell..

To be fair I have had issues with Google drive and file / folder syncing on the iPad aswell. All these services have their minor niggles however in general they all work great considering they have to work across such a variety of poor inconsistent internet connections. Plus do not get me started on iCloud and the inflexibility of viewing files in a simple web browser!

Obviously The Reg is going to highlight the errors in the Microsoft service.

Ipad only a content consumption device

The limitations of the iPad are becoming apparent its basically a content consumption device, useless for creation.

Plus I see it with my grandmother the apple walled garden makes simple tasks like archiving all your photos to local storage, in cases where its your only device its a bit of a pain. Its still only a secondary device, where you need a PC (whatever OS) or Mac as your primary device.

For once the Reg headline has it spot on iFad.

Its a windows phone so the has to have a headline downer

God what an insignificant "flaw" in an otherwise what seems a super budget phone. Removal battery, 128GB Micro SD slot, apps installable on SD, new windows 8.1 .....

I suppose we should appreciate the fact that the camera in the Moto E being so dire is acknowledged.

So make a call reviewer, which phone is better, where is the famous out of 10 score for both!

No issues on my Lumia 925

My Lumia 925 on Three network updated without issue. Did notice the beamer update not available though...

PC market not as bad as this REG article MSFT / INTC stock up today

As usual we do not expect the REG to depart from its PC market grave dancing, the truth about today's numbers is that PC market is not nearly as bad as reported here; MSFT stock up 1.44% today after the numbers. One source:

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/01/10/why-microsoft-and-intel-are-leading-the-dow-today.aspx

Of course that does not stop the REG and its usual anti-microsoft bias, chromebook anything Android love in to continue.

As other posters have pointed out the PC still remains the most productive device available. Tablets have their place however their peak market penetration in developed world anyway is approaching.

El Reg the home of anti-Microsoft bile and hatret another day at the office

Another day, another anti-Microsoft article full of the usual bile and hatred; yesterday it was the PS4 is outselling and trouncing the xBox one and all the minor bugs with the device. This on top of the sniping of the Surface tablet, Windows phone, NSA friendly access, the crap CEO and general state of the company and its imminent demise. I am only assuming El Reg hire ex Novell or Netscape staff.

While Google remains largely unscathed, and praised where possible read yesterday’s review of the Moto G; Android can do no wrong. I waiting about a month after Christmas and when all those cheap useless Android tablets are generating resentment will we have a bit of critique?

Seem really good but?

Seems really good except for no micro SD slot and its hard to beat the Nokia Here maps for SAT NAV. In my book that just keeps the Lumia 520 ahead.

I am of course assuming the never version of Android has been cleaned up and users have been protected from ruining their phones by loading them up with slow, poor apps; Androids weakest point on low end hardware.

Have to agree with Balmer

Their is no sense in ditching either Bing or xBox, people now join an ecosystem, and Microsoft has one of the most complete ones with options in all areas unlike its competition. This is its greatest strength and over time it will make a difference this can be seen already in the Windows phone growth.

Of course the Reg and a lot of its anti-MS posters would love to see a breakup, hence why they argue such a strong course of action. A successful company like Microsoft always has its share of haters.

Cost cutting, redundancies, low staff morale and short sighted decisions destroy technology companies like a cancer, example HP.

Lumia 520 and 620 getting the sales they deserve...

Great to see the Lumia 520 & 620 getting the sales they deserve. 2 Great, fast, affordable smartphones that will do 80% if the tasks of an iPhone / S4 for 1/4 of the price.

Apple missed a trick not having a low end mass market phone and Android OS needs a cleanup for the low end phones as its performance is dreadful on phones like the Galaxy Ace. Reports are saying the new version is a big improvement whether it will be available to compete with the Lumia's for christmas is another question.

Interesting times and good for the consumer.

The doomed Surface RT even selling...

I also see the Surface RT selling since price reductions and the improvements in Windows 8.1.

I think Wozniak mad a very interesting point yesterday why the iPad Air has such little storage relative to its price? Not everybody wants to be in the ICloud where we never own content and its all DRM hobbled.

This is where the Surface RT and 2 can compete as old legacy laptop users who want to bring their MP3 and movies can do fairly easily in the Surface versus an iPad, plus when the Surface fills up they can just plug in an external hard drive, or swap SD cards, ok you can access your content over a wireless hard drive in the iPad however its not as neat and does not suit the traveler or the user who just wants basic plug and play then copy.

Great times for the consumer as this 3 way competition is brilliant and will drive innovation in all companies and platforms. Lets have a small bit of credit and balance when analyzing all platforms.

A thinner tabler is that it, how robust, it will need a bulky case????

My god talk of little innovation and small progression, a thinner tablet with an incremental processor upgrade??

Most people bulk out the iPad with a protective case so their is little point in a thinner tablet. Especially since you have spent so much money on a thin tablet you are going to buy the obligatory bulky protective case since we can only assume it will be near impossible to fix should you let it drop.

A bit of an own oxymoron from Apple a thin, weak, expensive device that users will bulk out with a protective case to protect it.

Another RT user on 8.1 see the improvements

I have the Surface RT with the type cover and for my work its perfect.

Windows 8.1 RT has some nice new features like the ability to add your MP3's and movies (AVI, mpeg files etc) to your music and video library really easily from SD card now, unlike before.

The new mail program is a revelation compared to the old, so much so I have barely looked at Outlook on the RT. Also the idea of all the apps below the main start screen is neat. Split screen multi tasking also works really well.

Have seen a few issues with IE11 though nothing worth the headlines, and the speed of the browser, flash support plus the ability to flick forward and back pages is so handy.

I also have to say the offline skydrive file access really works well.

My biggest gripe with Microsoft's surface is that these should have all been their on version 8. Personally I would not pay for the Surface Pro premium if all you want is a tablet that will also replace most of your laptop needs. If you are on a budget and get the old stock Surface RT devices at a good price its a no brainer; Carrefour in France were selling it for €339.

All the old advantages are still their; full size USB port, direct VGA output for presentations on powerpoint, full MS office.

Ignore those that knock the device without giving it a chance and all those with a Microsoft grudge.

Upgraded the RT to 8.1 pre my holiday no issues

I updated the Surface RT to 8.1 with zero issues on the morning of the release.

Used it constantly while away last 3 days and on an 18 hour boat trip that had dial up speed satellite broadband (gave up on that), I was watching away from my wide choice of movies on the 64GB SD card, had a friend of mine kindly fill it with the latest releases.

The offline skydrive folders worked perfectly I synced all the content to the device and it cached it fine.

The mail apps seems much improved, so much so, that I did not fiddle with the new outlook yet.

Overall 8.1 seems a fine upgrade on the RT.

Legacy of Carly Fiorina and Mark Hurd

Hollow out all the engineering and development to cut costs; in the short term this will drive the share price and appease investors, long term it destroys the company; HP is a text book example. Hope they write a chapter for all those business degree courses. 2 of the worst tech CEO's in history: Carly Fiorina and Mark Hurd

I just hope Microsoft's new CEO does not embark on the same strategy.

No challenger to Google Nexus and Nokia Lumia 520 / 620 low end.

No challenge to the low end smartphone market which is growing rapidly in all markets, the Google Nexus 4 and Nokia Lumia's 520 / 620 have a clear run into the Christmas market, and will do well when people realize they perform most smartphone tasks for 1/3 of the price.

Ballmer not a bad CEO give some credit

All the negativity against Ballmer; he was a good CEO his greatest strength was he was not the usual cut costs, slash R&D merchant; look at the state of HP right now because of Hurd and Carly Fiorina.

He kept the culture of keeping with products even though they were initially not successful however he gave them time to develop and improve, cases include the XBox and Bing.

I do hope the same ethos is kept and products such as Windows Phone, RT and even Windows 8 are improved and maintained.

The company is in a very healthy state in almost every other area: Server Tools, Development, Office

The very last thing Microsoft needs is a slash and burn drive the share price to the detriment of R&D type CEO. Of course that is what a lot of the Android fanbios here would love to see...

Lack of Apps on RT not a serious issue - Flash works in browser

In the Surface RT the lack of apps not such an issue because flash sites work perfectly in the browser unlike the iPad. Remember is comes pre loaded with Office 2013 up to power point with Outlook on the way in windows 8.1.

That covers a lot of the app requirement issues.

Samung Ace earlier device was awful

Hope that Samsung Ace 3 is better than the awful earlier ones. Also a neighbor got a low end Xperia and its a terrible phone he hates it; do not know which one I think its the Xperia E, so slow and so much lag between menus.

In that phone store of yours is the Windows phone sales poor because of no appetite or incentives among the operators and staff to sell the windows phone devices? Some operators such as Three will attempt to sell you anything except a Windows Phone.

I have moved a good few friends of mine from button phones to Lumia 620 or HTC 8S and they were very happy. Then again that is my small sample base....

Use the RT then comment.

How many of the critics here have actually used a Surface RT for a reasonable period of time and put aside the anti-Microsoft chip on their shoulder?

I have and find it an excellent tablet V's the iPad. And with full Outlook coming with the Windows 8.1 release it will be a real good business traveler device considering Office is free plus no file compatibility issues.

It has a full size USB 2.0 port , easy output to VGA / HD Video (for your protector and tele), capacity expandable to 64GB, will work with most printers simply.

As a productive tablet it takes some beating.

Lenovo should buy HTC

Lenovo should buy HTC, they would be cheap enough to acquire an ideal fit.