Report: Microsoft heavily discounts Surface RT for schools

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School’s out, and that means it’s the perfect time to start thinking about back to school sales, especially if you’re budgeting for a school district. According to a report by Mary Jo Foley over at ZDNet, the Surface RT, Microsoft’s lower-end ARM-based tablet, will be heavily discounted for K12 schools, as well as colleges and… Read More…

Surface giveaway: Microsoft seeding schools with 10,000 free tablets for teachers

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Whenever you go to a big conference, the freebies are always a nice little add-on. Sometimes it’s a sweet keychain or tote bag, or maybe you take home something more luxurious like a t-shirt. But 10,000 teachers at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference will be getting something much more special — and… Read More…

Microsoft to sell Surface RT, Surface Pro in several worldwide markets

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While Microsoft’s tablets may be scarce here in the States, the company announced today that it plans to make the Surface RT and Surface Pro available in several countries abroad in the coming months. Starting in late March, the Surface RT will arrive in Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, and Taiwan. The Surface Pro… Read More…

Microsoft Surface Pro: More than a week later, it’s still a treasure hunt

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Heads up: A short time ago, the Microsoft Store at Seattle’s University Village received a new shipment of Microsoft Surface Pro tablets, including the elusive 128GB model, but the supplies are still so limited that they expect them to be gone in as little as an hour. The Microsoft Store at Bellevue Square is still… Read More…

Microsoft ad stokes Surface Pro demand amid shortages

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What was that tablet in that ad during the Grammys? The one with the pen and the USB port? It was the Surface Pro, the new Intel-based tablet from Microsoft, but anyone asking that question today after seeing the ad last night will have a tough time finding one of the devices, at least the… Read More…

GeekWire Podcast: Digital tipping point for Post Office

Doxo CEO Steve Shivers

How many of you still send or receive letters and bills in the mail on a regular basis? This week on the GeekWire radio show and podcast, we explore the larger trends that are leading the U.S. Postal Service to end Saturday delivery of first-class mail, and get a sense for how the shift to… Read More…

IDC calls Microsoft Surface reception ‘muted, at best’ — fewer than 1M units shipped

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A new report from the IDC research firm says that Microsoft’s Surface tablet, with its initially limited distribution, wasn’t able to crack the top 5 in worldwide tablet shipments in its debut quarter — registering 900,000 units, or less than 2 percent of the tablet market. Another research firm, iSuppli, tells CNet News.com that actual… Read More…

Microsoft GM: Surface Pro arriving in “coming weeks”

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Thanks to Twitter, now we have an idea for a Surface Pro debut date. On my way to the factory to check out #Surface Pro coming off the line…arriving in the coming weeks. — Panos Panay (@panos_panay) January 15, 2013 That’s a Tweet yesterday from Panos Panay, the general manager of Microsoft’s Surface division. Microsoft… Read More…

Is that a Surface under the tree? 6 tips for new Microsoft tablet owners

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Congratulations! Someone loved you enough to give you the gift of a Microsoft Surface with Windows RT. I’m imagining you sitting there next to the tree with the package unwrapped, and a gleam in your eye as you consider returning it for a new iPad or several Kindle Fires. Before you check to see if your… Read More…

Christmas in Redmond: Microsoft employees finally get their Surfaces

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Christmas came a little early for all the Microsofties out there. As we first reported back in September, all full-time, direct Microsoft employees (a.k.a. Blue Badges/FTEs) received a Surface RT machine for use at work and home. And as we can see on the social media feeds, it looks like that happened on Wednesday. Its… Read More…

Microsoft Surface could be in retail stores “within days”

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We knew that the Surface tablet was eventually going to be available in places other than the Microsoft Store, but now it looks like that may happen sooner than anticipated. Paul Thurrott over at windowsitpro.com says that “within days,” the Surface with Windows RT will be sold elsewhere before the holiday season is over. I… Read More…

Tablet prediction: Microsoft to steal some thunder from Android and iPad by 2016

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The latest tablet predictions from the IDC research firm is out and here’s the lowdown: Android is gaining traction while Apple is not, Windows will steal future market share and tablets are more popular than ever. IDC credits strong competition and more consumer buying options for a 2012 forecast of the worldwide tablet market to… Read More…

Newsmakers 2012: Surface GM Panos Panay represents Microsoft’s new era

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Microsoft’s decision to develop its own tablet computer was a historic moment for a company that built one of the biggest businesses in the tech industry by focusing almost exclusively on software. Just as surprising: The company was able to keep the project under wraps until the Surface unveiling earlier this year. We’ll recognize the… Read More…

Microsoft’s Surface Pro: Yep, this feels like a tough sell

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When Microsoft’s Surface RT was released a little more than a month ago, one of the things we heard from some people in the tech industry was that they were waiting for the full-fledged Surface with Windows 8 Pro before seriously thinking about buying Microsoft’s new tablet. Now we have key details on the Surface… Read More…

iPad mini, Surface, Kindle Fire: Which one really belongs on your holiday list?

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Yes, the holidays are almost here, and anyone looking to buy a tablet will be faced with a dizzying array of options. File this one under first-world problems, but we’re here to help. Our guest on the GeekWire radio show this week is Andru Edwards of GearLive.com and the Ask Andru tech advice column here on… Read More…

Modest start? Parsing Ballmer’s Surface comment

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In the absence of actual sales figures from Microsoft for its new Surface RT tablet, a bunch of stories are making the rounds this morning based on Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s comment to a French newspaper that the new tablet is “starting modestly.” The problem is that Ballmer wasn’t referring to sales, but to the… Read More…

Microsoft Surface destroys iPad in hilarious fake ad

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You’ve probably come across Apple’s clever new iPad mini advertisement featuring the two-hand duet from “Heart and Soul.” I thought it was clever and creative — typical of Apple ads. But a spoof of the ad featuring Microsoft’s Surface posted yesterday on YouTube had me cracking up. Produced by Seattle-based Cinesaurus, the video starts just… Read More…

Microsoft Surface Diary: ‘Remind me how you control this thing again?’

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Before my family started using our new Microsoft Surface tablet, we spent a little time going over the navigation techniques — basically, if you’re lost or wondering what to do, swipe in from one of the edges and something helpful should happen. But one experience this week illustrated the learning curve that the new device… Read More…

VIDEO: Why these people bought a Microsoft Surface

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Why wait in line for a Microsoft Surface? That’s the question we asked outside the Microsoft Store in Seattle today. Yes, the line at Seattle’s University Village included lots of people who either work for Microsoft, used to work for the company, or are close to people who do. This is Microsoft’s backyard, after all…. Read More…

Now will you line up for Surface? Microsoft Stores offer $100 Xbox Music pass

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The launch of Microsoft’s Surface tablet tomorrow is generating lots of buzz, but will it generate lines? Actually, the answer is already yes, at least in Beijing — where hundreds of people reportedly waited to be among the first to buy the new Microsoft tablet. In the United States, the company is taking steps to promote… Read More…