14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft launched the Surface tablet back in October 2012 together with Windows 8, with Redmond spending a fortune on making the first model successful and position it as an alternative to the popular iPad.
But the Surface RT actually failed to reach expectations and instead of becoming an iPad rival, it more or less turned out to be just another product that caused losses for the software giant, so Microsoft had agreed with a $900 million (780 million Euro) write-down to adjust inventories of unsold units and release discounts to sell as many devices as possible.
And yet, it seems that the Surface tablet has become a much more appealing product these days, with statistics provided by Microsoft during its earnings conference this morning showing that revenue is on the rise for the whole division.
Surface revenue reached $713 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, Microsoft said, up 44 percent as compared to the same period of the previous year. The company says that the Surface Pro 3 is the main catalyst of this growth, as sales of this particular model are growing regularly.
Microsoft launched the Surface Pro 3 in May 2014, but it’s more than an iPad rival. Often considered to be a replacement for traditional laptops, the Surface Pro 3 was more of a MacBook alternative, as it came with a removable keyboard, powerful hardware such as 8GB of RAM and Intel i7 processors, and a digital pen for writing and drawing.
The Surface 3 is alive and kicking
Apple’s iPad, which has more or less remained Microsoft’s key target with the Surface lineup, despite the fact that the company says that its tablets are designed to keep you productive and thus become a laptop when needed, might face stronger competition from the Surface 3, a new model that goes on sale next month.
The Surface 3 is already up for pre-order, but the first units would be shipped in early May. Contrary to the Surface Pro 3, the standard model is more affordable, as pricing starts at $499 (380 Euro), comes with a 10.8-inch display and features a new microUSB charging port.
The battle between the Surface and Apple’s iPad is set to continue, even though the two devices appear to be targeting different buyer categories. But in essence, they’re both tablets, and there’s no doubt that Microsoft would really enjoy getting more sales than the iPad.