Not so tough times for Microsoft and Surface

Microsofts not dead yet folks. Where are the Three Amigos when you need them.

.Microsoft has sold 400,000 Surface Pros since launch, according to a Bloomberg report.
That's not a bad start for a very pricey tablet -- starting at $899 -- considering that the Windows 8-based Pro launched only about a month ago.

More at the source

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57574468-75/microsoft-surface-pro-sales-hit-400k-in-a-hurry/

 

[chrisa]

Hi there
There's "Lacklustre" demands for Ferraris too if you go by these traditional methods of measurement.

Just because a market is small doesn't mean to say it's non existent or even not profitable.

Cheers
jimbo

At the same time, new devices(especially with the much higher price point) typically tend to take time to really build with the general public. 400K in a month is a great start for a product that is $1K+ out the door and only in 2 territories.

 

[Ray8]

@chrisa

You need to be clear, rather than saying Surface Pro, as that's a Billism. However, you over-estimate the desire of the common man to own a tablet that can run full Windows programs. It's simply a fact of life that they don't and never will. The world of apps, provided by the likes of Apple and Android, are more than enough for the vast majority of people.

All that Windows 8 tablets will do is replace some, but not all laptops (not by a long shot). There are still significant functional advantages of a laptop over a tablet, even those with a detachable keyboard, for them to retain superiority. Just one example is the weight imbalance of a tablet with lightweight keyboard vs a laptop.

Don't forget, the tablet and lightweight laptop market seems to be sitting anywhere between 10'-13". With a laptop, you have much greater engineering and design versatility. Consider also that designs for paper-thin, flexible, screens are well underway, and think of what you can do with one of these attached to a platform that contains all the hardware, keyboard, trackpad and whatever else. The screen could potentially be any size and attached to a small form-factor platform. It would make a tablet look somewhat passé.

 

[jimbo45]

@chrisa

You need to be clear, rather than saying Surface Pro, as that's a Billism. However, you over-estimate the desire of the common man to own a tablet that can run full Windows programs. It's simply a fact of life that they don't and never will. The world of apps, provided by the likes of Apple and Android, are more than enough for the vast majority of people.

All that Windows 8 tablets will do is replace some, but not all laptops (not by a long shot). There are still significant functional advantages of a laptop over a tablet, even those with a detachable keyboard, for them to retain superiority. Just one example is the weight imbalance of a tablet with lightweight keyboard vs a laptop.

Don't forget, the tablet and lightweight laptop market seems to be sitting anywhere between 10'-13". With a laptop, you have much greater engineering and design versatility. Consider also that designs for paper-thin, flexible, screens are well underway, and think of what you can do with one of these attached to a platform that contains all the hardware, keyboard, trackpad and whatever else. The screen could potentially be any size and attached to a small form-factor platform. It would make a tablet look somewhat passé.

Hi there
Not forgetting also EYE technology which could be used in lots of cases as an alternative to TOUCH where people have a resistance to using touch devices or where for traditional applications where touch on a large external monitor isn't practical.


For instance having TWO screens I could see immediately the advantages of using EYE control to shift between the two displays rather than with a mouse (with large screen I wouldn't be able to use touch as the screen would b too far away to Swipe them to shift between the displays).

Cheers
jimbo

 

[Dave44]

Be fascinating to see what uncle Tim produces from up his sleeve. You might be surprised.

I thought you and Ray8 were Windows lovers, you seem to be more interested in what Apple does or might do than what Microsoft does.
I think Uncle Tim might be peeing in his pants right now, he's being attacked by Samsung and Microsoft at the moment. That's the reason he sent his mad little mate Phyllis Diller out to bad mouth Android and the Galaxy S4 the other day.

Everything they're doing is defensive, I don't think they've got anything left in the tank, they're iPad4 sales dropped by nearly 6 million in one month.

Oh yeah, Windows phone sales seem to be going up at a reasonable amount as well. The Apple world is shrinking.

that would explain there pure hate of windows 8

 

[chrisa]

@chrisa

You need to be clear, rather than saying Surface Pro, as that's a Billism. However, you over-estimate the desire of the common man to own a tablet that can run full Windows programs. It's simply a fact of life that they don't and never will. The world of apps, provided by the likes of Apple and Android, are more than enough for the vast majority of people.

I'll be as clear as I want to be. And I've never once said the 'common man' would flock to SP, nor would they need to. But you seem to think that the mobile market is *only* for the common man and only for one type of tablet. I also think you underestimate the number of people that aren't the 'common man' that only need to run apps when not flipping burgers or washing(rather than running) windows. There is an installed base of PC's that far exceeds that of even tablets, and there are plenty of those for whom the SP is an attractive purchase.

All that Windows 8 tablets will do is replace some, but not all laptops (not by a long shot). There are still significant functional advantages of a laptop over a tablet, even those with a detachable keyboard, for them to retain superiority. Just one example is the weight imbalance of a tablet with lightweight keyboard vs a laptop.

Really? Thats what you're going with? Weight imbalance lol? I presume you mean they're not good for the laptop position in your lap. But in that position, you simply use it as a tablet .

Don't forget, the tablet and lightweight laptop market seems to be sitting anywhere between 10'-13". With a laptop, you have much greater engineering and design versatility. Consider also that designs for paper-thin, flexible, screens are well underway, and think of what you can do with one of these attached to a platform that contains all the hardware, keyboard, trackpad and whatever else. The screen could potentially be any size and attached to a small form-factor platform. It would make a tablet look somewhat passé.

Pie-in-the-sky development is just that. If/when some fantastic tech hits the market, it can prove its viability. But by then, you'll be telling me about some other wonder-tech is just around the corner. This is what is here and now and the only question is how big the market will be. You claim its small, I have a feeling its going to be far bigger than you can imagine. Time will tell.

 

[HippsieGypsie]

Today is sponsored by the word "versatility". Not only is the SP a full PC it is the best form factor for versatility. Make it what you want at any given moment.

Edit:

I think the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 Convertible Ultrabook does a pretty good job at this as well. A little more price though.

 

[BillWindows]

But then:

Of course, the Pro's numbers pale in comparison with the iPad. Apple sold more than 20 million iPads in the quarter ending December.

Forget it Chrisa, if Surface Pro had sold 15 million it still would have been less than the iPad, and that's all our little chum here is worried about. Brick wall I'm afraid, you can talk till your blue in the face this guy knows better.

All this from a guy who actually bought a Windows tablet, he must have been the only one in the world to do that and that's why he's pist.

 

[Rickkins]

~yawn~... this latest tripe is based on the word of unidentified microsoft employees....

 

[BillWindows]

I'm here to help Windows.

 

[pparks1]

I can honestly say that I have used a ton of tablets over the years, and the Surface Pro is really the only one that has really fit me well. But that was to be expected, it's a full PC inside of a small box. I can run everything that I am used to running and I don't have to get used to anything new (as I am already used to Windows 8).

It's not 100% perfect, and it is rather expensive, and screen space (while looking great) is very limited and you need a flat surface if you plan to use one of the additional keyboards. I'm using it right now for this very post...(in keeping with full disclosure, I am using the optional Type cover keyboard...it's the only way that I can really be proficient with the device).

 

[SIW2]

There is an installed base of PC's that far exceeds that of even tablets

Yes, one would think MS would try and get them on side. I expect MS will have learned form the current situation, and they will try - maybe blue has something to help with that.

 

[chrisa]

There is an installed base of PC's that far exceeds that of even tablets

Yes, one would think MS would try and get them on side. I expect MS will have learned form the current situation, and they will try - maybe blue has something to help with that.

MS has always done a fine job in the PC arena(even if they are the company people love to hate). The SP is very complimentary to the PC, it doesn't tend to replace it unless you truly don't have a need for the power a full workstation PC provides. And the advancements they put into Win8 and the SP were carried over to the PC. They aren't Apple. For whom the PC's are the red-headed stepchildren of the company and have been left out to rot.

 

[SIW2]

It doesn't look like vast numbers of their existing 1.5-2bn desktop are rushing out to buy things with 8 on them.

Perhaps you hadn't noticed.

 

[chrisa]

It doesn't look like vast numbers of their existing 1.5-2bn desktop are rushing out to buy things with 8 on them.

Perhaps you hadn't noticed.

The key is they're keeping current on 8 and older PC's, even if it may not be bingo profits day 1. The economics of it are the economics of it. People with older workstation PC's are simply hanging onto them because there isn't enough of a reason to upgrade to newer workstation PC's. Even then, we're still only talking about a decline in growth, which still equates to millions of PC's sold.. all of those with at least some variant of Windows on them.

At the same time, if you got 7 running without a touchscreen on an old system, there isn't an overriding reason to go 8 until there is a reason to actually upgrade the hardware and become significantly faster. Thats the whole point of the SP, to provide an upgrade path that fills a need(taking your work mobile), while allowing people to get used to touchscreens with Windows and the benefits those provide.

And making money is making money.. they likely pulled at least half a billion dollars in sales from SP and its accessories in a month, off a device with a very high profit margin. That'll go along way to covering the stinker of RT and the 2 million of those devices(they really should cut the price to compete with the Mini and not the original iPad, to hopefully flush as much of the stock as they can) they'll be trying to move for a good while, while minting money with the Pro.

 

[BillWindows]

It doesn't look like vast numbers of their existing 1.5-2bn desktop are rushing out to buy things with 8 on them.

Perhaps you hadn't noticed.

If you say there's 2 billion desktops, that means 800 million XP users didn't rush out and buy Windows 7 either.

 

[SIW2]

Not certain about the 2bn - have seen it quoted - 1.5 bn is more often suggested.

Of course not all XP users upgraded to 7.

Not relevant to my previous post. Par for the course for you, Bill.

On the available information 8 is selling very badly. The mass market have not gone for it.

MS may well release something that is more palatable.

It will be interesting to see what name they use.

 

[BillWindows]

Not certain about the 2bn - have seen it quoted - 1.5 bn is more often suggested.

Of course not all XP users upgraded to 7.

Not relevant to my previous post. Par for the course for you, Bill.

You quoted the 2 billion, are you saying you plucked that out of thin air. if not all the XP users upgraded, there's even less incentive for Windows 7 users to upgrade as it hasn't been on the market anywhere near as long.

I know nothing's relevant unless its negative, I'll try to Bee more like the Beekeeper.

 

[SIW2]

No, I am saying exactly what is in the post you quoted. Can you read, or do you make everything up. The latter seems to be the case.

I don't know what you have against MS, but these repeated attempts to suggest all is well is not helping them.

 

[BillWindows]

No, I am saying exactly what is in the post you quoted. Can you read, or do you make everything up. The latter seems to be the case.

I don't know what you have against MS, but these repeated attempts to suggest all is well is not helping them.

I don't think what you're doing helps much either, tech bloggers come to these sites and use all this Anti Windows 8 as more fuel to the fire.
I could understand what you're doing if you just picked out a couple of points, but you seem to hate everything to do with Microsoft since Windows 7.

 

[SIW2]

The message needs to be loud and clear. There is a danger if it gets buried/dies down the assumption is we will put up with/get used to it,etc.

Aside from the UI causing such a problem, it will be interesting to see where MS are going with devices.

Perhaps they should pursue it and make their own branded range - cut out the oems who they seem to be blaming for their woes.

Doesn't need to be a huge range - Apple did well with that idea.

Go on Stevie B - go for it.