Is the Comic Book Boom Bad for Microsoft's Surface?
New data from comiXology lends further credence to the idea that tablets are fast becoming the device of choice for consumable media such as books, comics, and TV. And that may be bad news for Microsoft's tablet strategy, Fool contributor Tim Beyers says in the following video.
Microsoft isn't targeting the traditional tablet audience with the Surface 2 Pro. And even the Surface 2 is priced for enough of a premium that it comes off as a business device, Tim argues.
Research backs up that assertion. In February, Forrester Research surveyed more than 9,000 information technology workers and found that 32% wanted a Surface tablet, 26% wanted an iPad, and only 12% wanted an Android tab. Microsoft may be carving out a significant and sustainable niche.
Yet by focusing on business users, Microsoft is also likely to miss out on a huge opportunity in consumable media. Again, consider comiXology, which executes between 7 million and 8 million downloads monthly. More than 80% of its users access these fast-growing digital collections via tablet.
Should Microsoft investors care if the Surface isn't suited for the digital comic book boom? Tim answers this question and more in the video. Please watch now to get Tim's full take and then leave a comment to let us know where you stand.
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The article Is the Comic Book Boom Bad for Microsoft's Surface? originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Tim Beyers is a member of the Motley Fool Rule Breakers stock-picking team and the Motley Fool Supernova Odyssey I mission. He owned shares of Apple, Google, and Netflix at the time of publication. He was also long Jan. 2014 $50 Netflix call options. Check out Tim's web home and portfolio holdings or connect with him on Google+, Tumblr, or Twitter, where he goes by @milehighfool. You can also get his insights delivered directly to your RSS reader.The Motley Fool recommends Apple, Google, and Netflix. The Motley Fool owns shares of Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Netflix. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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