Microsoft Marks Down Surface Pro Tablet by $100

[CommanderFrank]

Following the cuts made on its Surface RT tablets a few weeks ago, Microsoft has cut the price of its Surface Pro by $100.This price cut will be good only through August in the US and Canada and in a few selected Asian countries.

The Surface Pro discounts could be part of the usual push to empty inventory prior to the launch of new models. One analyst, however, suspects that Microsoft has overestimated demand for the Surface Pro, just as it did for the Surface RT.

 

[JoeUser]

Battery life. If MS had done better with this the Surface Pro I think would be flying off the shelves. Five hours isn't nearly long enough for any real on the go use.

I'll pick one up in a few years when I can find them for a couple hundred bucks used.

 

[Bamboo]

Battery life. If MS had done better with this the Surface Pro I think would be flying off the shelves. Five hours isn't nearly long enough for any real on the go use.

I'll pick one up in a few years when I can find them for a couple hundred bucks used.

Used? You may find them brand new at that price soon.

 

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

Yeah it's too bad Microsoft botched the Surface launch so badly because Surface Pro (minor 1st Gen faults such as battery life aside) kicks the crap out of any iPad or Android tablet in both functionality and operating system...

Between the dumbass gimped RT version that confused people, lack of good advertising, and too high of a price for the Pro, Microsoft took what was a real chance for them to enter, and dominate, the tablet market and royally fucked it up.

 

[DeathFromBelow]

Battery life. If MS had done better with this the Surface Pro I think would be flying off the shelves. Five hours isn't nearly long enough for any real on the go use.

I'll pick one up in a few years when I can find them for a couple hundred bucks used.

I think it's all about cost. I still don't understand how Microsoft completely missed the boat here, their experience with Netbooks should have guided their tablet strategy. Tablets have a niche as low cost media consumption devices. Microsoft tried to win over the iPad market by cramming a PC into the same form-factor and selling it as a productivity device, but Microsoft advertising to iPad users is about as effective as my dog barking up a tree at squirrels all day. Why buy a Surface Pro when you can get a fanless iPad or Android device that, you know, has a useful app store and well-developed OS?

They also scared a lot of people away by not staying on top of public perception of Windows 8. They should have done everything they could to make desktop users happy with it to ease the transition and generate good press (remember how they tried to make people feel involved with 7 development?), instead they ignored all the complaints and generated a lot of negative feedback. Windows 8 is tainted now, 8 devices will never sell well.

 

[Kor]

Someone is trying to clear house for a haswell refresh.

 

[dr.kevin]

people would rather pay $800 for a crippled ipad than a full featured surface

MS fails again at the tablet just like the first time a decade ago.

 

[jstnomega]

Someone is trying to clear house for a haswell refresh.

Should that fail to click w/buyers, that'll pretty much be the final nail in the coffin of the WINTEL juggernaut.

 

[DPI]

Yeah it's too bad Microsoft botched the Surface launch so badly because Surface Pro (minor 1st Gen faults such as battery life aside) kicks the crap out of any iPad or Android tablet in both functionality and operating system...

Says you.

 

[DPI]

They also scared a lot of people away by not staying on top of public perception of Windows 8. They should have done everything they could to make desktop users happy with it to ease the transition and generate good press (remember how they tried to make people feel involved with 7 development?), instead they ignored all the complaints and generated a lot of negative feedback. Windows 8 is tainted now, 8 devices will never sell well.

This precisely. The Microbots love to marginalize real complaints from desktop users as "a few people on a forum complaining about a missing start menu", not comprehending how widespread this backlash is.

Bottom line Windows 8 wasn't made for desktop users. They tried to put a tablet OS on the desktop to create a market for Metro apps, which would benefit their position in phones and tablets. Failed. People don't buy PCs to help Microsoft achieve Microsoft's financial goals. They buy them to do what they need them to do.

Put another way, Microsoft purposely removing the ability to disable Metro that existed in a regkey change during the developer preview, and restore classic UI elements like the start menu - some people think "what's the big deal". But would you wouldn't go into a pool with even one turd floating in it.

 

[BladeVenom]

Horrible battery life for a tablet, and it's still too expensive. You could get a Nexus 7, and a decent laptop for what a Surface Pro costs.

While there may be a market for it, it's not a big market at that price.

 

[ChrisM47]

Horrible battery life for a tablet, and it's still too expensive. You could get a Nexus 7, and a decent laptop for what a Surface Pro costs.

While there may be a market for it, it's not a big market at that price.

I think that is the main problem... it's an i5 Laptop Ultrabook in the Shape of a Tablet not an actual Tablet. Can't expect 24hour Tablet battery life with that kind of processing power sorry.......

 

[patric]

I think that is the main problem... it's an i5 Laptop Ultrabook in the Shape of a Tablet not an actual Tablet. Can't expect 24hour Tablet battery life with that kind of processing power sorry.......

Yep, the battery life is the biggest problem I have with the Surface Pro. I wish Microsoft had some soft of battery keyboard like I have with my Asus TF300 that nearly doubles the total charge.

I did just get the Type keyboard though and love it. It's very responsive and I can type on this just about as fast as I can on my Razor Blackwidow on my desktop. Too bad I got mine before they dropped the price by $100. That would've almost covered the cost of the keyboard.

 

[DPI]

Horrible battery life for a tablet, and it's still too expensive. You could get a Nexus 7, and a decent laptop for what a Surface Pro costs.

While there may be a market for it, it's not a big market at that price.

That's the problem. $899 and the damn thing still doesn't come with the keyboard, even though they always advertise this thing with the keyboard attached presumably to attract people that might be interested in a laptop. So another $130 for a flimsy keyboard to get the most out of it. And the terrible battery life defeats the purpose of the form factor. Double fail.

 

[Unknown-One]

Sounds to me like they're prepping to launch a Surface II with a Haswell-based processor (which should lead to a thinner and lighter tablet with much better battery life).

We might not even see a Surface RT for this next go-around, no point with how well Intel has optimized their x86 offerings.

 

[heatlesssun]

x86 CPUs have simply never been geared for tablets, it is a longstanding problem that is just now beginning to make significant strides to solution. The Surface Pro for what it is is a very nice piece of hardware but of course is it expensive and the battery life isn't there.

 

[JoeUser]

Yeah, I love the hardware of the Surface...easily the best looking tablet I've ever seen. It's the damn battery life...such a shame.

I don't know if I agree with the "x86 CPUs have simply never been geared for tablets"...this has been pretty well disproved by the vast number of x86 tablets out there that cool fine and run for hours and hours on a single charge.

 

[heatlesssun]

I don't know if I agree with the "x86 CPUs have simply never been geared for tablets"...this has been pretty well disproved by the vast number of x86 tablets out there that cool fine and run for hours and hours on a single charge.

The Surface Pro also runs for hours on a single charge, just not 8+. There really are no Core i5 tablets, at least not pre-Haswell, that are as light as the Surface Pro that really do any better with battery life.

 

[CreepyUncleGoogle]

HAH! I sooo called it in the thread about the $900 mrillions markdown/write-off thingey! Soooo called it! Nyah nyah heatless! I called it and you were like "Nope, it's just the RT," too!

 

[rudy]

Sounds to me like they're prepping to launch a Surface II with a Haswell-based processor (which should lead to a thinner and lighter tablet with much better battery life).

We might not even see a Surface RT for this next go-around, no point with how well Intel has optimized their x86 offerings.

If surface 2 is thinner it is going to be a double fail. Surface 2 needs to stick with the same size and if possible increase the battery size to any space left by a smaller heat sink.

Also MS should have slapped an atom processor in a surface pro model as an option.

 

[heatlesssun]

I called it and you were like "Nope, it's just the RT," too!

Microsoft, not me, only mentioned the Surface RT as the reason for the $900 write down:

(a) Includes a charge related to a fine imposed by the European Commission in March 2013 which decreased operating income and net income by $733 million (€561 million) and diluted earnings per share by $0.09. Also includes a charge for Surface RT inventory adjustments recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013, which decreased operating income by $900 million, net income by $596 million, and diluted earnings per share by $0.07.

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/789019/000119312513310206/d527745d10k.htm

Secondly, if you read the OP, this is a temporary sale, not a permanent price reduction. It's unlikely that enough Surface Pros were even made to account for much inventory given the price of the machine. The Pro is 6 months old, it's very common to see hardware that old to get a price reduction, even a temporary one, prior to the release of new hardware which is clearly coming. This is probably the first time in history that a six month old x86 device goes on sale and it becomes some kind of indication of product failure or a massive write down. This really is pretty much par for course with older hardware prior to the release of new stuff.

 

[heatlesssun]

If surface 2 is thinner it is going to be a double fail. Surface 2 needs to stick with the same size and if possible increase the battery size to any space left by a smaller heat sink.

There are a number of power options for Haswell. A thinner, lighter, much battery life device with solid performance might be possible.

Also MS should have slapped an atom processor in a surface pro model as an option.

Clover Trail performance really wasn't there for a solid x86 experience plus Intel had a very hard time getting enough Clover Trails into the field early on, so I don't think Microsoft wanted to go there. Bay Trail is a different story I definitely think that a Bay Trail Surface device should be in the line up.

 

[rudy]

lol lets be honest heatless looks like the experience didn't mean shit to anyone. Ya I get it, MS didn't want people to have a bad experience with their product but at the end of the day no one gave a shit about the experience. People either bought pro because they needed a tablet with x86 or they didn't for a bunch of reasons like it couldn't last on a battery. The total noobs who we all worry about the experience affecting never touched is because they took one look at the average battery life and walked away.

An atom CPU would have given those who wanted it a decent option.

 

[SGA76]

Why did they fail?
Easy, its been said.
People had such a negative experience with Windows 8 desktop that when they put the OS on a tablet where it belonged no one would touch it.
Battery life.
People that just wanted a small tablet to surf the web, read a book or check (not send) their email could snag a functional 7" android tablet for hundreds less.
If MS actually gave a rat's ass and LISTENED to their customers and spent half their advertising budget fixing their problems they could have had a smash hit but NO M$ knows best....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtVbX31Gsdk
gotta love that one....

 

[rudy]

Also I remember when it released how much discussion that was had about the battery life and I said back then MS should have sacrificed weight, and you and other disagreed. But the thing is now it seems pretty apparent all the sacrifice to keep it light was a total waste since it didn't make the device popular. Ultimately saving weight or playing to any other spec means nothing if the device is dead. Now had they included options for expanded batteries it might be OK but once again they didn't, all sealed up.

 

[Kelvarr]

If surface 2 is thinner it is going to be a double fail. Surface 2 needs to stick with the same size and if possible increase the battery size to any space left by a smaller heat sink.

Also MS should have slapped an atom processor in a surface pro model as an option.

HP's ElitePad has an Atom in it instead of an i5.

 

[heatlesssun]

If MS actually gave a rat's ass and LISTENED to their customers and spent half their advertising budget fixing their problems they could have had a smash hit but NO M$ knows best....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtVbX31Gsdk
gotta love that one....

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
During fiscal years 2013, 2012, and 2011, research and development expense was $10.4 billion, $9.8 billion, and $9.0 billion, respectively. These amounts represented 13% of revenue in each of those years. We plan to continue to make significant investments in a broad range of research and development efforts.

http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/789019/000119312513310206/d527745d10k.htm

I've never have understood this mentality that if Microsoft put its advertising dollars in R&D that that would somehow be a big deal considering their vastly larger R&D budget.

 

[heatlesssun]

Ultimately saving weight or playing to any other spec means nothing if the device is dead.

Weight and thickness are VERY important aspects in a tablet, particularly ones that can be written on with a pen like paper. Again, I'm not sure where this notion of the Pro not doing well is coming. For a device of this price it's probably done pretty well, the hardware is just old at this point.

 

[SGA76]

Apparently M$'s attitude on R&D was "This is what we want. The customer said WHAT? F#CK THEM! We know what's best for THEM!!"
Ignorance makes me call BS because 10.4 billion in R&D would have given MS a user friendly Windows 8 and better Xbox One design and marketing strategy.

 

[rudy]

Weight and thickness are VERY important aspects in a tablet, particularly ones that can be written on with a pen like paper. Again, I'm not sure where this notion of the Pro not doing well is coming. For a device of this price it's probably done pretty well, the hardware is just old at this point.

You said this when surface launched, and you say it now but as I said it failed miserably. I am sorry its just not true enough. We already know now that RT was a flop and MS sure isn't running out to tell people what a slam dunk pro is. I have seen less pros than RT in the wild. I think in time we will see that pro was a flop too.

No one can do any writing like a pen and paper if its dead. Its obviously not important enough to be light if it sacrifices the usability of the device.

 

[heatlesssun]

Apparently M$'s attitude on R&D was "This is what we want. The customer said WHAT? F#CK THEM! We know what's best for THEM!!"
Ignorance makes me call BS because 10.4 billion in R&D would have given MS a user friendly Windows 8 and better Xbox One design and marketing strategy.

I don't know why people are so quick to dismiss some information in these 10K reports and accept other information, like the $900 million dollar write down of the Surface RT that's clearly stated. In any case, falsifying a 10K that gets filed with the SEC is a serious crime and a complete breach of investor trust. At any rate an additional $1.4 billion, which is what Microsoft states in this 10K report as the marketing costs of Windows 8 and Surface, wouldn't have made any difference as far as user acceptance of Windows 8 goes. Some people just want a Start Menu and/or Metro off switch and that information comes at a much lower price than billions of dollars.

 

[bpmurrGT]

Someone is trying to clear house for a haswell refresh.

Bingo

 

[bpmurrGT]

You said this when surface launched, and you say it now but as I said it failed miserably. I am sorry its just not true enough. We already know now that RT was a flop and MS sure isn't running out to tell people what a slam dunk pro is. I have seen less pros than RT in the wild. I think in time we will see that pro was a flop too.

No one can do any writing like a pen and paper if its dead. Its obviously not important enough to be light if it sacrifices the usability of the device.

Actually the Pro has been doing pretty well for MS. There has been a lot of interested in the enterprise space. I did a evaluation of one for my company and outside of battery life enjoyed my experience. A Haswell powered device should bring it closer to iPad.

 

[heatlesssun]

You said this when surface launched, and you say it now but as I said it failed miserably. I am sorry its just not true enough. We already know now that RT was a flop and MS sure isn't running out to tell people what a slam dunk pro is. I have seen less pros than RT in the wild. I think in time we will see that pro was a flop too.

The Surface Pro was probably never made in very large numbers. How well do $1k PCs sell on average? The numbers of individual models at this price can't be very large.

No one can do any writing like a pen and paper if its dead. Its obviously not important enough to be light if it sacrifices the usability of the device.

Making a tablet thicker and heavier also sacrifices usability. 5 hours of run time on an Core i5 Ivy Bridge x86 device with a 1080P screen that's 2 lbs. and .53" thick isn't at all bad. But no, it's not good enough in comparison which much cheaper and less capable ARM hardware. Again, having been around x86 tablets for a long time, battery life in something thin and light has always been a problem and a solution to this problem will be a key development in x86 tablets.

 

[HoffY]

i was looking forward to the potential of a Surface Pro. But the limited abilities of it hardware wise and cost a little above what i wanted with the hardware it did give me.. meant i held off.

And i'm glad i did because the Panasonic 4k Tablet i found looks like it would be perfect. 20" Touch screen.. runs Win8 Pro x64. Upgradable RAM. possibly user changeable SSD (have to wait and see). But it checks the boxes nicely! And if its got what i want and gives me the ability to change things to what i want even if there isnt an off-the-shelf option means i'm happy to pay more for it to boot. If the SP did that. i'd have one.

 

[MostComfortable]

Yeah it's too bad Microsoft botched the Surface launch so badly because Surface Pro (minor 1st Gen faults such as battery life aside) kicks the crap out of any iPad or Android tablet in both functionality and operating system...

At that price you're better off getting a real notebook. Surface Pro isn't very good as a notebook and it isn't good as a tablet either, given that iOS has significantly more tablet optimized software.

Actually, it isn't only that Surface Pro isn't good as a notebook or tablet, it that it takes the worst aspects of both products and combines them into one thing. Not good.

 

[ikarinokami]

The pro is doing great. The article says that almost every analyst believes the pro is doing great. They interview the lone analyst at a no one cares website who thinks the pro didnt do great.

this is a price reduction because the new model is coming, companies do this all the time.

 

[dr.kevin]

MS needs to sell these at cost if they want to put a dent in the tablet market.

Most people want a tablet as a toy and will not pay more than $200.
Few people have any use for an $800 full featured tablet.

 

[Azhar]

Battery life. If MS had done better with this the Surface Pro I think would be flying off the shelves. Five hours isn't nearly long enough for any real on the go use.

I'll pick one up in a few years when I can find them for a couple hundred bucks used.

That's about my only gripe with my Surface Pro. If they had a Core i3 ULV option, I would have picked that over this Core i5 ULV. I'd probably get another 2-3 hours if it was Core i3.

My HP Folio 13 runs on Sandy Bridge Core i5 and gets about 7-9 hours of battery life depending on what I do with it, but I'm sure it also has a bigger battery than my Surface Pro does.

My other gripe is the lack of digital pen holder. I've purchased a bunch of Lenovo Thinkpad Tablet 2 for the company and I love the slot holder for it's digital pen. It runs nicely even though it's powered by the latest gen dual core Atom processor. Not to mention the Tablet 2 weighs only 500 grams compared to my Surface Pro's 3.2 pounds.

There needs to be more Windows 8 tablets with active digitizer screens. Surface Pro and Tablet 2 are the only ones that can use digitizer pens as far as I know. Surface RT doesn't.

 

[BBA]

Say what you want...but if I get this position I applied for before the end of August, I am buying one and the $100 just means the nice keyboard cover is almost free to boot.


If it happens, I'm eventually taking it apart and replacing the low cap mssd with a larger capacity faster version some time down the road.