Microsoft Corporation(NASDAQ:MSFT) is expected to sell
about 3 million of its tablet PC, Surface in 2012, according to a forecast by
Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Holt.
Holt has an Overweight rating on Microsoft and said in
a note that the pricing of the Surface tablets were competitive with that of
Apple and in line with his expectations.
On Wednesday, Microsoft had released the details of
Surface including the pricing and pre-order dates. This is the debut of Microsoft
in the tablet PC segment, which is dominated by Apple, which runs its own
proprietary software and Samsung that is powered by Google's Android.
The Surface tablet will be running on Windows 8
software.
To be officially launched on October 26, the 32GB
model is priced at $499 (add $100 for a Touch Cover keyboard) and a 64 GB
version and keyboard for $699. There is a limited preorder via Microsoft’s
website from October 23.
Holt said that in 2013 he expected about 9 million
Surface tablets to be sold and said that the tablet is “an underappreciated
driver for Windows revenue in FY13 and beyond.”
Analysing the pricing of the tablet, Holt wrote,
“Pricing appears competitive: $499 for a 32 GB Surface is less than the $599
for a new 32 GB iPad with WiFi, while $699 for a 64 GB Surface plus keyboard is
consistent with the $699 cost of a 64 GB iPad, with no keyboard-and MSFT’s flat
keyboard is itself a differentiator."
"Morgan Stanley’s May 2012 Blue Paper on tablets
suggested that 61 percent of potential tablet users saw the ability to use
Office as among the most important features to consider when purchasing a
tablet, and should work to MSFT’s benefit."
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