Microsoft makes a push for Surface Pro in business with dock bundle,warranties

Redmond strives to reassure corporations that it's going to continue to make hardware.

by Peter Bright - Oct 9, 2014 6:00pm PKT

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Microsoft has a message for businesses: it's in the hardware game for the long haul, and Surface Pro 3 is the ideal machine for corporate customers, able to serve both as a laptop and a tablet.

There have been questions over Redmond's commitment to hardware from practically the moment that the company announced its first Surface tablet. These questions became louder with CEO Satya Nadella's open letter. Although the letter said that that the company would continue building Surface devices, it moved away from former CEO Steve Ballmer's "Devices and Services" concept, leaving many unsure of just how strong the software firm's commitment to hardware really was.

The company is hoping to reassure potential buyers that it's serious about hardware and that Surface Pro will offer the kind of long-term support that corporate customers want. To that end, it's making some promises and offering some new pricing options that it thinks will appeal to corporate buyers.

Keen to position the Surface Pro 3 as a laptop alternative, the company has put together a new package that bundles the Surface Pro 3 with a Type Cover keyboard and the Docking Station, with savings of up to $150 compared to buying them separately. There's also a new three-year warranty option with accidental damage protection and faster exchanges of damaged units.

Microsoft also promises that these devices are forward-looking, with Type Covers, the Docking Station, and the Surface Ethernet adaptor all compatible with the next generation Surface Pro, whenever that may happen to be released.

For the current model, the company is working to ensure it's easier to support and fits better with company policies. To achieve the former, Microsoft promises to provide greater information about driver and firmware updates. Microsoft already makes these updates easy to download so that they can be integrated into corporate images. The company is also working to get the hardware industry qualifications, announcing today that Surface Pro 3 is now Energy Star compliant.

These changes will no doubt help coax corporate customers into at least considering Surface Pro 3 for their portable computer needs. However, Microsoft is still unwilling to answer the big question, the one that will truly demonstrate that Surface is a long-term business: sales figures. Surface Pro 3 is far and away the best Surface Pro yet, and for workers who need a highly portable, easily transportable computer, it has a lot to offer.

But the only thing that makes Microsoft's continued attempts to be a hardware vendor a certainty is strong sales. Surface Pro 3 certainly deserves to outsell its predecessors, but Microsoft's published figures suggest that Surface is a long way from becoming a profitable endeavour. Until that sustainability is proven, there will always be some doubt about Redmond's long-term hardware ambitions.

I.T Links

How to connect to your wireless network by QSS function which complies with WPS?

Suitable for: Wireless

TP-LINK 11N Wireless Routers support QSS (Quick Security Setup) function which complies with WPS which helps to standardize and simplify ways of setting up and configuring security on a wireless network. Traditionally, users would have to manually create a wireless network name (SSID), manually enter a creative, yet predictable security key on both the access point and the client to prevent unwanted access to their wireless network. By using QSS function you can connect to your wireless network with worry-free wireless security configuration.

 

In default settings, the QSS function is enabled and the wireless security is disabled on TP-LINK 11N Wireless Router. After you connect your wireless network by using QSS, it will be secured automatically.

 

If the wireless adapter supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), you can establish a wireless connection between wireless adapter and router by using either PBC (Push Button Configuration) method or PIN (Personal Identification Number) method.

 

For the configuration of the wireless adapter, here takes TP-LINK 11N Wireless

Adapter for example.

 

At first, you need to install the driver of TP-LINK 11N Wireless Adapter and then install QSS.exe program on your computer. After you install them successfully, please follow these ways below to connect your wireless network by QSS function.

 

I  By PBC

If the wireless adapter supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup and the Push Button Configuration (PBC) method, you can add it to the network by PBC with the following two methods.

 

Method 1: Push QSS button on the wireless router

Step 1

Press the QSS button on the front panel of the router.

 

Step 2

Double click the QSS icon on desktop and click Next button.

 

Step 3

Select Push the button on my access point, and click Next button.

 

Step 4

It will survey your network automatically which supports QSS or WPS and establish the secured wireless connection automatically.

 

Step 5

When it shows Wireless Configuration Completed, the connection between the wireless router and the wireless adapter is established successfully.

 

Note: Please run QSS.exe program in two minutes after you press the QSS button, otherwise the connection can’t establish successfully.

 

Method 2: Push QSS button on the wireless adapter

Step 1

Login the Web-based Utility of TP-LINK 11N Wireless Router, and choose QSS menu, you will see next screen. Please click Add device.

 

Step 2

Please select Press the button of new device in two minutes and click Connect.

 

Step 3

Press the button on the wireless adapter in two minutes then it will connect to the wireless network automatically.

 

II  By PIN

If the wireless adapter supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup and the PIN method, you can add it to the network by PIN with the following two methods.

 

Method 1: Enter the PIN from the wireless router.

Step 1

Login the Web-based Utility of TP-LINK 11N Wireless Router, and choose QSS menu, you will see next screen. Please write down the Current PIN code. Here the PIN code of the router is 26196381.

 

Step 2

Double click the QSS icon on desktop and click Next button.

 

Step 3

Select Enter the PIN from my access point, type the Current Pin code of the router into the Access Point PIN field and clickNext button.

 

Step 4

It will connect to the wireless network automatically.

 

Method 2: Enter a PIN into my access point or a registrar

Step 1

Double click the QSS icon on desktop and click Next button.

 

Step 2

Select Enter a PIN into my access point or a registrar and write down the PIN code of the wireless adapter which shows on the QSS configuration Window, then click Next button. Here the PIN code is 98494927.

 

Step 3

Login the Web-based Utility of the wireless router and choose QSS menu, then click Add new device;

 

Step 4

Select Enter the new device’s PIN, and type the PIN code of the wireless adapter into the PIN field, then click Connect.

 

Step 5

It will establish the connection between the wireless router and the wireless adapter automatically.

 

 

NOTE:

1 If the connection fails, please wait a moment and try again.

2 There should be only one wireless adapter connecting to the wireless network by using QSS at the same time, otherwise an error will generate and the connection won’t establish successfully.