Microsoft themselves quoted this as being 'around about ultra book' pricing levels. That's one damn expensive tablet.
That's for the PRO model, and that's about right.
But Wu and White are talking bout the Consumer model. I think that White is thinking logically. Something in the range of the wifi model iPad give or take no more than $50 dollars is probably what will be needed price wise to get folks to give the tablet a look see. Unfortunately I suspect with the lower app collection that look might not last long. But perhaps it will be enough to give Microsoft time to grow that needed marketplace a bit more.
As for Wu, I think he's off saying it can't be more than the Fire. After all, this is a larger model so folks will expect the price to be a bit higher. And frankly I think that Apple is correct that pricing too low implies something is cheap (as opposed to inexpensive). I fear this is one of the things that has doomed the Fire. Not only the implication but the fact that they made it to sell at that price point so yes in some ways it is cheap(ly made) and it turned off a lot of folks, especially after that password, no parental controls etc was added into the mix
But seriously... Isn't this thing, particularly with keyboard attached, just an expensive notebook? With stand, it looks like any thin laptop.
All depends on the price. At worst case it's the same price as a MBA. At best it's around iPad2 pricing. There's no way they'll see even 1/3 of Apple's sales - they're way too late to the party for that. IF it runs well, and IF you can throw Office on it, I can see it doing pretty well in the enterprise space and easily becoming the #2 tablet out there.
(Strangely, no one has suggested how to load up all those "real" applications onto a tablet with no optical drive, Yes, of course there is wireless, but shouldn't a real tablet have an optical drive choice?)
There is a USB3 port and there is an SD card slot. Somehow, I don't think that physical media is a requirement in this day and age.
Crashed harder than the Google Maps demo. They had to change units. Didn't look so polished.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rattlhed
I just don't get the 16:9 form factor. It's so unattractive to me. How do you use this thing for common web surfing?
I've done it and it's not horrid. If you are used to using your tablet in landscape and fortunately many are. I see a lot of iPads on set between the cast using them for reading their sides, chilling, the crew having their stuff on them. And few times is anyone using portrait even for reading ibooks and such. That the smart cover/case props in landscape only might be part of why.
As for web surfing, pages might have a little extra 'white space' on the sides but otherwise there's no real negative to staying in landscape. In fact many times the text etc is bigger as the page flexes to fill the bigger screen so that's another reason to use landscape. Making that issue one that I think will end up being moot for most folks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by maccherry
The iPad is virus free, fast and does what the average computer user needs.
The same could prove true for the ARM based 'consumer' Surface model that is running Metro and only apps out of said store.
The Pro version however is the one that could still have issues and we'll see how that goes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton
Yeah, nothing like ending the presentation with a slide with prices, followed by another that reads "SHIPPING TODAY". Guess Microsoft ain't got that down yet.
This was more about getting there first. Same as the Google Maps thing. Microsoft wants to come off as first for the Metro/Win 8 hardware to trump their OEMs, forgetting that first and best are not the same thing. And forgetting that they just gave their OEMs the details to best what is about to come from Microsoft. Apple does the same to a degree but since they are putting theirs to market faster than the other boys can run that photocopier of 'inspiration' (well when there aren't rumors spilling everything two months before Apple does) the general public has seen the goods as well as the blogs and the cues become more evident. Not to mention that there's little time for the excitement to cool off for Apple stuff. You see the deets, you run to order it NOW. Not you see, you have six months to talk yourself out of it and meanwhile you find something else that looks just as good.
Yeah, nothing like ending the presentation with a slide with prices, followed by another that reads "SHIPPING TODAY". Guess Microsoft ain't got that down yet. They're trying to convince everyone that they have hardware chops by talking about the Microsoft Mouse? Really? Apple's been building computers since 1976, when Steve Jobs was making them BY HAND in his parents' garage. Microsoft wants you to think they've sweated the design and manufacturing details too, but they built a Ford, not a Ferrari.
+1
This is still the Microsoft of the 90's and 00's. Anybody get that 'soon to be released' version of Longhorn? Given themselves 6 months (-/+) to get their 'holiday' version out, and 9 months for a 'corporate' version is all about them getting 'ahead' of the apple release cycle (iPhone in the fall, iPad in the spring) in words.
I think the key thing is that MS will have all the F1xxx corporations at least buy a fleet of a couple hundred to test out, and there semi-pro FanBoi's of the Windows ilk just as Boiish as Apple's ... although the lines are much shorter;-). I see it selling a million once it releases, and Microsoft hoping beyond hope to find 'switchers' to base on this.
Then they find a message to support their keyword 'productive.' iPads are for consumers.... Surface tablets are for 'producers' (a much more macho verb)... Who want's to be a 'sheep' when you can be the Farmer?
I think everyone can say that iPads are very 'producer' friendly... it's just that 90% of the world's consumers are... information... 'consumers' (I let writers write books... I don't need a keyboard to read them).
Apple's also been building OSes, since 76... Even Microsoft didn't build it's Pc-dOS in 81... Gates/Ballmer/Allen bought it, and built it to support IBM's PC. In short, MS's DNA is supporting a larger 'manufacturer' of HW, and when it switched over to being the 'master' of the relationship (supplying any OEM's with the OS), they really didn't care about usability/quality, or even more so, architectural elegance. Xbox not withstanding.
Apple has been designing HW and SW in parallel for 37 years, with the 'hiatus' while Jobs was out effectively skunkworking the 'NeXT' Mac platform (pun intended). Microsoft's concern about quality is laughable, when looking at their definition of user experiential quality (classic: to 'stop' the computer... you go to the 'start' menu).
There is no 'bet the business' here in the 'Surface.' In fact, I see no such 'laser focus' as I see in quality. The fact that they built it on 2 OSes running on 2 chip architectures with 2 UIs (keyboard and stylus) basically have them hedging the their bets on this, let alone their classic Intel Iron Line. I can't see how they can focus on HW build quality when they have so many variables in the mix.
To complete the analogy above.... not only are they building Fords, but they are building Lincoln's too, using a different engine and different wiring harness to the dashboard, and supporting different steering devices on each.
There's no way they'll see even 1/3 of Apple's sales
I wouldn't say 'no way'. They could, especially if you group both models together. There are some folks that do want the tablet form with 'real computer' parts and this Pro model might attract them. And thus they might get that 1/3. Higher than that, I'm doubting until the app market is better, especially for the Consumer models.
I wouldn't say 'no way'. They could, especially if you group both models together. There are some folks that do want the tablet form with 'real computer' parts and this Pro model might attract them. And thus they might get that 1/3. Higher than that, I'm doubting until the app market is better, especially for the Consumer models.
But seriously... Isn't this thing, particularly with keyboard attached, just an expensive notebook? With stand, it looks like any thin laptop.
It's a whole lotta nothing, really. It's like anything Acer and whoever else has already tried, with a couple of gimmicks thrown in. And *then*, even if we forgive the "nothing new" hardware, we have to look at the OS. Windows 8. Metro. Etc. Now what?
It's interesting, isn't it? My stepdad always says, "Whether you're excited, angry, sad, or hopelessly in love with someone or an idea, wait a day." All that hubbub last night. But for what? Wait a day, and *then*, in the clear light of the next morning, look at this Acer-Iconia-with-a-different-logo. It doesn't really seem all that special now. In fact, a day later, it looks like a disaster in the making.
MS figures that if OEMs, with the Acer Iconia, and the Transformer Prime, can't differentiate themselves enough because they lack the mindshare that comes from brand-power, that MS can offer a similar design with *their own* logo stuck on it, and it'll sell.
The problem is, that Microsoft's brand power is in the gutter these days. It's all supported by compulsion and duress in the enterprise, and by a box to play Halo on in the consumer sector.
Nobody really wants a "Windows Phone." Not after June 2007. Certainly not after January 2010. So how is a "Microsoft"-branded tablet really different from an Acer or Toshiba? It aint. Unless MS is banking on being *the only one* to make a Windows 8 tablet. Which in itself is hilarious.
*Can* they get it cheaper than Apple though? Don't take if for granted they can be more efficient than the Tim. Not to mention iOS is possibly less resource hungry than Windows 8, further lowering costs.
The problem they will have is that a lot of people have already tried the iPad.
Microsoft wants to come off as first for the Metro/Win 8 hardware to trump their OEMs, forgetting that first and best are not the same thing. And forgetting that they just gave their OEMs the details to best what is about to come from Microsoft. Apple does the same to a degree but since they are putting theirs to market faster than the other boys can run that photocopier of 'inspiration' (well when there aren't rumors spilling everything two months before Apple does) the general public has seen the goods as well as the blogs and the cues become more evident. Not to mention that there's little time for the excitement to cool off for Apple stuff. You see the deets, you run to order it NOW. Not you see, you have six months to talk yourself out of it and meanwhile you find something else that looks just as good.
The other advantage Apple has in their tight delivery cycle is that they have already locked into their supply chain 105% of their production run of 'quality' components at a market bottom price. MS in announcing/showing a proto box 6 months before, basically allows all their tablet/book competitors to go out and compete for those components... futher increasing the topline cost of this device in materials for MS, and likely lowering the quality...
I don't see how a MS strategy of 2001 when it was on top of the corporate/OEM PC software world works in a post PC consumer hardware world of 2013.
Heck, Apple has all the control points here, like they did with Zune... they release a 7.5" tablet at $249 (iPod Touch +), and lower the price of the 'next' iPad to say $449 (10%)... and they can squeeze any MS product to price/performance death. Ballmer/MS won't tolerate another Zune, and can't erosion of their control of the 'personal desktop' which Win8 RT is being built to address.
I think MS has managed to put something pretty attractive together and the covers w/the keyboard and trackpad are interesting. I won't touch Windows 8 w/a 10 foot pole, so I won't own one of these, but they did design something much more attractive than they usually do. The Windows 8 App Store needs to hit the ground running with thousands of apps ready to support both the Metro and normal side of things if they want to have any chance. Debuting with 5 apps will not do it.
Some interesting comments here. I saw the live blog last night, and I watched the video of the presentation today.
There are several points I think need mentioning.
One it that it seems to be a nice product, mechanically. Better than I expected.
Two, isn't so kind. There were a lot of gaps in the presentation that should have been filled. They made the point that the name "Surface" meant that the software was up front and center, as it is on an iPad (though, of course, they didn't mention the iPad). But, other than briefly showing Netflix, and saying that it would be available at launch, and showing Word for less than 30 seconds, as part of their showing that the rear camera was mounted at a 22 degree angle so as to enable proper pointing when the kickstand was down, there was NO mention of software at all, other than to, again, very briefly, in an almost offhand way, mention that their entertainment services would be available.
No software folks! Now, I don't believe that there won't be software for RT when it first comes out. That would be a total disaster. But we're no more than four months away from delivery, assuming that nothing is delayed. They must know which major developers are working on software, what it is, and how far along they are. Normally, even if the software is well away from release, they come to a presentation like this with canned features they can show off.
It's hard to understand why Microsoft didn't have at least a few developers show off product. It gives me a bad feeling.
Then, no talk about battery life for either product. That's a goal from the very beginning of a products design cycle. To not give it now isn't good. Either they actually don't yet know, which would be bad so late, or it's bad, which would be worse.
No 3G/LTE or GPS!!! Really? These days? Hard to believe. Almost no technical specs on their website, where we were told by Sinofsky that there would be a lot more info available.
The RT model is about 1.5 pounds, and the x86 model is close to 2 pounds, that and the fact that it's 16:9 with HD Rez is most of what we know about specs, other than there's an i5 mobile chip inside the x86 model. Yes, there's either an HDMI or Displayport (no over the air video or screen mode?), and a USB 3 port. That and the thickness is about it.
At first, it will just be sold from their web site and their 20 stores. Not much distribution.
Surprisingly enough, the release dates of these devices are the opposite to what was expected. It was thought that the x86 model would be out when Win 8 came out, and the RT model would be out some months later, but that's not the case. I imagine they want RT out for the holiday season, as that's the consumer model.
Comments
Quote:
Originally Posted by GTR
Microsoft themselves quoted this as being 'around about ultra book' pricing levels. That's one damn expensive tablet.
That's for the PRO model, and that's about right.
But Wu and White are talking bout the Consumer model. I think that White is thinking logically. Something in the range of the wifi model iPad give or take no more than $50 dollars is probably what will be needed price wise to get folks to give the tablet a look see. Unfortunately I suspect with the lower app collection that look might not last long. But perhaps it will be enough to give Microsoft time to grow that needed marketplace a bit more.
As for Wu, I think he's off saying it can't be more than the Fire. After all, this is a larger model so folks will expect the price to be a bit higher. And frankly I think that Apple is correct that pricing too low implies something is cheap (as opposed to inexpensive). I fear this is one of the things that has doomed the Fire. Not only the implication but the fact that they made it to sell at that price point so yes in some ways it is cheap(ly made) and it turned off a lot of folks, especially after that password, no parental controls etc was added into the mix
But seriously... Isn't this thing, particularly with keyboard attached, just an expensive notebook? With stand, it looks like any thin laptop.
Quote:
Originally Posted by scades
But seriously... Isn't this thing, particularly with keyboard attached, just an expensive notebook? With stand, it looks like any thin laptop.
All depends on the price. At worst case it's the same price as a MBA. At best it's around iPad2 pricing. There's no way they'll see even 1/3 of Apple's sales - they're way too late to the party for that. IF it runs well, and IF you can throw Office on it, I can see it doing pretty well in the enterprise space and easily becoming the #2 tablet out there.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elian Gonzalez
(Strangely, no one has suggested how to load up all those "real" applications onto a tablet with no optical drive, Yes, of course there is wireless, but shouldn't a real tablet have an optical drive choice?)
There is a USB3 port and there is an SD card slot. Somehow, I don't think that physical media is a requirement in this day and age.
Quote:
Originally Posted by xflare
LOL...It did what???
Crashed harder than the Google Maps demo. They had to change units. Didn't look so polished.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rattlhed
I just don't get the 16:9 form factor. It's so unattractive to me. How do you use this thing for common web surfing?
I've done it and it's not horrid. If you are used to using your tablet in landscape and fortunately many are. I see a lot of iPads on set between the cast using them for reading their sides, chilling, the crew having their stuff on them. And few times is anyone using portrait even for reading ibooks and such. That the smart cover/case props in landscape only might be part of why.
As for web surfing, pages might have a little extra 'white space' on the sides but otherwise there's no real negative to staying in landscape. In fact many times the text etc is bigger as the page flexes to fill the bigger screen so that's another reason to use landscape. Making that issue one that I think will end up being moot for most folks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by maccherry
The iPad is virus free, fast and does what the average computer user needs.
The same could prove true for the ARM based 'consumer' Surface model that is running Metro and only apps out of said store.
The Pro version however is the one that could still have issues and we'll see how that goes.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton
Yeah, nothing like ending the presentation with a slide with prices, followed by another that reads "SHIPPING TODAY". Guess Microsoft ain't got that down yet.
This was more about getting there first. Same as the Google Maps thing. Microsoft wants to come off as first for the Metro/Win 8 hardware to trump their OEMs, forgetting that first and best are not the same thing. And forgetting that they just gave their OEMs the details to best what is about to come from Microsoft. Apple does the same to a degree but since they are putting theirs to market faster than the other boys can run that photocopier of 'inspiration' (well when there aren't rumors spilling everything two months before Apple does) the general public has seen the goods as well as the blogs and the cues become more evident. Not to mention that there's little time for the excitement to cool off for Apple stuff. You see the deets, you run to order it NOW. Not you see, you have six months to talk yourself out of it and meanwhile you find something else that looks just as good.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton
Yeah, nothing like ending the presentation with a slide with prices, followed by another that reads "SHIPPING TODAY". Guess Microsoft ain't got that down yet. They're trying to convince everyone that they have hardware chops by talking about the Microsoft Mouse? Really? Apple's been building computers since 1976, when Steve Jobs was making them BY HAND in his parents' garage. Microsoft wants you to think they've sweated the design and manufacturing details too, but they built a Ford, not a Ferrari.
+1
This is still the Microsoft of the 90's and 00's. Anybody get that 'soon to be released' version of Longhorn? Given themselves 6 months (-/+) to get their 'holiday' version out, and 9 months for a 'corporate' version is all about them getting 'ahead' of the apple release cycle (iPhone in the fall, iPad in the spring) in words.
I think the key thing is that MS will have all the F1xxx corporations at least buy a fleet of a couple hundred to test out, and there semi-pro FanBoi's of the Windows ilk just as Boiish as Apple's ... although the lines are much shorter;-). I see it selling a million once it releases, and Microsoft hoping beyond hope to find 'switchers' to base on this.
Then they find a message to support their keyword 'productive.' iPads are for consumers.... Surface tablets are for 'producers' (a much more macho verb)... Who want's to be a 'sheep' when you can be the Farmer?
I think everyone can say that iPads are very 'producer' friendly... it's just that 90% of the world's consumers are... information... 'consumers' (I let writers write books... I don't need a keyboard to read them).
Apple's also been building OSes, since 76... Even Microsoft didn't build it's Pc-dOS in 81... Gates/Ballmer/Allen bought it, and built it to support IBM's PC. In short, MS's DNA is supporting a larger 'manufacturer' of HW, and when it switched over to being the 'master' of the relationship (supplying any OEM's with the OS), they really didn't care about usability/quality, or even more so, architectural elegance. Xbox not withstanding.
Apple has been designing HW and SW in parallel for 37 years, with the 'hiatus' while Jobs was out effectively skunkworking the 'NeXT' Mac platform (pun intended). Microsoft's concern about quality is laughable, when looking at their definition of user experiential quality (classic: to 'stop' the computer... you go to the 'start' menu).
There is no 'bet the business' here in the 'Surface.' In fact, I see no such 'laser focus' as I see in quality. The fact that they built it on 2 OSes running on 2 chip architectures with 2 UIs (keyboard and stylus) basically have them hedging the their bets on this, let alone their classic Intel Iron Line. I can't see how they can focus on HW build quality when they have so many variables in the mix.
To complete the analogy above.... not only are they building Fords, but they are building Lincoln's too, using a different engine and different wiring harness to the dashboard, and supporting different steering devices on each.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Freshmaker
There's no way they'll see even 1/3 of Apple's sales
I wouldn't say 'no way'. They could, especially if you group both models together. There are some folks that do want the tablet form with 'real computer' parts and this Pro model might attract them. And thus they might get that 1/3. Higher than that, I'm doubting until the app market is better, especially for the Consumer models.
Quote:
Originally Posted by scades
An Edsel?
Pinto
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suddenly Newton
Microsoft wants you to think they've sweated the design and manufacturing details too, but they built a Ford, not a Ferrari.
2011 Profits:
Ford: $20,200,000,000.00
Ferrari: $210,000,000.00
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlituna
I wouldn't say 'no way'. They could, especially if you group both models together. There are some folks that do want the tablet form with 'real computer' parts and this Pro model might attract them. And thus they might get that 1/3. Higher than that, I'm doubting until the app market is better, especially for the Consumer models.
... or until it actually works.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JerrySwitched26
2011 Profits:
Ford: $20,200,000,000.00
Ferrari: $210,000,000.00
Yes, you're right. Those figures told me a lot about design details.
Quote:
Originally Posted by scades
But seriously... Isn't this thing, particularly with keyboard attached, just an expensive notebook? With stand, it looks like any thin laptop.
It's a whole lotta nothing, really. It's like anything Acer and whoever else has already tried, with a couple of gimmicks thrown in. And *then*, even if we forgive the "nothing new" hardware, we have to look at the OS. Windows 8. Metro. Etc. Now what?
It's interesting, isn't it? My stepdad always says, "Whether you're excited, angry, sad, or hopelessly in love with someone or an idea, wait a day." All that hubbub last night. But for what? Wait a day, and *then*, in the clear light of the next morning, look at this Acer-Iconia-with-a-different-logo. It doesn't really seem all that special now. In fact, a day later, it looks like a disaster in the making.
MS figures that if OEMs, with the Acer Iconia, and the Transformer Prime, can't differentiate themselves enough because they lack the mindshare that comes from brand-power, that MS can offer a similar design with *their own* logo stuck on it, and it'll sell.
The problem is, that Microsoft's brand power is in the gutter these days. It's all supported by compulsion and duress in the enterprise, and by a box to play Halo on in the consumer sector.
Nobody really wants a "Windows Phone." Not after June 2007. Certainly not after January 2010. So how is a "Microsoft"-branded tablet really different from an Acer or Toshiba? It aint. Unless MS is banking on being *the only one* to make a Windows 8 tablet. Which in itself is hilarious.
*Can* they get it cheaper than Apple though? Don't take if for granted they can be more efficient than the Tim. Not to mention iOS is possibly less resource hungry than Windows 8, further lowering costs.
The problem they will have is that a lot of people have already tried the iPad.
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlituna
Microsoft wants to come off as first for the Metro/Win 8 hardware to trump their OEMs, forgetting that first and best are not the same thing. And forgetting that they just gave their OEMs the details to best what is about to come from Microsoft. Apple does the same to a degree but since they are putting theirs to market faster than the other boys can run that photocopier of 'inspiration' (well when there aren't rumors spilling everything two months before Apple does) the general public has seen the goods as well as the blogs and the cues become more evident. Not to mention that there's little time for the excitement to cool off for Apple stuff. You see the deets, you run to order it NOW. Not you see, you have six months to talk yourself out of it and meanwhile you find something else that looks just as good.
The other advantage Apple has in their tight delivery cycle is that they have already locked into their supply chain 105% of their production run of 'quality' components at a market bottom price. MS in announcing/showing a proto box 6 months before, basically allows all their tablet/book competitors to go out and compete for those components... futher increasing the topline cost of this device in materials for MS, and likely lowering the quality...
I don't see how a MS strategy of 2001 when it was on top of the corporate/OEM PC software world works in a post PC consumer hardware world of 2013.
Heck, Apple has all the control points here, like they did with Zune... they release a 7.5" tablet at $249 (iPod Touch +), and lower the price of the 'next' iPad to say $449 (10%)... and they can squeeze any MS product to price/performance death. Ballmer/MS won't tolerate another Zune, and can't erosion of their control of the 'personal desktop' which Win8 RT is being built to address.
I think MS has managed to put something pretty attractive together and the covers w/the keyboard and trackpad are interesting. I won't touch Windows 8 w/a 10 foot pole, so I won't own one of these, but they did design something much more attractive than they usually do. The Windows 8 App Store needs to hit the ground running with thousands of apps ready to support both the Metro and normal side of things if they want to have any chance. Debuting with 5 apps will not do it.
If there are ctrl+alt+delete buttons, you can count me in for one of these <g>
Microsoft will take a big lost on each tablet to gain market share and traction.
If Apple comes out with a smaller and less expensive tablet then surface could get sacked.
If surface battery life is bad or the apps don't come out or the UI sucks then forget it. DOA.
Time will tell.
There are several points I think need mentioning.
One it that it seems to be a nice product, mechanically. Better than I expected.
Two, isn't so kind. There were a lot of gaps in the presentation that should have been filled. They made the point that the name "Surface" meant that the software was up front and center, as it is on an iPad (though, of course, they didn't mention the iPad). But, other than briefly showing Netflix, and saying that it would be available at launch, and showing Word for less than 30 seconds, as part of their showing that the rear camera was mounted at a 22 degree angle so as to enable proper pointing when the kickstand was down, there was NO mention of software at all, other than to, again, very briefly, in an almost offhand way, mention that their entertainment services would be available.
No software folks! Now, I don't believe that there won't be software for RT when it first comes out. That would be a total disaster. But we're no more than four months away from delivery, assuming that nothing is delayed. They must know which major developers are working on software, what it is, and how far along they are. Normally, even if the software is well away from release, they come to a presentation like this with canned features they can show off.
It's hard to understand why Microsoft didn't have at least a few developers show off product. It gives me a bad feeling.
Then, no talk about battery life for either product. That's a goal from the very beginning of a products design cycle. To not give it now isn't good. Either they actually don't yet know, which would be bad so late, or it's bad, which would be worse.
No 3G/LTE or GPS!!! Really? These days? Hard to believe. Almost no technical specs on their website, where we were told by Sinofsky that there would be a lot more info available.
The RT model is about 1.5 pounds, and the x86 model is close to 2 pounds, that and the fact that it's 16:9 with HD Rez is most of what we know about specs, other than there's an i5 mobile chip inside the x86 model. Yes, there's either an HDMI or Displayport (no over the air video or screen mode?), and a USB 3 port. That and the thickness is about it.
At first, it will just be sold from their web site and their 20 stores. Not much distribution.
Surprisingly enough, the release dates of these devices are the opposite to what was expected. It was thought that the x86 model would be out when Win 8 came out, and the RT model would be out some months later, but that's not the case. I imagine they want RT out for the holiday season, as that's the consumer model.
Interesting, but too much was left unsaid.
This is typical of what I'm reading about this.
http://www.thestreet.com/story/11585344/1/surface-how-microsoft-can-fix-it.html?puc=CNNMONEY&cm_ven=CNNMONEY
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleSauce007
Microsoft will take a big lost on each tablet to gain market share and traction.
If Apple comes out with a smaller and less expensive tablet then surface could get sacked.
If surface battery life is bad or the apps don't come out or the UI sucks then forget it. DOA.
Time will tell.
MSFT was taking billions in losses with XBox for several years.
Perhaps this is the new strategy, but I can see Apple dropping prices to force them into a no-win position.
Apple is not Sony or Nintendo.