Comments on: Acer: Please Microsoft, just don’t make Surface too cheap

By: Xuanlong

Xuanlong — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 04:03:00 +0000

Acer has a valid concern here. Microsoft can afford to buy market share, taking a loss on each Surface sold, to compete with Apple and Android tablets.

By: dsp4

dsp4 — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 10:43:00 +0000

Not gonna happen. They’ll probably sell the RT around $379, just a bit cheaper than the iPad, but not so much that it *feels* cheaper.

By: Gregory C Newman

Gregory C Newman — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 10:11:00 +0000

To gauge what Microsoft may charge to sell it’s Surface tablets one must look at the cost that OEMs have charged for devices with the same Hardware components. for instance a Motorola Xoom Tablet with 32GB storage New I saw prices from 230 to 550 dollars. The Asus transformer with 16GB storage costs 350 to 467 dollars. these Tablets are 10.i android tablets so a Microsoft “surface” Windows RT should cost 300 to a max 500 dollars or an average of 400 dollars. that is not a bad price for a Windows RT with the Keyboard cover included. I look for a Windows RT to cost 450 to 550 dollars with the Keyboard cover included. I look for the Microsoft Surface Pro to cost 800 to 1100 dollars because it is a Tablet PC which is a higher class device than an average Android or Apple I pad which do not use a full PC rated OS. We will soon see what they cost soon I hope Microsoft sells their surface as low as they can even if they make LOW dollars profit on them so Microsoft can get into the tablet market. in fact unfortunately that is what Microsoft must do just to get into the Tablet market!

By: john1of9

john1of9 — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 07:12:00 +0000

Apple never has to worry about upsetting hardware companies like Acer. This will put Microsoft at a disadvantage again. All the hardware companies like Acer will complain, if Microsoft introduces the surface at a low price to get a foot hold in the market. Microsoft will be forced to introduce the surface at a price the hardware companies set, not Microsoft.

By: Sam Wagner

Sam Wagner — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 20:44:00 +0000

$299 is likely close to or under production cost per unit. Microsoft could afford to do this just to gain market share, however traditional oems obviously couldn’t do this because the hardware is where they make their money.

By: Mack Knife

Mack Knife — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:23:00 +0000

Please ACER, make better stuff and you won’t have to worry.

By: AmiRami

AmiRami — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:20:00 +0000

Microsoft stated in their presentation of the Surface that their pricing would be on par with other tablets. I don’t think they are going to introduce an artificial price gap after makign a statement like that to the press.

By: pfizerdiamonds

pfizerdiamonds — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:28:00 +0000

The RT version needs to be priced to directly compete with the Nexus 7. If Microsoft wants to compete they will need to either make the price more attractive than competition or kill with new features. I think RT is meant to compete on price with Android tabs and the Pro version will be aimed to the usual PC market. Perhaps they could give me a deal to get a WP8 to go with my new surface tablet?

By: amoyer

amoyer — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:21:00 +0000

They should price the RT at 299 and make shock waves with the Surface. Screw the PC name brand makers, it’s time for them to get on board and realizes they put out crappy over priced products any ways. 299 would undercut even some Android devices and definitely undercut the iPad (2 inferior products.) This would also make RIM do something with the 10″ Playbook’s price.

By: Sorten Borten

Sorten Borten — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:10:00 +0000

“Inexpensive” is the word you were looking for in your title. “Cheap” is Acer’s specialty.

By: Andrewlh

Andrewlh — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:04:00 +0000

Acer’s president is really coming off as a whiny little kid. I already didn’t like their products, now I don’t even like their president as a person.

By: n11

n11 — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 16:01:00 +0000

Don’t worry Acer, nobody will ever make products as cheap as yours.

By: Eleeflyguy43

Eleeflyguy43 — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:16:00 +0000

legacy devices are hard to let go and acer is asking Microsoft to help them ease into the market that Apple is already gaining momentum on….. evolution is a bitch…Jibs had the gumption to tear everyhting apart and start from scratch. i think the pc industry needs to do something similar to jump start it into the next phase. Acer – stop trying to salvage ypur netbook business

By: Harry the Antenna Guy

Harry the Antenna Guy — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:13:00 +0000

If M$ prices their product high, it will be another “also-ran” just like the Zune.

By: bibleverse1

bibleverse1 — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:10:00 +0000

The price has to be competitive. Too cheap is a relative term. They dont want to make the HP Touchpad mistake or Blackberry Playbook of pricing.