Microsoft Surface Pro: Too Much Tablet? - InformationWeek

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Comments
Microsoft Surface Pro: Too Much Tablet?
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AsokAsus
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AsokAsus,
 User Rank: Apprentice
2/12/2013 | 3:53:36 PM
re: Microsoft Surface Pro: Too Much Tablet?
There's really some serious disconnects going on here. Why would Microsoft order only a million Surface Pros if they truly believed Forrester's ridiculous claim that every other worker on the planet was salivating for a Surface Pro at work, the very same Surface Pro that comes with Windows 8, the most hated operating system on the planet right now, especially if you work for the enterprise.

Also, if Microsoft ordered a million units, where are they? It appears that they had only about 30,000 or so for sale on opening day and they're all gone.
MFeibus
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50%
MFeibus,
 User Rank: Strategist
2/12/2013 | 7:11:17 PM
re: Microsoft Surface Pro: Too Much Tablet?
Good points on the quantity ordered. I suspect that MS engineered the selling-out-in-hours news. Recall that they did the same thing with the original Surface. Shortly after it went on sale, MS reported a three-week wait for new orders. By the time the three weeks were over, though, it was clear that most everyone who wanted the Surface already had one ...
Stephane Parent
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Stephane Parent,
 User Rank: Moderator
2/19/2013 | 1:49:26 PM
re: Microsoft Surface Pro: Too Much Tablet?
Why would Microsoft order only a million Surface Pros? Because they don't want to have a huge inventory to manage. (Think of the costs to hold these devices in storage.)
macPCguy
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50%
macPCguy,
 User Rank: Apprentice
2/13/2013 | 6:47:51 AM
re: Microsoft Surface Pro: Too Much Tablet?
If I want a kids I'm not going to get a monkey. But I want a monkey. SP is crimped on space, yes. But I don't store data on my devices anymore. Also I can run office natively so that's nice. And I've got a convenient device as a reader. I don't need to sacrafice video or CPU for battery because I don't need that uber battery. As some point it appears I can buy a battery "cover" if that's the case. And yes, I'm in IT. So I can run office apps, management apps as well as web apps. Finally, I can play games. Guilty as charged. I like monkeys because they play games.
MFeibus
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50%
MFeibus,
 User Rank: Strategist
2/14/2013 | 4:13:21 PM
re: Microsoft Surface Pro: Too Much Tablet?
LOL, there will always be monkey-likers such as yourself. You are the reason Baskin-Robbins had to add that 31st flavor ...

Just teasing, of course. Enjoyed your comments!
Mike
RobMark
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50%
RobMark,
 User Rank: Apprentice
2/13/2013 | 6:57:30 PM
re: Microsoft Surface Pro: Too Much Tablet?
The weight and battery life will be much better with Clover Trail. So, the Surface Pro 2 will likely be more tablet like in that regard.
David Berlind
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David Berlind,
 User Rank: Apprentice
2/13/2013 | 6:59:18 PM
re: Microsoft Surface Pro: Too Much Tablet?
I guess one question I have is whether or not the Surface Pro could possibly re-ignite the market for mobile, tablet-based apps (based on Windows of course) in certain vertical markets (eg: medical) where an $899 cost is unlikely to hold back purchases. For example, Lenovo has quite a few convertible systems (popular with vertical industries) that are north of of $1000 (eg: http://shop.lenovo.com/us/lapt.... Granted, these Surface tablets don't have a keyboard built-in, but you can no-doubt accessorize with Bluetooth as many have with iPads.

Any thoughts on that? Is there something about the Surface that will appeal to corporate verticals above and beyond current solutions. Is $899 actually a better price point than current options?
MFeibus
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50%
MFeibus,
 User Rank: Strategist
2/14/2013 | 4:24:07 PM
re: Microsoft Surface Pro: Too Much Tablet?
Hey David, Good to hear from you. Yeah, I do think the new tablet form factors like the Surface Pro are stoking vertical app developers. Interestingly, though, my sense is that a lot of the development is in Win7 apps that are stylized with a Win8 look and feel.

I've seen a few. They default to full-screen, and have a big top-or-bottom border with a few large buttons. Interesting, huh?

Anyone else?
ChrisMurphy
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50%
ChrisMurphy,
 User Rank: Author
2/15/2013 | 10:23:19 PM
re: Microsoft Surface Pro: Too Much Tablet?
I don't think a pure enterprise market is enough for devices like Surface Pro, just as I suspect it won't be enough for BlackBerry in the smartphone market. Either such devices have sufficient consumer appeal to fire BYOD/ consumer-business crossover use, or they won't fly. Yes, there will be a niche for some specialized industry tablets, but would that alone be big enough to keep Microsoft interested in the hardware business?
JimC
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50%
JimC,
 User Rank: Apprentice
2/15/2013 | 9:29:20 AM
re: Microsoft Surface Pro: Too Much Tablet?
"... execs started bringing their iPhones to work and ordered IT to integrate them." Yes, that's correct and I'll bet that the children aged 15-25 of CXOs were enthusiastically doing iPhone demos for their parents, which I think triggered RIM/BlackBerry's slide in the corporate world. BlackBerry might keep their most loyal customers and rebound if IT departments insist on BlackBerry's very latest offerings. I'm now curious to see if Microsoft can deliver on the promise of one operating system for desktops, laptops, tablets and smartphones -- and the benefits (stability, convenience, security, etc.) the corporate world is to derive from it, considering the ubiquity of Windows and Office. If BlackBerry and Microsoft can gain BYOD market share via corporate IT departments, then the top four platforms will even out a bit. Right now, it's too heavily dominated by Android and iOS.


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