Sinofsky with Microsoft’s new Surface tablet.
While the iPad mini looks like a terrific little tablet, that’s sure to make millions for Apple, we’ve learned over the past few days that some people are unhappy with its price tag. Thanks to the rumors, the majority of us expected the device to be priced around $249. But as it turns out, it’s $80 more than that.
According to Microsoft’s Windows boss, Steven Sinofsky, that’s a lot to pay for a “recreational tablet” when you can get a new Windows 8 laptop for $279.Thanks to Windows 8, Microsoft believes it’s found a way to deliver full-featured computing at a significantly lower price. It’s not talking netbooks or bargain-basement machines, but computers that are good enough to last a student through college.
“These are fantastic machines,” Sinofsky told AllThingsD on Thursday, before he took a swipe at the new iPad mini.
"It's $279. Here we are, talking about seven-inch recreational tablets for $329."
Then Sinofsky took aim at the MacBook Air, noting that there are plenty of thin and light Windows-powered Ultrabooks on sale for hundreds of dollars less than Apple’s ultraportable.
"It's not just discounting," Sinofsky said. "It's engineering work that drives the cost down."
I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen a decent Windows laptop on sale for $279. Sure, you can buy PCs at that price — my parents buy one every few years and then moan about how slow it is — but I wouldn’t describe them as “fantastic.” Would you?
Source: AllThingsD
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