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Surface 3 Stocks Dwindling As Microsoft Plans System's Demise (arstechnica.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Microsoft's Surface 3 may be coming to an end. Brad Sams at Thurrott.com reports that many versions of the Surface 3 are listed as being out of stock in Microsoft's online store, with no expected availability. He notes that the only version in stock online is the version with 2GB RAM/64GB storage/LTE. There's more availability in-store, but stock appears to be limited overall. What this generally means is that manufacturing is slowing down or going to stop entirely. In a statement, Microsoft said: "Since launching Surface 3 over a year ago, we have seen strong demand and satisfaction amongst our customers. Inventory is now limited and by the end of December 2016, we will no longer manufacture Surface 3 devices." It's possible a Surface 3 successor is right around the corner, although Ars Technica notes "there hasn't even been the merest hint of a rumor about such a device." The Surface 3 is being powered by a Cherry Trail Atom processor, which hasn't seen a major upgrade or replacement since they were released in the first quarter of 2015. "Without new processors, there's little reason to update the Surface 3 line," writes Ars. Microsoft could equip the Surface 3 successor with a Core M processor, but the implications of that decision would likely cause the device's price to shoot up or cause the device's quality to significantly decrease. Microsoft may simply abandon the segment entirely and focus strictly on the Surface Pro line.
Without new processors, there's little reason to update the Surface 3 line
I guess whoever wrote this article didn't do very much research. Intel is expected to release Apollo Lake (Cherry Trail's successor) in the 2nd half of 2016.
Aren't I supposed to be able to scoop one of these up at bargain basement prices and install Linux now. That's how this is supposed to work. Someone inform Microsoft.
I'm perfectly happy with my Surface Pro 3 and the Surface Pro 4 seems like a worthy successor, albeit not enough of an upgrade to be worth the price tag for current Surface Pro 3 owners.
The only area where the Surface line has consistently failed is on the low end of the market. When Microsoft cheaps out with low specs (and the resulting poor performance), customers don't bite. There's too much cheap PC hardware to choose from already. If Best Buy is already awash with pieces of shit from Dell, HP, and Toshiba, why would I pay more for a piece of shit from Microsoft?
For the Surface 3, Microsoft was clearly hoping it could succeed on the low end with full Windows 10 instead of the disastrously bad idea that was Windows RT. It looks like it may have proven itself wrong.
Putting Apple fanboism aside, how is it that Microsoft can fail so consistently with so many products yet Apple seems to fail with so few?
Surely you're only talking about hardware products. In which case Microsoft has produced far fewer products than Apple has, while Apple's history is not without its share of failures. Before the Powerbook G3, Apple laptops were often pretty crappy. The entire Performa line sucked. Some of Apple's tower cases were nearly impossible to open without cutting your hands. The 25th Anniversary Mac was a stupid idea. Shit, Apple has had to suck up its share of failures going all the way back to the Apple ///. Microsoft put out its first PC in 2012 and you're unwilling to grant it a failure or two here and there?
And if you wanna talk software products, let's talk about the billions and billions that Microsoft makes from software every year. Meanwhile, Apple has managed to sabotage what few software markets it had. Let's ignore Claris, just to be charitable. Let's forget all the projects that never really made it to market, like Copeland. Instead, go ask a former Final Cut user how he's liking Adobe Premiere. I'll wait.
Breakfast served all day!
what do you mean fail? the surface line has been extremely successful which makes me think this is probably the precursor to a new model coming out. A lot of people have been hanging off buying a Surface 3 as we have been expecting a Surface 4 ever since the surface Pro 4 released.