Microsoft's Surface tablet has "modest" start: Ballmer

[dgstorm]

PARIS (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp's new Surface tablet - its challenger to Apple's iPad - had a "modest" start to sales because of limited availability, Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer told French daily Le Parisien.

The world's largest software company put the Surface tablet center stage at its Windows 8 launch event last month in its fightback against Apple and Google in the exploding mobile computing market.

"We've had a modest start because Surface is only available on our online retail sites and a few Microsoft stores in the United States," Ballmer was quoted as saying.

The new device, which runs a limited version of Windows and Office with a thin, click-on keyboard cover, is being positioned by Microsoft as the ideal combination of PC and tablet that is good for work as well as entertainment.
Ballmer also said 4 million upgrades to Windows 8 were sold in the three days following the system's launch.

Continue Reading @: Microsoft's Surface tablet has "modest" start: Ballmer - Yahoo! News

 

[Afy]

Also if you think back.. MS only planned to build about 3 Million Surface's for the Quarter. Assuming a 70-30 split between the 32 and 64 GB models, it had about 1 million for the launch. Which means they likely sold 700K.
Also MS does not want to compete with the OEM's hence the constrained sales model, unlike that for the XBox. I dont think MS is serious about making money on the Surface per se, rather a reference model.

Then again I dont know anything

 

[fosking]

It's the Pro numbers I'm looking forward to seeing.

 

[bosamar]

CEO Steve Ballmer was quoted as saying that sales for the company’s new Surface tablet were “modest,” with the potential of sales picking up when the Surface Pro launches early next year. However, Microsoft says that he was actually referring to the ramping up of Surface production when he said “modest”, not sales numbers.

According to a follow-up statement from Microsoft, “Steve’s use of the term “modest” was in relation to the company’s approach in ramping up supply and distribution of Surface with Windows RT.” The statement continues by mentioning that while the company’s “approach has been modest, Steve notes the reception to the device has been “fantastic”.”

Microsoft: Production efforts with Surface are modest, not our sales - SlashGear