*** The Official Microsoft Surface Thread ***
- Thread starter Bennie-Mac
- Start date
http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/14/microsoft-surface-199/
The rumour is running riot with this - would be GREAT if it were to be true. However at $199 for the Windows RT Tablet... sounds too good to be true. Still, one can keep hoping
The rumour is running riot with this - would be GREAT if it were to be true. However at $199 for the Windows RT Tablet... sounds too good to be true. Still, one can keep hoping
Cant see that happening. They would definitely lose considerable money on each sold... but it would be great if true because i'd love to see it murder all these other bad tablets around. They could always make up for the loss in app sales, but $199 is still very unlikely.
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Seems unlikely to me as well but if they do I will pre-order. Can't be any worse that the Nexus 7 fiasco :/
Soldato
Thinking about it, why is it unlikely? Sony and Microsoft make a loss on their game consols, but claw it back and go into profit with game licencing. By locking down the app market and claiming 30% at the same time, why can't they make a loss on hardware / OS?
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Microsoft might aim to make a loss on hardware but profit on apps. I hope so.
I agree with the Ars Technica article, while financially feasible it would be a commercial relations disaster as it would effectively push the other OEMs out of the WinRT tablet market before they've even entered it. Microsoft don't have the manufacturing muscle to take on the iPad and all the various Android tablets on their own, at least not yet anyway.
Soldato
Frustrating on the price front, if it's within my budget I'll wait, however I'm more and more tempted just to get a laptop and cheap tablet.
Why are they not drumming up interest on the web?
Why are they not drumming up interest on the web?
Seen the Asus Tablet 810? Looks like it's the best of both:
http://eee.asus.com/global/event/2012/computex2012/tablet-810.html
As for interest it's not out for atleast another 2 months so there's plenty of time.
Lenovo says $200 to $300 cheaper on Windows RT than Intel Windows 8 tablet to be released from them... http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/17/windows-8-rt-tablets-to-sell-for-300-less-says-lenovo/
This might ring the bell for rumour's claim that MS may released a $200 Windows RT.
My fingers and toes are crossed. I really want a tablet and trying hard to avoid the Nexus till Windows RT is out. Much more practical as a go between Laptop / Laptop replacement for my needs.
This might ring the bell for rumour's claim that MS may released a $200 Windows RT.
My fingers and toes are crossed. I really want a tablet and trying hard to avoid the Nexus till Windows RT is out. Much more practical as a go between Laptop / Laptop replacement for my needs.
If Surface RT is to be offered to consumers at $199 then presumably Microsoft have some way of making the money back?
The app store argument doesn't work; they only take a 30% cut. If they lose $50 per unit they would need to sell ~$150 worth of apps to that user to break even. If they lose $100 per unit they'd need to sell ~$300 worth of apps to that user. Not going to happen.
That leaves a subscription model. It's entirely plausible that they could offer the Surface on this basis. If it costs them $300 to manufacture each Surface unit, and another $50 to get it to market (distribution, support, retailer profit) then they're taking a $150 hit on each unit. To turn that in to a decent profit, they could offer it on a $10/month sub for two years; $90 per unit profit, plus app store revenue. They could also combine this with another service. Xbox Music is the best example here. A $20/month sub might work here, and they might decide it looks better value for money than the Surface alone.
As far as I can see, there's no reason why the same subscription model couldn't be offered to Asus, Dell, Lenovo and Samsung for their RT tablets. It would be a sensible move on Microsoft's part, negating the accusations of unfair play (from those OEMs). If this is the case, it would explain why Acer are so annoyed. RT is going to hurt their business.
The app store argument doesn't work; they only take a 30% cut. If they lose $50 per unit they would need to sell ~$150 worth of apps to that user to break even. If they lose $100 per unit they'd need to sell ~$300 worth of apps to that user. Not going to happen.
That leaves a subscription model. It's entirely plausible that they could offer the Surface on this basis. If it costs them $300 to manufacture each Surface unit, and another $50 to get it to market (distribution, support, retailer profit) then they're taking a $150 hit on each unit. To turn that in to a decent profit, they could offer it on a $10/month sub for two years; $90 per unit profit, plus app store revenue. They could also combine this with another service. Xbox Music is the best example here. A $20/month sub might work here, and they might decide it looks better value for money than the Surface alone.
As far as I can see, there's no reason why the same subscription model couldn't be offered to Asus, Dell, Lenovo and Samsung for their RT tablets. It would be a sensible move on Microsoft's part, negating the accusations of unfair play (from those OEMs). If this is the case, it would explain why Acer are so annoyed. RT is going to hurt their business.
While that is cool, the whole idea of folding a laptop shut is to protect the screen. That outer screen is going to get scratched to hell, surely?
Any news on when full fat Windows 8 tablets are going to start being released?
As far as I've read everything from Microsoft and the initial partners will be released October 26, with other manufactures having to wait till feb time.
Agreed on that asus, what is the point of two screens?
You have the other one which folds the way back and has pads that raise the keys of the table if you place it down and switches keyboard off. Much better and should be cheaper. Or get one where the screen detaches. I don't see why you would want two screens?
Agreed on that asus, what is the point of two screens?
You have the other one which folds the way back and has pads that raise the keys of the table if you place it down and switches keyboard off. Much better and should be cheaper. Or get one where the screen detaches. I don't see why you would want two screens?
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Both, again from what I've read. No official I don't know. But everything is saying win8 across the board should be out oct 26.
I want info and pre-order
.I need to know how much I need to safe and exactly what I want.
I'm about ready to smash this iPad, lousy stupid repair company damaging it, rather than repairing it. It'll cost to much to fix and I can't be without it. So have to persevere, even with its stupid phantom screen presses and broken 3G antenna.
One good thing, splash top is working on win8 apps
one of my essential apps on the iPad.
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I feel your pain. My laptop is dying, the Nexus 7 has too many issues for me to want to buy one, and I've wanted a proper Windows tablet since the iPad was first rumoured!
Get some preorders up so you can take my money, dammit!
Get some preorders up so you can take my money, dammit!