Reactions to the recently unveiled Microsoft Surface tablet family just keep coming in, with everyone from PC vendors and industry watchers eager to weigh in on Microsoft’s decision to sell self-branded tablets. Even though people are probably more interested in Apple’s reaction, Mountain View beat Cupertino to the punch when it fired a cautious verbal volley on Wednesday.
Sundar Pichai from Google said that it was a surprising announcement and appreciated the effort Microsoft put into the Surface’s form factor, an area in dire need of innovation according to him.
“They are doing everything right in terms of messaging, but to me its a very complicated strategy to pull off,” Pichai said. “Even before the Surface announcement, Windows 8 itself had been a cause of both optimism and concern among the entire ecosystem. I am excited because the Windows ecosystem is in some ways ossified and it takes time for it to change.”
“Windows 8 is a big disruptive thing, and that is both good and an opportunity for everyone else. One of the main concerns with Windows 8 is that it is primarily designed around touch and tablets, and it’s not exactly fully clear how great of an user experience it is on laptops and so on with Metro mode.”
Pichai’s reaction in some ways mimics the overall initial response to Windows 8 and the Surface in that too is mixed