Microsoft have a lot riding on the release of the new Surface Pro tablet however they are facing a supply problem which is proving embarrassing for the operating system giant. [yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr3dFSzh1yU']
To promote the new range of tablets, they have started a high profile advertisement campaign which focuses on the pen input, the light weight. They also mention the touch interface and USB connectivity. Microsoft used the same director who handled the Surface RT advertisement – Jon M Chu.
The Official Surface Blog is rife with complaints. One person identified as ChrisJamesKnapp said “I went to three Best Buys, and two Future Shops. Sold out everywhere…Am I disappointed? Of course, I was really looking forward to ‘trading-up' my iPad 4 for the Surface Pro.”
ARigs said “I really wanted the Surface Pro 128. I went to 4 stores…but like most others I was completely let down by the lack of inventory. It reeks of incompetence at best or a poor marketing ploy at worst.”
The 128GB Surface Pro did sell out immediately and is already in short order at most Microsoft stores after it went on sale this weekend.
Panos Panay, the leader of the Surface group at Microsoft said “We're working with our retail partners who are currently out of stock of the 128GB Surface Pro to replenish supplies as quickly as possible.”
Buyers who went to the Microsoft retail stores also ended up disappointed with a large percentage turned away after they sold out quickly.
Kitguru says: Cynics are claiming that Microsoft are deliberately trying to build hype for the new product by intentionally forcing a shortage at launch, after all it has worked for Apple so many times.