December 6, 2012

Microsoft Surface: Ffffft

Filed under: News — admin @ 7:02 am

That clunk sound you hear is the drop of the public’s interest in Microsoft’s once-hot tablet, the Microsoft Surface. Apparently consumers aren’t fired up about the unit, which has sold less than one million units in the fourth quarter. That officially makes the once-killer gizmo a flop.

It’s odd, too: I figured the surface would showcase Windows 8. After all, Windows 8 is geared by Microsoft into converting all desktop Windows users into tablet users, specifically the Surface and other Windows 8 tablets. I suppose that’s just not going to happen.

Link

3 Comments

  1. Microsoft failed to make a dent in the market with Windows for Pen Computing and they failed with Windows XP Tablet PC Edition. What made them think they would succeed with Windows 8?

    Comment by linuxlove — December 6, 2012 @ 8:07 am

  2. Probably the same logic.

    I’m surprised you remember what I called “Pen Windows.” That was back in the 1980s. I remember attending the Comdex where they announced that. It was a complete dud.

    Comment by admin — December 6, 2012 @ 9:26 am

  3. I’m not surprised it failed, but I wish the concept succeeds. I don’t want a tablet to be a giant phone. I think tablets (with a stylus/thin keyboard) can be so much more. I still remember my Palm – it was a wonderful device.

    The problem is the price point. What were they thinking when they priced it so high? And this isn’t the version that runs regular Windows programs (which will be even more expensive). Microsoft is in a position where they can right Apple’s mistakes. I don’t want to buy apps for every platform – if my Windows computer, phone, and tablet can all run similarly, I’m all for it. Obviously, I don’t expect my phone to run Photoshop. But is it too much to ask that my tablet does?

    I still think MS will succeed in this front – they have enough money to throw at the problem till they get it right. And I believe that people will buy in to the ecosystem since they might already use Windows at work. If I was a Mac user, I would use an iPhone and iPad just so I don’t buy different apps for each device. Windows already has an advantage on the desktop. They need to get the phone+tablet package off the ground – and that won’t happen by pricing it this high.

    Comment by sriksrid — December 6, 2012 @ 2:16 pm

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