Microsoft to quit making surface products?!

[JackieInCo]

I read another article after I read about this on Google Now saying that the news about MS discontinuing the Surface line are just simply rumors. Sure they've had bad sales figures throughout every year and some good times too and the article said that's no reason for MS to quit.

I still have my SP3 and use it occasionally. Still works great and the battery only has about 50 cycles on it.

 

[convergent]

I read another article after I read about this on Google Now saying that the news about MS discontinuing the Surface line are just simply rumors. Sure they've had bad sales figures throughout every year and some good times too and the article said that's no reason for MS to quit.

I still have my SP3 and use it occasionally. Still works great and the battery only has about 50 cycles on it.

If you read the referenced article in this thread, you will see that it is all total speculation with no basis in fact. Its pure clickbait. The writer is drawing conclusions that aren't even logical. He's confusing Microsoft with Apple or something. Many companies do things that are not purely about big volume.

 

[apolloa]

I doubt they are going anywhere. The Surface line has been stuffed full of really fresh ideas and innovations, and, has in a way, utterly showed Apples laziness up like no other! Like the iMac VS the Surface Studio... And all Apple has done to respond is put workstation components into the existing iMac shell, change its colour, then price its starting price higher then the maxed out Surface Studio.....

Yeah I hope the Surface range goes nowhere as they are trying different things.

I currently consider the Surface range and the new Dell gaming PCs with AMD Ryzen chips as the most exciting PCs. For different reasons of course.. Apple doesn’t really come into it currently.

 

[Falhófnir]

If they were going to stop it, I doubt they would’ve just recently introduced a whole new product category (surface laptop) - the thing is, the products are designed to show off the software features Microsoft bring to windows. The Pro was touch interface and hybrid tablet design; the book was a higher end/ alternative design for those who needed more graphics power; the studio is a digital artist studio to show off the capabilities of the pen and dial and try and capture the digital artist market; the laptop was to introduce widows 10S. They have said they want each release to bring something new and innovative to the table, the surface pro (5th gen) has fanless Kaby Lake i5 (full 15W ultrabook) cpus and much better battery life. They’ve got an event coming up in London at the end of the month, where it’s rumoured they will release new hardware. I expect that might be a laptop variant running an ARM chip and full W10 on arm. These products have never been about making money for the company directly, they’ve been to point the way to the rest of the industry and interest people in Microsoft’s ecosystem - halo products as others have said.

 

[apolloa]

A lesson now to design and develop and advertise a product aimed at a target audience:

Apples iPad Pro range however I think are their most exciting ‘computers’, BUT I just had to try several times just to post this video in this post due to buggy iOS 11.... it’s an UTTER BUGGY MESS!! And it really seems designed to work on the iPhone X screen fist and foremost, and I posted this on my iPad Pro 9.6”..

Anyone who believes Apples devices just work are seriously fooling themselves these days, and it’s ALL down to Apples lack of care or quality with iOS IMO. Apples watch OS is better!!

 

[convergent]

A lesson now to design and develop and advertise a product aimed at a target audience:

Apples iPad Pro range however I think are their most exciting ‘computers’, BUT I just had to try several times just to post this video in this post due to buggy iOS 11.... it’s an UTTER BUGGY MESS!! And it really seems designed to work on the iPhone X screen fist and foremost, and I posted this on my iPad Pro 9.6”..

Anyone who believes Apples devices just work are seriously fooling themselves these days, and it’s ALL down to Apples lack of care or quality with iOS IMO. Apples watch OS is better!!

I've seen that video many times and it kind of gives me goosebumps ever time. I don't have a Surface Studio, but the Surface Pro is a mini version of the experience. Integrating touch into the user experience is something that I'd love to see Apple look at, but they are stubbornly sticking with the two platform, two UI experience model.

 

[spinedoc77]

If you read the referenced article in this thread, you will see that it is all total speculation with no basis in fact. Its pure clickbait. The writer is drawing conclusions that aren't even logical. He's confusing Microsoft with Apple or something. Many companies do things that are not purely about big volume.

It's actually worse than that. The oem CEO's that predict this are the ones with the most to gain if the surface line up of hardware went away. Granted there is definitely much confusion about Microsoft on why they are making the surface, and there is the baffling conundrum of why they don't apply the same logic to smartphones. Are they making the surface because they truly believe only they can make the best hardware for their software, like Apple and now Google believe? Or are they making the hardware to spur (more like embarrass) the existing oem's to better design? Either way seems to straddle a different end of the spectrum of pissing off the oem's, and if they are going that route they need to go all in or go home IMO.

Did I mention how incredibly baffling Microsofts mobile/smartphone strategy is? Or rather the lack of one, or for the more optimistic the constantly changing strategy involving continuum, windows bridge for ios, windows-S, etc etc.

 

[convergent]

It's actually worse than that. The oem CEO's that predict this are the ones with the most to gain if the surface line up of hardware went away. Granted there is definitely much confusion about Microsoft on why they are making the surface, and there is the baffling conundrum of why they don't apply the same logic to smartphones. Are they making the surface because they truly believe only they can make the best hardware for their software, like Apple and now Google believe? Or are they making the hardware to spur (more like embarrass) the existing oem's to better design? Either way seems to straddle a different end of the spectrum of pissing off the oem's, and if they are going that route they need to go all in or go home IMO.

Did I mention how incredibly baffling Microsofts mobile/smartphone strategy is? Or rather the lack of one, or for the more optimistic the constantly changing strategy involving continuum, windows bridge for ios, windows-S, etc etc.

I don't think its all that confusing. Microsoft wants to get as many computers out there with Windows on them as possible. If you think about when the Surface line appeared, there were OEMs making netbooks. They were all pretty crappy. I think the Surface line is there to push the thinking of what Microsoft's vision is for Windows, and they need to have hardware to do that. They are creating market segments. They aren't mass producing the stuff that already dominates the market. The Surface Pro, Surface Book, Surface Studio, and Surface Laptop all broke new ground in how the hardware/software worked together. Once these segments exist, they are happy for their OEM partners to compete. They even offer those products in the Microsoft Store alongside their own. The stores give them face to face customer contact on a daily basis. They interact with the customers and what they are selling. If you took all of this away, then how would they effectively compete with Apple for user experience?

 

[spinedoc77]

I don't think its all that confusing. Microsoft wants to get as many computers out there with Windows on them as possible. If you think about when the Surface line appeared, there were OEMs making netbooks. They were all pretty crappy. I think the Surface line is there to push the thinking of what Microsoft's vision is for Windows, and they need to have hardware to do that. They are creating market segments. They aren't mass producing the stuff that already dominates the market. The Surface Pro, Surface Book, Surface Studio, and Surface Laptop all broke new ground in how the hardware/software worked together. Once these segments exist, they are happy for their OEM partners to compete. They even offer those products in the Microsoft Store alongside their own. The stores give them face to face customer contact on a daily basis. They interact with the customers and what they are selling. If you took all of this away, then how would they effectively compete with Apple for user experience?

It's not confusing to me, at least on the surface side. I was just imagining how it may seem to consumers. You're reasoning (which is the same as mine) is exactly why the surface won't be discontinued. It's a vehicle for MS to sell more software, cloud services and eyeball gathering and that's true whether MS sells the hardware or someone else does.

 

[Yankee512]

Looks pretty legit to me.

https://www.theinquirer.net/inquire...ork-ridden-surface-line-up-by-2019-apparently

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/10/04/surface/

http://www.techradar.com/news/could-microsoft-kill-off-the-surface-in-2019

 

[spinedoc77]

Looks pretty legit to me.

https://www.theinquirer.net/inquire...ork-ridden-surface-line-up-by-2019-apparently

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/10/04/surface/

http://www.techradar.com/news/could-microsoft-kill-off-the-surface-in-2019

It's all based on the comments of 2 guys. The Canalys guy is an analyst, but he totally misses the point of the surface lineup, even after Microsoft has repeatedly noted their purpose is to improve oem quality. The other guy is the COO of Lenovo, of course they would have a vested interest in seeing a hardware competitor disappear.

Keep in mind it's sort of an off year. The 2017 SP doesn't offer much over the SP4, so I'm sure a lot are not upgrading, thus the downtick in the last year. But the benefit of having their hardware out there, making the oems up their game and also producing more sales of its software, is immense.

 

[convergent]

It's all based on the comments of 2 guys. The Canalys guy is an analyst, but he totally misses the point of the surface lineup, even after Microsoft has repeatedly noted their purpose is to improve oem quality. The other guy is the COO of Lenovo, of course they would have a vested interest in seeing a hardware competitor disappear.

Keep in mind it's sort of an off year. The 2017 SP doesn't offer much over the SP4, so I'm sure a lot are not upgrading, thus the downtick in the last year. But the benefit of having their hardware out there, making the oems up their game and also producing more sales of its software, is immense.

Completely agree, and also with the Surface Pro there are some compelling OEM offerings coming along... not the case yet with the other Surface-like OEM products.

 

[boppin]

As far as I know Microsoft no longer wants to build Windows 10 Mobile.

To Surface:

In Germany there are some people you are actually using Surface products, I've seen some in TV.

An AASP employee in Stuttgart said that he has seen a lot of people using Surface products. I have seen a young woman carrying a Surface in an Apple Store.

 

[spinedoc77]

Panos Panay states this is very far from the truth. http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-panos-panay-not-killing-surface-2017-10

I'm quite surprised that one analyst got Microsoft's business so wrong, remind me not to put any stock into any of his future analysis' on any other company.

Although just to play devil's advocate and keep the conversation going, Microsoft did kill it's own smartphone business. But they had a much larger loss with their purchase of Nokia, so it may have been something they felt their shareholders could never get past, or that they couldn't climb out of the hole. Still losing the mobile market is a dangerous move, even though they have most of their services available on other OS' it still doesn't mean that Apple or Android couldn't or wouldn't replace those services with their own. If anything that's exactly what is happening, ie Google search, Google assistant, Siri, Gdrive, iCloud, photos, messaging, facetime/Allo/Duo, etc etc. Without it's own vehicle to disseminate those products in the smartphone space MS is taking some risks IMO.

 

[convergent]

Panos Panay states this is very far from the truth. http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-panos-panay-not-killing-surface-2017-10

I'm quite surprised that one analyst got Microsoft's business so wrong, remind me not to put any stock into any of his future analysis' on any other company.

Although just to play devil's advocate and keep the conversation going, Microsoft did kill it's own smartphone business. But they had a much larger loss with their purchase of Nokia, so it may have been something they felt their shareholders could never get past, or that they couldn't climb out of the hole. Still losing the mobile market is a dangerous move, even though they have most of their services available on other OS' it still doesn't mean that Apple or Android couldn't or wouldn't replace those services with their own. If anything that's exactly what is happening, ie Google search, Google assistant, Siri, Gdrive, iCloud, photos, messaging, facetime/Allo/Duo, etc etc. Without it's own vehicle to disseminate those products in the smartphone space MS is taking some risks IMO.

If you want an article on this that doesn't block ad blockers - https://www.neowin.net/news/panos-panay-killing-surface-so-far-from-truth-its-a-tabloid-rumour

I called it click-bait... Panay called it tabloid rumor. Pretty similar!

 

[spinedoc77]

If you want an article on this that doesn't block ad blockers - https://www.neowin.net/news/panos-panay-killing-surface-so-far-from-truth-its-a-tabloid-rumour

I called it click-bait... Panay called it tabloid rumor. Pretty similar!

True true! But what is sad is that Microsoft has cultivated a distinct level of untrustworthiness among its most loyal fans. So to some extent you can't blame a rumor like this to not spread a little bit seeing Microsoft's history.

 

[convergent]

True true! But what is sad is that Microsoft has cultivated a distinct level of untrustworthiness among its most loyal fans. So to some extent you can't blame a rumor like this to not spread a little bit seeing Microsoft's history.

I don't think its their loyal fans that are spreading it. Its the media looking for click-bait, and of course we are on an Apple fan site. Anyone who is watching Microsoft would realize it didn't make any sense.

But at the same time, you never know what any company is going to do. I've seen executives make statements and then two days later they were gone. Twice in my career I took customers to a showcase reference customer site, and the literal next day the division they represented was sold off. Twice.

I thought about this more, and think about what the OEMs were doing before Surface. They were all having a race to the bottom. Mass producing low cost hardware. Microsoft has been able to help create more premium segments with Surface. More premium segments raises the total price and gives them more headroom for software; and better aligns with products to compete with Apple.

 

[apolloa]

True true! But what is sad is that Microsoft has cultivated a distinct level of untrustworthiness among its most loyal fans. So to some extent you can't blame a rumor like this to not spread a little bit seeing Microsoft's history.

Not on the Xbox side they haven’t! They are nailing it on that side...

 

[Feenician]

Not on the Xbox side they haven’t! They are nailing it on that side...

 

[StarShot]

Probably major speculation though

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.th...s://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/10/04/surface/

I bought the Surface Pro 4 about 5 months ago for traveling. I wanted the new MacBook, but it was over $300 more for something I would use maybe 2 or 3 times a year. At home, I love my 13" MBA, but find it a tad too big for traveling along with worrying about security (loss) while outside the country.

It boots fast (maybe faster than my MBA) and has more than enough power for my road warrior needs.

 

[apolloa]

View attachment 724845

I can’t see what your attempt at drawing is supposed to show? The graph is not clear enough? And sales are up for Xbox and they have sold more then Sony on more then one month. Plus they haven’t increased their online services charges and you actually get good games every month, not endless indie titles.
Microsoft are sitting very pretty in the games console world.

 

[Feenician]

I can’t see what your attempt at drawing is supposed to show? The graph is not clear enough? And sales are up for Xbox and they have sold more then Sony on more then one month. Plus they haven’t increased their online services charges and you actually get good games every month, not endless indie titles.
Microsoft are sitting very pretty in the games console world.

So you can’t see what it says but respond directly with Microsoft’s sales? Hmm.

 

[apolloa]

So you can’t see what it says but respond directly with Microsoft’s sales? Hmm.

No,I presumed that was the point of your post though??

 

[Phil A.]

Microsoft have denied the speculation that they're ending the surface line...

 

[convergent]

Microsoft have denied the speculation that they're ending the surface line...

Yes, that was mentioned back in post #39.