Google Chairman Foresees Bright Future For Surface

Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt believes Microsoft's forthcoming Surface tablet could make its mark on the market, but only if the product works.

Schmidt was speaking with All Things D's Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher when he said he isn't ready to include Microsoft into the "gang of four" firms (Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook) that spearhead the technology market.

"Let's see what this new set of products does," he said. "There are well-funded, smart, well-run companies that have not been able to bring up state-of-the-art products."

Schmidt added that the software giant has built a "structural monopoly" centered towards Windows for PCs. However, he believes that's not the right model to go forward with in the mobile market. The executive foresees firms who implement hardware and software the best will be the most successful in the competitive market.

"There's going to be an explosion of integrated hardware/software solutions that manage your car, life, music, refrigerator," Schmidt stated.

Microsoft's Surface, a tablet that will feature Windows 8 and may be priced between $400-$899, will launch alongside the operating system at a midnight launch on October 26.

Google, meanwhile, is reportedly working on a 10-inch Nexus tablet in collaboration with Samsung.

  • nieur
    come on microsoft definitely has more impact on our technology life than facebook
    Reply
  • bloc97
    Come on release it faster, everyone is waiting for it! :D
    Reply
  • _Cubase_
    No, Microsoft only dominate the corporate world which spearhead every other market. Really just a small time player. Not!
    Reply
  • boyabunda
    Don't be a closed platform.
    Reply
  • cbfelterbush
    LOL.. Some people. I realize he is speaking from a lofty position so his Opinion seems to carry weight. However, anyone who looks at the technology industry and doesn't include Microsoft and perhaps IBM in their top four list is probably rather foolish.

    Microsoft has Many platforms that they have at their disposal when entering the mobile market. Any Naysayer is forgetting the natural integration that Windows 8 will offer with Windows Phone 8 their leading living room entertainment platforms. Including the 360, as well as the Next console and soon to be Microsoft Embedded Smart TVs. Microsoft is moving forward with the execution of a complete ecosystem.

    IBM drives the back-end and has allowed us to move this far. But perhaps they belong on a different list altogether.

    -CB
    Reply
  • navalweaponsofficer
    I am pretty sure Microsoft has a much larger impact on the technology sector than Facebook. Eric, can you please tell me what real impact Facebook has had on the technology sector other than adding another layer of communication that can be fulfilled by its predecessor i.e. email. Sounds to me like Eric Schmidt is a real winner. However I do hope Surface works out for MS.
    Reply
  • bllue
    Facebook above MS really? No but seriously I want to see the Surface become a success. It looks really good and W8 will work fantastic on it but my fear is the price tag. I don't think $399+ for RT will do much, if MS wants to really get into this market they'll have to sell the devices at cost..maybe $299 for RT and $499 or $599 for Pro (maybe not 499 but 599 is more realistic). This will bring a bigger audience and more app developers to guarantee they'll recoup the costs and gain profit since people will be purchasing from the W8 store
    Reply
  • southernshark
    Facebook is part of the gang of four..............

    Wow... this guy is clueless.
    Reply
  • southernshark
    bllueFacebook above MS really? No but seriously I want to see the Surface become a success. It looks really good and W8 will work fantastic on it but my fear is the price tag. I don't think $399+ for RT will do much
    I agree about RT right now. But I don't think it really matters long term.

    I don't see the ARM system of chips making it long term against Intel. When all of the Windows tablets including the low end ones, are using x86 chip sets from Intel and running real Win 8, then I think MS will do much much better in the tablet and even phone space.
    Reply
  • ojas
    he isn't ready to include Microsoft into the "gang of four" firms (Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook) that spearhead the technology market.
    :lol: never thought i'd say this, but what an ass...

    The company that has 90% of the consumer OS market share, at least 50% of the global console share (i'm guessing on this one) and is making inroads into anti-viruses, image processing, tablets, phones, etc...isn't a part of the big 4? That they didn't spear-head technology?

    And to hell with that. Intel??? AMD??? Nvidia?? Hitachi? Seagate? and most of all, IBM?????????? Even ARM.
    Reply