[TheDvlsAdvc8]

I think its priced about right. I would have one if I weren't waiting for the pro.

[Gken]

I just think most people don't get a real chance to try them. I met up with a bunch of my friends that have ipads, they were like omg wait what it has usb, microsdxc, omg wait is that a desktop? Microsoft marketing has to get that damn surface out there.

[zzdarkwingduck]

A USB por tthat functions the same as it does on full windows is a huge plus. The keyboard covers as well, yes you can get a keyboard for the ipad but carrying it around isn't as easy. Also you can't think of office as just one things, I don't mean counting word and excel different. I mean the capabilities that office brings to the table. The whole point of apps is that they bring capability to the table. So a higher app number is better cause in theory it means more capable. I see having a fully functional office suite as an argument with as much weight as the ipad has more apps argument. Then add USB port, HDMI out and microsd. Each one of those also increases capabilityies. Being able to dock hook up a monitor, Keboard and mouse turns the surface into a desktop computer. You get the full screen, full keyboard and mouse control. The surface has a wider area of capabilities as a computing device over other tablets.

[vertigoOne]

I see having a fully functional office suite as an argument with as much weight as the ipad has more apps argument.

Never really thought much about this, but I wonder how many of the iOS and Android's many apps are attempts to emulate Microsoft Office functionality that comes with the surface RT for free? You have a great point there.

[johninsj]

It gives you Office and that's about it. The price is too high and other than the fanboys everybody can agree on that. But lamenting over the price won't change anything, so let's move on.

It gives you a lot more than that :) But sure, it would be awesome if it was $300 or so for the 32 gig model. Probably only a $100 a unit loss at that price point.

[omniusovermind]

It's a simple fact. You have no tablet ecosystem and you are competing with a 199$ Nexus 7, a 399$ iPad 2 and Nexus 10 and a 499$ iPad 4 (not to mention the Nooks and Kindle Fires of the world). You have literally 1 argument to convince the people that the Surface is better than an iPad. But people don't use tablets for productivity, they have their laptops for that. Plus, you can RDP from your iPad to your desktop machine and your whole productivity argument becomes moot.

The Surface competes with the iPad as a tablet device. And in this comparison, currently and considering all factors, it is priced too high. But MS probably can't even price it any lower because then they would cut into the sales of their OEM partners. Still, the point stands - the Surface should be 100$ cheaper.

Thanks for your rational and thoughtful reply in stark contrast to the 1-2 replies that sounded more like madmen foaming are the mouth lol. What you stated here is essentially my point.

See, I'm not disputing the Surface is a good device. But my point is that iPads are insanely popular. Regardless of whether you think they are good or not, that doesn't change that. So pricing an unproven new tablet comparable to a hugely popular one isn't a good idea even if it IS as good or better. Android is also huge right now. Even if you think nexus tablets are terrible, pricing your newcomer higher than them isn't a good idea either.
Understand now? I'm not bashing the surface. You two very angry people can calm down now and take your meds. :rolleyes:

[Michael-Dallas]

I was at a Christmas party today and got some Facetime time with a, if not the, program manager for Surface. I made casual mention that I bought one and he thanked me for funding his retirement, LOL. I mentioned that I waited until it was offered at Best Buy so I could use my reward zone points to buy it and asked why they were a little late in the game in offering it through other retail channels; he said that sales have exceeded their forecast and expectations.

I asked if Microsoft was working on other pieces of software for RT and he couldn't say specifically what, but he said some software was in the works.

[inteller]

If his name isn't Panos Panay then no you didn't meet the program manager for Surface.

[snaqvi91]

Does the Surface RT have the ability to print by connecting a printer through the USB port? If so that would also be an advantage over the iPad for productivity.

[lexmarq]

Does the Surface RT have the ability to print by connecting a printer through the USB port? If so that would also be an advantage over the iPad for productivity.

Yes. In fact, you can set up a network printer and print stuffs from your tablet as well.

[inteller]

ALWAYS check the WinRT compatibility list on Microsoft before buying a printer though. Most functionality is very basic, and a lot of printers don't work at all.

[chamba]

I've got a networed hp all in one that works perfectly with my Surface. Also, networked computers at work work great and setup is nothing more than clicking add device!

[power5]

I see having a fully functional office suite as an argument with as much weight as the ipad has more apps argument. Then add USB port, HDMI out and microsd. Each one of those also increases capabilityies. Being able to dock hook up a monitor, Keboard and mouse turns the surface into a desktop computer. You get the full screen, full keyboard and mouse control. The surface has a wider area of capabilities as a computing device over other tablets.

Does not have the full office suite. Has 4 out of the 7 programs. Outlook is vaguely contained in the email app. Access and Publisher are big components to the FULL suite though. Outlook being the biggest missing component in my mind. So much more powerful than the email app. All the other stuff is also possible with an ipad. BT peripherals and the lighting dock as the monitor port.

Dont get me wrong, its nice to be able to just plug in an external or USB stick and have office documents instead of having to sync to cloud and such. ****, just the fact that you can use the surface as a USB stick compared to an ipad which does not let you save anything but items created ON the device, was enough to sway me. Once you save a document to your ipad you cannot get it off either. You need to go to the cloud.

[bradleyj]

If they were planning on price dropping, why wouldn't they have done so on Black Friday or Boxing Day? It seems to me that they are holding out until the next surface RT to price drop the current one.

[Michael-Dallas]

If his name isn't Panos Panay then no you didn't meet the program manager for Surface.

I met the hardware program manager for Surface.

[power5]

If they were planning on price dropping, why wouldn't they have done so on Black Friday or Boxing Day? It seems to me that they are holding out until the next surface RT to price drop the current one.

A month after launch is not typically a good time to have price drops. But I am not a business expert. Next surface will probably be out around april. That will probably be the first permanent price drop. Till then you may find them on "sale" occasionally.

Again, my opinion.

[inteller]

they will sell through the Surface RT, as in, that's it they are all gone. Then the next gen will come out at the same price as the existing one. People wanting a quality piece of equipment at cut rate prices are kidding themselves.

[Dewg]

Some people really need to take an economics class. Supply and demand only go so far to explain pricing. Just because some people cannot afford a Surface does not mean it is overpriced. The same argument can be made with luxury cars. Some argue that a $150,000 car is not really that much better than a $80,000 car. However, the price stands and the car companies are doing just fine.

[omniusovermind]

Some people really need to take an economics class. Supply and demand only go so far to explain pricing. Just because some people cannot afford a Surface does not mean it is overpriced. The same argument can be made with luxury cars. Some argue that a $150,000 car is not really that much better than a $80,000 car. However, the price stands and the car companies are doing just fine.

You still have to show people that luxury car is worth the price. You don't just show up for the first time ever in the showroom and say "hey look at my specs I'm a luxury car" in a showroom full of established luxury brands that people already know and trust.

[power5]

Lexus did.

[omniusovermind]

Lexus did.

Nice try, lexus is a division of Toyota.

[Laura Knotek]

Nice try, lexus is a division of Toyota.

Mercedes-Benz is a division of Daimler AG, which also makes the Smart car.

[inteller]

Lexus did.

Hyundai did too with the Genesis.

[omniusovermind]

Not one of you have mentioned a luxury car that's appeared out of nowhere without being a subsidiary of an already operating car company, that's risen to challenge the likes of Benz or BMW etc.

That's the post I responded to. I'd hardly call not-so-live tiles and "we ran out of time to make a notification center and sorry for the staggered updates. And lackluster nav (or none at all on 8x), random reboots, and vanishing developers. Our bad, sorry!" a luxury appearance, regardless of this miniscule nitpicking of a car analogy.

I'm sure WP8 will come around eventually through sheer dogged persistence if nothing else. I'll take another look at it as a competitive os then. Sticking with a sure bet like ip5 would be the sound course of action as a new buyer at this point in time since that coming around probably won't happen until next upgrade eligibility. You're far more assured of a solid product with assured developer support for the next 2 years with them right now.
By the way, I read back in November that an app purchased on WP8 doesn't also purchase it for an RT tablet and visa versa despite that whole shared kernel idea, is that still the case? If so, that makes MS the only ones who haven't unified app purchases across phone and tablet.

[vertigoOne]

See, I'm not disputing the Surface is a good device. But my point is that iPads are insanely popular. Regardless of whether you think they are good or not, that doesn't change that. So pricing an unproven new tablet comparable to a hugely popular one isn't a good idea even if it IS as good or better. Android is also huge right now. Even if you think nexus tablets are terrible, pricing your newcomer higher than them isn't a good idea either.
Understand now? I'm not bashing the surface. You two very angry people can calm down now and take your meds. :rolleyes:

When iPads were first available they were an unproven technology that carried a lot of criticism...and despite this they were still carrying a premium price, and were still successful in the long run. Pricing the Surface much lower than the watermark for a premium tablet would have a negative impact on the perception of the quality of the device. Of course it would sell insanely better within the tech community which in relative terms is a small group, but the average consumer would see the price and automatically dismiss it as a non-premium device when debating between it and the iPad.

My argument is this: If the price of the Surface is too high, then the price of the iPad was likewise too high when it began...of course we can argue that but the iPad was still successful, and it is far too soon to jump to any conclusions about the Surface.