I think that $600 is the max that a non-cool tablet can command at the consumer level. I suspect that Microsoft is looking to achieve sufficient cool factor to get past this, or to appeal directly to the corporate customer.
They've been in the hardware subsidizing business for a number of years on the console side, so perhaps they have a decent idea of when to subsidize and when not to. For one thing, they will not have the level of lock-in on the tablet side that they have with consoles, which allows them to recoup from the subsidized losses. I like my Android running HP TouchPad because I bought it at a different price point. * * *ASB* *http://XeeMe.com/AndrewBaker* *Harnessing the Advantages of Technology for the SMB market… * On Tue, Jun 19, 2012 at 9:25 AM, Rod Trent <[email protected]> wrote: > Just to add a couple points. > > Legacy chipsets run warm, so Intel will definitely run warm. I have a > Win8 tablet, the Acer Iconia Tab WP500, and it has a vent, but the tablet > itself is designed well enough that it doesn't get too warm. BTW: the Acer > comes with a keyboard, too, and I love it. It's replaced any other laptop. > However, I still carry around two tablets with me. The Xoom and the Acer. > I carry both because there are apps on the Xoom I cannot live without. > The Windows market isn't there yet. > > Acer is $500. Which leads to the price issue. My guess is that Microsoft > will attempt to compete with Apple on all fronts. The Samsung tablet that > Microsoft has been issuing to employees averages around $1500. Tablets > should never be more than $500 in my opinion. There's a a price point that > only Apple die-hards will pay, and Microsoft needs to do whatever possible > to bring the tablet down to a reasonable, obtainable price. > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Matthew W. Ross [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2012 2:22 AM > To: NT System Admin Issues > Subject: Re: Microsoft Surface > > Good show, Microsoft. It was an excellent product launch event and PR. > > Some details are still missing. Mostly prices. > > The truly innovative features: > > 1. A super-thin Windows RT version, which competes directly with the iPad. > 2. A slightly thicker Intel Windows 8 Pro version. I suspect this will be > one of the best selling "tablets" in the enterprise. > 3. The new covers that are also keyboards/touchpads... inspired. How well > they wear is a question. > 4. The kickstand. Yes, it's something you wish it didn't have to have > attached to the device... but have you ever tried to use a tablet on a > table without having it propped up somehow? Personally, I approve. > > Questions still to be answered: > > 1. Is Microsoft going to be the only seller of Windows 8 RT tablets? Did > they just leave HP, Lenovo, Dell, etc, out to dry? > 2. What's the battery life? No mention of this always makes me worry. > 3. Vents on the Intel version. If it needs vents, it must get warm. > 4. Price, price, price. The world needs to know. Not be disappointed when > you let us know that the Pro version is $1000[1]. > > My workmate is very excited about the announcement. And if he knew what > the price was, he would already be saving for it. Personally, if I wanted a > laptop, i'll buy a laptop. If I want a tablet, I don't want to spend $500 > for something roughly the same size as a netbook. That why I bought my HP > Touchpad on firesale... the price was right. After using the 10" touchpad > for almost a year, I now know that I don't want something that big... so > the 7" tablets look better to me. And Android (using Cyanogenmod on my TP) > does everything I need a tablet to do. > > > --Matt Ross > Ephrata School District > > [1] Note: This is my guess on the price of the Intel Windows 8 Pro version > of Surface. > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Andrew S. Baker > [mailto:[email protected]] > To: NT System Admin Issues > [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Mon, 18 Jun 2012 > 18:01:34 -0700 > Subject: Microsoft Surface > > > > Is here: http://surface.com > > > > I had a chance to see the technology itself demoed back in 2010, and > > it was most awesome. And now, in mobile format. > > > > > > * * > > > > *ASB* *http://XeeMe.com/AndrewBaker* *Harnessing the Advantages of > > Technology for the SMB market… > > > > * > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ > > <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > > > --- > > To manage subscriptions click here: > > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > > or send an email to [email protected] > > with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ < > http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > --- > To manage subscriptions click here: > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > or send an email to [email protected] > with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin > > > > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ > ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ > > --- > To manage subscriptions click here: > http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ > or send an email to [email protected] > with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin > > ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ --- To manage subscriptions click here: http://lyris.sunbelt-software.com/read/my_forums/ or send an email to [email protected] with the body: unsubscribe ntsysadmin
