How Microsoft plans to market against the iPad

[JMH]

Even though Microsoft’s public stance, when asked about the impact of Apple’s slate is “iPad? What iPad?”, the Redmondians are preparing the company’s partners for battle in 2011.

Microsoft is making available to its reseller partners marketing collateral to help them defend against the iPad’s encroachment into the enterprise market. I had a chance to check out a PowerPoint dated December 2010 on “Microsoft Commercial Slate PCs” that the company is offering to its partners to help them explain Microsoft’s slate strategy to business users.

How Microsoft plans to market against the iPad | ZDNet

 

[pparks1]

Thus far I haven't really seen anything out of Redmond that is going to compete with the iPad. Now Google on the other hand....

 

[Stratos]

I commend MS's effort in taking on the iPad but I agree with one of the comments made by a reader. The user experience is by far the most important "feature" of the device. User experience of the iPod Touch and iPhone paved the way to the iPad's success. Whatever MS intends on working on, it has to provide the same UE on par or better than iOS 4.x... that's actually the easy part.

Now the hard part is overcoming the intangible but very realistic "coolness factor" in ownership of anything which bears the Apple logo. There are an alarming amount of people who buy iPads and don't know why, but got it simply because others have them. On the other hand there a ton of people who wouldn't even look at a MS product, even if it is superior to the iPad in every way, simply because it's a Microsoft product.

If you ask me, this is like rock climbing a vertical face with grease on your hands and feet.

 

[cloud8521]

if they make the OS open enough then i say they win. but that's just me. i want to be able to take things on and off quickly with maybe a usb.

 

[Stratos]

Open as in open source software development? If that's the case that's not happening, Microsoft's software approach is similar to how Apple implements iOS. App development is another thing and they'll definitely release a SDK (software development kit) for those interested in contributing.

Having certain hardware features like a tablet with a USB port would be something nice. I was under the impression that the Samsung Galaxy tab was supposed to be that way initially.

 

[whs]

Open as in open source software development? If that's the case that's not happening, Microsoft's software approach is similar to how Apple implements iOS. App development is another thing and they'll definitely release a SDK (software development kit) for those interested in contributing.

Having certain hardware features like a tablet with a USB port would be something nice. I was under the impression that the Samsung Galaxy tab was supposed to be that way initially.

Galaxy 2 will have a USB port: homedailynews.com » Samsung Will Launch Galaxy Tab 2

 

[Stratos]

Open as in open source software development? If that's the case that's not happening, Microsoft's software approach is similar to how Apple implements iOS. App development is another thing and they'll definitely release a SDK (software development kit) for those interested in contributing.

Having certain hardware features like a tablet with a USB port would be something nice. I was under the impression that the Samsung Galaxy tab was supposed to be that way initially.

Galaxy 2 will have a USB port: homedailynews.com » Samsung Will Launch Galaxy Tab 2

That's very nice to know, but I've seen posts where they actually planned it for the Tab 1.

 

[Maguscreed]

From what I have seen the iPad is every criminal's dream. Ridiculous number of them for sale on my local craigslist... I wonder why that is.

I'm fine with a laptop if I need anymore portability than that I'll use my phone.

 

[DeanP]

If Microsoft are going to produce portable tablets... What would the OS be? Windows 7/8 Tablet edition..?

Technology is fast with the 4G phones and networks, amazing portable devices, 3 and 4GHz computers in markets,

 

[whs]

If Microsoft are going to produce portable tablets... What would the OS be? Windows 7/8 Tablet edition..?

Technology is fast with the 4G phones and networks, amazing portable devices, 3 and 4GHz computers in markets,

I very much doubt that MS will produce tablets. They will probably sponsor an allaiance like the Open Handset Alliance that Google sponsors for Android and have the hardware houses produce the boxes.

The main difference will be that Windows will be proprietory code whilst Android is open source. Remains to be seen whether MS can keep up with the fast pace of development that way.

Windows8 will be the first system to support tablets because it is the first system to support the ARM (RISC) processors. It is probably first aimed at the Nvidea Tegra 2 processor which is a 1 and 1.2GHz duo core.

 

[Mark Phelps]

If you read through the slides, you'll see that MS is really pushing HARD is the view that enterprise IT departments generally have of computing "devices" -- they want them locked down HARD, with all kind of remote "management" capabilities.

They also heavily slanted the feature comparisons to tight integration into an MS-heavy enterprise IT environment.

This combination is about as opposite as can be from the real iPad customer base -- folks that want a fancy high-tech "toy" that has high entertainment value.

I'm not badmouthing the iPad, I'm just saying that we're really talking about two very different "worlds" when we compare personal entertainment use to integrated corporate/enterprise use. So, it's not surprising that the best fit for each, in a tablet/slate form factor, are going to be very different devices.

 

[whs]

If you read through the slides, you'll see that MS is really pushing HARD is the view that enterprise IT departments generally have of computing "devices" -- they want them locked down HARD, with all kind of remote "management" capabilities.

They also heavily slanted the feature comparisons to tight integration into an MS-heavy enterprise IT environment.

This combination is about as opposite as can be from the real iPad customer base -- folks that want a fancy high-tech "toy" that has high entertainment value.

I'm not badmouthing the iPad, I'm just saying that we're really talking about two very different "worlds" when we compare personal entertainment use to integrated corporate/enterprise use. So, it's not surprising that the best fit for each, in a tablet/slate form factor, are going to be very different devices.

That is a good point. I wonder though whether they can get any large volume from the IT based market. Apart from the iPad which I think sold already 6 or 8 million, the Galaxy sold 1 million in the first month. MS would need a lot of companies to commit quickly to achieve comparable numbers.

 

[Stratos]

It's going to be a tough challenge. The iPad has already established dominance even in the corporate/enterprise markets. Been on over 115 trips all over last year and it's ridiculous how many rock the iPad. I personally have an iPad and a Galaxy Tab, every time the GT comes out a lot of people look at me like I'm wearing mismatched clothes.

I believe that even MS's best efforts will only be about taking only a portion of Apple's dominance away but will ultimately falter at establishing dominance. With Android, unlike the iPad, there's a large variety of tabs, there's always that concern from a new buyer about "is the Galaxy Tab any good? What about the LG? The Sony?" where as the iPad is well known, used by many, even if the buyer has little info on it since so many people have them, they feel buying it offers little risk.

MS needs to do everything better than Apple, not just be a competitor or another choice to dethrone the current king of tabs.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi there
I think "Tablet Mania" will die down in time anyway -- a decently powered netbook can really kill a tablet STONE DEAD.

The Ipad is a different device -- yes they look "Kewl" but once you've tried using one for a while you can't wait to get back to a proper laptop with a real keyboard.

Just try running / devloping complex spreadsheets on an ipad using touch screens.

I even find smart phones a bit of an aggro these days --I've gone back to a basic TINY mobile which is just basically a phone / texting device. I don't need something the size of a Brick - even a very THIN brick in my pocket just for making calls

I find however that I AM using the Netbook far far more than I ever thought I would. A 10 in screen is plenty and with 2GB RAM and the latest processor these devices DO really fly -- saves lugging a heavy laptop around and even if they get broken you can buy 2 of these for less than the cost of ONE IPAD.

People have greatly exaggerated the demise of the PC.

Cheers
jimbo

 

[whs]

jimbo, you make some very good points. Especially the netbook is an excellent alternative to the pads. And once they put the Tegra 2 or Tegra 3 (or equivalent) plus an SSD on the netbooks, they will be really fast and hardly more bulky than the 10" pads.

Nevertheless, the 7" pads (as opposed to the 10" like the iPad or Xoom) are handy. You can stick them into your jacket pocket and browse wherever you are. I think the Galaxy is (currently) the leader of the pack and I am only waiting for Galaxy 2 and Android 3.0 to buy one. But I do not expect to do spreadsheets on it - LOL.