Report: Little demand for Microsoft's Surface RT tablet

Lackluster demand has reportedly prompted Microsoft to slash orders of its Surface RT tablet from 4 million to 2 million units.

According to DigiTimes, the slow start for Redmond's ARM-based tablet could ultimately persuade Microsoft to lower the price of its upcoming Intel x86-powered Surface Pro ($899 for 64GB and 128GB for $999) which is slated to ship in January.

Source

A Guy

 

[kbz1960]

I think if people want a dumbed down tablet there are a lot of cheaper alternatives, ipad not being cheaper but what people want because it's good, marketed to death and what people they know have.

To me the RT is dumbed down and not worth my cash. The pro will be too expensive so where are most people going to go?

 

[clockwatcher474]

I stopped by the Microsoft surface Kiosk in our local Mall, they had the older I am guessing the know all's inside and a bunch of young people on outside trying to tell us about the new Surfaces. After looking at them and their prices and hearing how they were saying this new tablet/computer would make all my needs become easy. My first thought was after the Holidays and the Microsoft Surface Kiosk is gone, where does someone get any needed help? and after looking at the many faces of the Surface I just kept thinking the Microsoft RT O.S. that come installed is really not a full Win8 O.S. But this tablet/computer is priced right with many full blown notebook computers. A little farther down inside the Mall Apple has a full sized room that is were they are year round. Everyone working there is out in the open not behind a counter, and all I spoke with knew their Apple products and gave IMHO good correct answers to my questions. I have both Windows computers and Apple computers I am testing Win8 on just one computer right now. I have iPads and Android tablets. For what Microsoft is thinking they can do with their new Surface tablet/computer meaning get the buying public to really start buying them IMHO is a dream that will not come true. My advice to Microsoft is stick with Software stay out of the hardware ball games.

 

[HerrKaLeun]

I don't understand the meaning of the "RT"at all. the existing environments are Apple, Android and X86 (split in Linux and Windows). when i consciously buy a new device and do more than browsing, I decide based on what software i already have or want (the same way people bought VHS, and not Betamax).

why would anyone now go with another incompatible (to any of the above) system and buy a surface RT?

Things are different with the surface Pro since that gives me x86 on a tablet and this is a huge benefit.

 

[SIW2]

It might seem odd they bothered with the RT at all.

Perhaps because they aren't going to be able to get anything decent with PRO on it at near ipad price.

They didn't want to leave that sector wide open.

They will be wary of lowering the price - that would infuriate the oem's even more.

They might not have much choice, if things aren't going too well.

 

[HerrKaLeun]

It might seem odd they bothered with the RT at all.

Perhaps because they aren't going to be able to get anything decent with PRO on it at near ipad price.

They didn't want to leave that sector wide open.

They will be wary of lowering the price - that would infuriate the oem's even more.

They might not have much choice, if things aren't going too well.

It was said they wanted to use ARM to force Intel to get their rubbish together in low-power CPUs. Maybe the development cost for MS was cheap and they wanted something in the $600 category. I think a student who normally would buy an iPad, the RT is not bad since it has Office.

 

[Ray8]

I have a Gigabyte S1080 tablet that runs Windows 7 and Windows 8 pro, in many respects, it has better specs than the upcoming Suface Pro, yet cost under $600. The later versions of the Gigabyte are even better and still cost under $700, so if manufacturers want to build competitive tablets there doesn't appear to be any impediment. That's what makes me wonder why the Surface Pro is so expensive.

 

[pparks1]

It will have high resolution, not sure what these other tablets have.

 

[Coke Robot]

I have a Gigabyte S1080 tablet that runs Windows 7 and Windows 8 pro, in many respects, it has better specs than the upcoming Suface Pro, yet cost under $600. The later versions of the Gigabyte are even better and still cost under $700, so if manufacturers want to build competitive tablets there doesn't appear to be any impediment. That's what makes me wonder why the Surface Pro is so expensive.

The only reason I find that the Surface Pro and other Windows 8 tablet PCs cost so bloody much is that OEMs can argue that it's both a PC, a laptop in this case, but yet also a tablet in one package versus two separate devices; and the one package costs just less than the two separate devices in most cases.

 

[clockwatcher474]

I have a Gigabyte S1080 tablet that runs Windows 7 and Windows 8 pro, in many respects, it has better specs than the upcoming Suface Pro, yet cost under $600. The later versions of the Gigabyte are even better and still cost under $700, so if manufacturers want to build competitive tablets there doesn't appear to be any impediment. That's what makes me wonder why the Surface Pro is so expensive.

I am right with you I just can't understand where this Surface can compete, against many notebooks that will do it all and at a much better price. Maybe Microsoft's cool T.V. Adds with people jumping around and snapping their Surfaces and keyboards together will pull it off for them.

 

[Coke Robot]

I have a Gigabyte S1080 tablet that runs Windows 7 and Windows 8 pro, in many respects, it has better specs than the upcoming Suface Pro, yet cost under $600. The later versions of the Gigabyte are even better and still cost under $700, so if manufacturers want to build competitive tablets there doesn't appear to be any impediment. That's what makes me wonder why the Surface Pro is so expensive.

I am right with you I just can't understand where this Surface can compete, against many notebooks that will do it all and at a much better price. Maybe Microsoft's cool T.V. Adds with people jumping around and snapping their Surfaces and keyboards together will pull it off for them.

They did say the Pro will cost relatively to current ultrabooks, but the thing is is that it's coming down to screen size usually, capacity, and a few other things like a keyboard that makes the ultrabook arguable for.

Then again, there is technology in the Surface Pro that isn't on other tablets like a full 1080p display and Wacom stylus. Also, the wifi antennae were specifically designed for Surface and apparently picks up better signal than anything out there; as well as the 200 or so specially designed and engineered parts....

 

[Tepid]

Let's just add this,,,,,

Win 8 Pro = Running Full Desktop Software....
Show me an Ipad/Android Tablet with Detachable Keyboard, Additional SDCard Support and USB, that can do the same.
I am not aware of any.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

I think you're absolutely correct, Tepid. One gets more for the price. If one compares the specs, there's pros and cons, but the Surfaces are a better deal buck for buck as long as one is comparing the RT to iPad and the Pro to ultrabooks.

MS could have introduced both these machines at a much lower introductory price if it not for OEMs. It seems they have to walk on egg shells around these people. Apple and Google don't have to contend with them. This is a real B for MS getting into the hardware business. It seems they're stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I think they got their marketing aims correct. The RT out in time for the holiday shoppers aimed at the younger and students. I feel this thing fits them perfectly with the consumption, entertainment, and homework with the Office programs preinstalled. Far better than an iPad the way I see it. The Pro, of course, is aimed at the heavier user.

What's next for MS? You can bet your sweet bippie that it'll be more machines, as rumors are out. I foresee a smart phone as well. This is what Microsoft reimagined is all about. They're in it for the long haul. A gamble indeed, but one I think will pay off greatly.

 

[Tepid]

I foresee a smart phone as well

WindowsPhone8 FTW

 

[HippsieGypsie]

I foresee a smart phone as well

WindowsPhone8 FTW

FTW? For the win?

 

[MrNeeds]

Let's just add this,,,,,

Win 8 Pro = Running Full Desktop Software....
Show me an Ipad/Android Tablet with Detachable Keyboard, Additional SDCard Support and USB, that can do the same.
I am not aware of any.

windows 8 pro surface isn't out for another month and a half so i'm not aware of any either until then.

 

[robinb9]

windows 8 RT is a waste of money because you cannot add anything to it, and there are so many other tablets out there cheaper that can do the same thing or better. Android and Apple still have the corner on apps that Microsoft has and many of the apps freeze as the reviews I have read on my upgraded Windows 8 computers.
Now Windows 8 pro is another thing, it gives you the ability to do a heck of a lot more especially by adding office apps but then again the price is also high. I wish Microsoft would lower the price a bit. I hear that Surface with RT (windows 8 pro has not come out yet) is doing very bad in sales.
Wonder how the pro Surface will do- time will tell
robin

 

[Tepid]

windows 8 RT is a waste of money because you cannot add anything to it, and there are so many other tablets out there cheaper that can do the same thing or better. Android and Apple still have the corner on apps that Microsoft has and many of the apps freeze as the reviews I have read on my upgraded Windows 8 computers.
Now Windows 8 pro is another thing, it gives you the ability to do a heck of a lot more especially by adding office apps but then again the price is also high. I wish Microsoft would lower the price a bit. I hear that Surface with RT (windows 8 pro has not come out yet) is doing very bad in sales.
Wonder how the pro Surface will do- time will tell
robin

Again, not entirely useless for RT, you get Office 2013 with it (Word, Excel, Power Point, OneNote) it comes with the device pre-installed, and when it is gold released will download the full version for free, and is not an App Add-on.

As for Freezing issues, my wifes Asus RT is running pretty damn good (no freezing) and as I show here more and more of the uses, she is liking it more as a replacement for her Nook Color. So, it is very much a good alternative to Ipad and android. Both of which I won't buy for various reasons.

Let me stress,, a good alternative for her, for myself, it will be 8Pro Tablet of some kind.

 

[Rickkins]

Let's just add this,,,,,

Win 8 Pro = Running Full Desktop Software....
Show me an Ipad/Android Tablet with Detachable Keyboard, Additional SDCard Support and USB, that can do the same.
I am not aware of any.

The vast majority of folks who need "full desktop software" are gonna buy a laptop, and not a toy, which many many folk still view a pad as.

Sure, some will buy, but most will not. And all the spin in the world won't change that.

 

[Tepid]

uh yes it will, that is an extremely narrow view.

Oh wait, we live on earth, I keep forgetting who the US President is.

Your right, I concede.

 

[Ray8]

I have a tablet running full desktop software already, as I needed something portable to do that and other things that a laptop could not do (or not without significant issues). Try doing this with a laptop (full off-road navigation):



And then I can use it with Lightroom/Photoshop for photo management, or Office for word processing and for presentations at meetings etc; it is my mobile PC. All of this fits into a small laptop satchel, which previously just held a laptop; but now accommodates the tablet, its keyboard case, charger, mouse, notebooks etc, with room to spare.

That's why I really love my tablet PC and the additional peripheral ports that are severely lacking in Apple, Android and lesser tablets; full USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 ports, SD port, ethernet port, VGA port and SIM card port just make it so much more versatile. Total weight of tablet alone, 0.825kg, with keyboard cover, 1.3kg. But all of this came at a much lower cost than the Surface Pro current price.

There is a very good argument supporting business/work tablet PCs, it's just a pity that it has taken so long for them to get traction, as they have been over-shadowed by the social networking tablets that Apple and Android have been pushing.