14 DAY TRIAL // It’s no secret that the first-generation Surface tablet has been more or less a flop, but now that the second generation is up for grabs, Microsoft is provided with another chance to succeed on this particular side of the market.
And yet, Redmond still has serious issues in dealing with first Surface model inventories, so the company has reached out to partners to learn more about the way the original tablet performed.
A questionnaire submitted to select partners and obtained by CRN is asking them to express their willingness in committing to Microsoft’s terms for selling the tablet, which is more or less an invitation to continue offering the Surface 2 in the coming months.
But what’s more surprising is that this form also calls for partners to destroy all Surface accessories, which include Touch and Type covers. At the same time, in case retailers come down to such a dramatic decision, they need to provide a certificate of destruction, so that the Redmond software giant can be sure that all accessories bit the dust.
In a statement offered for the same source, Microsoft says that it’s all just a misunderstanding, as the questionnaire submitted to partners actually included lines usually concerning software.
“That is a legacy statement related to software and will most likely be stripped out as we continue the vetting process,” a Microsoft spokesperson said. “None of the language in the questionnaire should be considered actual requirements.”
And still, few would be surprised to learn that Microsoft wants to get rid of unsold accessories once and for all. Microsoft’s outgoing CEO Steve Ballmer himself admitted in private circles that Redmond had ordered “a few” more tablets than it could sell, so the company most likely still strives to deal with unsold units now that the focus has been switched to the second-generation model.