Why the Surface isn't selling

[disolitude]

First of all, here is the IDC report - http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS23926713#.UQry86U701J

"just shy of 900,000 units"

So I don't know where you're getting 680-750K.

Also -

“Number two vendor Samsung experienced 263% year-on-year growth, shipping nearly 8 million combined Android and Windows 8 tablets during the quarter to grab 15.1% of the market, its same market share total from the previous quarter.”

This isnt just Android and Apple sales, with Microsoft sucking the big one with Surface. Windows 8 probably composes a noticeable number of Samsung and Asus tablets sold (10-20% would be my guess). Asus was Selling those RT Vevo Tabs all over the place as was Samsung with their Atom based and i5 x86 tablets.

900K is nothing to scoff at, especially since its a 500 dollar product with limited availability. It’s clear that Microsoft doesn’t want the Surface to sell at a loss but is using it to raise awareness for Windows 8. They probably make more off a Samsung Win 8 tablet license sold than selling the Surface themselves for 500 bucks.

If microsoft sold 2 million tablets last quarter through all OEMs which is likely if not too low (Oct 26 - Dec 31 cause Win 8 launched late) that is 0 - 2 million growth for Microsofts ecosystem.

Sounds pretty good if you ask me.