3 Reasons Why Microsoft Needs 3 Surface Tablets 266
CowboyRobot writes "It's looking like Microsoft is planning to replace its underachieving Surface tablet with two new products, but it may need three to finally have success with the Surface. Three tablets would provide an entry point and an upgrade path. Multiple Surface RT models would help Windows RT survive OEM skepticism. Microsoft needs device fanfare to accompany Windows 8.1, and to coincide with enterprise hardware upgrades. If the company releases one of the models before the end of the year, the device would arrive in time not only for the holiday season, but also to cash in on user interest in Windows 8.1, which will be released later this fall. Surface devices released next year, meanwhile, could capitalize on enterprise hardware upgrades, which are expected to pick up as Windows XP's April 8, 2014 end-of-service date nears."
What an understatement... (Score:4, Funny)
From TFA: "When Microsoft first priced its Surface tablets, it made a colossal miscalculation, assuming that it could simply follow Apple into the high-margin device business."
Aim at the other foot, Microsoft.
Huh? (Score:5, Funny)
but also to cash in on user interest in Windows 8.1
What user interest?
Re:WE'RE TOO BIG TO JUST "DOUBLE DOWN" ON FAILURE! (Score:5, Funny)
It takes BALLS the size of CANADA to TRIPLE-DOWN!
Prepare to be teabagged by Steve Ballmer. Heck, he may go for FIVE Surface tablets.
3 Reasons Why Microsoft Needs 3 Surface Tablets (Score:2, Funny)
1 - Landfills currently in danger of eroding, need rapid supplementary deposit.
2 - Microsoft execs have restriction period expire - and swapped for Intel stock last month. Now need to inflate H2 units shipped on CPUs.
3 - Three words: "BALLMER, BALLMER, BALLMER"!
Ob Python (Score:4, Funny)
King of Swamp Castle: When I first came here, this was all swamp. Everyone said I was daft to build a castle on a swamp, but I built in all the same, just to show them. It sank into the swamp. So I built a second one. That sank into the swamp. So I built a third. That burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp. But the fourth one stayed up. And that's what you're going to get, Lad, the strongest castle in all of England.
Re:Huh? (Score:3, Funny)
That one guy knows a guy who knows a guy who is totally stoked about 8.1!! I hear he also owns a Kin and a turd-brown Zune. He's still longing to find someone to squirt songs with.
I Know, I Know! (Score:5, Funny)
Why Microsoft Needs 3 Surface Tablets
Ooh, I know this one: Because that's how many they sold.
Re:What an understatement... (Score:5, Funny)
There's a juicy irony in calling Windows a new, untested OS. Microsoft have been plugging Windows for touch screens for decades now; they just suck at it.
I'm not disagreeing with your sentiment, by the way, just enjoying the phrasing.
Re:Nope (Score:5, Funny)
Microsoft was never known for tablets, they were known for desktop and server systems. I would agree with the market strategy if they were early adopters, but they were pretty late to the game. This puts them in the same spot as they were with Zune.
I'm not saying that it's impossible, but being late (years behind) the competition means that they should sit with 1 tablet and make it so awesome that iPad users claim it's competition. Trying to dump out 3 Surface devices without any demand is another failure in the pipes.
Let me ask another question to point out why 3 tablets really really bad. What do consumers want in an iPad or Kindle? Stability and Reliability are what matters the most to the consumers. With some, there is also the status of owning an "i" device, but not most. With an unproven device, MS should be treating this like Amazon and Kindle. Simple at first to gain consumer trust and market share, later expand to various features.
What MS is trying to do it appears is show that PCs are no longer their focus. This from a company where PCs are supposed to be their bread and butter. If they treated a tablet as a compliment instead of a replacement it would make much more sense. I would agree that many consumers will replace, but a huge number will remain on PCs for increased performance and options. Tablets can replace laptops much easier than desktops.
3 tablets should do it. (Score:5, Funny)
..Why Microsoft Needs 3 Surface Tablets: ...to cash in on user interest in Windows 8.1, which will be released later this fall.
Yeah you're right. 3 Tablets should about do it. There probably won't be as many as 4 people with "user interest" in Windows 8.1.
Re:microsoft store is nice (Score:4, Funny)
This explains why Apple has design patents on mobile devices without sharp edges that you could use to hurt casual employees.