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5 Challenges for Microsoft Surface Tablet

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PCQ Bureau
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It

is clear that Microsoft has put in a

great deal of effort into the design and performance of the Surface,

but Apple will not be too concerned about losing its edge in the

tablet market right now, and these are the reasons why:



  1. The

    iPad App store currently boasts about 225,000 applications right now.
    The Windows RT (the platform running on the Surface) currently only has

    a few confirmed applications (e.g Netflix and Office) that will be

    pre-loaded on it, but the Windows Store lags behind the App Store by a

    huge margin. Microsoft will face the imperative task of attracting

    major developers to develop “metro-style” apps for

    the Surface. A tablet without a good selection of applications will be

    a pointless purchase.

  2. Apple's

    branding in the tablet market right now is also unquestionable. Just as

    'Google' has become synonymous for searching online, 'iPad' has become

    synonymous with a tablet. Given the dedication of the Apple fan base

    and the popularity the iPad has, Microsoft's marketing team has a

    gargantuan task of creating a dominant brand identity in the market.

  3. The

    price of the Surface has not been officially stated, but it has been

    estimated that it will be close to the price of Intel-powered ultra

    books. The Apple iPad currently starts at Rs 30,500, lesser than the

    price of most ultra books in the market now. Microsoft needs to set a

    competitive price with the iPad to set the bar for its sales.

  4. Many

    of the OEM partners (e.g Acer, Dell, HP) have been angered by

    Microsoft's invasion onto their turf in the tablet market. While

    Microsoft previously just licensed their Windows 7 OS to run on their

    tablets, with the Surface, they are taking matters into their own

    hands. Will this strain the relationship between Microsoft and its

    partners? It already seems to have color="#000080"> lang="zxx"> class="western"

    href="http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2012/06/25/acer_comment_microsoft_surface/"> lang="en-US">touched a nerve with Acer



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