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Microsoft Surface Pro Malfunctions, Patriots Lose Place In Super Bowl As A Result

By Val Powell
Published on: 15:52 PST, Jan 25, 2016

Microsoft might be trying too hard to sell its Surface Pro tablet, which it claims to be the perfect laptop-tablet hybrid in the market right now.

In fact, the Redmond-based manufacturer struck a $400 million deal with the National Football Association (NFL) in 2013 in order to display its tablets and devices during football games.

It’s quite interesting to see that in spite of the deal, which featured the Surface slates in bright blue covers, the game announcers still often referred to the devices as iPads. Nevertheless, it was a good the opportunity for Microsoft to promote its struggling tablet hybrid.

Unfortunately, during the NFL playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos, the Microsoft Surface Pro slate reportedly malfunctioned.

In the game, the Patriots’ Surface tablets did not work, and so the coaches were not able to show pictures and draw up the play for the team.

Evan Washburn, a CBS reporter, saw what happened during the game that determined the winner of the American Football Conference (AFC) and a place in this year’s Super Bowl.

“They’re having some trouble with their Microsoft Surface tablets,” said Washburn. “That last defensive possession the Patriots’ coaches did not have access to those tablets to show pictures to their players.”

A Microsoft tech team worked with NFL officials in bringing the tablets to work again.

Unfortunately, the damage was already done according to Washburn. He said that while some of the tablets were back in use not long after, not all of them were fixed.

“A lot of frustration that they didn’t have them on that last possession,” he added.

On the other hand, the Broncos did not suffer any problems with their Microsoft tablets.

Denver won the game by a slim margin, 20-18 and booked a trip to the Super Bowl on February 8 against the Carolina Panthers.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Microsoft blamed connectivity issues for the problem with their Surface tablets.

“Our team on the field has confirmed the issue was not related to the tablets themselves but rather an issue with the network,” the company said in a statement,” he said.

The spokesman added that they have worked with their service provider partners and made sure to fix the problem quickly.

The glitch of the Patriots’ Surface tablets may have contributed to their loss, and it isn’t the first time Microsoft’s devices encountered problems during an NFL game.

“Second time this season I’ve personally heard the @Microsoft tablet getting crushed during an #NFL game,” posted reporter Sean Jensen on Twitter.

In December in a match between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cleveland Browns, the Browns’ quarterback Johnny Manziel was captured in a video getting so frustrated with the Surface tablet, that he banged his head several times against it.

While the glitch did not last long during the Broncos-Patriots match, the social media world immediately shared their comical takes on the incident.

Some users on Twitter said that there may be a conspiracy because only the tablets of the Patriots were affected by the glitch. Another Twitter user said that whenever the tablets worked, they were referred to as “iPads,” but when they didn’t, they were called Microsoft Surface tablets.

Another social media post remarked, “Now is not the time for a Microsoft Surface Ad.”

The Microsoft Surface Pro is among the devices that the Washington-based tech giant has been working on in the past years. It includes high-end specs, and the ability to be converted into a laptop through a detachable keyboard accessory.

[Image via YouTube]

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