Software giant Microsoft is developing an 8-inch version of their Surface tablet, according to the influential English-language Wall Street Journal. While not much is known about its hardware configuration, WSJ estimates that mass production of the device will begin this year.
Citing unnamed sources, the magazine also said that Microsoft had recently decided to make small-sized Surface tablets to compete with the Apple iPad mini, Google Nexus 7 and other competing gadgets of the same size - which were included in last year's original consumer device plan.
Redmond did not receive the expected response to sales of the Windows 7 operating system. According to a recent statistic conducted by IDC, global PC sales fell by 13.9 percent. So in all respects, Microsoft is under financial pressure. And with the growing tablet market, it is not uncommon for a smaller version of the Surface to arrive.
Is Microsoft taking a "chance" or a "bet"?
According to the IDC report, half of the tablet computers sold in the last three months of 2012 were smaller than 6 inches. So in this case, Windows manufacturers can see a little opportunity.
Redmond has not been able to go very far with the Surface tablet, which has received mixed reactions from the beginning. According to Bloomberg, the RT tablet version of Microsoft Surface sold only 1 million units between October 2012 and March 2012. And the Surface Pro, which uses the full desktop capabilities of Windows 8, has sold nearly 400,000 devices.