Microsoft Surface Tablets Branding Issue Between Surface 3 And Surface Pro 3 Akin To Apple iPad Line-Up Naming Confusion
When it comes to branding the products, Microsoft has apparently messed up the naming conventions in multitude of occasions. Say for instance, the Microsoft “Live” branding reportedly had a similar issue with Windows Live Essentials, Windows Live Sync, Windows Live SkyDrive and Live Mesh. However, the tech giant has made headway in fixing this problem over a period of time. But then, as old habits die hard, the company has not fully recovered from the naming failure yet. This time around, Microsoft has unveiled the “Surface 3” and needless to say, the naming convention is similar to the 2014 “Surface Pro 3” 2-in-1 tablet.
The questions that come to the mind of potential buyers are: What could possibly be the difference between the latest Surface 3 and the Surface Pro 3. Plus, many might also have the question of a possible successor to the Pro 3 in the form of the upcoming Microsoft Surface Pro 4. With the Surface Pro 4 release date nearing close, what exactly could be missing in the new Surface 3 but part of the Surface Pro 4? With so many unanswered questions around, The Daily Dot has pointed out the branding problem of Microsoft with a slew of tweets from confused users.
In any case, this branding problem is not exclusive to Microsoft as Apple apparently faced a similar issue with its iPad line-up of tablets. It is worth noting that, the original iPad was replaced by iPad 2 and this was reportedly followed by the third-generation iPad. And the Gen 3 device was apparently replaced in a whiff by the fourth-generation iPad. However, somewhere in the mid, Apple fixed the problem by naming the generation-next device as the iPad Air, notes BGR.
From then on, Apple has clearly designated its products. The “Air” moniker reportedly points to a tablet that is both thin and light. And the moniker “Mini” pertains to smaller iPads. Comparing Apple iPad line-up to Microsoft Surface series, the Surface line-up does not offer any clarity in the naming convention with no clear difference between various product lines, says the same site.
Meanwhile, readers can check out a couple of interesting tweets from the confused users, pointed out by The Daily Dot:
DAMNIT @surface web searches for Surface 3 return Pro 3 results b/c of ranking! You guys need to REALLY step up the name game.
- mad computer science (@val_to_string) March 31, 2015I like the Surface 3 pricing. I wish we had gone with a different name, just get rid of the numbers.
- Phil (@87gpe) March 31, 2015What do you think of the naming conventions of the Surface line-up and the confusion between the Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3? Do you expect the Surface Pro 4 to be drastically different from the Pro 3? Feel free to leave comment.
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