As has been discussed in the past, the general consensus among those in the tech industry seems to be that the only way to compete with the iPad is to make your product cheaper than it.
This was moderately successful for devices such as the Kindle Fire, which sold in respectable numbers, but fell off after a short amount of time, even though it retailed for only $199. If history is anything to base expectations off of, the Microsoft Surface may be in trouble. The Next Web is reporting today that Microsoft’s entry into the tablet market may cost considerably more than the iPad.
According to Matthew Panzarino, the cheaper of the two Surface models, the ARM version, could start at a whopping $599, which is $100 more than the entry level 3rd generation iPad. The Pro version, running Windows 8 rather than Windows RT, could start as high as $999. Pricing these tablets higher than an entry level iPad could spell doom for Microsoft, who will already have fierce competition from not only the likes of Apple, but Samsung and Asus as well.
It would be one thing if the Surface offered a lot of features that the iPad can’t match. Sadly, the only real differentiator is the flip out keyboard, which in reality, isn’t a whole lot more useful than any keyboard case you can buy for the iPad. That price, combined with the lower resolution screen, thicker form factor, and shortage of Metro apps at launch could prove to be disastrous for Microsoft.
While the Surface does include the keyboard cover with it, unlike any option with the iPad, I can’t see many consumers paying the difference for just an accessory. Keep in mind, these prices aren’t confirmed, but regardless, they are fairly representative of the price range we will see when the Surface launches in fall.
Source: The Next Web
