Microsoft announced today an extremely interesting strategy to increase sales of Surface products, it seems to be inspired by what it does Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), for iPhone terminals. More precisely, those from Microsoft allow customers to buy Surface products, i.e. laptops and tablets, in installments over a period of 12/24 months, as Apple also offers for the iPhone, but with the possibility of upgrading.
Microsoft asks customers to pay the installments for 18 months and if they are "up to date" with the payments, then at that time they can return the old product to take over a new one, with the extension of the payment period. Basically, customers get a laptop or a tablet once every 12/18 months, paying the monthly installments, but without staying with the device itself, but at least they are not obliged to pay the entire amount in one payment.
Microsoft sells Surface Pro tablets in installments that start at $34 per month for the standard model, Apple's price for an iPhone 7 is $33 per month for the same 2-year period. A Surface Laptop has prices that start at $42 per month, so we're talking about affordable amounts that any American could pay to have the newest model of the Surface product every year.
Microsoft will definitely increase its sales of Surface products with this strategy, and those from Apple should also apply it to Macs. Why Apple didn't do it is hard to say, since it sells the iPhone through the same program, but if it did, it would definitely increase Mac sales among those who can't afford to pay hundreds , or over 1000 dollars for a product of this kind in one payment and they don't want to buy it in installments without the possibility of upgrading.
