Windows Surface for US$199 according to Engadget

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urban

487 posts

Ultimate Geek

#107638 15-Aug-2012 14:32

http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/14/microsoft-surface-199/

If this is true... I will surely be lining up for one.

[Moderator edit (MF): hyperlinked. Please folks, hyperlink is so easy...]

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1168 posts

Uber Geek

#672866 15-Aug-2012 14:53

Agreed, at that price I'll be interested.

I've said before I wasn't much of fan of Surface. I think the Asus Transformer series does something similar on better hardware.

But if US$199 equates with about NZ$430 to NZ$450 as with the Nexus 7, then one will be on my shopping list.

The thing is that this is a rumour, and there are plenty of good reasons for it not to be true.

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

trig42

5811 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#672869 15-Aug-2012 15:05

It does sound almost too good to be true.
Though if this is a false rumour, MS would do well to stamp on it because they will piss a lot of people off by saying nothing then releasing it at $300+

A press release saying that the Surface RT will NOT be $199 is all it would take.

mattwnz

20157 posts

Uber Geek

#672879 15-Aug-2012 15:12

crackrdbycracku:But if US$199 equates with about NZ$430 to NZ$450 as with the Nexus 7, then one will be on my shopping list.? ?

$199 US is only $250 NZ. But then you have to add on GST which takes it to $290, and then frieght and probably extra margins for importers and retailers, would probably take it closer to $400NZ

trig42

5811 posts

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ID Verified

#672886 15-Aug-2012 15:19

It would fly at $399. $349 would be better.

mattwnz

20157 posts

Uber Geek

#672888 15-Aug-2012 15:22

It has to be cheaper than the ipad which it is competing against.

crackrdbycracku

1168 posts

Uber Geek

#672896 15-Aug-2012 15:34

Anything comparable to the Nexus 7, $199 in the US and $439 here, will have it flying off the shelves. Straight currency conversions aren't really much of a guide to the likely sale price.

Even if you are not going to be using the keyboard it is still a 10" tablet.

Even at NZ$450 it is way cheaper than the cheapest iPad, $729 at Noel Leeming. It isn't 'half the price' but it isn't far off.

The bigger question is if this is anything more than hot air. Google is rumoured to be barely breaking even on the Nexus 7 and Surface looks like it would cost more to build.

Maybe the idea with this 'leak' is to generate interest and some positive press for Win8.

Hmm, guess they can tick that box.

Didn't anybody tell you I was a hacker?

kyhwana2

2566 posts

Uber Geek

#672902 15-Aug-2012 15:43

trig42: It would fly at $399. $349 would be better.

Nah, given the N7, it'll probably end up more like $400-$450.

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oxnsox

1923 posts

Uber Geek

#672903 15-Aug-2012 15:45

Hows about MS are trying to stop people making other tablet purchasing decisions by 'leaking' a low cost???? The device is still 2 1/2 months away...'just in time for Christmas'.

Also gives them space to fly this kite and find out what folk are thinking value wise. They don't actually have to post a firm price until much closer to launch, and right now they would probably want people to Focus on the 'Surface' rather than a possible new ipad offering

wasabi2k

2096 posts

Uber Geek

#672910 15-Aug-2012 15:55

US$199 for a 10 inch tablet with built in keyboard case vs $199 for a 7 inch tablet without.

They will be taking a heavy financial hit to sell them at $199 surely.

billgates

4705 posts

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Trusted

#672914 15-Aug-2012 16:06

The only way I see this selling at $199 is with some sort of subscription model like Xbox music and Xbox movies just like Xbox sells for $99 in US with Xbox live gold subscription. Even at $499 this is better than the iPad. Quad core CPU, NFC built in, Ultimate build quality, 32GB instead of 16GB, dual MIMO WiFi antennas.

Edit - personally believe that this will sell bwteen $349 to $449.

Do whatever you want to do man.

heretohelp

360 posts

Ultimate Geek

#673013 15-Aug-2012 19:58

wouldnt touch an RT version i would wait for an X86 version atleast then you can install what ever you want and not locked down to the stupid microsoft rules about what can be installed

Hu? did i do that?
16Mb (EDO RAM), K6-II processor, 2Mb of onboard graphics. 32k dial up modem. 12 speed CD ROM. 5¼-inch floppy drive. 500Mb HDD.

wasabi2k

2096 posts

Uber Geek

#673021 15-Aug-2012 20:28

in which case you aren't in the market for a tablet - you are in the market for a laptop replacement.

It is pretty clear that RT is an iPad equivalent, complete with walled garden.
Pro is an ultrabook with removable keyboard.

heretohelp

360 posts

Ultimate Geek

#673023 15-Aug-2012 20:32

wasabi2k: in which case you aren't in the market for a tablet - you are in the market for a laptop replacement.

It is pretty clear that RT is an iPad equivalent, complete with walled garden.
Pro is an ultrabook with removable keyboard.

not at all, the windows tablets will be coming out with x86 using windows 8 rather than windows 8(rt)
versatility of a laptop but portability of a tablet ;)

Hu? did i do that?
16Mb (EDO RAM), K6-II processor, 2Mb of onboard graphics. 32k dial up modem. 12 speed CD ROM. 5¼-inch floppy drive. 500Mb HDD.

mattwnz

20157 posts

Uber Geek

#673035 15-Aug-2012 21:17

billgates: Ultimate build quality, 32GB instead of 16GB, dual MIMO WiFi antennas.

Edit -? personally believe that this will sell bwteen $349 to $449.

You can't say it has a better build quality, because it isn't even for sale yet, and the one shown is just a concept model. We also don't know how well it works, and how reliable it is. The ipad has succeeded and proven itself in those areas, and being all metal and glass it has a very good build quality

nathan

5695 posts

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Inactive user

#673036 15-Aug-2012 21:17

heretohelp: wouldnt touch an RT version i would wait for an X86 version atleast then you can install what ever you want and not locked down to the stupid microsoft rules about what can be installed

stupid Microsoft rules?

mate its an ARM device it doesn't run X86 apps because it can't not because Microsoft doesn't want it to

both Windows 8 and Windows RT support Modern Windows 8 style apps being side loaded without having to go through the Windows Store

Windows RT is a specialised device rather than a General Purpose PC, its great that people have choice

Windows RT is a preconfigured system on certified hardware, with long battery life. Thin, light, and sleek.

Commonality & shared sode with Windows 8 and compatible with most peripherals

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