Re:Microsoft Introduces New "Surface" Tablet
by tkahnoski on Monday June 18, 2012 @09:44PM
(#4129791)
I came to the same thought about the supply chain at first, but Microsoft does sell hardware, the XBox (and I guess the Zune.) Certainly not the same as Apple, but they do have handle on it.
Given how a lot of OEMs are pumping Androids, Microsoft may just have to start hedging its bets.
(On a lighter note maybe we can start a red-ring of death meme).
Microsoft does ship a huge number of XBox, I think around 60+ million last year, but it's not really a cutting edge device since the console market is relatively sluggish when it comes to change. The Kinect is much more interesting from a technical standpoint.
I think based on the dreck that the OEMs have been delivering for the last 8-10 years, it's not surprising that Microsoft felt it had to jump into the hardware business directly.
Xbox 360 - 67.2 million sold since November 2005.
Ah thanks, I misread the CES announcement as 2011 sales, not cumulative sales. 9 million a year isn't much compared to Apple selling 315 million iOS devices since it all started. Not to mention all the notebooks, iPods and desktops shipped.
I don't blame them for trying to vertically integrate, especially after seeing what it has done for Apple. But I think they're too late to the party.