The Surface Pro and RT couldn't be considered overnight successes for Microsoft at this point, but they have gotten Redmond's foot in the door. The Surface tablets have much to recommend them, but now that we know a Surface Pro 2 is likely, along with a 7-inch Surface (Mini?), Microsoft has to go ahead and iron out the kinks.
A Surface Pro 2 and RT 2 release, accompanied by a mini tablet, would give Microsoft a chance to essentially relaunch the Surface line-up once again. Here are five things Redmond needs to get right, to make sure its tablets have a chance against Apple, Samsung and Google:
Less Confusion
Here's the problem with Surface RT and Surface Pro: People are confused, and Microsoft hasn't made things any easier. The Surface RT runs Windows RT, which looks and feels just like a full-featured version of Windows 8 (complete with Desktop mode!), but it is absolutely different. Surface RT can only run apps purchased from the Windows Store, and the desktop mode is only there for access to RT versions of Microsoft Office. Nothing else can be installed on it.
With Windows Blue (rumored to be called 8.1) coming out and enhancing the OS experience, not to mention a 7-inch Surface Mini, Microsoft needs to clearly and effectively communicate to consumers the differences between the tablets, if it has any chance of wooing them. It would be great if Surface RT could run everything Windows 8 does, but since that's not likely to happen, it's very important that the clouds surrounding it disappear.
Unity
Having to use the desktop mode on a tablet can be a pain, and switching back and forth between it and the Metro UI is something Surface Pro and RT users have complained about. Windows Blue is supposed to solve some of these problems by letting you access programs through the Metro's enhanced PC settings, but it's unclear if you'll be able to get to applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. You should be able to.
Price
We know the Surface Pro is essentially a laptop in tablet form, hence the high price, but the Surface RT costs too much, considering Windows RT's limitations. The Surface Mini is expected to be a much cheaper alternative so that Microsoft can compete with the iPad mini, Galaxy Note 8.0, Kindle Fire and Nexus 7, but Microsoft needs to find a sweet spot. The Note 8.0 is $400, but if Microsoft can keep the Surface Mini within the range of the iPad mini (or even cheaper), then it could very possibly be onto a winner. Even if the Surface Mini runs on Windows RT, it would have an advantage over the iPad on productivity due to its Microsoft Office programs.
Resolution
Current speculation suggests that Microsoft is scaling down Windows 8 so that it can power smaller tablets with a resolution of 1,024 x 768. That's the current resolution of the iPad mini, and it's already less than the Galaxy Note 8.0, which sports a 1,280 x 800 display and comes out on April 11. If iPad mini does actually sport a Retina display, it'll outdo even Samsung's new creation. That means 1,024 x 768 is just not going to cut it for Microsoft's Surface Mini, especially if it launches at the latter end of 2013 against who knows how many other tablets sporting better resolutions. It needs something better.
Apps, Apps, And Way More Apps
It's already sad enough for Windows users that the Surface RT can't run full Windows 8 applications. If the only things users can download and install are going to be from the Windows Store, then the Windows Store needs to get better. A lot better. Twitter and Dropbox just came out with an app recently, but Facebook is still missing. There's no Instagram. No Pandora. Microsoft has started offering developers $100 for every app they publish on Windows Store before the end of June. Let's hope it works.
