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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 touched a nerve with Acer.
5) Also, what kind of market
is the Surface supposed to satisfy? Is it a true tablet or an ultra
book, and is there a market demand for a hybrid? From the inclusion
of a stylus and the attached keypad, Microsoft may be hoping to
cater the tablet to business professional more than recreational
users. Let's hope that they have a clear target market for the
Surface.
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