Microsoft preparing low cost Surface tablet line for H2

[HEXUS]

Bloomberg: these $400 tablets are designed to take the fight to the Apple iPad Pro.

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[gagaga]

Just put a proper SSD in it. MMC stuff is useless.

Make it a smaller pro, rather than specifically a cheaper/slower thing.

[Spud1]

It's an interesting decision from Microsoft - I don't disagree that a cheaper surface would be a great addition to the lineup, however the Surface line does not in any way compete with the iPad/Pro..

The iPad pro is purely a tablet, running a phone/tablet OS, designed for consumption and in no way functions as as laptop, whereas the Surface Pro is a true 2-in-1 which is really a laptop first, tablet second. The price comparison that people often try and make is rather incorrect too when you compare base models. The equivalent surface/iPad pro are usually the same price, or the surface comes out slightly cheaper.

SP5 m3 128gb edition + keyboard is regularly available for £700 or less (Currently £696 on amazon, but was £620 last week)
Base 10" iPad pro + keyboard is £750 (and lower specification, half the memory)on offer at the moment, or £780ish direct from Apple

Obviously that is skewed a little by the fact that the surface is *always* on offer somewhere, whereas Apple rarely allow discounts more than 5% (ignoring grey market scammers like eGlobalCentral et al), but even at full price the price gap is minimal. The iPad pro is still a pretty pointless device that doesn't fit into any common category - it's too expensive to be a tablet, lacks the software to make it a useful laptop replacement..its just odd. The "normal" iPad is a much better proposition and is a great device. I own an iPad Air 2 and thats still my main consumption device, but my Surface Pro has completely replaced my laptop now as a productivity device. I did look at the iPad pro when purchasing my surface but it didn't solve any of the problems I was looking at - it really was/is just a bigger iPad with all the same limitations (and benefits).

As I say though, a cheaper surface device would be welcomed by many, as long as there are not *too* many compromises along the way.

[deepblue08]

It's an interesting decision from Microsoft - I don't disagree that a cheaper surface would be a great addition to the lineup, however the Surface line does not in any way compete with the iPad/Pro..

The iPad pro is purely a tablet, running a phone/tablet OS, designed for consumption and in no way functions as as laptop, whereas the Surface Pro is a true 2-in-1 which is really a laptop first, tablet second. The price comparison that people often try and make is rather incorrect too when you compare base models. The equivalent surface/iPad pro are usually the same price, or the surface comes out slightly cheaper.

SP5 m3 128gb edition + keyboard is regularly available for £700 or less (Currently £696 on amazon, but was £620 last week)
Base 10" iPad pro + keyboard is £750 (and lower specification, half the memory)on offer at the moment, or £780ish direct from Apple

Obviously that is skewed a little by the fact that the surface is *always* on offer somewhere, whereas Apple rarely allow discounts more than 5% (ignoring grey market scammers like eGlobalCentral et al), but even at full price the price gap is minimal. The iPad pro is still a pretty pointless device that doesn't fit into any common category - it's too expensive to be a tablet, lacks the software to make it a useful laptop replacement..its just odd. The "normal" iPad is a much better proposition and is a great device. I own an iPad Air 2 and thats still my main consumption device, but my Surface Pro has completely replaced my laptop now as a productivity device. I did look at the iPad pro when purchasing my surface but it didn't solve any of the problems I was looking at - it really was/is just a bigger iPad with all the same limitations (and benefits).

As I say though, a cheaper surface device would be welcomed by many, as long as there are not *too* many compromises along the way.

I think MS knows its Surface products are not competing with iPad Pros, but they want to take a bite out of that market as well. MS realized that cheap tablets for basic usage (internet browsing, checking email, reading) is a money-making segment of the market and now wants to be there.

[aidanjt]

Just put a proper SSD in it. MMC stuff is useless.

Are they using MMC? UFS 2.1/3.0 is sufficiently affordable, compact, and fast. No reason they couldn't use it over MMC.

[DWhitley]

"As the current Surface Pro can last approx 13.5 hours on a charge"

Mine didn't, nowhere near.

[Wylady]

The Celeron is the chip of slow death!
Mixing Celeron and Win10 results in a computer so slow it makes me scream watching it dragging itself along performing the simplest tasks!