[jdevenberg]

Summary of an interesting article: Dummies.com (authors of XYZ for Dummies) is giving away a Surface RT along with several books. They list the approximate retail value of the prize package at $350. Once you subtract out a few books, that obviously leaves less than $350 of value to the Surface RT. Do you think Dummies.com is just speculating on prize value or have they inadvertently leaked pricing info?

Microsoft News » Microsoft Surface With Windows RT To Cost Below $350?

I sure hope it is less than $350! I'll be all over it at that price!

[crystal_planet]

They had to put something for a value, but oh Lord, please let them "be in the know".

**Sent from my Windows Phone using Board Express**

[Getintothegame]

Yeah. It's an estimated value for legal reasons.

[crystal_planet]

Well, at least one blog says "no". They think 599.00 - way too much. They'll have to do better than that to get it into the hands of consumers imo.

Microsoft still uncommitted to Surface tablet pricing - Tampa Bay Web 2.0 | Examiner.com

Yet another is saying 199.00. Unrealistically cheap.

http://www.wibw.com/home/nationalnew...172958121.html

[Scout_313]

Considering the fact that the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 will run $799 with the keyboard dock and is rumored to be $629 just for the tablet itself, I can't imagine that a WinRT tablet will go for $599.

[crystal_planet]

Then they'll price themselves out of the market. They're going to have to do better than 600.00 - people on the fence will choose an Android or iPad (an established well thought of tablet) for the same price or less.

Nope. 300.00 - 500.00 max or it won't make any inroads at all.

[jdevenberg]

Then they'll price themselves out of the market. They're going to have to do better than 600.00 - people on the fence will choose an Android or iPad (an established well thought of tablet) for the same price or less.

Nope. 300.00 - 500.00 max or it won't make any inroads at all.

I agree. $350 would show they aren't trying to be super cheap but would give people a compelling reason to go for it over iPad or high end Android

[crystal_planet]

I agree. $350 would show they aren't trying to be super cheap but would give people a compelling reason to go for it over iPad or high end Android

Yeah, and I heard mentioned by someone here that the price of the apps will likely make up whatever is needed to float the boat as it were. That would make sense to me.


I'd be okay with even 399.00 for a naked device - or 499.00 with all the toys and accessories.

The 26th can't get here fast enough.

[GoodThings2Life]

I want to believe that Microsoft is going to undercut Apple. I firmly believe it to be the likely scenario. I will be hugely disappointed if they don't and will have to consider alternatives.

$350 (tree-fitty!!) would be ideal for me, and I think Microsoft can make that happen based on the current market options.

[tissotti]

$350=€350 would be nuts. It has really not even crossed my mind they would sell it below €400.
For that price i could just get Surface RT and buy second generation X86 Windows 8 tablet somewhere in the summer next year.

[GoodThings2Life]

Well think about it... Amazon Kindle is at the $200-300 target, and it's a VERY limited device (a great device, but limited nevertheless). Nexus tablets are in this same range too, and that leaves Apple at the high end of the spectrum. Microsoft can take over this middle price range and tout full-featured hardware (USB ports, SD cards, etc), and make a killing.

[Laura Knotek]

I agree. $350 would show they aren't trying to be super cheap but would give people a compelling reason to go for it over iPad or high end Android

I wonder how much the iPad Mini will cost.

The pricing of the Surface RT would also need to be competitive with that of the iPad Mini.

[crystal_planet]

iPad III 3G - 600.00+
iPad II - 350.00
Android - anywhere from 300.00 - 600.00 +
- And those are 10" tablets

Andoid 7" S7 - 230.00
Blackberry Playbook WiFi - 150.00
And all the rest of the 7" tablets are pretty cheap

The Surface will go head to head with the larger devices and will price accordingly.

Put a gun to my head and I say 449.00. Right in the middle.

[crystal_planet]

I wonder how much the iPad Mini will cost.

Whatever the price, it will be higher than anything else out there. It will sell anyways, but it won't approach the success of the 10.1 iPad. I bet it will come in at 299.00 -349.00

[GoodThings2Life]

Good point. I wasn't thinking about screen difference... I'd bet on $400-450 with that distinction.

[Laura Knotek]

Whatever the price, it will be higher than anything else out there. It will sell anyways, but it won't approach the success of the 10.1 iPad. I bet it will come in at 299.00 -349.00

I think the iPad Mini will kill off the cheap 7" tablets, especially the Kindle/Nook/Playbook.

The Surface RT will be more of a competitor of the New iPad (iPad Maxi after Mini is introduced?).

[jdevenberg]

I think $350-$399 is where it needs to start to be successful. If they manage to price it at $299 somehow, they will sell as many as they can make.

[jimski]

Dummies had to list a "minimum value" for the prize. And assuming the Surface RT-32 will retail for more than $300-325 is a safe bet. I am guessing (hoping) $399 for a Surface RT-32, and $449 for an RT-64, both WiFi. 3G enabled will be $50 more. All these with flat kb cover. Keyboard dock between $79-$99. Priced lower, but competitively with the iPad.

Sent from my Lumia 900 using Board Express Pro

[fatclue_98]

I think the iPad Mini will kill off the cheap 7" tablets, especially the Kindle/Nook/Playbook.

The Surface RT will be more of a competitor of the New iPad (iPad Maxi after Mini is introduced?).

Will they call it a MaxiPad?

[Laura Knotek]

Will they call it a MaxiPad?

[YT]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsjU0K8QPhs[/YT]

[fatclue_98]

That was wrong! I love the way you think though.

[sconrad308]

The iPad mini for light days.

[Paladinleeds]

So wrong but so funny! Hopefully MadTV will sue Apple too, as MadTV had the iPad name first.

[SlickShoesRUCrazy]

I will definitely buy one for 350. Anything higher and I will probably wait till the black friday deals/after holiday deals.

[jdevenberg]

One thought I had was that we need to remember, these prices being announced are MSRP. These companies are not Apple. When was the last time you paid MSRP for an Acer, ASUS, Lenovo, or HP? These will be at least slightly discounted within weeks of launch simply because these companies do not have the price lock contracts with retailers that Apple and Samsung have.