Microsoft to sell Surface RT in Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi
- 11 December, 2012 16:57
- Comments
Microsoft has altered its approach to selling Windows RT tablet/notebooks, at least in Australia, where it will start selling them in Harvey Norman and JB Hi-Fi stores.
By doing so Microsoft is abandoning its initial sales strategy for Windows RT of selling the devices only in Microsoft brick and mortar stores in what CEO Steve Ballmer called a controlled release.
FIRST LOOK: Surface RT
LEARN: 11 (FREE!) Microsoft tools to make life easier
The shift in Australia may spread to the US as rumors that started last week call for Surface RT to start appearing in major U.S. retail stores.
According to a story in the Australian Financial Review, Harvey Norman will sell the devices starting Friday. The spin put on the story by that publication is that customers will be able to compare Surface RT side-by-side with other tablets such as its major competitor the iPad, something that was not possible in Microsoft Stores unless customers brought in their own iPads.
Microsoft hasn't said anything one way or the other, and has made no announcements about how well Surface RTs are selling.
Microsoft had planned to shift Surface RT sales into retail stores in January, but moved up the date, according to Paul Thurrott's blog on WindowsItPro.
In the US, Microsoft will stick to the original plan, he says, placing Surface RT in Staples and Best Buy stores about the time it releases Surface Pro laptops in late January.
The backdrop here is that sales of the consumer-oriented Surface RT are speculated to be slow, prompting Microsoft to alter its sales strategy. Microsoft hasn't released sales figures for Surface RT.
Tim Greene covers Microsoft for Network World and writes the Mostly Microsoft blog. Reach him at tgreene@nww.com and follow him on Twitter @Tim_Greene.
Read more about software in Network World's Software section.
Recommended
Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.
- Bookmark this page
- Share this article
- Got more on this story? Email CIO
- Follow CIO on twitter
- Australian Red Cross Blood Service Enhances the Performance of Its Mission-Critical Applications
- Quick Poll: Trends in Enterprise Mobility
- Simplifying Data Protection
- Transforming Virtualised Infrastructure: The Key to Enabling Mission-critical Databases and Applications
- Case Study: Gadens Law Firm Reclaims 22 Hours of Lost Productivity Each Month
-
Why change management doesn’t work
-
Larry Page wants to see your medical records
-
Dual-Persona Smartphones Not a BYOD Panacea
-
After two-year hiatus, EFF accepts bitcoin donations again
-
CIOs struggle to deliver timely mobile business apps: survey
-
Choice and Control – Considerations for Developing Enterprise Cloud Strategies
Enterprise-wide cloud implementation can be a challenging process, requiring a thoughtful, strategic approach. In this whitepaper, IBM® shares considerations for developing enterprise cloud strategies. It looks into how the rapid-scale enterprise-class environment can help enable the type of agile infrastructure that aids organisations in quickly meeting the demands of an ever-evolving marketplace, thereby providing true business value. Read now. -
ESG Whitepaper: Integrated Computing Platform Survey
Data centres, servers, storage and more are being combined for simplified management and cost savings. In this survey, ESG looks at the current and future trends surrounding today’s integrated computing solutions. Download to find out how organisations are more likely to see commit IT budgets to the purchase of integrated solutions. Read more. -
The Big Data Security Analytics Era is Here
Large organisations can no longer rely on preventive security systems, point security tools, manual processes, and hardened configurations to protect them from targeted attacks and advanced malware. Henceforth, security management must be based upon continuous monitoring and data analysis for up‐to-the‐minute situational awareness and rapid data-driven security decisions. This means that large organisations have entered the era of big data security analytics. Learn more.
Get exclusive access to Invitation only events CIO, reports & analysis. 
