It’s not that often when you see a hero product cut down to size, so to speak, less than a year into its lifespan in the wild. What we’ve got here is a reaction to Microsoft’s low sales numbers in both the Surface Pro and Surface (with Windows RT) sales in the first segment of […]
Acer hasn’t exactly been coy when it comes its opinion on Microsoft’s Surface tablet, but Lenovo believes that it can beat the tablet with some good old fashioned competition. CEO of Lenovo, Yang Yuanqing, voiced his opinions on the company’s latest earnings calls, saying, “Although we don’t like Microsoft providing hardware, for us, it just adds one more competitor,” when asked about Surface.
Lenovo certainly seems confident of its abilities, going on to say that it would beat out Surface in hardware: “[They’re] just one of our many competitors. We are still confident that we are providing much better hardware than our competitors including Microsoft. They are strong in software, but [we] don’t believe they can provide the best hardware in the world. Lenovo can.”
Still, Lenovo didn’t totally call out Microsoft, saying that the company still had a strong relationship due to the Windows partnership: “To be frank, we’re not that worried about [Surface]. Microsoft is still our strategy partner. We are very optimistic on the Windows 8 launch so we will fully leverage that to launch our new products.” The company recently launched its ThinkPad Tablet 2, designed to run Windows 8 on an Intel Atom processor, with HSPA+ and LTE connectivity options, plus security and fingerprint support.
Meanwhile, the company is reportedly planning on releasing an ARM-based convertible tablet later in the year when Windows 8 officially launches. The idea was first shown off with the IdeaPad Yoga, a convertible ultrabook that allowed the screen to fold back on itself so that it could be used like a tablet. The ultrabook is running one of Intel’s ULV Core processors as well as Windows 8 Pro. The ARM version, however, is reportedly running one of NVIDIA’s Tegra 3 processors on Windows RT.
[via CNET]
Lenovo plans to beat Surface with superior hardware is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Google and ASUS shocked consumers when they revealed that the Jelly Bean-based Nexus 7 tablet would retail for $199, but is Microsoft poised to do the same come October? That may be the case according to a report from Engadget. Microsoft was coy on the pricing details for its Surface tablet, with one report suggesting the 32GB model would retail for $599. According to Engadget’s sources, launch details suggest that the tablet will retail for as low as $199 on October 26th.
Microsoft recently held a session at its TechReady 15 conference that detailed the exact launch plans for the Surface tablet. Surface for Windows RT is planned for release on October 26th, which lines up with previous information, but the shockingly low price is new. Surface for Windows RT reportedly features a similar quad-core Tegra 3 processor to the one found inside the Nexus 7, but the construction materials along with the internals are vastly different.
If you believe the $199 price point, then Microsoft will be attacking the market held by the Nexus 7 along with other budget tablets rather than facing the iPad head-on. That may be the smart play, as it puts Windows RT tablets into the hands of consumers and captures mindshare in the process, something that Windows Phone has failed to do so far. Just look at the recent Nexus 7 launch or the HP TouchPad firesale and you’ll see the virtues of aiming for a lower price point, with consumer scrambling to get their hands on the product.
Having said that, can Microsoft really afford to release the Surface at that price? The Nexus 7 was a careful balancing act between affordable internals and pricing, with Google admitting that it essentially sells the tablet at cost. In comparison, Microsoft is using premium materials, highlighting the magnesium chassis at its Surface event back in June. Not only that, but OEMs are already reportedly unimpressed with Microsoft’s tablet attempt, believing the company blind sided them at the announcement. Will Microsoft risk further damage with a super cheap tablet that partners may not be able to compete with once license fees for Windows RT are added into the mix? We’ll have to wait and see if this one pans out, but take it with your daily dose of salt in the meantime.
Microsoft Surface reportedly aiming for $199 is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Microsoft is taking quite a risk by producing and releasing its own Windows 8-based tablet. While the company maintains that it isn’t trying to compete with its OEM partners, Acer has been vocal about the move, with reports also indicating that manufacturers weren’t exactly thrilled with the Surface announcement. In a new document submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission discovered by the New York Times, Microsoft admitted that the releases of its own tablet could weaken support among its Windows partners.
Microsoft details in the document how its “Surface devices will compete with products made by our OEM partners, which may affect their commitment to our platform.” Microsoft maintains that Surface is meant to spur interest in Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets, although OEMs were miffed by the announcement as they reportedly had no foreknowledge of the event.
Not only that, Microsoft allegedly met with various OEMs to check in on their tablet plans, revealing the Surface a few short weeks later, perhaps a subtle dig at the plans that partners had for their own hardware. Microsoft’s way of handling the situation has reportedly left partners with a bad taste in their mouths, although plenty of hardware from the likes of ASUS and Samsung remains on track for a release later in the year.
[via Engadget]
Microsoft admits that Surface may hurt partner relations is written by Ben Kersey & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Microsoft has enlisted a new “out-of-the-box thinking” tsar in an attempt to break into new markets, with new Strategic and Special Projects VP Mark Penn responsible for a crack team of imagination warriors. Currently CEO of PR firm Burson-Masteller and polling specialists Penn Schoen Berland LLC, Penn’s abilities in tracking new and untapped consumer trends are what Microsoft says it’s most keen on harnessing, particularly in the aftermath of its first ever public loss announced yesterday.
“Mark has an incredible background in research, demographics, marketing and positioning and a proven history in developing unique insights that drive success,” Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement. “With a strong set of products and an exciting pipeline for the next year, Mark’s experience and out-of-the-box thinking will help us more effectively reach new consumers and grow market share.”
Penn’s “cross-functional team” will report directly to Ballmer, with Microsoft citing his “experience in strategic development, branding and positioning” as being invaluable “to develop and deliver breakthrough ideas that meet consumers’ changing and dynamic needs” and broaden the company’s product portfolio. Recent Microsoft departures from its unusual fare include the new Surface tablets, which directly challenge Windows 8/RT OEMs with own-brand slates.
“I’m looking forward to applying my diverse skills and experience to some of the biggest new challenges in technology today, and there is no better place to do that than Microsoft” Mark Penn, Corporate Vice President, Strategic and Special Projects, Microsoft
It’s not the first time that Microsoft has looked to creative individuals to spur development that its operation as a whole might miss. The new Strategic and Special Projects team will go some way to replacing Pioneer Studios, Microsoft’s skunkworks project responsible for the ill-fated Courier concept, Zune PMP, KIN phones and various aspects of Windows Phone and Xbox, and which Microsoft axed last year.
Pioneer Studios had been led by ex-Entertainment and Device CTO J Allard, who left Microsoft in 2010. Allard’s push toward Microsoft-branded hardware, such as a Courier tablet focusing on content creation in an attempt to sidestep the market currently dominated by Apple’s iPad, supposedly met with considerable opposition within Microsoft, but Penn’s new role would seem to indicate a softening of that software-centric stance.
Microsoft enlists “Special Projects” chief to replace shuttered skunkworks is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
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