Microsoft’s had a revolutionary past few months under the leadership of new CEO Satya Nadella. In midst of its fresh outlook and more amicable attitude towards competitors, Microsoft has just announced its newest gadget, the Surface Pro 3, to go on sale this Wednesday for $799. Keep reading to learn more about the specs & incentives behind this new release.
What’s new about the Surface Pro 3?
Instead of downsizing the next Surface Pro, Microsoft has decided to create the tablet that can replace the laptop. The new Surface Pro 3 boasts of larger 12 inch screen compared to its 10 inch predecessors. To compensate for the increased size, the Surface Pro 3 is thinner and more lightweight. Many agree that its sleekness is comparable to an iPad – except that the Surface Pro 3 can function as an alternative to a laptop. According to Business Insider, the new Surface Pro 3 also runs on Intel’s battery efficient Haswell processors and can be configured to run up to Core i7 standards – a significant increase in speed. To learn more about what else is new, watch the video by The Verge above.
Is this a smart move for Microsoft?
According to Business Insider, Microsoft’s tablet business has not been very profitable at all. In October 2012, Microsoft generated about $2.64 billion in Surface sales. However, Apple made $7.6 billion from iPads during the March quarter alone. It is estimated that Microsoft has lost approximately $2 billion from the Surface business.
So why release another Surface Pro instead of killing the line altogether?
Microsoft’s Windows business is seriously threatened right now. The rise of Apple’s mobile software, iOS, Google’s mobile software, Android, and Google’s lightweight desktop OS, Chrome, have all diminished Windows. At one point, Windows was running 90% of personal computing devices; today it’s about 20%.
Microsoft needs to continue releasing and strengthening its tablets to prevent Windows from going into extinction. No one else will make a Windows tablet when there are so many other competitors in the market: Samsung & Android, Apple & iOs, etc. Microsoft does not have much of a choice; it cannot stand aside idly while others companies produce tablets using competing platforms. So to answer the question: Yes, it is a necessary move for Microsoft.
What do you think of Microsoft’s new Surface Pro 3? Do you think it is a promising addition to the Surface line? Let us know in the comments below. If you enjoyed this article, check out these related articles: Nokia X: A Stab To Microsoft’s Back?, 5 Fun Facts About Microsoft, Microsoft Pulls the Plug on Windows XP, and Microsoft Releases Office for iPads. And as always, be sure to check out Sprinklebit for more updates and the latest investment tips!
