UK VARs get hands on Microsoft Surface Book
Resellers claim product could go toe to toe with Apple
After finally being given the chance to sell Microsoft's Surface Book, accredited partners have claimed the vendor's first laptop could present a real threat to Apple.
Having launched in the US and Canada in October, Microsoft has announced that the product is now available for customer pre-order in a number of additional countries, including the UK. A Microsoft representative confirmed that the vendor's existing fleet of Authorised Device Resellers (ADR) in the UK will be permitted to offer the Surface Book (pictured) to their customers.
Representatives of UK ADRs contacted by CRN indicated that they can commence customer pre-orders as soon as they are able to obtain pricing from distribution partners. The estimated shipping date of the product is 18 February.
Chris McQuade, operations manager at PCS Business Systems, indicated that he is "really excited by the news that the Surface Book is becoming available to the ADR channel". He claimed the product could prove popular in the media sector and other traditional Mac strongholds.
"I think the big play is against Apple and the MacBook, and I think it will be a very strong competitor," he said. "The build quality is awesome and the functionality is great, and we have a number of prestigious clients that are interested."
Stuart Wohlman, operations director of fellow ADR Tangible Benefit, added: "We are very interested in the Surface Book, and our clients are very interested. We have had lots of queries and will be very excited when stock lands."
The number of ADRs in the UK increased markedly in September, when Microsoft handed the accreditation to 41 VARs, taking the total tally to 55. The increase is part of a global drive, commenced by the vendor last summer, the ultimate goal of which is to increase the worldwide total of ADRs from 150 to more than 4,500.
In addition to the accredited reseller channel, the Surface Book is also available for pre-order direct from Microsoft, as well as through retailers Currys and PC World. Pricing begins at £1,299 in the UK.
The product has also gone on sale this week in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and France, as well as Australia and New Zealand. It will be "coming soon to Japan", according to a blog written by Yusuf Mehdi, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Windows and Devices Group.
Since the launch of the inaugural Surface tablet in 2012, Microsoft's flagship device range has never been given more than a limited distribution through the channel. The product was sold only direct and through certain retailers for some months after its release, before a handful of VARs were finally, in 2013, permitted to sell the product, following the creation of the ADR badge.