Microsoft's Surface tablet could be dirt cheap, if fresh rumours that claim the upcoming tablet will cost as little as the Google Nexus 7 prove true.
Engadget cites an "inside source" that was apparently present at Microsoft's recent TechReady15 conference, where the beans were supposedly spilled on how much the Surface would cost to buy.
The price was reportedly revealed to be $199, which is how much Google's magnificent 7-inch offering is priced in the US. Over here, the Nexus 7 costs a delightful £160 for the 8GB version -- a price that, if Microsoft could match it, would make its kickstand-sporting tablet nigh-on irresistible.
But is it remotely possible that Ballmer and co would release a tablet with such a low price tag? The Nexus 7 is so cheap that Google is hoping to make cash on things like movies, music and app downloads more than the devices themselves.
There's also value in flogging a tablet at low, low prices, even if you don't make any money back at first, because once customers are invested in your app store and signed up to all your services, they may be more likely to buy a follow-up gadget.
Microsoft's Surface tablet is bigger than the Nexus 7, which could mean it's more expensive to actually make, so there's potentially more to lose.
The Surface will run Windows RT (though there's also a Pro version if you're interested), meaning you'll only be able to install software through Microsoft's own app shop. It could make a chunk of change that way, but would it be enough to cover costs?
Microsoft has remained cagey on the pricing issue, saying only that the Surface is "expected to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel ultrabook-class PC".
While I'd love to see the Surface costing less than £200, I can't see Microsoft going for it. Were I a betting chap, I'd guess Microsoft would follow other tablet makers in pricing its wares to match the iPad, which could see the Surface costing about £400.
Would you pay that much for an unproven operating system though? Stick your thoughts on how much the Surface should cost in the comments or on our Facebook wall.
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Comments 9
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anonymous 15 August, 2012 17:38
what about the pro version?
anonymous 15 August, 2012 22:21
If they try to match the iPad on price, they will lose badly, as the OS is an unknown to most. Look at what happened to HP with its Touchpad!
anonymous 16 August, 2012 00:40
Microsoft will succeed if god wills. It has the most recognized OS on the planet - Windows. I do not know what the guy above is talking about. HP Touchpad was unknown yeah but not Windows.
The system is sleek and more responsive then any previous release and the hardware looks cool. Consumers will buy it for £400 let alone £160 as it will become the iPads major competitor. (IT HAS MORE SOFTWARE or ''apps'' THEN THE iPAD WILL EVER HAVE)
anonymous 16 August, 2012 01:15
Ah but will it demonstrate the standard issues of BSOD, crashes and progressive slow-downs as the registry fills up? If they manage to get the price well below the IPad it'll be able to compete. If it's the same it'll fail miserably. I'm writing this on an IPad 2 given by work and although it's been used a lot for casual web browsing the platform is inappropriate for actual work, and even Apple's renowned "reliability" has failed miserably with this device with over 30 apps that won't update and constant crashes from safari and now chrome (though less often with the latter).
These devices are an "extra", you don't need them to make phone calls on and you don't need them to do work on, a proper netbook or ultra book (or AMD-based alternative) is the solution there. Asus transformer is the closest I've seen to usable for real work. Think google has actually pitched the nexus tablet at the correct size and price point for a consumer friendly media consumption device (stupid to not fit a micro SD slot though). Could see a bit of a price war between asus type android tabs and microsoft's surface lead devices in the £250-350 price range for people who want it to do some light work as well as a consumption device/shiny toy, a lot of that will be down to how well each recreates the word/PowerPoint/excel type environment and matches it to a decent price.
Think the post above sounds extremely nâive to the role of a "premium" manufacturer like apple hat creams off 50% profits (not on the iPad granted but on most of their other product ranges) - other manufacturers have got to offer the same seamless experience, design, "cool" ethos etc AND massively improve on it in order to command the same prices OR have to offer something completely different -like not have ing a walled garden - something that always used to be a strength of Microsoft and windows' ability to run on a wide range of hardware. However they seem to be going rapidly down the app-store monopoly route...think that is going to spell doom for them in the long run if they manage to lock developers out and remove their other selling point - the good range of well-made software that runs in windows,
We'll see if they're still around to make a windows 2020 edition or not.
anonymous 16 August, 2012 08:06
"IT HAS MORE SOFTWARE or ''apps'' THEN THE iPAD WILL EVER HAVE"
Uh... wrong ?
I'm no apple fan, but Windows ARM version won't run *ANY* app built for previous x86 / x86_64 version of windows. Microsoft will release its ARM version of Office and some other popular programs, but they're starting from scratch. Both iOS and Android currently have more compatible applications.
anonymous 16 August, 2012 08:27
It will have to be cheap to sell any.
baeta 16 August, 2012 17:00
if it was at the 160 mark, i would consider it- just as a nice addition to my nexus 7 :-)
anonymous 16 August, 2012 22:36
Surface costing about £400.==============If it does it wil fail
anonymous 17 August, 2012 13:16
windows on a tablet and cheap,massive sucess.