微軟公司(Microsoft Corp.)決定發(fā)布自家品牌的 Surface 平板電腦后，哪些廠商能夠從中受益以及有哪些可能的輸家看來已經(jīng)相當(dāng)清楚了。根據(jù)許多產(chǎn)業(yè)觀察家表示，這家軟件巨擘的OEM客戶們將直接成為最大的輸家；其它人則說微軟公司本身就會(huì)后悔這項(xiàng)可能激怒其PC伙伴的決定。 無論實(shí)際情況究竟如何，微軟公司的這項(xiàng)決定顯然對于電子組件采購與制造領(lǐng)域帶來了重大影響。由于惠普公司(HP)、Research In Motion公司(RIM)、宏達(dá)電(HTC)，甚至是三星電子(Samsung)等廠商們都無法在蘋果(Apple Inc.)公司主導(dǎo)的平板市場取得任何進(jìn)展，許多組件供貨商們開始把希望寄托于一家新的競爭廠商出現(xiàn)，以期能夠有效地與這家全球最有價(jià)值的消費(fèi)電子巨擘相抗衡。 如果微軟的 Surface 平板電腦能夠成功，它將可能侵蝕到蘋果公司的市占率。然而，我個(gè)人的看法是，它可能真的能夠協(xié)助擴(kuò)展產(chǎn)品所訴求的整體市場，吸收市場上許多想買一部平板電腦但又不喜歡 iPad 、不想付出像蘋果平板設(shè)備般高昂的費(fèi)用或是不滿意其它替代產(chǎn)品的消費(fèi)群。 企業(yè)用戶們也能從微軟進(jìn)軍平板電腦市場中受益。許多公司的CIO發(fā)現(xiàn)，公司規(guī)定員工使用什么平臺的時(shí)代即將劃下句點(diǎn)。在許多情況下，員工們(尤其是高階主管們)都有“攜帶自有裝置”(BOYD)來上班的現(xiàn)象。他們會(huì)主動(dòng)告訴公司自己想使用(而且也已購買)的設(shè)備，然后要求連接到企業(yè)IT系統(tǒng)中。這就是 iPhone 滲透到企業(yè)通訊領(lǐng)域的方式。高層主管人員只需以智能手機(jī)露面，然后要求CIO為其連接到公司內(nèi)部通訊系統(tǒng)即可。 Surface 的用戶們可能會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn) Surface 平板很容易就能取得企業(yè)認(rèn)可。事實(shí)上，我懷疑只要能夠加載Microsoft Office應(yīng)用程序的公司，就能為員工購買這款設(shè)備。如果 Surface在辦公室時(shí)能夠輕松地連接到更大尺寸的屏幕與鍵盤，而在攜帶外出時(shí)又能使用可攜與超輕的鍵盤，那么很多人可能會(huì)放棄筆記本電腦。微軟公司在 一份新聞稿中討論到一款可搭配此 Surface 平板的鍵盤。 “3 mm的 Touch Cover 觸控保護(hù)蓋展現(xiàn)出人機(jī)界面的一大進(jìn)展。這種 Touch Cover 采用一種對壓力十分敏感的獨(dú)特技術(shù)，能夠像手勢般感測按鍵，從而實(shí)現(xiàn)比屏幕鍵盤更快速的觸控打字方式。 Touch Cover 以內(nèi)建的磁性連接器吸附于 Surface 平板上，自然形成一個(gè)像書背般的設(shè)計(jì)，而且也提供了保護(hù)蓋的功能。你也可以選擇附加另一款5mm厚薄的 Type Cover 保護(hù)蓋，帶來有如傳統(tǒng)按鍵打字般地觸感。” 我已經(jīng)想要買一款來體驗(yàn)看看了。如果微軟 Surface 能夠贏得客戶的青睞，在該公司生態(tài)系統(tǒng)中的許多公司都將直接受益，包括任何被選中為該設(shè)備進(jìn)行組裝的公司。微軟公司本身不太可能自行制造 Surface，所以生產(chǎn)業(yè)務(wù)將交由合約制造商。此外，組件供貨商和物流服務(wù)供貨商也將從微軟那兒看到越來越多的訂單。預(yù)計(jì)英特爾公司(Intel)會(huì)在 此分一杯羹。當(dāng)然，IP授權(quán)公司ARM也不例外，微軟公司預(yù)期 Surface 的其中一個(gè)版本將采用ARM的引擎。 物流服務(wù)公司還可望取得一些運(yùn)輸與遞送 Surface 的相關(guān)業(yè)務(wù)。微軟公司表示只會(huì)透過線上服務(wù)或旗下品牌專賣店來銷售這款產(chǎn)品。這表示未來將會(huì)需要貨運(yùn)公司提供遞送 Surface到家庭和企業(yè)的服務(wù)。 編譯：Susan Hong 本文授權(quán)編譯自EBN Online，版權(quán)所有，謝絕轉(zhuǎn)載 本文下一頁：參考英文原文：Who Benefits From Microsoft Surface Debut?，by Bolaji Ojo, Editor in Chief

相關(guān)閱讀：
• 分析師談：微軟Surface意欲何為？
• 微軟無意借Surface走向蘋果模式
• Surface如何定價(jià)，微軟愁白頭發(fā)h3Wesmc

{pagination} Who Benefits From Microsoft Surface Debut? Bolaji Ojo The winners and losers are already being sorted out following the decision by Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) to launch its own tablet PC. Many industry observers say the software giant's OEM customers will be the direct losers. Others say Microsoft itself may regret its move, which is likely to irritate its PC partners. Whatever the case might be, the decision obviously has strong implications for the electronics component procurement and manufacturing segments. After seeing rivals like Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ), Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; Toronto: RIM), High Tech Computer Corp. (HTC) (Taiwan: 2498), and even Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Korea: SEC) fail to make a dent in Apple Inc.'s domination of the tablet market, component vendors are bound to hope a new competitor would be more successful in taking on the world's most valuable consumer electronics company. If Microsoft's Surface tablet succeeds, it may erode some of Apple's marketshare. However, my personal opinion is that it may actually help expand the total addressable market, making devotees out of folks who may want to buy a tablet but don't like the iPad, don't want to pay the premium Apple demands for the device, or are dissatisfied with the slate of alternatives. Enterprise users may also benefit from Microsoft's entry into the tablet market. Many CIOs are finding that the days of companies dictating what platforms employees can use are coming to an end. In many cases, employees (especially senior executives) have fostered the bring-your-own-device phenomenon. They tell their companies the devices they would like to use (and have already purchased) and then request access to corporate IT systems. That's how the iPhone sneaked into enterprise messaging. Top-level executives simply showed up with the smartphone and asked CIOs to hook them up with the internal messaging system. Surface users may find it easier to gain enterprise acceptance. I suspect, in fact, that companies could purchase the device for employees if it can be loaded with Microsoft Office applications. Many of us may dump our notebook PCs if the Surface can be easily hooked up to a bigger screen and keyboard in the office and taken on the road with a portable and ultra-light keyboard. In a press release, Microsoft discussed the keyboard that will come with the device. The 3 mm Touch Cover represents a step forward in human-computer interface. Using a unique pressure-sensitive technology, Touch Cover senses keystrokes as gestures, enabling you to touch type significantly faster than with an on-screen keyboard... Touch Cover clicks into Surface via a built-in magnetic connector, forming a natural spine like you find on a book, and works as a protective cover. You can also click in a 5 mm-thin Type Cover that adds moving keys for a more traditional typing feel. I already want one. If Microsoft wins customer acceptance for the Surface, many companies in its ecosystem will be the direct beneficiaries. These will include whichever company is selected to assemble the device. Microsoft is unlikely to manufacture the Surface itself, so it will be using a contract manufacturer. In addition, component suppliers and logistics services providers will see increased patronage from Microsoft. Already, Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) is expected to play a role. So will the IP licensing company ARM Ltd. (Nasdaq: ARMHY; London: ARM), which Microsoft said will provide the engine for one of the two variants of the Surface. Logistics services companies can also expect to gain some business from shipping and delivering the Surface. Microsoft has indicated it would sell the device only online or through its own branded stores. This means freight companies will be pressed into service delivering the Surface to homes and businesses. On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. EDT, EBN will host a live chat on Microsoft's foray into the PC hardware market with Rick Merritt, an industry veteran and EE Times electronic systems analyst. Rick will answer questions on the potential impact of the Microsoft Surface on the electronics supply chain. He will also discuss the likely winners and losers and whether this move is even in Microsoft's best interest. Click here to join us.