Microsoft Surface Price Related:

While our favorite company from Redmond has yet to release official Microsoft Surface Price details, CEO Steve Ballmer did recently suggest that Windows Tablets will compete with the iPad.  He also suggested that the “sweet spot” for the bulk of the PC market ranges from “$300 to about $700 or $800“.  Could we see a Microsoft Surface price of $300?  I doubt an MS Surface price would be that low but it’s not out of the question for an OEM to produce such a device.  Since the price of these devices will significantly impact how well they compete in an already crowded tablet market, let’s examine the Microsoft Surface price and how it compares.

[ Also See: Microsoft Surface Pre Order Available Now! ]

Microsoft Surface Price: What we Currently Know

Microsoft originally suggested that the Microsoft Surface price for Windows RT version of the product would compare to the price of existing ARM processor-based devices.  Many believe that the Surface RT would be priced around $600.  While this price is $100 more than the Apple iPad, it’s perhaps close enough to represent an alternative to the iPad for consumers looking to buy a tablet.  I feel however that there must be a Windows 8 Tablet offering at the $500 mark in order for the platform to succeed.  We still don’t know how good Windows RT apps will be or how many will be available.  To ask consumers to spend more and possibly get less for their money (at least in the beginning) is a lot to ask in my opinion.

Microsoft also said that the Windows 8 Pro version of the MS Surface would be comparable to existing Ultrabooks.  This notion is supported by the recently released pricing information for the Acer Iconia W700 Windows 8 Tablets.  Acer is releasing three devices, they each have specs similar to Ultrabooks, and they will cost from $799 to $999.  While I would prefer to see Windows Tablets running the full version of Windows 8 to be a little cheaper, I don’t think these devices have to compete with the likes of the iPad or high end Android Tablets.  Instead, I think consumers in the market for other PCs such as Ultrabooks and conventional laptops may consider Windows 8 Tablets.  Considering that a Windows 8 Tablet can do everything an iPad can do and much more, it’s reasonable to expect these devices to cost more.

Microsoft Surface vs the iPad, Kindle Fire, other Android tablets

Ballmer told the Seattle Times he expects the Microsoft Surface to compete with the Apple iPad.  He said that he thinks the MS Surface will be very competitive product from the features perspective.  I have to wonder though if he thinks all Windows Tablets will compete with the iPad or just the Windows RT versions.  Ballmer also seem to suggest that the MS Surface will not attempt to compete with the Kindle Fire and similar, less expensive Android Tablets.  From Baller:

If you say to somebody, would you use one of the 7-inch tablets, would somebody ever use a Kindle (Kindle Fire, $199) to do their homework? The answer is no; you never would. It’s just not a good enough product. It doesn’t mean you might not read a book on it….

Considering that  the Apple iPad out sells all other tablets 2 to 1, including all of the cheap Android Tablets, I think consumers agree with Ballmer.  The perception might be that if you spend a little bit more, you get a significantly better device that has more capabilities.  If this sentiment is while the iPad beats cheaper alternatives 2 to 1, perhaps this sentiment will allow Windows 8 Tablets such as the Microsoft Surface to challenge (and even beat?!?!?) the iPad.

Continue Reading…

Related posts:

1. Microsoft Surface vs iPad: Advantages and Disadvantages
2. Acer Iconia W700 Windows 8 Tablet Specs, Price, Pre-Order, and Shipping Details
3. Microsoft Surface Price Details

ipad, Microsoft Surface Price, MS Surface, Price

About the Author

Quentin Moore

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Quentin Moore is Senior Editor of Windows Tablet TV. He's a self proclaimed Tech Guru and spends most of his non-working hours playing with or blogging about tech gadgets. Check out Quentin's Google Plus Page.

More articles by Quentin Moore »

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Source : windowstablettv[dot]com

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Microsoft Surface RT Gets Updated to Improve Performance and Correct a Lot of Issues

Since the official launch over a week ago the Microsoft Surface RT is considered to be a success among the available offers featuring the new Windows OS. Even though it’s not a fully-fledged Windows device and the offer of available apps is rather low, the tablet has plenty to offer and it’s a great multi-purpose device.

For the Surface RT, Microsoft has released an update to bring improvements in some key areas. According to preliminary reports from users, the update is a very welcome addition, making the tablet even more attractive. Like with the update system on PC’s, it addresses the issues through separate files, four to be exact. One corrects the issue with the “Favorites” not showing up in Internet Explorer 10. Another enables WinRE using the out-of-the-box wizard in Windows 8/Server 2012, including a digital signature in Windows 8/Server 2012, and a Windows 8/Server 2012 cumulative update.

There is also an issue with the Boot Configuration Data store that is included in the list of fixes. Following, there is the added ability to customize the lock screen and a fix for the problem that can cause Apps to be installed incorrectly. Performance upon waking the device and when the device is asleep has also been improved leading to extra battery life. Most users report that the overall performance has seen some changes for better and Internet Explorer seems more responsive when loading pages. It would seem Microsoft has done a very good job.

Related posts:

1. Microsoft Surface RT Tablet to be Priced at Just $199?!
2. Microsoft Surface 2 Tablets Already in Development?
3. Microsoft to Improve Its Tablet Development to Rival Apple; HP Cooperation Coming, Too

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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New iPad Beats Surface RT Display

Remember that story saying that the Microsoft Surface RT actually uses some cool new technologies that make its display better than the one of the iPad 3? Well, part of it is true and part isn’t! Analysts at DisplayMate recently published a display battle between the Surface RT and the Retina Display iPad, the iPad 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.

The test was conducted by Raymond Soneira, who reached the conclusion that the Surface slate is great, in some areas at least. For example on screen text is sharper and there’s an improved factory display calibration compared to the other models. Also, the reflectance is lower than the iPad 2 and other full size Android 1280 x 800 tablets. However, the screen is not as sharp as the Retina on the iPad 3 or 4 and the Microsoft product doesn’t offer the same large full color gamut.

AppleInsider is also reporting that a Microsoft engineer has claimed that the Surface screen beats the iPad’s Retina, in spite of the lower resolution. The idea is that the ClearType screen on the Surface maximizes “perceived resolution”, with reduced reflections. It’s true that the Retina Display reflects 33% more ambient light than the Surface RT, while the Galaxy Tab 10.1 reflects 41%, but that’s not enough. Surface RT loses points in the color gamut reproduction, that’s 57% smaller than the iPad 3.

Related posts:

1. Microsoft Analysis Claims that the Surface Display Res is Actually Better Than the iPad 3 Resolution
2. iPad 3 Confirmed to Feature Retina Display, According to LG Display CEO
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Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Microsoft Surface Pro Gets Priced in Germany, Goes for Almost $1000

If you’re looking to buy the Microsoft Surface tablet, but you want the added extra value of the Intel CPU and the Pro version of Windows 8, you will pay a premium price tag for those. And especially if you live in Germany, where the following prices apply…

A recent leak has shown us that the Surface Pro tablet will go for almost $1000, as published by German online retailer Notebook.de. The x86 Windows 8 Surface Pro tablet goes for $870 in the 64 GB version without tax, while the 128 GB model costs $975. For that price you get a Full HD screen, Intel Core i5 CPU, 4 GB of RAM, Intel HD 4000 graphics, Bluetooth 4.0, VaporMG case and even a stylus on board. 2 years of warranty are available here.

The product weighs almost 1 kilo, so it’s not on the light side… at all. Notebook.de is saying that the tablets will be available in about 3-4 weeks, which we doubt, since everyone expect Windows 8 Surface slates to debut in January next year. An early arrival would make for a sweet Christmas gift, though.

Related posts:

1. Microsoft Surface Tablets Outsourced to Pegatron; Priced Above $599 Apparently
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Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Microsoft Surface RT is an Overhyped Product: Analysis of a Rant (Video)

The folks of Techcrunch posted an interesting rant on how overhyped the whole Microsoft Surface RT thing is and we decided to analyse their arguments. First, they claim that Microsoft rushed to the market with a product that doesn’t feel quite complete. They do find Windows 8 to be a solid OS and a great step forward, but that’s about it…

The unification of Windows Phone and Windows Phone is already embraced and the future will ease the process, as the public gets used to the common experience. Techcrunch also claims that Microsoft, in its usual fashion launched its worst product first. The thing is that all reviewers out there are out to get Windows RT and criticize it, especially for being slow and not totally taking advantage of the provided hardware. Microsoft is a bit to blame for this, since they created huge expectations around the product and the hype was killed by the wave of negative reviews.

We actually did a positive review for Windows RT, highlighting what’s positive about it and the potential it leaves open for the future. It’s true that the OS feels rather “green” and young, but we are dealing with a desktop OS morphed for mobile use, so what did you expect? Apple and Google came out with a totally new platform for mobile, while Microsoft has to turn something that feels old into something new, that’s infinitely harder than inventing something new… So what’s your take on Windows RT and the Surface, loved more for its hardware and design than anything else?

Related posts:

1. Microsoft Analysis Claims that the Surface Display Res is Actually Better Than the iPad 3 Resolution
2. Watch the Entire Microsoft Surface Keynote Here! (Video)
3. Microsoft Surface 2 Tablets Already in Development?

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Microsoft Surface RT is an Overhyped Product: Analysis of a Rant

The folks of Techcrunch posted an interesting rant on how overhyped the whole Microsoft Surface RT thing is and we decided to analyse their arguments. First, they claim that Microsoft rushed to the market with a product that doesn’t feel quite complete. They do find Windows 8 to be a solid OS and a great step forward, but that’s about it…

The unification of Windows Phone and Windows Phone is already embraced and the future will ease the process, as the public gets used to the common experience. Techcrunch also claims that Microsoft, in its usual fashion launched its worst product first. The thing is that all reviewers out there are out to get Windows RT and criticize it, especially for being slow and not totally taking advantage of the provided hardware. Microsoft is a bit to blame for this, since they created huge expectations around the product and the hype was killed by the wave of negative reviews.

We actually did a positive review for Windows RT, highlighting what’s positive about it and the potential it leaves open for the future. It’s true that the OS feels rather “green” and young, but we are dealing with a desktop OS morphed for mobile use, so what did you expect? Apple and Google came out with a totally new platform for mobile, while Microsoft has to turn something that feels old into something new, that’s infinitely harder than inventing something new… So what’s your take on Windows RT and the Surface, loved more for its hardware and design than anything else?

Related posts:

1. Microsoft Analysis Claims that the Surface Display Res is Actually Better Than the iPad 3 Resolution
2. Microsoft Surface 2 Tablets Already in Development?
3. Microsoft Surface Tablets Outsourced to Pegatron; Priced Above $599 Apparently

Source : androidtabletblog[dot]com

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Microsoft places a heavy bet on Surface

This week’s big news is the pending release of Microsoft’s Surface tablet, which is a major push for the company on several fronts. At a high level, Surface marks Microsoft’s re-entry into the tablet market, one that it helped create in the early 2000s, only to see limited acceptance — and eventually, Apple dominated the market with its launch of the iPad.

Superficially, this seems like another entry into the “Look, Ma, I have a tablet, too!” category, but it’s noteworthy because it’s Microsoft’s first foray into a major piece of hardware, one of the first “flagship” tablet-style devices running Windows 8, and the first major piece of hardware running Windows RT, the tablet-focused version of Windows 8 that’s targeted toward the optimized ARM-based processor.

Initial reports indicate that Microsoft has bet heavily on this particular tablet, producing an initial run of five million units at a starting price of $499 (USD) apiece. In my mind, this move also marks some boldness and risk-taking from a company that seemed content to give up on innovator status in the last few years, cashing checks from its desktop OS and Office suite rather than attempting to change computing as we know it.

Own it

While Microsoft has taken some flak for producing its own hardware, it’s a necessary move. As an owner of several past tablet PCs, the experience and good ideas represented by the platform were marred by poor driver support, inadequate batteries, high price tags, and a lack of interesting hardware.

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Apple has long realized the benefit of tightly integrating hardware and software, and if Microsoft can successfully drive a hybrid strategy, whereby it releases flagship devices and maintains a cadre of hardware vendors filling in the gaps, some interesting things might happen. If nothing else, Microsoft has already set a high bar on the hardware front and will hopefully do for the Windows-based tablet what competition from the likes of the MacBook Air did for the ultralight PC laptop category.

Looking good

Microsoft has apparently also hired some industrial and graphics designers, a marked departure from the past when most of the visual tweaks to its products were geeky or more sizzle than steak. While the dramatic change to the Windows 8 interface has CIOs raising a skeptical eyebrow, it is certainly pushing computing in a different direction and represents far more bold thinking than pretty windows and animations.

Where it could all go wrong

There’s a lot to like about the moves Microsoft is making, but at this point, they are little more than pretty pictures, release candidate software, and marketing superlatives. There are no extensive, hands-on reviews of the Surface tablet at the time of this writing (although the device is slated to go on sale in just a few hours — on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012). So, the Windows 8 interface remains untried on a massive scale, and developers who are likely growing weary of the proliferation of tablet platforms now have another one to deal with.

These are all problems that have been routinely discussed, but a more nuanced one is the question of whether users can be bothered to jump aboard an entirely new platform that encompasses hardware and core OS functionality. I’ve talked to quite a few people, and many of them think that desktop- and laptop-type platforms represent the past. The majority of their computing interactions take place in browsers. Even in the corporate environment, Outlook and Office do the majority of the desktop-based work, and all the “action” happens in web or proprietary-client applications.

For these people, consumers and corporate customers, Windows 8 with its new interface represents an answer to an unasked question, with Windows 7 essentially “good enough.” Considering quite a few major companies still run the venerable Windows XP, Windows 8 may be a bridge too far.

One of the criticisms of the iPad, that it’s just a “big iPhone,” is also its biggest strength. The interface is no-frills and essentially gets out of the way so you can interact with your content and applications. Even with high-quality hardware, a new platform that’s completely different from anything, except perhaps Windows Phone, may be a tough sell to a public wary of the “platform du jour.”

While there are many unanswered questions around Surface and the raft of risks the platform presents, it’s exciting to see a resurgent Microsoft that’s breaking out of its rut, has learned a thing or two about design, and is willing to abandon decades-old computing conventions and partner relationships. Betting big has big risks, but quiet stagnation is equally risky and perhaps even more painful.

Read also

• ZDNet: Microsoft Surface RT: A review roundup
• ZDNet: Microsoft Surface: Why hardware really matters again
• CNET: Microsoft Surface review: Innovative tablet stranded in an app desert
• CNET: Microsoft Surface vs. Apple iPad (4th gen) vs. ASUS Transformer Infinity

Source : techrepublic[dot]com

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