Microsoft Surface Mini may Hit the Markets this Year with Windows RT

The Microsoft Surface mini should be enjoying its second week on the market. With a digital pen, and a 7.5" screen, the slate designed for capturing digital notes and messages was supposed to be the center of attention at a Microsoft event on May 20th. Instead, with the Surface mini unveiling canceled, the new Microsoft Surface Pro 3 was the focus of the day's little get together.

According to IHS analyst Rhoda Alexander, who is in charge of research for monitors and tablets, Microsoft is still working with the supply chain on the Surface mini. 15,000 to 20,000 units were reportedly manufactured before the decision came down from the top to 86 the Surface mini introduction. While the idea of a Surface mini is still apparently on Microsoft's bucket list, Alexander doesn't see it happening in the near future. Instead, she sees the bite-sized slate coming to market by the end of this year.

Microsoft decided not to introduce the Surface mini because Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Executive Vice President Stephen Elop were not happy with the product. The executives did not want a repeat of what happened with the Microsoft Surface RT. Almost $1 billion of the slabs had to be written off because they were sitting in Microsoft's warehouse, collecting dust. Another rumor has Microsoft waiting for the all-touch version of Office to be ready before launching the Surface mini.

Source CNET