Microsoft increases Surface tablet production
NEW YORK (AP) - Microsoft says it's increasing production of its Surface tablets and will sell them in more stores. Staples says it will start carrying them starting Wednesday.
The Surface is the first tablet Microsoft Corp. is selling under its own brand, and the company is promoting it heavily after its late-October launch. But reviews have been mixed, and there have been few signs that the tablet is flying off the shelves. So far, Microsoft has been selling it online and through its own stores.
Microsoft says other stores in the U.S. and Australia will now carry the Surface, and more countries will be added within months. Microsoft's holiday stores will stay in operation into the new year.
Staples says it will sell the Surface in two configurations, starting at $499. Both run Windows RT, a version of Windows 8 designed to run on tablet-style chips.
"Our plan has been to expand the retail presence for Surface after the first of the year. Based on interest from retailers, we are giving them the option to carry Surface with Windows RT even earlier," said Steve Schueler, Microsoft's head of retail sales and marketing.
The Surface is the first tablet Microsoft Corp. is selling under its own brand, and the company is promoting it heavily after its late-October launch. But reviews have been mixed, and there have been few signs that the tablet is flying off the shelves. So far, Microsoft has been selling it online and through its own stores.
Microsoft says other stores in the U.S. and Australia will now carry the Surface, and more countries will be added within months. Microsoft's holiday stores will stay in operation into the new year.
Staples says it will sell the Surface in two configurations, starting at $499. Both run Windows RT, a version of Windows 8 designed to run on tablet-style chips.
"Our plan has been to expand the retail presence for Surface after the first of the year. Based on interest from retailers, we are giving them the option to carry Surface with Windows RT even earlier," said Steve Schueler, Microsoft's head of retail sales and marketing.
I like the idea of this tablet, and I think they did a damn good job of putting it together.
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I have no issues with OS's being superceded, happens all the time. I don't think there are any barriers to upgrading the op at a later date. As to hardware becoming obsolete, what doesn't nowadays? For the expected life of the product, this will do fine for me, thanks.
I think a lot of folks are confused on Microsoft's strategy here. Are they doing this to kick start other OEM's to make better products and will abandon this strategy if it takes off or keep producing hardware alongside OEMs. It makes a big difference. If you buy a Surface today, will it be a fly by night product (thus a person will own the proverbial dodo bird of hardware) or will it have lasting power. Let me put this in real terms, if Microsoft abandons their device, I am sure they will not update the OS over time or provide stellar support for a defunct product. And before someone says they wouldn't do that, please keep in mind the Kin phone, Windows 5 and 6 phones, and MSN music.
 @surebreeze Microsoft is asking real people to trust them and buy their new product with real money. Been burned before by Microsoft when they discontinue and kick product to the curb
You would have thought they learned something from the Zune.
 @cyclops They learned a lot from Zune. The Zune hardware reaped nothing. The Zune SOFTWARE has reaped a lot. Have you ever used the software? In full disclosure I have an iPod Touch, an iPhone and an iPad. Yup, I drink the iKool-Aid. iTunes - SUCKS. The software is overly complicated, slow, bloated, and lacks some very simple options. If you have a 25K music library it is a God awful tool for managing large collections. The Zune software blows it away in ease of use, elegance, design, look and feel and speed. The iTunes 11 update adds features to iTunes that was in the Zune software 5 years ago. The Zune software features are now in XBox and getting high praise.
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So yes - Microsoft did learn a lot from Zune, even if the hardware of Zune has become the punchline of a joke.
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Oh, and go price out what Zune hardware sells for on eBay, you'll be in for a surprise.
 @Howard Beale  I don't understand why people hate iTunes so much.  I have 94GB...its fast, easy and works flawlessly.  I have no idea what you are talking about....plus I could play anything from my library to any stereo in the house years ago.  You just have to know how it works.
Who buys these things? Seriously, I can't think of a single reason for wanting to own one.Â
@jowsuf Me! We need a new computer really bad at home and I want something portable like a laptop that can be used anywhere in the house. All we will use it for is the internet (email, facebook, fantasy football, Netflix, Craigslist, etc) so I'm considering this instead of a laptop that weighs twice as much. I can see myself losing the keyboard.  : )
@dontneedheels You are describing an ultrabook that all major PC makers make with many model options in a broad price range. Significantly more powerful (and therefore more adaptable to changing needs and more enduring), and available for the same price or less, than the Surface, with a keyboard that cannot be lost (nor split at the seams, nor halve your typing speed, nor cost you another $100), with no requirement that you interrogate custermer service to ensure that you're not going to get some crippled, emasculated or otherwise defunctionalized operating system that locks you into anything other PC users aren't already locked into. If you went into a mall to go shopping, would you rather have $100 cash or a $75 gift card to one store? That's the choice when you consider a Surface.
Bolster embarrassingly mediocre sales of a product few people want and nobody needs by increasing production. Ballmer again, par for the course.