“Microsoft’s foray into full hardware production with its Surface tablet, unveiled Monday, is only temporary, says Acer founder Stan Shih,” Fox News reports.
“Widely observed to have taken a page from Apple’s playbook, Microsoft may actually be channeling Google, indicates Shih, who believes the Windows maker ‘has no real intention to sell own-brand tablet PCs,’ according to a report in Taiwan-based Digitimes,” Fox News reports. “‘Microsoft hopes that marketing its own-brand tablet PCs will encourage vendors to offer Windows 8 tablet PCs and thereby help expand market demand for the product line,’ [Shih said] according to the report uncovered by CNET. ‘Once the purpose is realized, Microsoft will not offer more models.'”
Fox News reports, “Of course, this is just one vendor attempting to analyze Microsoft’s strategy with limited information. In fact, Microsoft more or less kept its partners in the dark, with some discovering the breaking news along with everyone else at Monday’s event. ‘No senior executives heard about the news last week,’ an Acer executive told Reuters. ‘We’re quite surprised.'””
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: How can they quit when they haven’t even started selling tablets yet? At this point, Surface tablets equal vaporware, Microsoft’s #1 all-time product.
How about also reporting stories from sources other than Fox News, MDN.
Not that it really matters for this kind of story to look at things through tinted glasses.
The original source was “Digitimes.” Fox, and probably many other news organizations, picked it up; second paragraph above, third line, italics. See it now!
Following up, vanfruniken: We all know that ANY news from the New York Times, NBC, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NPR, the Washington Post, et al., is little more than anti-capitalist propaganda, MDN . . . so be careful there too!
Ditto…
And I guess, all of those other news outlets around the planet, totally accessible by the internet are “anti-capitalist” propaganda outlets as well. All hail Fox News, the one and only source of the truth on the planet!
What’s the weather like on that planet?
WINDOWS 8 IS COMING. All mac’s going back to there places where they belong under the desk, the bottom of the tech department storage closet, or a very lonely corner collecting dust. Cheer up mac fans your desktops going to look lovely. Again.
Thank you for such a well-reasoned and persuasive viewpoint.
Looks like you finally consulted your spellchecker.
You realize that people said the same thing about Windows 7, right?
It won’t be Macs that get marginalized by the disaster called Windows 8, son.
Remember Vista…?
Yea windows Vista. I bet it sold more than all MAC system Version in the last decade. not bad for a disaster Aaahh.
keep saying troll all day fool ur a marginalized TART. your mommy fart and you came out.
What’s that “windows” you keep referring to?
Cute little troll. Windows Vista “sold” because it was the default on many PCs sold at retail. No way boxed copies of Windows Vista outsold “MAC” as you so adorably like to call the clearly superior operating system and computer.
Nice try, but fail. Now back under your bridge.
@Shock Me
But he forgot to consult his grammar checker!
Is it WinBLOWS or WinDOZE x 8?
Surface is going to the furnace.
‘Once the purpose is realized, Microsoft will not offer more models.’
Yes, that business model has worked out so well for Microsoft.
Look at the market share garned by the Zune and KIN.
No, it won’t. Microsoft is known for doggedly keeping efforts alive well past their expiration date. Zune, anyone?
That’s because Microsoft can’t admit to failure!
You’re right, MDN — you have to start before you can stop.
I read a survey this morning that stated, “Out of 1500 people surveyed, 55% had iPads, 35% owned Android tablets and 12% had Playbooks.” They actually found 180 people that possesed Crapberry Playbooks?!?! Insane…
That’s pure insanity. There’s actually a survey out there where the ratio of Android to iPad was 35:55? (7:11)
Would anyone honestly believe such a survey?
Sounds bullshit to me too. I know one guy with a kindle fire. One guy with a galaxy tab, about 50-100 people with iPads.
Surface won’t …
Witty, succinct, and true, joey! Nicely put.
Agreed 100 %.
@oldjoey – add this to your scrapbook: “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t…”
@Jeff II – it seems we’re both at a loss…
Hey, if you’re going to quit something shortly after starting it, they should rename it “Sarah”
+1
Better to be silent and be thought a fool than opening your mouth and confirming it.
Mass confusion has a surface elevation of Redmond.
Will consumers buy a Microsoft product being marketed as a kick starter for Windows 8 tablets knowing it has no future as a branded device? Doubtful. That whole scenario is depressing deadend marketing. Either crap or get off the pot. All Microsoft seems to do is cause user misery.
“These aren’t the droids you’re looking for.”
“Microsoft won’t sell the Surface very long.”
From Microsoft’s perspective this is an upgrade to their Courier Tablet they introduced at a similar event. It is also an upgrade to their BAT. I believe it will be as successful as both previous versions and maybe even as popular as the Zune.
Cheers
Did no one notice that the case of this vaporware device is actually called vaporMG… could they be any more obvious?
I can’t wait for the BigAss Table v2!
Didn’t the founder of Acer say that netbooks would trump the iPad?
Disappointed in a couple of my favorite Mac pundits (David and Andy) out there who either bend over backwards to prove they’re not “Apple fanbois” or are such easily-salivating tech junkies they even get excited by non-Apple Crapware and/or Vaporware. Objectivity is good, but so is Credibility. Tech isn’t about sports, religion, or drug use. There’s a reason why Apple has and continues to change the world.
What Stan is really saying is ‘This is a joke. There’s no way Microsoft would stab us in the back like this’. One for two. Surface is a joke.
Ah, chaos and disintegration will now rule the old Winblows world. This will be fun to watch. Break out the popcorn!
Surface marks the beginning of true pain for Microsoft and all it’s subservient OEM box makers.
Microsoft has no class!