MSFT Partners Said to be Worried About Surface Release

News
By Zak Islam
published

The competitive price for device is seemingly worrying partners launching pricier Windows 8 tablets.

In the run up to the release of Microsoft's debut tablet, partners of the firm have reportedly expressed concerns about a decrease in interest from the software giant. Due to Microsoft's focus on establishing its own hardware business, partners feel their software supplier "will no longer be concerned about its downstream partners' thoughts or complaints."

DigiTimes' unnamed sources expressed concerns about the pricing of Surface. In particular, they believe that RT model's $499 starting price will provide an extremely competitive price for other vendors due to release Windows 8 devices at higher prices.

Windows 8 tablets will be released by the likes of Acer, Asustek Computer, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Fujitsu, Lenovo, Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and ZTE.

A 32GB model without a touch cover for Surface is priced at $499 (which sold out a day after pre-orders commenced), or $599 for a model with a black touch cover. This is in addition to a 64GB model that comes with a black touch cover and is priced at $699. Keyboard covers are sold separately at $129.99, while touch covers in different colors are sold for a price of $119.99.

Surface launches alongside Windows 8 on Friday.

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Zak Islam
21 Comments Comment from the forums
  • guardianangel42
    Considering the hardware manufacturers providing PC's based on Microsoft's software have been doing such a terrible job, I'm glad Microsoft is making them sweat. This can only be good for the consumer.

    Reply
  • dalethepcman
    Also considering that most Tegra 3 tablets are in the $400 price range, Microsoft selling one at $500 is just about right.

    I am not sure what the manufacturers are complaining about. Make a better product, listen to your customers, compete instead of sit on your ass and you will do fine.
    Reply
  • Inferno1217
    dalethepcmanAlso considering that most Tegra 3 tablets are in the $400 price range, Microsoft selling one at $500 is just about right.I am not sure what the manufacturers are complaining about. Make a better product, listen to your customers, compete instead of sit on your ass and you will do fine.
    Not true Nexus 7 using Tegra 3 can be had for as little as $199.
    Reply
  • bavman
    This tablet is overpriced for what it offers. Will not do well.
    Reply
  • Neverdyne
    bavmanThis tablet is overpriced for what it offers. Will not do well.
    Tell that to Apple.
    Reply
  • bavman
    NeverdyneTell that to Apple.
    They're both overpriced. Microsoft didn't really go out of its way to make it better. The tegra 3 is faster than the A5X, but sucks compared to the A5X's graphics power. Apple obviously has the better screen too.

    I was disappointed when microsoft announced the specs of the tablet because theres nothing impressive about them at all, compared to whats on the market. Only bright side is that others will make windows rt tablets
    Reply
  • teknic111
    I believe the Microsoft Surface will be one hell of a tablet, however, the pricing to high. If Microsoft was smart, they would be selling this thing for $300 or less. Their number one priority should be getting this tablet into as many hands as possible, not trying to make profit right off the bat. They need to take as much market share away from Apple and Android tablets as they can. Once they build a solid user base and mature their app store, they can increase the price of Surface. I think the current price points are gonna cripple an otherwise awesome tablet.
    Reply
  • zybch
    bavmanThey're both overpriced. Microsoft didn't really go out of its way to make it better. The tegra 3 is faster than the A5X, but sucks compared to the A5X's graphics power. Apple obviously has the better screen too. I was disappointed when microsoft announced the specs of the tablet because theres nothing impressive about them at all, compared to whats on the market. Only bright side is that others will make windows rt tabletsYou should perhaps take a look at the numerous reports that the surface screen is perceived as better than the iPad's due to the far lower reflectivity (or something). I know my iPad is useless in any kind of bright environment unless you need a mirror, and it will be interesting to see how my pre-ordered surface copes.
    Reply
  • bystander
    teknic111I believe the Microsoft Surface will be one hell of a tablet, however, the pricing to high. If Microsoft was smart, they would be selling this thing for $300 or less. Their number one priority should be getting this tablet into as many hands as possible, not trying to make profit right off the bat. They need to take as much market share away from Apple and Android tablets as they can. Once they build a solid user base and mature their app store, they can increase the price of Surface. I think the current price points are gonna cripple an otherwise awesome tablet.Microsoft cannot do this, because their partners would have a cow. For them to force all their partners to lose money to compete with Surface would be a relations nightmare. As you can see, $500 is already causing issues. You also have to take into account that with that $500, people are getting MS Office, which typically sells for over $150.
    Reply
  • CaedenV
    bavmanThey're both overpriced. Microsoft didn't really go out of its way to make it better. The tegra 3 is faster than the A5X, but sucks compared to the A5X's graphics power. Apple obviously has the better screen too. I was disappointed when microsoft announced the specs of the tablet because theres nothing impressive about them at all, compared to whats on the market. Only bright side is that others will make windows rt tabletsSurface has a better quality, but lower resolution screen when compared to the iPad, which is why it does not require the same graphics horse power in order to drive said screen. Personally I would like to see it with a higher res screen... but then again I would wait for the x86 version anyways as that is where all of my programs currently live.

    One of the volunteers at my work got to play with a surface 2 weeks ago, and assures me that it is amazing and smooth from case design to touch and interface integration. His only complaint was of the keyboard, but he also said it was better than no keyboard at all... just not great. Personally I think it is a little overpriced for what you are getting, but I guess that money went into case design instead of raw hardware specs.
    Reply