- On this episode of ask Dan, we're gonna talk about
whether or not you should buy the Surface Pro now or
wait till it goes on sale.
And what about Surface Phone?
Is that a thing or should you go buy an Android phone?
Stay tuned.
(upbeat music)
So for the first question, should you buy a Surface Pro
now or wait until Black Friday and the holiday season?
In other words, will there be significant discounts?
Alright, so for this answer we're gonna go by the past.
Microsoft does not offer substantial discounts
on it's Surface series, unless of course it's about
to get rid of it and replace it with a new version.
So, for the Surface Pro 2017 which only launched
at the end of June, I do not expect to see
any significant discounts.
That favors the option of buying it now instead of waiting.
However, I believe there will be Black Friday deals.
What's gonna happen though is you won't get a discount
on the Surface Pro itself, it will offer packages though.
So you may be able to get the type cover
for about $10.00 off.
Or may be they'll thrown in a pen with a discount or
maybe some other accessories like a case or something.
Now, some of that won't be important to some of you.
For instance, a case you might not be interested in,
but you will be getting more for your buck, so there
will be deals going on for Black Friday.
We'll of course cover those on Windows Central and
if you can hold out for just a coupe week,
I suggest you do.
Now that Windows Mobile is officially dead, is it worth
for developers to try to get
into the Universal Windows Platform ecosystem?
So I like this question a lot because I'm asked
it all the time.
Does UWP make sense without a phone strategy?
Now, I've written an editorial in the past saying no,
it really doesn't or rather it would greatly enhance
Microsoft's position if phone existed.
Don't forget they were supposed to be at a billion
Windows 10 devices at this time and instead, we're at
over just five hundred million, why is that?
It's phone.
So, to answer the question though, UWP still
does make sense.
Don't forget X-Box.
Now, with the fall update a lot of that is UWP.
Look at the new Spotify app.
That is UW as well.
So, for that system you do need it.
Don't forget, Windows 10 as well.
Windows 10 on arm which will be able to run Win 32
can also do UWP.
The Universal Windows Platform is Microsoft's future
to build across systems.
Make no mistake about that Windows mixed Reality
is based on this concept and idea and we can argue
whether Windows Mixed Reality will be niche
or go mainstream, but it does rely on UWP.
You also have Windows IOT.
Everything around Microsoft and what they're doing
is based on UWP.
So it does make sense.
However, there is a big gap without phone.
There is no mistaking around that issue.
And Microsoft will have to work hard to make up for it.
But, I still think it makes sense for those to get
on board with UWP.
It's gonna continually improve.
I expect next year a build.
We'll see even more API's come online.
We'll see more around bridges.
It's just gonna keep on going folks.
So UWP is here to stay.
There is 0 chance I think they are going to cancel it
at any time .
Is there hope that a Surface Phone will be available
in the near future?
Or should this be our wake up call?
Alright folks, so lets tackle this one as I know many
of you are interested in this.
Now, as far as we know there is no actual Surface Phone
in the works.
There have been many experiments in the past.
Some of them were covered by our own Zac Bowden
on Windows Central.
You may have seen some of the prototypes that we have
revealed that have come along that Microsoft was
experimenting with different types of phones when
Windows 10 mobile was still a thing.
As far as we know there are no phones though.
Instead what Microsoft is going to do is try to create
another category.
And this is a hard concept for many to understand,
but I'll try to ut it to some context.
Whatever device they come out with, will not replace or
look to replace your I-phone or Android device.
Why?
Well, if Microsoft released a brand new Surface Phone
right now would any of you buy it?
Of course not.
Why?
There's no apps.
It's the same issue it was last year and the year
before that and the year before that.
So, they know they can't win that strategy which
is why they canceled Windows 10 mobile and why
they sold off their entire Lumia assets so they
wouldn't have to actually make a phone.
So what will they make?
Well, if you look back to the courier concept
a few years ago, that was an active project that
they were possibly pursuing, but it got canceled.
Well, look at what they're doing with the Surface
line right now.
Look at what they're doing Windows 10 arm right now.
Look at what they're doing to pen and inking.
I think you're going to see a portable device that fits
in to our pocket that will expand with a larger screen,
work with a pen, run Windows apps, UWP, possibly Windows 32.
We don't know yet.
And it's gonna be a device you carry around in
addition to your phone.
Now, a lot of people are going to say, well why would
you do that?
But, that's because a lot of people will need extra
horse power to do other things whether it's inking,
it's taking notes, whether it's pulling up apps
and websites.
You're gonna want something bigger, but let's be
clear about this.
This is not a play that's gonna be for all consumers
like an Android device that costs three hundred dollars.
This is gonna be a niche product for people
who are productive who needs something on the go
that's a little bit more powerful in addition
to their smartphone, but maybe they don't wanna carry
around a full lap top or a tablet.
That does make some sense, but don't forget this
is a small risk for them too.
They're not gonna compete against Apple or Android
for a phone space.
What they're going to do is create
a new category device.
Now whether or not it's actually intriguing enough
for you to go buy it, that remains to be seen and
that's all on Microsoft to prove if they can do it.
But, let's look at the hardware they have been creating
especially with Surface Book 2, Surface lap top,
HoloLense, Surface Studio, and on and on.
They've been doing some really impressive stuff and
they don't really release it until they think
it's something unique on the market.
And I think that's what we're gonna see here.
However, there's no time line on this.
We're hearing 2018 along with Andromeda and Seashell.
But, none of that is written in stone yet so we're
gonna have to wait and see.
But the short answer, there is no phone coming.
So go buy an Android phone, go buy an I-phone.
You'll probably have a lot of fun with it
for the next few years.
So that does it for this weeks episode of As Dan.
Remember, if you have a question use
#AskDanWindows on twitter or jump into our forums
at windowscentral.com where you can actually write
a really nice question along with some context.
If you like this video give us a thumbs up
and don't forget to subscribe.
Thanks for watching.
Take care everybody.
Don't get that on video.
That would be a horrible B role, jesus.
I know what you're doing by the way.
You probably have like a codra of just like (beep) things
Dan has said on video and it's in your black mail drawer.
Its like someday you're gonna be like.