Andre Yoskowitz
14 Aug 2012 22:58
Multiple sites are reporting today that Microsoft employees have confirmed the Surface RT tablet will retail for $199, a price that is well below what the general consensus was when the company unveiled it last month.
Allegedly, the price point was revealed during the TechReady 15 conference, an internal event for Microsoft employees of all divisions.
The low price will only apply for the RT version of the tablet, which runs on an ARM-based chip set. Windows 8 Pro models, running on Intel chips, will launch a few months later, likely with a $100 premium, if not more.
At $199, the price is below the analyst and industry insider consensus expectations of $499.
Window's other partners, especially Acer, have been very vocal in stating they believe Microsoft's push into tablets will hurt vendors. If $199 is true, it appears Microsoft doesn't care.