Panos Panay says Surface is here for the long run, Microsoft 'hitting stride in big way'

Despite a rough beginning, there's no denying that Microsoft'due south Surface line has managed to strike a chord since its introduction in 2022, helping lend a "cool" factor to a company that had largely ceded that ground to Apple over the preceding decade. Devices like the Surface Studio 2 and Surface Pro 6 exhibit a pull for creatives, professionals, and everyone in between.

And it doesn't look similar Microsoft is planning to deadening downwards any time soon. In a new interview with the Contained, Panos Panay, Microsoft's Chief Product Officer and the driving force backside Surface, remains bullish on the future of the line, the visitor every bit a whole, and hints at new grade factors to come in the futurity.

Panay says hardware is now a "core role" of Microsoft's strategy and how it builds products. Responding to a question about whether Surface is "there for the long run," Panay says the visitor is all-in:

Without hesitation. I think if y'all asked me five years ago, we were however learning. We were nevertheless trying to effigy out what hardware should do to bring software to life. Simply at present information technology's not but a cadre role of the strategy.

Of course, the shadow looming over Microsoft'south hardware efforts is the failed phone business. Simply Panay says there were lessons to exist learned from that failure, and it'due south taking them in stride moving forward:

Lumia, of class, was a claiming. Nosotros tin take those production lessons and customer lessons and move them forwards. I recollect nosotros have. Satya [Nadella, Microsoft CEO] talks nearly the growth mindset, about how nosotros can learn as fast as we can through our successes and, mainly, our failures. When you lot fail, you are in a true learning mode. You are in a tremendous growth stage. And this is something nosotros have to middle.

Without getting into specifics, Panay also hints at potential new hardware categories the company could tackle in the future:

Are we completing experiences for people at work and at dwelling? The answer is aye. So will you see new form factors that can exercise that, or need to do that? The answer is absolutely. And that's how it kind of comes together. For me, work and habitation equals life, whether the device is in the kitchen at home, in the home office, in your work office or on your trunk. They're coming together. Then yes, you lot'll see more products that focus on where our customers are going to be.

Finally, Panay addressed Microsoft'south newfound spot as the most valuable company in the world, saying "in that location's a fleck of a cool factor."

I'll be honest with yous, it feels adept. But it's also quite humbling. We believe we're making a difference. Nosotros take a team and a visitor that is inspired. And we're not slowing down. I experience that every bit a visitor, we're just hitting our stride in a large way. We'll proceed pushing.

Thank you to Ken for the tip!

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