Sale Surface, is this the time?

  • May 13, 2017
  • 3

(No, I am not talking about sale my own hardware.) Poops. I am an unregistered user editing this thread!

After successfully launch the new generation of Windows experience, large form factor tablet (w/ pens) and Windows Hello, I am afraid Surface lines of products has run out of its usefulness.

The prolonged upgrade cycle of most successful Surface line, and new device line come out over price, under specs, and most importantly pointless at the price point prove that Surface as the in-house hardware brand of Microsoft is slowly embroiled in the same problem with any in-house brand of platform maker of a platform of OEM model. The conflict of making a successful cutting edge reference product and the interest of OEMs are slowly become uncompromisable. Let’s be clear, as the new generation of the personal computation devices has coming to age and become more commoditized than ever, now is not the time to shake off your OEMs as OEMs model perform better in a commoditized market.

The OEMs in the other hand, would love Microsoft to get out of the actual hardware making business of PCs and get their hands on a multi-billions dollar premium consumer brand name. Especially a brand name has all its lines set up for a very positive (both profit and the word of mouth) renewal once the trade if finalized (in approximate 6-18 moth).

To be clear, I am not arguing MS to sale off Hololens or Xbox, just Surface brand and Surface branded product line. This will help amend the discomfort between it and its OEMs, and refocus Microsoft for doing what it does best, and its roots. And, with this sales, Microsoft will be able to position itself better in retail stores with slowly phase out focus on its own Surface product but offer a more equal opportunity show floor for the best devices from all of its OEMs and how they incorporate into the Windows experience.

Maybe Microsoft is already up to this task, and what they do with current device launch is with the intention of setting up a deal, and the Surface event of late this month could be just that – the announcement of the potential sale – who is better suited for such a purchase than Lenovo, a company recently got unseated as the number 1 PC maker and in need of a premium consumer brand that matches the ThinkPad on international stage… It may not be that, this is just speculation. But that’s all hope Microsoft can make the right decision before too many compromised devices it push out compromise the brand, and Surface hardware become yet another good idea gone bad for the company.

So, what do you think, should Microsoft sale off Surface brand, should the time be now?

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Conversation 3 comments

  • Edward Grego

    16 May, 2017 - 8:32 am

    <p>If MS sells off it's Surface brand, I don't think it will be able to successfully sell hardware again. I certainly would never purchase another piece of Microsoft branded hardware if they were to give up on Surface. I already have a trust issue because of Windows Phone and it's many iterations that left devoted users with devices that were left out of the upgrade loop, which eventually destroyed the brand. </p><p>In short, if they sell of Surface, I will be 100% Apple and MS will never get another dime of my money.</p>

    • Nonmoi

      16 May, 2017 - 6:33 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#117201"><em>In reply to Edward Grego:</em></a></blockquote><p>Wait, help me to understand here, would you? How is getting burn by WP makes you more entrusting Microsoft to continuously running a hardware business after initial success? I would have more faith in any numbers of Windows OEMs who has track record of running acquired brand successful – Lenovo with ThinkPad, Dell with Alianware, etc.</p><p><br></p><p>And what I was arguing is that Microsoft needs to sale off the Surface brand not because it's a on going lost leader, but exactly because its success. And, to ensure the continue success of the Surface brand, the best thing Microsoft can do is to distance itself from it. Can you tell me what is your reservation over some other successful OEM running the brand as alternative to Microsoft is? Cuz, as I see it, had the brand be transferred, we will for sure getting a more standard (aka. 12 months) refresh cycle, better port support, and new hardware on current gen processors and even a bit cheaper on overall prices as the conflict of interest was removed. </p><p>In fact, I will trust OEM run Surface brand more – need I remind you how Surface computers were the only ones that were unusable for over 6 months due to overly ambitious hardware specs and despite supposably better software support, and how about (at least) some Surface line of devices still not getting the Creator Update as today?</p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

  • lordbaal1

    20 May, 2017 - 7:52 pm

    <p>there's nothing wrong with the surface line.</p>

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