The focal point of Microsoft's marketing campaign for its new iPad-rival, the Surface, is a cover that doubles as a keyboard.
This surprises MG Siegler, because keyboards are a fading technology:
I do find it a little odd just how much Microsoft is playing up the Touch Cover. Look, it does seem cool (though as far as I know, no one outside the company has actually used one yet). But both here and in the initial commercial they’re making it seem like you’re going to need one.
That’s not a tablet. That’s a PC — a PC with a thin keyboard and a thick screen.
Yes, I love the Logitech thin keyboard for the iPad. But that’s only because I’m a writer with 30 years of physical keyboard baggage. I’m a (slowly) dying breed. And I still love using the iPad much more when it’s not “docked” to the keyboard — which is most of the time.
I’m not saying it’s a mistake to market the device this way — it may actually be smart — I just wasn’t expecting it to be so blatant.
