Microsoft Admits Windows Surface Tablet Could Tick Off OEMs

Microsoft’s Windows 8 Surface tablet poses some potential risks, mainly the risk of ticking off an original equipment manufacturer.

Yahoo reports that Microsoft is a little worried that some of their OEM partners will ditch Windows for a more open-source platform following the announcement that the software giant’s homemade tablet will be the first sold featuring Windows 8. The Redmond, Washington-based company acknowledged in its annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday that:

“Our Surface devices will compete with products made by our OEM partners, which may affect their commitment to our platform.”

This is the first sign that Microsoft may be worried, as it puts a huge emphasis on going it alone with the first Windows 8 table, to be released this fall. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer stated in June that, “the importance of the thousands of partners that we have that design and produce Windows computers will not diminish.”

CNet reports that while Microsoft has been pushing manufacturers to design tablets that take advantage of the ease of mobile use that Windows 8 comes with, the Surface throws a wrench into the process, with the news that the company’s OEM partners will have to compete with the software giant for sales.

In the company’s annual report, they also spoke about the challenge of creating a Windows OS that works for both PCs and mobile devices. Microsoft stated:

“Users may increasingly turn to these [mobile] devices to perform functions that would have been performed by personal computers in the past. Even if many users view these devices as complementary to a personal computer, the prevalence of these devices may make it more difficult to attract applications developers to our platforms.”

Yahoo News notes that the only manufacturers on the current list to create a Windows RT tablet are Asus, Toshiba, Samsung, and Lenovo. While there has been speculation that Dell could make one, neither company has confirmed or denied the possibility. Julie Bort with Business Insider did comment that, “since Microsoft announced it would be competing with its OEM partners making tablets, Dell has released a bunch of new high-end ultrabooks that can run Linux.” This could hint that relations between Microsoft and Dell may not be the warmest in light of the Surface’s announcement.

Are you excited for the release of Microsoft’s Windows 8, as well as the Surface Tablet?

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