Microsoft Surface Pro Tablet: A Windows 8 Channel Play?

Right now the only yardstick Microsoft’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) channel partners have to gauge whether the software-turned-hardware giant will let them sell the impending Surface Pro tablet is what’s happened (actually, what hasn’t happened) so far with Surface RT–as in nothing, nada, zilch for the channel. By that measure, partners’ chances to sell Surface Pro aren’t promising. But let’s not close that door just yet. Here are some thoughts about why not:

Surface Pro is expected to debut anywhere between Jan. 26 and Jan.  29, in two versions: a 64GB version priced at $899 and a 128GB edition for $100 more. According to a company blog post, both Surface Pro versions are expected to include a pen with Palm Block technology and the ability to use a touch or type cover.

Surface Pro, which weighs less than 2 pounds and is slimmer than 14 mm thick, will come with Intel’s (NASDAQ: INTC) i5 processor and a 10.6-inch 16:9 ClearType display at a 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution. The tablet includes a full-size USB 3.0 port and its Mini DisplayPort can drive an external display up to 2560 x 1440 resolution.

Sporting those specs and selling at the expected price points (at least 30 percent more than Surface RT), Surface Pro could be positioned as a suitable laptop replacement device. That alone may make it less of a retail device and more of a business tablet and could prompt Microsoft to make it available to channel partners.

Microsoft has to be hearing the drumbeat from channel partners eager to get their hands on Surface Pro, as they, in turn, feel the heat from potential customers. Obviously, the further higher-end tablets journey into the enterprise, the more channel partners will want to sell them. How long will Microsoft wait before making the call to include partners in Surface Pro’s distribution scheme? There’s no telling, but you’d hope either at kickoff or soon thereafter the vendor would open the flood gates for partners.

Just as a point of reference, in the 10 weeks since its launch, Surface RT has yet to be made available to channel partners, and only recently did Microsoft expand its distribution beyond its collection of company-owned stores and holiday specialty retail outlets to include large retailers Staples (NASDAQ: SPLS) and Best Buy (NYSE: BBY).