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Forums - Gaming - Microsoft Surface UK prices start at £400, New range of tablets priced competitively against iPad

Nsanity on 17 October 2012

CVG

Having yesterday revealed US Surface prices, Microsoft has detailed how much the upcoming range of tablets will cost in the UK.

The 32GB base unit is priced at £399, while the same model with a Touch Cover Keyboard will retail for £479. A 64GB version with Touch Cover Keyboard is available to pre-order for £559.

In comparison, a 16GB iPad 3 costs £399, a 32GB one £479 and a 64GB one £559 (Wi-Fi only models). Wi-Fi and 3G capable iPad 3s are £100 more expensive.

The baseline Surface model supports Windows RT, a customised tablet variant of the widely criticised Windows 8 operating system. Special 'pro' editions of Surface (with a more powerful processor and other miscellanea) will ship at a later date.

Microsoft has confirmed a Microsoft Surface release date of October 26, the same day as the Windows 8 release date.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/373384/microsoft-surface-uk-prices-start-at-pound400/



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007BondAgent on 17 October 2012

I have a feeling that this will get lost in the shuffle



binary solo on 17 October 2012

Good luck with that. Microsoft doesn't have as many slavish fans as Apple, and pretty much everyone else wants a device that's considerably cheaper than an iPad, like 50% cheaper, or less.

MS has a niche for the tablet market no doubt, but I'm not sure the Surface (or Win 8 tabs in general) is gonna be an iPad killah.



“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."

Jimi Hendrix

 

famousringo on 17 October 2012

The problem with the surface is that the SoC and display are competitive with the 18 month old iPad 2. A hundred bucks more either gets you more RAM, more storage, and an OS too young to have a rich ecosystem yet, or a top of the line display, GPU, and access to the leading tablet platform.

The Pros might make a better value proposition, but I'm not seeing a compelling differentiation for the Surface RT.

Edit: I should add that the problem with the "cheap OEM clone" theory of future domination is that the cheap clones are already here, and they run Android. Any Windows-based tablet is going to be more expensive because it will owe Microsoft a higher licensing cost, and the Android tablet ecosystem, weak though it may be, is still more mature than Windows RT's.

If Microsoft is going to change the game, it's going to be with full Windows 8 tablets.



"The worst part about these reviews is they are [subjective]--and their scores often depend on how drunk you got the media at a Street Fighter event."  — Mona Hamilton, Capcom Senior VP of Marketing
*Image indefinitely borrowed from BrainBoxLtd without his consent.

binary solo on 18 October 2012
kowenicki said:
binary solo said:
Good luck with that. Microsoft doesn't have as many slavish fans as Apple, and pretty much everyone else wants a device that's considerably cheaper than an iPad, like 50% cheaper, or less.

MS has a niche for the tablet market no doubt, but I'm not sure the Surface (or Win 8 tabs in general) is gonna be an iPad killah.

Windows 8 tabs will eventually outsell IPad. No question. When the other manufacturers start releasing cheap iterations they will fly. 

Is there market research evidence for this or is it the power of positive thinking? MS isn't wildly popular with a pseudo-religious following; except for a proportion of Xbox 360 fans; which isn't enough to outsell iPad. And at the low end of the market there's nothing that gives MS an advantage over Android. Not now that Andorid has an OS that's built with tablets in mind.

MS's maket advantage is at the enterprise level. Producing a tablet that integrates perfectly with Windows is very useful in business and government; if they can convince business and govt to upgrade from XP to Win 8. I'm miffed that my govt department didn't upgrade to Win 7 and I'm not really grooving on Win 8 for work purposes. I'd actually prefer our govt departments to move to Linux, like the NYSE, but MS has the govt's ear (and perhaps balls) so it's not likely to happen any time soon. But I understand the Intel Surface will be able to run Win 7 software and perhaps even XP, so with the Intel Surface enterprises still using legacy OSs might still get good integration.



“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."

Jimi Hendrix

 

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binary solo on 18 October 2012
kowenicki said:
binary solo said:
kowenicki said:
binary solo said:
Good luck with that. Microsoft doesn't have as many slavish fans as Apple, and pretty much everyone else wants a device that's considerably cheaper than an iPad, like 50% cheaper, or less.

MS has a niche for the tablet market no doubt, but I'm not sure the Surface (or Win 8 tabs in general) is gonna be an iPad killah.

Windows 8 tabs will eventually outsell IPad. No question. When the other manufacturers start releasing cheap iterations they will fly. 

Is there market research evidence for this or is it the power of positive thinking? MS isn't wildly popular with a pseudo-religious following; except for a proportion of Xbox 360 fans; which isn't enough to outsell iPad. And at the low end of the market there's nothing that gives MS an advantage over Android. Not now that Andorid has an OS that's built with tablets in mind.

MS's maket advantage is at the enterprise level. Producing a tablet that integrates perfectly with Windows is very useful in business and government; if they can convince business and govt to upgrade from XP to Win 8. I'm miffed that my govt department didn't upgrade to Win 7 and I'm not really grooving on Win 8 for work purposes. I'd actually prefer our govt departments to move to Linux, like the NYSE, but MS has the govt's ear (and perhaps balls) so it's not likely to happen any time soon. But I understand the Intel Surface will be able to run Win 7 software and perhaps even XP, so with the Intel Surface enterprises still using legacy OSs might still get good integration.

Bingo.

But I also see massive retail consumer take up. 

Yeah, but that's not going to be at the cheap end of town, so your reply got me confused. I certainly agree that MS has the potential to sew up the enterprise tablet market. But you also first have to convince enterprises to get into tabs in a big way. For me personally I don't want a tablet for work. I don't see the point. Even on my upcoming work trip to Japan I'm fine with laptop and phone.



“The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt.” - Bertrand Russell

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."

Jimi Hendrix

 

PlaystaionGamer on 18 October 2012
kowenicki said:
binary solo said:
Good luck with that. Microsoft doesn't have as many slavish fans as Apple, and pretty much everyone else wants a device that's considerably cheaper than an iPad, like 50% cheaper, or less.

MS has a niche for the tablet market no doubt, but I'm not sure the Surface (or Win 8 tabs in general) is gonna be an iPad killah.

Windows 8 tabs will eventually outsell IPad. No question. When the other manufacturers start releasing cheap iterations they will fly. 


Oh really?... Want to have a bet? 

Pits odd because android tablets are half the price and iPad still destroys them in sales.. The iPad mini is days away and will probably sit around £200.. But you still think people will pick windows tabs over iPads?.. 



Argh_College on 18 October 2012

i have no doubts that Windows 8 tablets will sell hundreds of milions this and next year alone but i dont think Surface will be a major seller for Microsoft...

More likely Samsung, HP tablets will be the big guns for Windows 8.

I can be wrong though. i still think Ipad will dominate sales above any other tablet. Ofc it will lose because their will be way more W8 Tablets than Ipads.



maverick40 on 18 October 2012
kowenicki said:
binary solo said:
Good luck with that. Microsoft doesn't have as many slavish fans as Apple, and pretty much everyone else wants a device that's considerably cheaper than an iPad, like 50% cheaper, or less.

MS has a niche for the tablet market no doubt, but I'm not sure the Surface (or Win 8 tabs in general) is gonna be an iPad killah.

Windows 8 tabs will eventually outsell IPad. No question. When the other manufacturers start releasing cheap iterations they will fly. 

There is no question about windows 8 outselling the ipad but the Surface will never beat the ipad. Once the Ipad mini releases, say goodbye to the other manufacturers Market share. The problem with the Surface is that, there is not one unique selling point that will convince a potential tablet owner to buy it over the Ipad. It is not even cheaper than the Ipad and it looks like shit in comparison.  Once all the other manufacturers like ASUS, Samsung and to a lesser extent Sony pack Windows 8 into their tablets, there will be a boost. 



PlaystaionGamer on 18 October 2012
kowenicki said:
maverick40 said:
kowenicki said:
binary solo said:
Good luck with that. Microsoft doesn't have as many slavish fans as Apple, and pretty much everyone else wants a device that's considerably cheaper than an iPad, like 50% cheaper, or less.

MS has a niche for the tablet market no doubt, but I'm not sure the Surface (or Win 8 tabs in general) is gonna be an iPad killah.

Windows 8 tabs will eventually outsell IPad. No question. When the other manufacturers start releasing cheap iterations they will fly. 

There is no question about windows 8 outselling the ipad but the Surface will never beat the ipad. Once the Ipad mini releases, say goodbye to the other manufacturers Market share. The problem with the Surface is that, there is not one unique selling point that will convince a potential tablet owner to buy it over the Ipad. It is not even cheaper than the Ipad and it looks like shit in comparison.  Once all the other manufacturers like ASUS, Samsung and to a lesser extent Sony pack Windows 8 into their tablets, there will be a boost. 

Nonsense. 

a.  it doesnt look like shit (but thats subjective anyway).

b.  its very nice hardware (that keyboard cover for instance).

c.  It is cheaper than the ipad.

d.  USP? ever heard of windows and office?  You know... those things that 90% of people use in their working life every day.

 

But this is all irrelevant.  MS will be happy enough from the profits from licensing as they with PC windows.  This is a whole new, huge, income stream.


wow man.. your pressed.

The selling point for MS is that keyboard... the IPad is £399.. the Surface is.. £399.. that keyboard cover is anoter £75 on top! 

but im not going to argue with you.. il just post those ipad sales numbers and market share a year after Win 8 (OBVIOUSLY) takes over.. :)