Microsoft Surface numbers must really suck balls

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Steve Ballmer’s response when asked how the reception for the Surface was in the first few days:

Numerically there’s not really much that’s interesting to report.

Well that is interesting. After the first three days on the market Apple announced the iPad 3 sold three million units.



  • http://twitter.com/Mangy_Dog Vicious Cur

    Another goose egg, Mr. Ballmer? Well done, indeed.

  • Steven Fisher

    Without the same systems in place that Apple has, it’s possible they don’t even know how many they’ve sold through yet.

  • http://twitter.com/CoreyTamas Joel In Real Life

    You might find it odd to hear this from me, but the Surface is actually a big threat to Apple. I don’t find it hard to believe that the Surface is currently a poorly performing device that has barely sold any units yet, But Microsoft will do something that very few other companies will do: they will stick by their technology for as long as it takes until it takes over the market. There are numerous instances in which this has happened, but none as glaring as Internet Explorer… a piece of total garbage that spent years languishing at the bottom of the “also ran” list. But Microsoft stuck with that nightmare of a browser until it became number one and stayed at number one for a very long time. Other companies will eventually give up on something that isn’t performing well. In fact, Apple is quick to turn their back on something that doesn’t set the world on fire in the first 18 months. But no matter what your perspective is on the wisdom of Microsoft’s approach, you can’t deny it’s built their empire for them.

    I might be missing my guess, but I think the Surface is going to be a marathon runner, not a sprinter. It will be two or three years before it starts to make a dent in the market. If Microsoft Stays true to what they’ve always done, the Surface will climb its way out of a pit until it’s something to be afraid of. Not today, but down the road.

    So, in Microsoft’s mind, I think the battle has yet to begin, even though some people are declaring it over.

    • http://twitter.com/erlendbraten Erlend Bråten

      You mean stick with it like Zune? That worked out pretty well.

      • http://twitter.com/CoreyTamas Joel In Real Life

        No. Like Word, Xbox Live, Windows, Internet Explorer, NT, etc. etc. They start out crap and eventually become entrenched in the market.

        Who knows? Just because it worked for them before doesn’t mean it’ll happen again. But that IS how they do things and it HAS paid off for them.

        • http://twitter.com/Moeskido Moeskido

          Software and services.

    • cotten999

      Joel, Microsoft 8 is what Microsoft never wanted to create. Microsoft has been relying on “Reverse Compatibility” for years. This was the reason that XP wasn’t update for a decade. Microsoft’s plan was to never force customers to upgrade their equipment or buy new applications. The logic was once that happened, they feared that they would switch. Customers will now be asking themselves “Do I want to learn a new Windows or switch to the user friendly Mac”?

      Microsoft may give their customers “choice”, but too many choices leads to confusion. They just threw a whole new factor in now. Whereas Apple’s approach is simple. “Do you want a tablet or a laptop?” Either way you are provided a consistent, friendly user experience.

      Zune was supposed to be a marathon runner and not a sprinter, too. The problem is that Microsoft will never be a consumer company (outside of their xBox platform). Trying to integrate games into a viable adult experience is a tough sell. It should be the other way around. Apple won the consumer by providing an easy way to access music.

      I agree Microsoft will the second player in tabloids, but this time it will be Apple with the 90% and Microsoft being downgraded to an application developer. Once Microsoft offers Office for iPad (2013), game over.

      • http://twitter.com/shycophante Shyco Phante

        “Once Microsoft offers Office for iPad (2013), game over.”

        Not happening. The best iOS users will get in terms of office is the online experience for the foreseeable future. Microsoft knows Office is the big exclusive they have on their platform, they are selling hard on this point, and they will hold off providing iOS apps for as long as possible.

        Bottom line: If you need a complete mobile Office experience, you need a device running Windows.

        • Steven Fisher

          This will boil down to how independent the MBU at Microsoft really is.

          My guess: Not nearly enough.

        • Oldvillain

          I use Pages, Numbers or Keynote when I need to edit/review a Corporate document on my iOS device. So, I don’t miss Office, I can run that on my Mac to keep up with the corporates.

  • http://twitter.com/mdsharp Maurice Sharp

    Joel, one word: “Zune”

    • http://twitter.com/CoreyTamas Joel In Real Life

      Right. One word. But for that one, I can give you five examples of how it worked for them without batting an eye.

      • http://twitter.com/Moeskido Moeskido

        Kin. Plays For Sure. Bing. There are probably others.

        Are you trumpeting products/services that are popular, or that actually make money for the company?

      • http://www.tumblr.com/blog/his-divine-shadow His Shadow

        If the idea was to obviate their PlaysForSure partnerships by forking PFS and drive their OEM partners from the field, ceding the lion’s share of the market to Apple…

        Mission Accomplished

  • pawhite524

    How Steve B preps for an interview or presentation: 1. Open mouth 2. Insert foot 3. Open mouth 4. Change to other foot 5. Repeat until the lights go out

    In his WSJ interview he declared Windows was a device they sell, not a product, a device a la X-Box.

    Steve B must have some outstanding, or, at least, redeeming qualities but they don’t show in these public forums, IMHO.

  • Jonathan

    I hear that Microsoft are in urgent discussions with the device manufacturer Mattel Inc. to iron out the initial hardware problems, so things might just improve in future. However let’s give credit where it’s due and not overlook the Surface’s most useful feature that the iPad just can’t come close to matching. The sexy kickstand allows it to be turned into a passable (though pricey) hi-tech shaving mirror … providing you didn’t get the 32Gb version, which unlike the iPad lacks a front facing camera. Way to go, Microsoft!