Microsoft release Nextbook branded tablets in South Africa, available at Marko stores
Based on reference design for Windows 8.1 based tablets, Microsoft has released an 8” and a 10.1” tablets in South Africa. The best part is that these cost just R1,499 and R2,999 only (1499 rand = 133.83$). These new low cost tablets are avialable in Makro stores from this week. The 10.1” tablet comes with detachable keyboard that makes it a full fledged convertible PC. Users buying Nextbooks will get a free one year Office 365 subscription (and unlimited OneDrive storage and 60 free Skype World Call minutes per month). Both are powered by Intel Atom quad core processor and have 1GB of RAM. While 8” model comes with 16GB of onboard storage, 10.1” model comes with 32GB of storage. Both the models support microSD cards (upto 64GB).
Microsoft is selling the Nextbook at a rather attractive price point as well with the 8 inch retailing for R1 499, while the 10.1 inch will be on the shelves for R2 999. Both models of the Nextbook are WiFi equipped but there are no 3G models available at launch or plans to bring them in any time soon either.
The 8-inch Nextbook
“We are pleased to be partnering with Makro to put affordable, yet top quality devices in the hands of local consumers,” says Melanie Botha, consumer channels group executive at Microsoft South Africa.
“The affordable price points of the Nextbook devices make tablets much more accessible to a larger section of South African consumers,” says Kevin Maier, merchandise manager from Makro South Africa.
“The 8 inch model will appeal to customers who want to hold their device in one hand whilst consuming media on-the-go, whilst the 10.1 inch tablet will find a home with road warriors that want to stay productive wherever they find themselves at a limited budget, without being limited in functionality,” Maier added.
