If this is true...
Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 2:50AM OK, cards on the table. If the Microsoft Surface is sold for $199, as engadget is suspecting, would you buy one? I would.
We'll admit to being a little blown away when Microsoft launched the Surface -- it was an impressively polished tablet that we had heard barely a whisper of leading up to the mysterious launch event. But, there was one thing that we were still left wondering: how much would it cost? Now, with Acer getting all in a huff about competition and Microsoft conceding that some OEMs might be a little upset when this thing ships, we might just have an idea for you. According to an inside source, a session was held at Microsoft's recent TechReady15 conference in which all the launch details were laid out. If things go according to the plan detailed then, the Surface for Windows RT tablet will be launching October 26th -- no surprise there -- at a compelling price of $199.
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Reader Comments (8)
In a hot second. This fall is going to be VERY interesting in the gadget wars.
Not now as budget is constrained but otherwise yes.
It would certainly make me consider it down the line but I'd still hold on for the software.
If Microsoft bring it to market at that price I'll buy three! I very much doubt that will happen though...
I wonder if engadget is trying to queer the launch by putting an unrealistic price out there so that the real price seems expensive. They've never been known for their impartiality, although they'd pretty much have to be working for Apple to go that far.
If it's true then MS is being extremely aggressive to gain a foothold in the tablet market. They have the money to take a loss on the hardware, especially if they manage to tie the tablet into their new app store.
Even if the tablet is priced more normally I've been considering selling the Prime and getting a Surface. However I'll likely wait until XDA Devs get a tablet dual-booting Windows 8 and Android. Whichever device they get it working on is the one I'll have. It'll presumably have to be the Surface as it'll have a legit copy of Windows 8 RT, and MS isn't selling the OS OEM. They're locking the bootloader, which means breaking the DMCA to dual-boot it, but I don't care about that.
The other possibility is getting the full Windows 8 tablet, which will cost way more and won't run Android. There are positives but overall probably not enough to go that way.
Much like the gimped nexus 7, I am not paying for a device without LTE or 3g.
I'll play with one in the store just to see what they're like, but unless it blows me away, I have no interest in buying one.
I'll buy one for that price if the spec is really good once it's been hacked so you're not locked into Microsoft's app store... or even hacked to run Android.!