The new Microsoft tablet will come equipped for Wi-Fi only at least in its initial production run, two unnamed sources told the Bloomberg news agency.
This means that unlike some iPad models with LTE, Microsoft’s Windows 8 Surface tablet will offer no cellular connectivity when it goes on sale later this year.
An industry analyst cited by Bloomberg explains that to some degree this makes sense because most consumers use their tablets at home where they have Wi-Fi access anyway. Another analyst suggests that the Wi-Fi-only option for the Microsoft tablet makes sense to some degree:
Wi-Fi-only models are the larger part of the market right now and Microsoft’s decision may enable it to keep costs down, said Ben Bajarin, an analyst at technology consulting firm Creative Strategies. Still, it could curtail the company’s efforts to promote Surface as a device you can use anywhere and in any way, Bajarin said.
As The Inquisitr has previously reported , while Microsoft showed off the tablet–which will be produced in two versions–earlier this week they have remained mum on certain other details such as the antenna type, battery details, and processor speeds. We do know the Microsoft Surface includes an ARM processor in the Surface RT and Ivy Bridge Core i5 in the Surface Pro.
Both versions Surface will have a 10.6-inch HD screen and be either be 9.3 mm or 13.5 mm thick.
The London Telegraph notes that “Reaction to the devices was mixed, with analysts impressed by Microsoft’s attention to detail and industrial design, but many wanting more information on the new devices.”
Do you think that the lack of mobile connectivity will be a significant negative for the new Microsoft tablet when it comes to consumer buying decisions?
