Microsoft launched the Surface line and made their first step in the hardware market last year, however, the consumer interest in Redmond’s tablets has been pretty low, with the Surface not hitting its sales goals and the Surface Pro making an adequate performance.
The next generation of Surface is uncertain, there have been stark rumours Microsoft will drop the Surface tablet platform altogether, and converge on a new name and design, although these rumours should be taken with a large dosage of salt.
The Wall Street Journal is reporting inside sources who have said a seven-inch Surface tablet will be on the way with the next generation. The company will apparently make the Surface very cheap, to go against the budget Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire, which have both picked up significant market share.
According to the source, Microsoft did not have plans for a seven-inch model a year ago, but given the huge demand for the smaller tablet size with the iPad Mini and Android tablets, the executives at Redmond have changed their minds.
Microsoft will bring a new version of the 10-inch Surface to market and this may come with Windows Blue installed, with the RT tag dropped. The Surface Pro’s only defining feature will be the power boost, with the cheaper ten-inch Surface having full Windows but with cheaper components.
Microsoft seems to be working to get all their ends covered, to keep the $75 billion company afloat. Windows 8 hasn’t had the best reception and has only just moved past Vista in market share. The operating system is still nowhere near Windows XP or Windows 7, and we expect Windows 7 users are proceeding with caution, if they proceed at all.
Windows Blue may be the problem solver, as Microsoft hope to stop the negative attitude against the new operating system. If it turns out they cannot change their luck, they can always fall back on Office, Xbox, and their other areas, which are still very profitable.
