Lenovo on Surface Tablet: Microsoft Just Another Competitor
Like HP, Lenovo isn't worried about Microsoft's entry into the tablet sector with Surface.
During Lenovo's first fiscal quarter 2013 earnings call on Thursday, CEO Yang Yuanqing waved off Microsoft's own entry into the tablet sector with the Windows 8-based Surface. In response to an analyst's question, he admitted that Lenovo wasn't thrilled about Microsoft producing its own hardware, but in the end, the Redmond company just becomes one more competitor on the list.
"[They're] just one of our many competitors. We are still confident that we are providing much better hardware than our competitors including Microsoft," he said.
Microsoft reportedly didn't tell its partners about the Surface tablets until just hours before the public reveal. Since then, Acer has seemingly been the only OEM highly vocal about the tablets, saying that Microsoft is making a mistake and that Surface will hurt its partners. HP has seemingly shrugged off Microsoft's efforts, and now Lenovo is doing the same.
"They are strong in software, but [we] don't believe they can provide the best hardware in the world. Lenovo can," Lenovo's CEO said. "To be frank, we're not that worried about [Surface]. Microsoft is still our strategy partner. We are very optimistic on the Windows 8 launch so we will fully leverage that to launch our new products."
Earlier this week, ABC News said that Lenovo is gearing up to launch both Intel and ARM-based Windows 8/RT versions of the convertible IdeaPad Yoga later this year. The Intel model will feature the Core family of processors, up to 8 GB of RAM, up to 256 GB SSD, and a 13.3-inch screen. It will have an estimated price of $1,199 -- so far there's no word on the specs and price of Lenovo's ARM-based version.
Microsoft confirmed four Windows RT OEMs earlier this week, naming Asus, Dell, Lenovo and Samsung. However Toshiba said it has pulled out of the Windows RT race for now due to problems acquiring the necessary components for a "timely" launch. "For the time being, Toshiba will focus on bringing Windows 8 products to market. We will continue to look into the possibility of Windows RT products in the future while monitoring market conditions," a Toshiba spokesperson said.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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internetlad Microsoft? That upstart? Nooo. . . . heh heh. . . we're not worried about them at all *cough*Reply -
livebriand Acer makes crap, and that's why they have to worry about this. Lenovo doesn't, so it's no wonder that they're not too concerned.Reply -
blazorthon Booyaah$1200 for a Win8 Pro tablet? Thanks but no thanks.Reply
If it has an i5 or an i7, then that would be pretty good price. It doesn't specify what CPU(s) is(are) available for it, only that is uses Intel Core CPUs, so we shouldn't knock it at least until we have more information. -
house70 Lenovo makes good hardware, so they actually can't wait to put this OS on it. More exposure to them...Reply -
back_by_demand Acer says:-Reply
Acer has seemingly been the only OEM highly vocal about the tablets, saying that Microsoft is making a mistake and that Surface will hurt its partners
Or in other words:-
We simply can't make anything of that quality and our cheap tacky shit will stick out like a sore thumb
However, Lenovo says:-
We are still confident that we are providing much better hardware than our competitors including Microsoft
Which means:-
We are very confident that we are providing much, much, MUCH better hardware than Acer
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back_by_demand Booyaah$1200 for a Win8 Pro tablet? Thanks but no thanks.It has a keyboard on the other side of that hinge, it's an convertable 13.3" Ultrabook running a Core i5, 8Gb ram and 256Gb SSDReply
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$1200 is very realistic and certainly a lot better than the crap Acer has just pooped out
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Aspire-S7-Acer-Ultrabook-Windows-8-Ivy-Bridge,16833.html
Touch based Ultrabook with smaller 11.6" screen, but not convertable
4Gb ram, half that of the Lenovo
128Gb SSD, half that of the Lenovo
All for the tiny sum of $1465
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And if you want to match the screen, ram and SSD expect to pay a serious premium and it STILL isn't a convertable
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Acer has seriously misread this whole play and in today's well informed world it is not going to fly with anyone -
damianrobertjones If MS didn't release Windows rt then what competition would there be?Reply
Well some of these oems are already 'in' a market with their Android tablets so in reality there's no market to join with regards to Windows RT. There's not much to moan about and if MS 'creates' a new segment then all these oems can jump straight in with the next 'upgraded' models. Stylus, higher res, bits and bobs. Win win if you ask me. Nothing to complain about -
Shin-san I don't feel that Acer should panic. The Microsoft tablet is expensive, and Acer makes cheap crap. It's amusing that most of the quality makers that they are competing with don't seem phased at all.Reply -
back_by_demand Shin-sanThe Microsoft tablet is expensive, and Acer makes cheap crapBy the looks of it:-Reply
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Aspire-S7-Acer-Ultrabook-Windows-8-Ivy-Bridge,16833.html
Acer makes expensive crap, if you're gonna be expensive, at least make it look good
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And as yet, no prices from Microsoft, so can't see how you can justify that claim