Asus CEO On Windows RT: "We're Out." 246
symbolset writes "AllThingsD's intrepid reporter Ina Fried has an interview up where Asus chairman and CEO Jonney Shih says they will not make any more Windows RT devices until Microsoft proves demand for the product. This leaves Dell as the only OEM who has not sworn off Windows RT. Dell is seeking to take itself private, relying on a $2 billion loan from Microsoft."
Turns out people want things that are the size of a laptop to work as well as a laptop.
Re:maybe next time lose the lockdown (Score:5, Informative)
And that's not all. That $900m writedown was related to Surface RT only, but the $853m revenue figure includes sales of Surface RT and Surface Pro combined.
Further down in its 10-K filing, Redmond reports that it upped its sales and marketing budget for the Windows Division in 2013 by a jaw-dropping $1bn, which included an $898m increase in advertising costs "associated primarily with Windows 8 and Surface."
Got that? Microsoft spent more in a single year advertising the Windows 8 and Surface launches than it took in from Surface sales that same year.
And remember, none of this was even spread over an entire calendar year. Microsoft's fiscal 2013 ended on June 30. It launched Windows 8, Windows RT, and Surface RT on October 26, 2012. The Surface Pro launch came later, in February. But whichever way you slice it, Microsoft managed to mow through an $898m marketing budget in just eight calendar months – and consumers still didn't take the bait.
Strangely enough, Slashdot does not consider this news...
Re:maybe next time lose the lockdown (Score:5, Informative)
They can't. IIRC the requirements for bundling Windows RT include having the device locked down so it will only run Windows RT.
Cheap over touchscreen (Score:5, Informative)
The Samsung ARM Chromebook is still the best selling laptop on Amazon. The second best seller is the cheapest Windows (not RT) laptop from Dell. Windows RT devices do not appear on the list at all. It appears the market really doesn't care about touchscreens, but does care about price and battery life.
http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-Computers-Accessories-Laptop/zgbs/pc/565108 [amazon.com]
Re:maybe next time lose the lockdown (Score:5, Informative)
Unless you are Neil McAllister, it would be nice if you'd signify that you're quoting his article in The Register rather than just plagiarize it.
Compare http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/07/30/microsoft_surface_sales_disaster/ [theregister.co.uk] for all but the last sentence.