Microsoft and Apple are gearing up for what promises to be one of the fiercest battles in the tablet wars next week. The world’s largest software company will start shipping its Surface RT tablets with prices starting at $499, right in line with the price of a new iPad. Meanwhile Apple is expected to launch its “iPad mini” next week, promoting the smaller, thinner tablet in contrast to Microsoft’s 10.6-inch workhorse.
Microsoft is expected to pump $400 million into the launch of its new tablet, a significant marketing budget by any measure, but just a scratch on the surface of the overall marketing budget for the upcoming Windows 8 operating system. Reports have pegged that budget at anywhere from $1 billion to $1.5 billion.
Pricing for the Windows 8 version of the Surface has not yet been announced. The Windows 8 version, called the Surface Pro, will run the Microsoft Office applications that are the backbone of many workplaces. Microsoft is clearly hoping that its tablet can make significant inroads into enterprises this fall before the iPad becomes too entrenched in the corporate world.
The Surface RT, on the other hand, will not run Windows apps; it will only run those that are available in the Windows App Store. So far, there have not been any breakout mobile apps that are exclusive to Windows.
