Microsoft Targets The iMac With New All-In-One Surface PCs, Reports Say (networkworld.com)

New submitter Miche67 writes: Two reports say Microsoft is working on an all-in-one (AIO) PC under the Surface brand. If that's true, it would put it in competition with HP and Dell, which have their own AIO lines, as well as put it in competition with Apple's iMac. Network World reports: "Both DigiTimes and Windows Central picked up on the story, each citing their own sources. DigiTimes, a Taiwan-based publication with connections to the PC industry over there (but also a very mixed record of accuracy) said the new devices would come in the third quarter of this year. Windows Central, which is a little better when it comes to rumors, said it did not have a solid release date." Business Insider was able to find a patent filing by Microsoft for a desktop PC that supports the rumored AIO design. "The device is evidently targeting a 'modern and elegant' design and is meant to be something akin to a premium appliance or furniture," Windows Central wrote. Intel's release date of the new Kaby Lake line of processors around Q3 of this year complicates things. While Kaby Lake is said to be more mobile-friendly with less power consumption and heat, they would make for a good choice for an AIO machine. However, it would be pushing it for Microsoft to release its AIO machines in the same quarter that Kaby Lake is due. On a semi-related note, a programmer at Building 88 recently confirmed that Microsoft will release Surface 5 devices next year powered by Kaby Lake processors. He posted pictures of four device holders marked "2017" on his Twitter account.

Comments

Microsoft's Customers are Screwed.. Again

[mpapet]

Things must be desperate inside Microsoft. They are attacking their own customers. (Dell, Asus, etc.)

Re:Microsoft's Customers are Screwed.. Again

[ShaunC]

The obvious and overdone product placements for the Surface are very off-putting as well. A couple of times during the NASCAR race this weekend, they'd cut to a trackside reporter who'd start out their segment saying "Looking here on my Microsoft Surface, I can see..." [some statistic they could easily have viewed on any device]. I've seen sideline reporters do the same thing during NBC coverage of NFL games, except amusingly the NFL hosts kept referring to them as iPads.

When your product has so little brand awareness and/or consumer goodwill that you purchase blatant product placements like this, I personally find that to be a sign of an undesirable product. Product placement, as opposed to just buying a normal TV commercial, reeks of being sneaky and underhanded. Then again that describes Microsoft's image in general these days; "sneaky and underhanded" probably ought to be the official motto of Windows 10.

Re:Microsoft's Customers are Screwed.. Again

[Gumbercules!!]

No, Microsoft are not screwed. Microsoft's partners are screwed.

If Microsoft starts pushing out equipment that people want and emulates Apple - then there's no need for Dell. Anyway, who is Dell going to get an OS from? Apple? Dell has to keep selling Windows because its consumers need it (enterprise and business). Linux is not an option.

It's not just hardware partners Microsoft is screwing over - channel partners are in deep shit, too. All those millions of little IT shops days are numbered, too. Office 365, Azure integrated AD, etc. All spells a lot of trouble for people who have spent the last 10 years selling SBS boxes and PCs to small businesses.

Microsoft is never going to get ahead

[surfdaddy]

...by continuing their Apple and other company envy. They need to do some ground-breaking things that are unique for themselves AND are wildly successful in the market. Not be a clueless follower:

Mac OS, so then Microsoft creates Windows

iPod, so then Microsoft creates Zune

Google search, so then Microsoft creates Bing

Google does ads, so then Microsoft has to do ads

Apple app store, so then Microsoft creates an app store

Apple stores, so then Microsoft has to have stores

Apple provides free OS updates, so then Microsoft has to provide a free OS update

Apple high-end hardware, so then Microsoft has to have high-end hardware

Apple all in one PCs, so then Microsoft has to make all-in-one PCs