“Microsoft’s Surface RT tablet was knocked for the dearth of storage on the low-end version. Surface Pro isn’t faring much better,” Brooke Crothers reports for CNET.
“The 64GB version of the upcoming Surface Pro — due for release February 9 — will offer only 23GB of available storage space for user files, according to a statement CNET received from Microsoft,” Crothers reports. “In short, Windows 8 will gobble up as much as 45GB on the Surface Pro, according to Microsoft’s specs.”
Crothers reports, “Surface RT — the first RT version released last year — has similar storage constraints, as Microsoft’s fine print shows. For example, on the 32GB Surface RT, after allowing for the OS, Windows recovery tools, Microsoft Office, and built-in apps, you’re left with 16GB. On the 64GB model, you get 46GB.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Chris” for the heads up.]
MacDailyNews Take: Toting around a Microsoft Surface tablet or tattooing “My IQ is 68!” on your forehead. The choice is yours; the effect the same.
Related articles:
Microsoft doesn’t reveal Surface sales, and probably never will – January 24, 2013
Microsoft blames PC makers for Windows 8 flop – January 24, 2013
Fujitsu President: Weak demand for Microsoft’s Windows 8 killing PC Sales – December 28, 2012
Philip Greenspun: Microsoft’s Windows 8 is a Christmas gift for someone you hate – December 7, 2012
MKM Partners cuts Microsoft price target, estimates on lower than expected Surface, Windows 8 sales – December 5, 2012
Why Microsoft’s Surface tablet is doomed – December 5, 2012
App developers shun Microsoft’s Surface tablet – December 4, 2012
Microsoft Surface Pro to offer only half the battery life of Apple’s latest iPad with Retina display – November 30, 2012
Microsoft’s Surface Pro iPad killer to start at $899 – November 29, 2012
Microsoft’s Surface tablet flops, orders reportedly cut in half – November 29, 2012
TechCrunch’s Siegler reviews Microsoft Surface RT: ‘It’s time for a drop test – right into the garbage can’ – November 19, 2012
Slate reviews Microsoft’s Surface tablet: Too slow, mercilessly buggy; why is it so bad? – November 6, 2012
InfoWorld reviews Microsoft Surface RT: A disappointment; you’re better off with Apple’s iPad – October 31, 2012
Gizmodo reviews Microsoft Surface RT: Do not buy; inferior to Apple’s iPad; the worst of both worlds – October 25, 2012
The Verge reviews Microsoft Surface RT tablet: ‘The whole thing is honestly perplexing; who is this for?’ – October 24, 2012
ZDNet’s Kingsley-Hughes: Microsoft’s Windows 8 is an awful, horrible, painful design disaster – June 8, 2012
Analyst meets with big computer maker, finds ‘general lack of enthusiasm’ for Windows 8 – June 8, 2012
Dvorak: Windows 8 an unmitigated disaster; unusable and annoying; it makes your teeth itch – June 3, 2012
The Guardian: Microsoft’s Windows 8 is confusing as hell; an appalling user experience – March 5, 2012
More good news for Apple: Microsoft previews Windows 8 (with video) – June 1, 2011
Simply wow
Yeah, this gets better and better…. for Apple. Microsoft – once a hog always a hog. Bloated is a corporate philosophy, just take a look at Ballmer T. Clown.
Astoundingly pathetic, an embarrassment of technology, the futility of engineering.
forget about microsoft,,,samsung is the next pig that needs to be slaughtered their eating more marketshare on the high end with their galaxy class crap
Yes, but I think you missed the notice from Samsung last week stating that they believe their recent high number of hardware sales is a ‘fluke’. That’s meaningful coming from Samsung.
2013 is shaping up to be a very ‘interesting’ year. I like it. 😀
I mentioned recently that there is too much smoke and mirrors surrounding Samsung’s sales numbers ( which Samsung don’t actually publish ). There are multiple reasons for thinking that Samsung is not doing as well as many people think they are and that their prospects for the future are not so good.
I think we may be getting a different impression of Samsung in the next year or two.
The thing with Samsung is that even if they are doing well, they’re still reliant on software they don’t provide. There is nothing stopping another company from doing what they do. Apple have the advantage of being able to do whatever they want when they want to.
alanaudio:
“There are multiple reasons for thinking that Samsung is not doing as well as many people think they are and that their prospects for the future are not so good.”
I agree, not the least of which is a visual reality check.
I am always amazed how few galaxy 3’s I see. I see iPhone 5’s commonly and iPhone 4’s are as ubiquitous as jeans these days. (and I almost never see a winmo8 phone)
I think most of samsung’s “huge success” is carefully crafted spin and not reality.
It all comes out in the wash. We just have to sit back and enjoy the show. Samsung is very busy screwing themselves. How gratifying.
That’s really funny! But, yeah, samsung is the real threat now.
…and if Microsoft puts the new Office on the Surface, there will be only 8GB left
Is that before or after Norton Anti Virus install?
So a rabbit and a duck walk into a bar………… How about that new Apple TV today?
Only Microsoft would think that the solution to the problem is more, not less, complexity. We all know this means the Surface is going to have to run memory and processor busting anti-virus software. Microsoft just NEVER.LEARNS.ANYTHING. This is why their tablets went nowhere before the iPad. And won’t go anywhere this time either. On another note I was pleased to see a 128gb iPad. I hope the next iPhone has 128gb. That would be sweet.
IQ of 68 is that kind of high for a Surface tablet user. Them again you do not need a low IQ to buy a MS product, as the old saying there is a sucker born every minute. This rank up there with Nigerian Lottery Scam, only different Steve Ballmer send you the letter and you send him rough a grand for this wonderful tablet.
The increased birth rate of modern times leaves the birth rate of suckers, as attributed to P.T. Barnum, woefully low and outdated.
And I was (somewhat) joking around (about a month ago) when I said that the 64GB Surface Pro would “only” have 32GB of usable storage. So, it’s actually much worse… amazingly incompetent, even for Microsoft. I mean, how can it’s pre-installed software take up “as much as 45GB” of space.
Meanwhile, Apple announces a 128GB iPad (with most of that space usable) that will cost $100 less than Surface Pro 64GB, and $200 less than Surface Pro 128GB.
Microsoft, do less for more… And now we know the true reason for the timing of Apple’s announcement.
So when the various sites compare the specs of these different tablets against each other, can we expect to see the available space? For some reason I doubt it. But a true comparison for the consumer should definitely have this.
Even in a comparison of tech specs (devoid of any comparison of actual usability), Apple wins.
And tablets are not the same as PCs. Users actually DO tend to compare usability (such as availability of apps), not go only with the tech specs and price.
There is an old saying among motorcycle racers- “Harley-Davidson: If We Can’t Make It Better, We Make It Heavier.” Most apropos of Microsoft, yah?
MicroSoft just wasted a billion + on this junk plus made all the companies they sell their junk OS to made at them. Way to go Micro Soft. Steve B. stay on and drive MS into the ground.
Opps I meant mad not made. Glad I held on to my 3rd gen iPad now. Might up grade to the 128 gb 4th gen iPad.
Sounds like a law suit in the making. I am sure someone will take advantage of Microsofts shorting.
Can’t believe microsloth still thinks they have that much mindshare and power to pull this crap.
OSX is what 4.15 gigs? Even Photoshop is 12 gigs. pfft.
Why couldn’t MS have put the OS in updateable ROM, and then given the fully storage space for user-content?
Because MS is comprised of a bunch of useless, unimaginative d-bags, that’s why.
They want to bilk customers of as much money as they can while providing the lowest amount of a quality product.
MS’s mantra is, ‘It’s just as good as…’. Or, rather, ‘Just get something comparable out the door and we’ll fix it in the next patch’. Or the next release… or, something.
Flippin’ copycats is all they are. Couldn’t even get ‘Kin’, ‘Zune’, ‘Surface’, or ‘Courier’ off the ground.
MS is a textbook case of a tech company ‘throwing sh*t against the wall and see what sticks’.
A 45GB ROM (“read-only memory”)? If you are talking about providing an additional read-write flash storage of something like 64GB to hold the pre-installed OS and software, that would add a few hundred more bucks to the price tag.
The current Surface Pro pricing that starts at $899 for the 64GB model (with Apple’s new 128GB config starting at $799) is already unacceptable. If the price was boosted to $1000 (or more) with the additional storage, it would be a non-starter, even for delusional Microsoft.
I wonder if Apple can or will do that? They custom design their own silicon.
Hilarious!
Think Microsoft’s cloud is so heavy it is more like fog.
When I read this, my first impulse was to laugh hysterically.
I’m still fighting back the urge to giggle uncontrollably.
I’m going shopping tomorrow for my dancing shoes to wear to MS’ funeral.
Depend on type of iOS devices and iOS versions, the core iOS take somewhere between 1 to 2GB MAX… at least that’s what iTunes is indicating to me.
This is what happen when Microsoft either refuse or too lazy to adopt its desktop Windows OS to mobile Windows OS, While Apple take the time out (at least 3 years+) to adopt Mac OS X into iOS.
Upon reading similar news from multiple sources, I can not even begin to laugh at MSFT instead I feel really sorry for Microsoft.
Sigh… what the hell is going on within MSFT… I simply refuse to believe there is no one within MSFT can “create” a suitable mobile Windows OS based on W7 or W8.
my 2 cents…
only 23GB of available storage space for user files, according to a statement CNET received from Microsoft
Wow. That’s TWO signs of MS planning its SUICIDE in one day. That’s two death knells ringing.
Keep it up MS! We love you to DEATH! 😛
EVERYBODY give a round of Applause for Ballmer T Clown
As much as it pains me, I’m going to bet Ballmer gets relieved of his duties this year by the board. Who’s willing to take me on?
Wasn’t it visionary and chief shareholder Bill Gates that wanted to put a full fledged OS onto a tablet?
The boss always gets what they want…even though it may not be right.
Golf clap….
That’s still 23 GB more than I’ll ever need on a Surface.
Obfuscation and deliberate misrepresentation of facts makes up for a poor argument.
http://www.zdnet.com/surface-pro-versus-macbook-air-whos-being-dishonest-with-storage-space-7000011009/