If you tuned in to CNN’s live election coverage Tuesday evening, you may have noticed all the commentators using Surface Pro 3 tablets given to them by Microsoft — well, at least some of them.
Thanks to a partnership with CNN, Microsoft supplied the cable station with a handful of its tablets for the TV people to use.
Exit Poll: 99% agree that @cnn looks stylish with the @Surface Pro 3. @microsoft pic.twitter.com/P2KPn9PZg3
— Stephen Legler (@smlegler) November 4, 2014
Watching CNN because they are using Surfaces. FOX using Macs #Microsoft #surface
— Jonathan (@Jonathan1David) November 5, 2014
I see @Microsoft Surface is the device choice of @CNN election night. I'm a little envious.
— Paul Swann (@PaulSwann) November 5, 2014
But it seems some were just too loyal to their iPads:
CNN commentators using Microsoft @surface tablets as iPad stand. Facepalm. pic.twitter.com/BPxWTf2zhI
— Adam (@adamUCF) November 5, 2014
Even the good people at CNN who have Microsoft surface tablets in their face hide iPad … – http://t.co/Sz6CpzLrEg pic.twitter.com/7Bam8uyI2G
— Melbourneer (@_Melbourneer_) November 5, 2014
In September, Microsoft had to deal with sports commentators who kept referring to the Surface — which is being used on the sidelines by NFL coaches and players this season as part of Microsoft’s $400 million contract with the league — as “iPad-like tools.” Now it appears Microsoft needs to do some coaching with the political talking-heads.
@Microsoft nice Surface Pro 3's lined up on CNN Election center! Too bad we can still see the members using #Apple iPads. #marketingFAIL
— Jesse 4.0 (@jesse_isaacson) November 5, 2014
CNN panelists all have Microsoft Surface tablets. Just saw one of them pull out an iPad that had been in hiding. #productplacementfail
— Ryan Cooley (@ryancooley) November 5, 2014
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Aside from its partnership with CNN, Microsoft on Tuesday evening was also updating its neat election portal on Bing that featured real-time results from across the country packaged in easy-to-consume infographics: