Microsoft reduces Surface RT tablet prices amid weak demand

With immediate effect, Microsoft is cutting the prices of its Surface RT tablets worldwide. Local and US price revisions within. Surface Pro prices remain unchanged.

Surface is the first computer made and directly sold by Microsoft.

Surface is the first computer made and directly sold by Microsoft.

According to research house IDC, the device has been largely shunned by consumers and corporate customers since its debut in October, selling just 900,000 units in each of its first two quarter on the market.

“Microsoft is cutting the price of its Surface RT tablet by as much as 30 percent as the device struggles to lure customers amid competition from machines such as Apple’s iPad”, according to a report from Bloomberg.

The foray by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer into selling hardware is amidst a worldwide decline in sales of personal computer and demand for Windows.

Only last week, Ballmer had unveiled a significant reorganisation intended to streamline management and increase growth in areas such as tablets and mobile computing.

IDC predicts that tablets will outsell PCs by 2015.

Currently, 3.7% of tablets run Microsoft Windows operating system.

In Singapore, the price reductions (from Microsoft Singapore) are around 19-27% and are highlighted in red below.

Prices (Singapore prices incl GST) Reduced Original
Surface RT 32GB S$488

US$349

S$668

US$499

Surface RT 64GB S$618

US$449

S$798

US$599

Surface RT 32GB with Touch Cover
Surface RT 64GB with Touch Cover S$748

US$549

S$928

US$699

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Leave a Reply