Chinese Granny Tries To Halt Microsoft Surface Launch Event, Complains It’s Too Noisy! (Videos)

By Herman Lai, posted Oct 26, 2012 at 3:13 AM, 3,984 views,

Chinese Granny Tries To Halt Microsoft Surface Launch Event, Complains It’s Too Noisy! (Videos)

Microsoft Surface’s launch event was held at 00:00 yesterday night, which might have caused too much noise and affected surrounding neighbors. A Chinese granny and a grandpa were extremely unhappy with the event, because the noise was disturbing their grandchildren to go to sleep. They went up to the stage while dancer dancing and pulled away by the security guards. Other than this, we haver more to show you about the Surface’s launch events in China. Everything else after the break!

What a historical moment!

Launch Event in Beijing

Let’s about the launch event. Microsoft planned to launch its Surface on the 26 Oct 00:00, but because of the time difference between China and Western countries, China has the great honor to be the first country to launch Microsoft Surface, making it a lot meaningful for Chinese customers. Surface tablet was launched through China’s biggest retailer Suning Electronics in seven Chinese cities, including Nanjing, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc. And, the launch event in Beijing has drawn hundreds of buyers.

The Queue

The Queue

Launch Event in Beijing

He’s the first person in the line. He named Chen Shi, 25 years old. He had been waiting in line for 30 hours and wearing this Microsoft Surface hoodies.

The Stage

Launch Event in Beijing

The president of Suning Appliance Jin Ming and Microsoft’s senior vice president Ralph Haupter issued a Microsoft certificate to Chen for being the first in the world to receive the Surface tablet.

The packaging has the signature of Jin Ming and Ralph Haupter

Chen is feeling so proud of buying Microsoft Surface

Chen felt DAMN happy!

Chen told PCworld that he was especially interested in Windows RT, the OS that runs on the device:

“The tablet supports more software features for office work, things that you would actually use, Basically, Microsoft is reinventing the tablet, because now people are used to using their tablets as toys, and only use them to play games. These tablets lack features to do work for the office.”

Microsoft employees served the customers next to the stage

Pricing for Microsoft Surface Running Windows RT:

32GB model with no Touch Cover, costs 3,688 yuan (around $589);

32GB with cover, costs 4,488 yuan ($716);

64GB model with cover, costs 5,288 yuan ($844).

Comparing with the pricing in US, Surface costs another $100 in China.

Inside the Suning Store

Video from Romatic Blue’s Weibo

Massive crowds inside the mall

Crazy lots of people

Everyone is feeling curious about this tablet

She’s waiting impatiently

The first buyer of Microsoft Surface in Nanjing.

PPTV, Sohu TV and Qian Qian Music player on Microsoft’s Marketplace for China.

Marketplace for China

Interface of the Chinese version of Windows user interface

Credit: Evolife.cn

First Impression of Microsoft Surface

According to a survey from Digitimes in August, Apple owned 72.4% of China’s tablet market. Then Lenovo, ranked second to Apple, captured a market share of only 8.38 percent. So basically, Apple owned the Chinese tablet market. An analyst with IDC said it’s hard for Microsoft to sell its tablet to the Chinese customers, since Microsoft’s tablet is not a low-price product, the people who buy Surface probably have owned an iPad already.

Chen Lei, who was waiting in line with an iPad to buy Microsoft Surface, said:

“This is the first time Microsoft is coming out with something like this. It’s something fresh!”

Wang Hui, 25 years old, who was waiting in line as well, said:

“I feel like everyone has an iPad. I don’t want to buy the same thing as everyone else, I think the Surface tablet can become popular in China. It’s what all my friends have been talking about.”

Kang Zheng, 23 years old, wo is disappointed with the Windows RT tablet that it cannot run Windows Softwares, while iPad has vast number of apps from Apple’s App Store. He said:

“I don’t think the Surface will be more popular than the iPad, there is so much software the Surface tablet can’t use, and the price is still too high.”

Overall, this is a successful launch event, except for the granny part. Undoubtedly, Microsoft has attached great importance to the Chinese market by launching the Surface tablet in China earlier than other countries. The debut of Surface tablet is certainly giving an alternative to Chinese consumers to choose from, rather than just the iPad and various Android tablets. Will Microsoft’s Surface gain success in China? It depends on two things. First, the user experience of Microsoft Surface that other tablets cannot provide. Second, its piracy problem in the country, since the company has long struggled to monetized in China. At least now, Microsoft is no longer day dreaming.

Source: Sina (Chinese translated), takefoto.cn, WPdang, PCworld