How much would you pay for the "Surface Mini" ?


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I have previously said that with the market saturated with cheap Windows tablets, some sub-$100, the "Surface Mini" would be a tough sell.

 

That said, I want to ask: How much would you be willing to pay for the "Surface Mini" ?

 

It would be my guess that Microsoft would price the "Surface Mini" close to $400 with the Surface Pen included.

 

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Keep in mind that the profit margin on mini tablets are actually not all that great.

 

That it might cut into the sales of the Surface 3 is a real concern.

 

Even Apple treats the iPad Mini as a red headed stepchild.

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With or without the Surface Pen?

 

How much is a pen retail? 

 

I've already owned 2 windows tablet, I just don't find them that useful.

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How much is a pen retail? 

 

I've already owned 2 windows tablet, I just don't find them that useful.

 

$49.99

 

 

Twenty bucks.

 

Microsoft would sell you a pile of poo for $20.

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I'd be willing to pay $299 to replace my Lenovo X120e netbook.  I store nothing on my laptop currently so I'd want a device that has a fast, yet small, SSD (64GB), a fast Wifi (AC if possible), be small, portable and have a long battery life.  I don't need a fast CPU or lots of Ram, and I certainly don't need many ports other than maybe 1 or 2 USB ones.    

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I'd be willing to pay $299 to replace my Lenovo X120e netbook.  I store nothing on my laptop currently so I'd want a device that has a fast, yet small, SSD (64GB), a fast Wifi (AC if possible), be small, portable and have a long battery life.  I don't need a fast CPU or lots of Ram, and I certainly don't need many ports other than maybe 1 or 2 USB ones.    

 

Tough luck. A Dell Venue 8 Pro each costs more than that. 

 

At $299, it's definitely would be 32GB eMMC.

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Tough luck. A Dell Venue 8 Pro each costs more than that. 

 

At $299, it's definitely would be 32GB eMMC.

 

I know, after I realized how little I use my laptop nowadays and what the majority of my use is, I just cannot spend big money to upgrade it.

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$350, should be possible with some good specs.

They don't need to include a kickstand so that might knock something of the price for the design ;)

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don't see the point in "Minis" so I would not buy it.

 

Yeah, especially the Surface, it's "mini" enough as it is, any smaller and it's just a large phone 

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I would consider $AU450 if it had a fast processor (it needs it for the OS) and 3G/4G for when you leave the house...

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Hello,

 

A price of $400 USD sounds like its within the ballpark of what many folks would pay, but it would have to have to compare favorably to the iPad mini, which I suspect would be its biggest competitor.

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

 

 

 

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It depends how mini we're talking.  7"?  ~225.  8"?  ~300.  Depends on the hardware really though.

 

Any higher and might as well just get a Surface 3 instead.

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Hello,

 

A price of $400 USD sounds like its within the ballpark of what many folks would pay, but it would have to have to compare favorably to the iPad mini, which I suspect would be its biggest competitor.

 

Regards,

 

Aryeh Goretsky

 

$400 sound realistically like what Microsoft is willing to sell it for (with Surface Pen included).

 

There's a real concern that consumers would opt for the Surface Mini instead of the Surface 3.

 

Apple is experience this problem with the iPad Mini N cannibalizing sales of the iPad Air N hence why the late Jobs didn't want to release an iPad Mini.

 

It depends how mini we're talking.  7"?  ~225.  8"?  ~300.  Depends on the hardware really though.

 

Any higher and might as well just get a Surface 3 instead.

 

It has to be 8 inches. Microsoft doesn't allow new tablet smaller than 8 inches to run Windows 10.

 

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That's way too low. A Dell Venue 8 Pro costs more than that.

 

Well, I guess you don't want one.

 

It all depends how big the Mini will be and what power is underneath the hood. For an 8" tablet that's primarily used as a consumption device I wouldn't pay more than 200. I don't think the Mini will ever be launched as a productivity tool if it ever launches.

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Taking the $499 Surface 3 as the baseline, $400 for the Surface Mini is certainly possible:

 

32GB Storage (down from 64 GB)

Intel Atom x5 (downgrade from Intel Atom x7)

Removal of kickstand

5 megapixel rear camera (down from 8 megapixel)

 

Since other users want the Surface Mini for $300, I am asking how you plan to attain that price.

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I don't think they'd go for such a high resolution display either, it'd just be 8" 1080p, which would cost much less.

 

There are plenty of decent Anroid tablets that go well below that price range with enough features so I'd still put the price at 200 max. 300 is already pushing it as consumers might/will look the other way unless it brings something worthwile.

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I don't think they'd go for such a high resolution display either, it'd just be 8" 1080p, which would cost much less.

 

There are plenty of decent Anroid tablets that go well below that price range with enough features so I'd still put the price at 200 max. 300 is already pushing it as consumers might/will look the other way unless it brings something worthwile.

 

People who buy the Surface have certain expectations that their devices of quality.

 

Sure, Microsoft could cut corners (replace magnesium with plastic, remove vibrating feedback from start button, etc.), but then those devices wouldn't be worthy of carrying the Surface branding.

 

And if they don't care about quality, why get the Surface? Why not just get those cheap Windows tablets that has recently saturated the market?

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Yeah, but even with the things you mention, like Mg finish, etc, it doesn't have to be expensive.

 

If it can't compete with similar specced class devices, there is no point in releasing it, hence why it was already cancelled before.

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Yeah, but even with the things you mention, like Mg finish, etc, it doesn't have to be expensive.

 

Microsoft said that the Mg finish was specifically developed for the Surface and that it has to buy special equipment for it. Microsoft even has patents on it.

 

According to Microsoft, even the paint is "super expensive".

 

 

If it can't compete with similar specced class devices, there is no point in releasing it, hence why it was already cancelled before.

 

 

More likely, it was cancelled because it was running Windows RT.

 

I ask the question because people on Neowin have been clamoring for the Surface Mini.

 

Also, it's almost a given that the Surface won't be price competitive. Just look at Apple, its products aren't price competitive, but that doesn't stop Apple from selling a lot of them.

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