Microsoft is still having trouble getting its Surface Hub out the door, announcing a second shipping delay and a $2,000 price hike for new orders.
The all-in-one computer for conference rooms, which includes a touch screen, stylus input, and integrated Kinect sensor, will now ship sometime in Q1, later than the January 1 release date that Microsoft announced in August. Originally, Microsoft planned to launch the Surface Hub on September 1, but pushed that release back in preparation for “production at a broader scale.” The company first demoed the Surface Hub nearly a year ago.
The price hike applies to both the 55-inch 1080p and 84-inch 4K models, bringing the cost to $8,999 and $21,999, respectively. Customers who’ve already pre-ordered will get the original pricing, ZDNet reports.
Microsoft didn’t give a specific reason for the delay and higher prices. In a statement to ZDNet, the company said it’s “finalizing our manufacturing plan with a view towards delivering the best product experience.” A spokesperson added, “After evaluating the market opportunity and considering the unique collaboration scenarios Surface Hub offers, we believe these are the right prices to drive the business and the category forward.”
In other words, these things are not easy or cheap to produce, and the companies that really want them are likely willing to pay the premium. In the meantime, other giant touchscreen PC makers will look to fill the void.
The story behind the story: Although Microsoft has shown a knack for making slick hardware, the company also has a track record for problems out of the gate with its device, including the Surface Pro tablet line and new Surface Book laptop. Issuing patches to end users is a lot easier than fixing $20,000 enterprise machines, so hopefully the delay means Microsoft is taking the time to get things right.