Newsletter Archives

• Have the Surface RT and Surface 2 been put out to pasture?

  Posted on January 9, 2017 at 08:08 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  If you got suckered into buying a Windows RT machine from Microsoft, you’re basically up the ol’ creek, the next time you try to reset it.

  InfoWorld Woody on Windows

  UPDATE: Evan Forrest has published detailed instructions for installing Update 3 on an RT machine. https://surfacetip.com/install-windows-rt-8-1-update-3-2017/  Amazing! There are still lots of problems – and Microsoft should be thrashed for tossing its RT customers under the bus – but it’s a very worthwhile fix. Thanks, Evan!

  Microsoft News Surface 2, Surface RT, Windows RT

• No, Microsoft didn’t sell 900,000 Surface RT tablets

  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 21:32 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Although the headlines may make you think MS sold that many, in fact, they didn’t – and, I bet, probably won’t.

  InfoWorld Tech Watch.

  Windows News Surface RT

• Where to buy a Surface RT

  Posted on December 14, 2012 at 00:01 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Microsoft’s made good on its decision, announced Tuesday, to release the Surface RT to a wider array of retailers in the US, and added two retailing chains in Australia. In addition, one giant electronics retail chain in China, Suning.com, has been displaying and shipping the Surface RT since October 25, one day before it was released in the US.

  Staples is taking orders online, promising delivery in 3 business days. Staples says it has units available for purchase “at all Staples locations… as early as December 12.”

  Best Buy has been taking orders online for the past 24 hours, stating the units “Usually ships in 1-2 business days.” Best Buy stores are due to have the Surface RT in stock in all of their retail locations starting Sunday.

  In Australia, Harvey Norman is also taking online orders, “usually ships within 2 days.” The tablet is supposed to be available for your perusal “from Friday in most locations.” Harvey Norman only ships to Australia.

  Also in Australia, JB Hi-Fi has been officially announced as a distributor, but I haven’t been able to locate an ordering site, or verify details about retail availability.

  The Chinese-language version of Surface RT continues to be available at some Suning branches in China and Hong Kong, as well as online. Suning has more than 700 franchised stores in more than 150 cities in China and Hong Kong; Microsoft has contracted with the company to offer the Surface RT in 500 or more retail stores, “dedicated areas in Suning’s retail stores to display and demonstrate Surface, with trained sales representatives to deliver a great experience for end-users of Surface.”

  Microsoft will continue to peddle the Surfact RT in all of its Microsoft Stores and Pop-Up Stores: five in Canada; one in Puerto Rico; and 60 in the US.

  If you can’t get to a Microsoft Store, and won’t be traveling to Australia or Hong Kong any time soon, you can order online from any of these sites:

  Microsoft US order page

  Microsoft Canada order page (in English)

  Microsoft Australia order page

  Microsoft UK order page

  Microsoft France order page

  Microsoft Germany order page

  The lowest-priced Surface RT appeared as “Sold Out” briefly on Microsoft order sites shortly after MS started taking orders in October. Both of the more-expensive versions remained in stock, and the least expensive version came back in stock shortly afterwards. None of the sites mentioned above currently list any of the three versions of the Surface RT as sold out.

  Sales figures remain a closely guarded secret.

  Microsoft still hasn’t said anything about availability of the Surface with Windows 8 Pro, promised for January, which is rumored to be appearing in late January.

  UPDATE 16 Dec: The Surface RT is now available in France, at the retail chain FNAC.

  UPDATE 17 Dec: Surface RT now available in UK, at John Lewis.

  Windows News Surface RT

• Surface RT may win by default

  Posted on November 7, 2012 at 22:03 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Other Windows RT manufacturers are dropping like flies.

  InfoWorld Tech Watch.

  Windows News Surface RT, Windows RT