Conference with more Surfaces than Mac Books

[someoneinwa]

Attending a conference of about 100 local government folks, I've looked around the room to see what tech is being used and this is a first for me: Of the 100, there are about a quarter using tech that I can see. There are 5 Surfaces (4 3's and 1 earlier model), only 2 Mac Books. Others are on obvious tablets, mostly iPads but others as well. Go Surface!

 

[Chinocop]

Maybe because it's government where they don't support Mac like other tech organizations? I know at my wife's company, her boss is an Apple zealot so everybody that works for her has a Mac.

 

[Tsang Fai]

It is not quite fair to compare the number of Macbooks and Surfaces. MacBook is the only choice for Mac OS laptop while for Windows, people can choose other brands other than Surfaces.

I forsee that Surfaces will keep growing but with a slow rate only. It is not realistic to expect those people using MacBook to switch to Surfaces. They just won't do this. Instead, there will be more new users considering owning a Surface instead of a MacBook.

 

[someoneinwa]

Tsang, I think it is quite fair indeed to compare the use of Surface to the Mac Book because, for one, Microsoft does, and for two, most all tech bloggers (who are nearly all MBA users) do it all the time. That said, I also agree with the rest of your comment. Most people who make the substantial investment required to own a MBA won't quickly swap it out for a Surface. What the Surface Pro 3 does is provide a credible alternative to the MBA that is actually more capable and as you say, it is new users who will purchase the Surface. We have to remember Surface has a particular mission for Microsoft: to show what is possible and to be profitable. They want the device to be successful and inspire the OEMs but not hurt these partners.

 

[TheZuneLune]

I noticed that there are a number of touch screen laptops and tablets at Best Buy right now. I think the advent of touch screen is finally upon us for full powered computing.

 

[astell]

It is not realistic to expect those people using MacBook to switch to Surfaces. They just won't do this.

Actually, they will do it. I know a half dozen people professionally that have done so. Some of they paid for the Surface themselves and others got lucky and their employer paid for the Surface.

That is the entire point of Microsoft's ad campaign. The Surface Pro 3 can replace your MBA (laptop). While current MBA users might not dump their MBAs this very second; some of them plan to switch to the Surface in their next gadget refresh. I don't consider them 'new' users; do you?

 

[PLGomez]

It is not realistic to expect those people using MacBook to switch to Surfaces. They just won't do this. Instead, there will be more new users considering owning a Surface instead of a MacBook.

I switched from a MacBook Air. No regrets.