I can see the Surface being $300-500, but Win8 RT tablets in general could be less considering there's a range of configurations; not a lot, but enough.
I don't think at $200 it would be a huge lost for Microsoft. Besides the larger screen the specs are similar to the Google Tablet which Google makes a profit on at $200-$250.
I could see Microsoft pricing the Surface RT @$199 then charging $49-$99 for the softkey/hardkey cover. They can take the lost on the Tablet itself but make the money on the cover accessories to break even. The profit will come from app store purchases (since its the only way to install apps on RT). This would let them quickly gain market share without burning through money.
For the Surface Pro I don't think we'll see any subsidized price on that one. It's going to cost Ultrabook territory. I don't believe it's going to be target for consumers (high cost) but at the Enterprise level. Remember Surface RT lacks domain joining ability... this way make sure that Surface Pro will be the only choice for Enterprise. Microsoft will also make pretty much zero on app store purchases on the Surface Pro mainly because x86 and desktop modes gives the Pro a way to install apps besides the app store and in most Enterprise enviroment systems are usually locked down to the end user. Microsoft will make money on the hardware for Surface Pro and from the volume licensing of its software.
The more you look at it the more it almost makes sense that the Surface RT will be priced low. Think about it if the Surface RT was priced in iPad territory instead of Nexus Tablet territory it leaves no price point for the ATOM based x86 tablets since ATOM + x86 costs more then ARM + RT, if Surface RT was priced at $500-$600 (like iPad) then ATOM tablets would have to be priced upwards of $750 which would be a tough sell. Makes more sense with the low price structure so you can have:
Surface RT: $199 + $49 to $99 cover, total approximately $250-$300, more app store purchase
ATOM Tablets: $500-$600, low cost enterprise choice because of x86 ability to join domain, less app store purchase
Surface Pro: $1000, ULV Ivy CPU, high end enterprise, laptop replacement, very little app store purchase
The pro version is gonna fail hard at nearly $1000 price point.
The RT however will be successful at $400 or less.
The pro version is gonna fail hard at nearly $1000 price point.
The RT however will be successful at $400 or less.
The pro version is gonna fail hard at nearly $1000 price point.
The RT however will be successful at $400 or less.
It's going to fail hard because MS has to convince the consumer to migrate to Win8 and that it's a laptop replacement.
The win pro would have to be out of this world amazing for people to give up their laptops.
Hardly matters to them as long as they sell a license of Windows. What alternative is there for a budget windows computer?
After all Surface Pro just works with companies existing active directory infrastructure and can be managed like any other Windows pc, something the iPad will never be able to match.
Windows 8 is trying to be both a tablet and a full fledged computer OS. When you go for jack of all trades you are master of none.
It depends on the company. When I worked for the government they were still running Windows XP. Windows 8 is on another planet, its unlikely that large enterprises will foot the bill of such a migration.
A Surface Pro with a touch aware version of photoshop has me drooling ... have you all ever even used an ipad? Outside of giving presentations and casual use they are horrible.
Their limited app selection, and closed architecture is frustrating to me as a developer and IT enthusiast. I like tablets, i don't like hand holding, and a surface pro at 900+, while not for the mainstream, would be perfect for my needs.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Surface Pro have active cooling and is actually quite thick compared to something like the iPad? Also it's undoubtedly going to have much worse battery life, and I don't see it being as responsive going to and from sleep like current tablets do.
If being the thinnest and lightest was important no one would have bought an iPad 3.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Surface Pro have active cooling and is actually quite thick compared to something like the iPad? Also it's undoubtedly going to have much worse battery life, and I don't see it being as responsive going to and from sleep like current tablets do.
Why would it be less responsive going to sleep then current tablets when it has much more powerful hardware and an SSD that is an order of magnitude faster than the flash shipping in current tablets?
So the question leads to is this better than an ultra book?
Bad comparison. An iPad 3 was barely thicker than an iPad 2, which itself was one of the thinnest tablets of last year.
If a x86 based tablet has to be twice as thick (or more) than an iPad 3 AND it gets hotter than an iPad 3 (or has cooling ports you can't block) then it is much less appealing on first touch than the iPad.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the Surface Pro have active cooling and is actually quite thick compared to something like the iPad? Also it's undoubtedly going to have much worse battery life, and I don't see it being as responsive going to and from sleep like current tablets do.
I think a lot of people who used to buy budget computers for simple tasks are finding that tablets do that job just as well if not better. Windows 8 is trying to be both a tablet and a full fledged computer OS. When you go for jack of all trades you are master of none. I just bought myself a laptop with Windows 7 and have absolutely no intention of ever getting Windows 8.
Yes, it is.
Since the annoucement, everyone here who has a need for both has either held off on a tablet in order to wait for the surface, or is planning on ditching their ipad (and notebook) for a surface.
When the choices are
A) Carry both tablet and notebook/ultrabook
B) Carry only tablet
C) Carry only notebook
D) Carry a notelet (or whatever the Surface is considered)
everyone at this company has decided on D.
Yes it will be bleeding edge with regards to the device and Windows 8, but compared to the uselessness of a regular tablet for doing actual work and not just reading email, it's worth taking a chance.
With regards to your price concerns, we currently have people using $850 iPads and ~ $2000 ThinkPads. Since everyone is wiling to compromise on the speed, size, and ergonomics of the ThinkPad, and on the size/weight of the iPad, our company is saving 65% per employee, and that's not considering the fact that IT now has to support half the number of devices, and only 1 version of each app needs to be purchased and supported. This is a DREAM compared to the notebook plus tablet scenario.
But the Surface Pro isn't a good tablet. When I asked if its a better ultra book, I'm referring to its notebook features only. If the Surface Pro doesn't beat a tablet or an ultrabook individually, then the thing you're buying into is convenience. I like multifunction devices too, but only if it does those functions well.
But the Surface Pro isn't a good tablet. When I asked if its a better ultra book, I'm referring to its notebook features only. If the Surface Pro doesn't beat a tablet or an ultrabook individually, then the thing you're buying into is convenience. I like multifunction devices too, but only if it does those functions well.
It may still succeed as a business device, though.Yep, and if it's thick, heavy, and has short battery life, it's going to fail as a tablet.
Yep, and if it's thick, heavy, and has short battery life, it's going to fail as a tablet.