Microsoft has only recently released their Surface and Surface Pro tablets to consumers – but according to Microsoft CFO Peter Klein, they may already be planning a smaller version of the Windows-based tablet to compete with the iPad mini.
Microsoft’s CFO Peter Klein tried to garner some attention by saying that Microsoft is ready, willing and able to launch a device similar to Apple’s iPad mini. But the talk ended there and melted into a fog of when they’d actually launch it. Is Microsoft back to their vaporware days or will they deliver such a beast this year?
At the moment Microsoft’s re-entry into the tablet market has been a little behind the curve to say the least. But this is a marathon and not a sprint. Yes, we’re likely to see a Surface Mini later this year. […] If not, Ballmer will have some explaining to do. Back in 2012, CRN had Ballmer on record as saying that they’re “not going to let any piece of this go uncontested to Apple,” shouted Ballmer. “Not the consumer cloud. Not hardware software innovation. We are not leaving any of that to Apple by itself. Not going to happen. Not on our watch.”
Considering that the Microsoft Surface was essentially a late-to-the-game response to the iPad, it’s unsurprising to see a similarly late response to the iPad mini. That’s how things tend to work in what has become a world of “me too!” aimed at knocking Apple off of their tall pedestal (a pedestal made entirely of huge amounts of cash, of course).
Well done, Microsoft. Steve Jobs’ famous quote “Redmond, start your photocopiers!” comes all-too-quickly to mind…
