If internet rumours are to be believed, the Microsoft Surface tablet could cost just $199 when it launches later this year. According to an ‘inside source’ at the recently held TechReady 15 conference, which is an internal Microsoft event, the price and details of the tablet’s launch were told to attendees. The source states that the ARM-based Windows RT tablet will be priced at $199 and will launch on October 26th.
This price is significantly cheaper than earlier rumours that stated the tablet would cost $599, and the standard x86 version $799.
The release date seems very likely, because all the other SKUs of Windows 8 will also be available around that time. However, the price would put it up against the Nexus 7, which is not only a smaller device, and therefore cheaper to make, but Google only just manages to scrape a profit on the device. The Surface is a 10.6 inch tablet, that has a higher display resolution, so the pricing seems very unlikely, unless Microsoft is willing to take a big loss on the device in order to take a bite out of Apple and Google’s market share.
