Analysts split on Microsoft Surface sales projections
We're all pretty curious to see just how the Microsoft Surface is panning out, but it looks like analysts won't be able to help all that much. Microsoft has pushed hard to market the Surface, and Steve Ballmer has been positive, but very vague about both the Surface and Windows Phone 8 sales. Two different analyst firms came out with Q4 sales projections for the Surface, and the estimates are pretty far away from each other.
The original projection for the Surface had the tablet aiming for the 1 million to 2 million range for Q4 sales from brokerage firm Detwiler Fenton, but now the firm thinks that range is far too high, and has adjusted its projection down to the 500,000 to 600,000-unit range. Detwiler even went so far as to say that Microsoft's strategy is "in disarray", and cited the pricetag as reasons for the adjustment.
However, Rhoda Alexander of IHS iSuppli is far more positive on the Surface tablet saying that sales could reach as high as 1.3 million units for Q4. Of course, given that Microsoft has reportedly cut orders for the tablet, so we're a bit more likely to believe Detwiler over Ms. Alexander. It seems we may just have to wait for the Microsoft Q4 earnings call to get the truth.
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