Disappointing that the keyboards are separate and so expensive. 

lokhor:

Disappointing that the keyboards are separate and so expensive. 

Ge0rge:

lokhor:

 

Disappointing that the keyboards are separate and so expensive. 

 

Is that not a common Microsoft ploy? Annoys me a little that something that adds so much usability to the device isn't included with it.

Yeah thats how it works with the Surface Pro as well. Completely daft. 

Ge0rge:

lokhor:

 

Disappointing that the keyboards are separate and so expensive. 

 

Is that not a common Microsoft ploy? Annoys me a little that something that adds so much usability to the device isn't included with it.

That criticism is unjustified. This is not a ploy as no cunning is involved. It is a very common marketing decision to not bundle at a price that forces too many prospective buyers to not buy their product.

Or do you object to Microsoft trying to earn a real (net) profit on the Surface line? It took a few years just to get a gross profit in 2015. Or would you rather they killed of the product line as had been threatened by Nadella in the past?

You can get cheaper 3rd party keyboards, but the're hard to source in NZ.

tripp:

Dairyxox:

Looks nice except the processor is too weak.

It should have something with a decent turbo boost like Core m3 or Core m5.

I currently have a samsung tab pro s (windows 10 tablet thing).  Cames with a keyboard and LTE/4g, 12" screen etc and it only cost $699.  After looking at the pricing of the surface go i think i will stick with the samsung.  The only thing better on the surface go is the keyboard.

 

 

Hammerer:

 

That criticism is unjustified. This is not a ploy as no cunning is involved. It is a very common marketing decision to not bundle at a price that forces too many prospective buyers to not buy their product.

 

Or do you object to Microsoft trying to earn a real (net) profit on the Surface line? It took a few years just to get a gross profit in 2015. Or would you rather they killed of the product line as had been threatened by Nadella in the past?

 

and yet so many other manufacturers include the kb as part of the price.
Yes it is justified criticism.

1101:

 

Hammerer:

 

That criticism is unjustified. This is not a ploy as no cunning is involved. It is a very common marketing decision to not bundle at a price that forces too many prospective buyers to not buy their product.

 

Or do you object to Microsoft trying to earn a real (net) profit on the Surface line? It took a few years just to get a gross profit in 2015. Or would you rather they killed of the product line as had been threatened by Nadella in the past?

 

 

and yet so many other manufacturers include the kb as part of the price.
Yes it is justified criticism.

 

My comment is that the criticism of Microsoft using a "ploy" is unjustified. A ploy is something like a child pretending to cry for some reason when they secretly intend to wring a special treat out of their unaware parent. We're likely to say that they have an ulterior (secret) motive. That's a ploy.

But even if I had meant the keyboard should be part of the price for the Surface range, there is ample evidence that this criticism is currently unjustified:

• You can easily get bundled prices in the current Surface range. Take a look yourself, e.g. https://www.microsoft.com/en-nz/p/surface-pro-essentials-bundle/932swnz0ht3k) and the Surface Go might be the same once it is released next month. I expect a bundle will appear on their website at the release date of 26 August.
• The Surface Go is pitched and priced against the Apple iPad which has never come with a keyboard as standard. It would make no sense to always include a keyboard if the pricing would not be competitive with the iPad.
• Up to half of Windows tablets don't provide a keyboard as standard. Right now the average is near to 40% (e.g. Microsoft ~90%, HP ~25%, Apple 100%) and doesn't drop below 20% at any screen size from 8 to 16 inches. You might say the Surface range are laptops but Microsoft always chose the high-end tablet niche to reduce competition with their Windows OEM customers. On the other hand, starting last year, their marketing does start to refer to the Surface range as laptops and not just tablets. Maybe that's why bundling with a keyboard is a standard option now.

We've got two Surface Pros and we do think the keyboard price is high but I don't think that justifies continuing prejudice against Microsoft when people aren't even bothering to check on the current situation.

P.S. Edited to qualify tablets as Windows tablets to exclude Android etc. I provided the Apple stat just for comparison.

Hammerer:

 

Ge0rge:

lokhor:

 

Disappointing that the keyboards are separate and so expensive. 

 

Is that not a common Microsoft ploy? Annoys me a little that something that adds so much usability to the device isn't included with it.

 

That criticism is unjustified. This is not a ploy as no cunning is involved. It is a very common marketing decision to not bundle at a price that forces too many prospective buyers to not buy their product.

 

Or do you object to Microsoft trying to earn a real (net) profit on the Surface line? It took a few years just to get a gross profit in 2015. Or would you rather they killed of the product line as had been threatened by Nadella in the past?

 

Given the reliability, yes I think they should kill them off. There are SO many other suitable and actually better alternatives in my view. 

3puttssuck:

tripp:

 

Dairyxox:

 

 

 

Looks nice except the processor is too weak.

 

 

 

It should have something with a decent turbo boost like Core m3 or Core m5.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I currently have a samsung tab pro s (windows 10 tablet thing).  Cames with a keyboard and LTE/4g, 12" screen etc and it only cost $699.  After looking at the pricing of the surface go i think i will stick with the samsung.  The only thing better on the surface go is the keyboard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow, $699. Where did you get it at that price?

It was off 1-day, kind of wish i got a couple at that price.  Very handy machine for traveling etc