First weekend sales of the Microsoft Surface Pro have been so good that supplies have already run out, leading many to ask if initial supply was intentionally restricted.
Launched in North America on February 9, the device had officially sold out at most US retail locations within 24
hours, with the larger-capacity, more expensive 164GB model selling out before its cheaper 64GB counterpart.
The lack of available stock has seen disappointed consumers take to Twitter, Facebook and Microsoft's official Surface blog to voice their displeasure, with users like ARigs saying, "I really wanted the Surface Pro 128. I went to 4 stores...but like most others I was completely let down by the lack of inventory. It reeks of incompetence at best or a poor marketing ploy at worst."
The head of Microsoft's Surface team, Panos Panay, responded by tweeting: "We're excited for the response to Pro. Some are having trouble getting it. Sorry you're having to wait. We're working hard to get u Pro ASAP."
There's no doubt that Microsoft has managed to create a bigger and better buzz around the Surface Pro than it did for the Surface RT, its first tablet, but, as CNET points out, even consumers that waited in line outside of one official Microsoft stores were informed almost as soon as the doors opened that stock had run out of both models.
Historically, Apple's products sell out in their first weekend, but in the case of the latest iPad, it had 2 million devices on hand for that first push and, in September, managed to sell 5 million iPhones in its first 48 hours before available supplies ran out.
Microsoft has made it clear that it is working hard to meet demand but is yet to indicate when new stocks will be made available. It is also yet to officially announce when the Surface Pro will be launched in markets outside of the US.