Microsoft said to be planning Surface RT price cut

As early as next week, Microsoft could slash the price of RT models by $150, following a string of discounts to specific niches.

Read more at: Microsoft said to be planning Surface RT price cut | Internet & Media - CNET News

 

[strollin]

I have to agree with salim96, I wouldn't want an RT period. I very much dislike Metro apps which the RT is locked into. Without the capability to run legacy Windows apps the RT is of no use to me. I know this is wishful thinking but I'd like to see the Surface Pro price dropped by 50-60%, then I might have some interest in it..

 

[EMINENT]

I think MS priced it accordingly. You've got to think about the cost involved into bringing such a tablet to market from a company that has never done so. It was the halo product from MS itself. I didn't expect them to release a product undercutting their OEM's and definitely not much lower than an ipad in the same class of device with similar specs. Those that thought it and the Pro should've been lower should get laughed out of town in your face. It's absolutely preposterous to think you can get an i5 machine that weighs 2 lbs. running full Windows, with active digitizer, and 128GB storage for less than a giant ipod with the same memory.

No need to knock something you can't afford or can't understand.

I've come across a few that thought so. GTFO!

 

[Mystere]

Many people have no need to use specific desktop apps other than Office, and those people are perfect candidates for an RT.

Essentially, they are for people that could just as easily use an iOS or Android tablet, but also want genuine Office apps. You'd be surprised how many people that applies to.

The real problem with the RT is that it doesn't have as many of the same apps as are available on iOS and Android yet, but that's changing, particularly with 8.1. It opens up a lot of room for apps to implement more functionality in Metro apps.

I know many will be surprised given how much I like Windows 8, but I still use my iPad 2 as my primary tablet and a Galaxy S3 as my cell phone. I've resisted going to either a Windows phone or an RT tablet because neither are quite to the level yet that I would like (both hardware and OS wise). I have no doubt they will get there, and my next tablet and phone may well be Windows versions, but as of now they're not because my iPad and Galaxy are the best tools for me at this time. I have also resisted getting a Surface Pro or other x86 based tablet because the battery life on them is not what I want from a tablet. I may get a convertible netbook/tablet in the future though.

However, I do use Windows 8 exclusively on my home PC. And I do use some metro apps (though not many, but there are some metro apps that are useful). But I primarily use the desktop.

I fully understand that the desktop today is more functional than Metro. I also fully understand that this will not always be the case. I use metro for apps I like, and I use the desktop for apps I like. I have no problem using both at the same time.

 

[SIW2]

You'd be surprised how many people that applies to

Hard to tell. If MS Office on a tablet was that important - they might have sold a lot more of those rt things.

Surface pro was positioned quite well. Surface RT wasn't.

 

[Mystere]

I think Surface RT is a great product in theory, and it meets the needs of a large part of the public. Notice I said "needs", which is not the same as "wants". Many people don't need anything more, and won't use anything more, but they don't like the idea that they can't do something, even if they never would.

 

[Lomai]

Perhaps it doesn't look as if schools will be rushing to buy these things.

Good. If they want to teach the kids something, get them raspberry pi or similar.

No sense in buying a load of proprietary stuff and turning the kids into mini-metrotards.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
Office RT is just "Toy Office". Any serious user of EXCEL would find it almost embarrassingly frustrating to use. Now I don't care whether the OS runs on ARM architecture, or on the back of my dogs (Two "Rotties") but I want the applications to be fit for purpose -- and Office RT doesn't fit the bill.

They should at least have made Office RT run 100% like the standard office -- and I'm not an expert in these things but don't they have things like "Meta Compilers" to ensure that you can keep the source platform independent while translating the application to run on the final target desired system. That way you could indeed run standard windows apps on RT - but I suppose Ms never bothered with that idea.

(SAP has been mentioned in the past on these FORUMS -- they have a standard "Meta language" called ABAP which runs on all the platforms SAP supports and the source code is the same -- an ABAP specialist can work on the system irrespective if it's running on ORACLE, HP, IBM, Windows server, MySQL etc etc).

So they've lumbered themselves with a product that is essentially going nowhere -- and if you were a developer it wouldn't be a great "Career enhancing move" to get stuck with RT development either.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[acr731]

You have the point. I dont know whether MS did not rely on market prediction, or, they were too confident with the price?

Kevin

They were probably over confident. I imagine they expected people to flock to it and pay whatever price they put on it, much like the Apple sheeple do for Apple products. You can put the Apple logo on a roll of toilet paper and a $100.00 price tag and they will sell.

 

[jimbo45]

You have the point. I dont know whether MS did not rely on market prediction, or, they were too confident with the price?

Kevin

They were probably over confident. I imagine they expected people to flock to it and pay whatever price they put on it, much like the Apple sheeple do for Apple products. You can put the Apple logo on a roll of toilet paper and a $100.00 price tag and they will sell.

Hi there
reminds me of that time where the Pentagon was paying nearly 1,000 USD to some supplier for Toilet seats -- however I'll bet they got their money back by putting them on Ebay and charging people 10,000 USD -- these are now Historical Objects. !!!!l


The Pentagon Purloined Purchases | Cato Institute

Cheers
jimbo

 

[labeeman]

Why I won't be buying a Surface RT, even for $349

Over the weekend, Microsoft cut prices on its Surface RT tablets. The 32GB model now sells for $349, the 64GB model for $499.
Sorry, no sale.
On the surface (sorry), there's much to be said for a 10.6-inch tablet priced at $349 -- especially when you consider that the current-generation iPad has a 9.7-inch screen and starts at $499 (for the 16GB model). Even Google's Nexus 10 starts at $399, and that's also with 16GB.

Furthermore, that price tag doesn't include a keyboard. Every Surface RT ad Microsoft has ever done has shown the tablet with a Touch or Type cover, suggesting that right out of the box, you're good to go, workwise. You're not.
Ah, you argue, but the iPad doesn't come with a keyboard. The Nexus 10 doesn't come with a keyboard. Why hold the Surface RT accountable for the same omission? Because it's a Windows-powered tablet, one that's ostensibly designed with productivity in mind.
Indeed, Microsoft bundles Office Home & Student 2013 RT, a great suite by any measure -- but virtually useless without a keyboard. Alas, the Touch and Type covers still cost $119.99 and $129.99, respectively. So now you're still looking at around $470, minimum, for what I would call a properly equipped Surface.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-33153_7-57593758-10391733/why-i-wont-be-buying-a-surface-rt-even-for-$349