Hasta La Gadget!

Microsoft launched its curious Surface Pro hybrid earlier this week, but it turns out that actually trying to buy one was a bit more problematic than people had hoped. Folks looking to get their hands on one of the 128GB models had it especially rough — the $999 device sold out in Microsoft’s online store and some of the company’s retail outlets, not to mention some Best Buy and Staples locations.

Well, according to a tweet from Surface GM Panos Panay, the process of snagging a 128GB Surface Pro will be much easier in just a few days — he confirmed that units were on their way to Best Buy and Microsoft retail stores and that they would be ready to sell by Saturday.

Naturally, Panay didn’t let that tentative timeframe slip uncajoled — he engaged the masses on Twitter in an hour-long chat earlier today that also saw him tackle questions about the Surface Pro’s stylus and the company’s toe-tapping commercials. It wasn’t until a user named @EvanSturdivant pressed Panay on the generic statement about Surface Pro availability he had previously issued that the truth finally came out.

At first glance, all these reports of Surface Pro sell-outs seem to point to a considerable amount of demand for the product — Paul Thurrott noted the existence of “Apple-like lines” in some Microsoft stores — but we’ve since learned that the scarcity of the Surface Pro may have had more to do with limited supply than overwhelming demand. Both 64 and 128GB Surface Pros were apparently in short supply when some people called around asking for them, and one unlucky ZDNet writer had to schlep to a Microsoft Store 50 miles from where he lived because it was the only place he could find a 128GB model. As is usually the case, some people began to cook up some strange conspiracy theories (like one that claimed Microsoft deliberately limited supplies in order to say that it had sold out of Surface Pros), but I seriously doubt that’s the case. Sure, the whole rigmarole was a headache for people itching for a high-end Surface Pro, but the smart money’s on all this being an issue of mismanagement and not malice.

Get ready to toss out your brand-new Surface Pro by mid-2017 because that’s when Microsoft is cutting off support for the tablet. According to Microsoft’s Product Lifecycle webpage, the Surface Pro will see its “mainstream support” ending on July 10, 2017 — just four and a half years from now. Granted most people may move on by then, but what about those who want to keep the tablet longer?

Obviously, you’ll still be able to use the Surface Pro long after that date, but many owners of tablets and computers rely on regular updates, and some consider it to be something that they need before considering buying a new product. While four and a half years seems like a long time, there still may be customers who buy a Surface Pro two years from now when prices go down — those people will have an even shorter amount of time with the support lifecycle of the product.

Another interesting facet is that Microsoft usually applies “extended” support for business devices specifically, but the Surface Pro is currently listed as “Not Applicable” under that category, suggesting that while Microsoft advertises the new tablet as a business device, the company may be catering it more towards the everyday consumer in the long run.

Then again, cutting off support for a device a few years in isn’t anything new. Apple has done that with their older iOS devices, including the first-generation iPad and older iPhone and iPod Touch models, which were all shafted of an iOS 6 update. Then again, this may just be the nature of the beast, and the older devices get, the less likely they are to run more complex software as time goes on.

[via PC World]

Microsoft Surface Pro support ending July 2017 is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Microsoft‘s series of Surface advertisements have been interesting to say the least, and their latest one is no exception. It’s the company’s first Surface Pro advertisement to air on television, and while we get to see the tablet being thrown around in a room full of break dancers, we’re not quite sure if Microsoft hit the mark on this one.

Essentially the advertisement is a lot similar to past Surface ads we’ve seen, where the users perform cool trucks with the tablets, and in this case, breakdance with the tablet in hand. In the ad, we see what the Surface Pro can do for only a few split seconds, like take notes with the stylus in business reports, and even create music by plugging in a microphone.

However, the ad doesn’t really get the point across of what the main differences between the original Surface tablet and this new Surface Pro. Sure, tech enthusiasts like you and me (aka geeks) know the differences between the two, but everyday users really only know that the “Pro” tacked on at the end must mean it’s better, without knowing the details.

Of course, the tablet is definitely an improvement over the original model, and it seems Microsoft is just going to leave it at that. The Surface Pro is available now in stores and online with prices starting at $899 for the 64GB version and going up to $999 for the 128GB variant.

Microsoft Surface Pro ad will make you want to breakdance is written by Craig Lloyd & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Microsoft’s Surface Pro is apparently in short-supply, though whether that means the Windows 8 tablet is in hot demand or merely hardly seeded is already prompting controversy. The stylus-enabled slate – which we reviewed last week – went on sale over the weekend, only to be swiftly followed by claims that the larger, 128GB version had already sold out at multiple retailers.

Microsoft’s own webstore also shows the 128GB version of the tablet as out of stock, with no indication as to when it might return to availability. The 64GB model – particularly criticized for the relatively small amount of storage space left over, once the OS, preloaded apps, and default recovery partition have their way – is still listed as in stock.

That could indicate a surprising degree of demand for Microsoft’s own-brand tablet; however, as Business Insider flags, there are also counter suggestions that Microsoft merely failed to anticipate interest in the slate, and didn’t provide enough to retailers. Comments at Microsoft’s own Surface blog and at Reddit complained of minimal stock, with some Staples and Best Buy stores supposedly claiming to have only been provided with two units each, none of which were the 128GB variant.

If that’s true, it’s unclear whether Microsoft faced production delays or simply didn’t make enough to cater to demand. The Surface Pro – like its RT sibling, released last year – uses a precisely machined “VaporMg” case material, which could be causing the company problems in manufacturing. Meanwhile, initial reception to the $899+ price of the full-Windows tablet had been lukewarm, and it’s possible that Microsoft had been hedging its bets in case of minimal demand.

Meanwhile, pre-launch reviews also proved mixed. While we were impressed by the usability of the stylus and the flexibility of the Surface Pro’s battery life, others were less convinced.

Shortages do make for good headlines, but they don’t help contribute to Microsoft’s market share, and when the company is trying to compete with the best-selling iPad and iPad mini – both for end-users and for developer consideration – that’s not good news. Microsoft is unlikely to comment specifically on its supply chain, but whether the lack of devices is down to production mishaps, poor planning, or even artificial limits, the company is probably kicking itself now over the loss of goodwill incurred.

Did you buy a Microsoft Surface Pro at the weekend? If so, did you get a 64GB or a 128GB? Let us know in the comments!

Where are all the Surface Pro tablets? is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Since we published our Microsoft Surface Pro Review (read it here), many people asked if Photoshop did work with the pressure-sensitive stylus. First of all, let’s shed some context: the Microsoft Surface Pro and its stylus are capable of recognizing the pen’s pressure. I’ve been able to see that for myself by using software like OneNote 2003, and the pressure sensitivity works great (more pressure = thicker line). That’s true for other software like Microsoft Fresh Paint, AutoDesk Sketchbook Express and others. (more…)

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