Microsoft can not estimate the demand for its tablets

On Monday, Microsoft Surface tablets were out of stock on the website of the company and in its U.S. dealers . Last year, the Redmond company had built too much, not enough this year , analysts said .

Among the many references to the tablet surface presented to the merchant site to Microsoft , only the Surface 64GB (former Surface RT) and Surface 2 Pro 128GB was still available Monday at 15:00 New York time . Other U.S. retailers have also come out of stock .

Best Buy, the main partner of Microsoft for distributing the surface in the United States , could not honor all requests . On the merchant site teaches the full range Surface 2 ( ARM and Surface 2 Pro (x86) , with the exception of the 128 GB model was out of stock . Surface first generation but still available. 's Stores physical, our colleagues at Computerworld found that the situation was the same.



Greater caution following the failure of the RT Surface

These shortages are not surprising Ezra Gottheil , an analyst with Technology Business Research. "Everyone has seen his production decline ," said he said in an interview. " And not just Microsoft. Last year people thought Windows 8 was going to get everyone to agree. This year , companies are much more cautious for the holiday season , "explains Ezra Gottheil .

After the OEM overestimated sales of Windows 8 for the holiday season of 2012, Microsoft found itself on the brink of a financial abyss. The firm was so optimistic that it had provisioned $ 900 million to liquidate its stock of unsold tablets Surface RT . Even today, the Redmond company only sale. Living simply renamed , they were sold off to $ 199 during the Black Friday HT in Microsoft shops.

"Microsoft has surely watched the sales forecast for 2013, with a closer look ," said Ezra Gottheil . "The area may be more profitable this year but with a turnover not necessarily higher than last year," he adds .

"Welcome to the world of hardware manufacturers "

Recent shortages of Surface proves if Microsoft has sinned by pride last year, this year the firm has sinned by his prudence . "Welcome to the world of hardware manufacturers ," Ezra Gottheil joked when asked if Microsoft still had goofed . "Everyone is in the same boat . Market orientation is very difficult to predict. Must deal with the buzz that created around the product and the economic confidence of consumers, are their main concerns. It is very difficult to see clearly , " he says .

Without knowing the exact number of tablets that Microsoft has commissioned its manufacturers - what is surely never know - it is impossible to know what strategy the company has adopted for the holiday season. Analysts as Ezra Gottheil may be able to discern clues at the announcement of results for the fourth quarter of the Redmond but certainly not much. Microsoft does not disclose its revenue without unit sales .

Greater caution for the holidays

But as stressed Gottheil , Microsoft is not the only firm to be cautious for the holiday season . "Builders are few to trust Windows" he notes . "Last year , many hopes were placed in the ability of Windows 8 to boost sales . In retrospect, they were unsuccessful , " he adds .

Ezra Gottheil , however, remains optimistic for the future. " Surface initiated a wave of updates and changes. I think his position is sound and that it will be successful next year , "he says.