Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Putting First Generation in the Past, Looking Towards Future

For Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) CEO Steve Ballmer and his tablet crew, the Surface lineup of devices had to be a disappointment. It came to market with such high hopes (and some cool commercials) but was never really taken seriously by the public.

Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Putting First Generation in the Past, Looking Towards FutureWhether or not the company is able to turn things around in the tablet market remains to be seen. With the competition on the rise, Microsoft needs to put this debacle behind itself and move forward.

And that is exactly how things are playing out right now.

Good Bye First Generation Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Surface

Monica Chen and Joseph Tsai of Digitimes are reporting that the company has started “cleaning its first-generation Surface tablet inventory to welcome its upcoming second-generation models.”

This is good news for Microsoft as it attempts to get rid of the “old” before it brings in the “new.”

With rumors of an October launch circulating, it will not be long before consumers once again have the chance to give the Surface another chance.

The key question is this: what will Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) do differently this time around?

From the get go, it is being reported that the company is going to lowers its price in North America for the Surface RT by $100.

After a big bust the first time around, Microsoft is being cautious about its approach with the second-generation tablets. According to the same Digitimes report, the company laced an order for roughly 300,000 units from  Pegatron Technology. Obviously, if demand rises they can always increase orders down the line.

The moral of the story is that Microsoft doesn’t want to get stuck with a bunch of tablets that nobody wants, much like they did the first time around.

We will get the chance to see what the second-generation Surface is all about, as the new iPad is set to debut around the same time. This will give consumers the chance to line up the new models and make a clear cut decision on a winner.

Does Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) have what it takes to turn things around in the tablet market, making the second-generation Surface more successful than the first? Only time will tell, but these hedge fund managers continue to invest in the company: Sandy Nairn, Kelly Cardwell, Jeffrey Ubben, James Litinsky, and William Duhamel.

Check out the video below for more on the first-generation Surface:

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Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), Independent Developers, and the Future