VPN Client Support

I am returning my Surface RT tomorrow.

I am in the same position and I am seeing even bigger opportunities lost: about 300 users depend on my opinion on such devices, even for their own personal or BYOD purchases.

Those who have asked me (and have played with my RT, and have loved the keyboard and everything else...) now won't be buying it, simply because I told them they can't connect to anything work related... A lot of Christmas shopping opportunities lost.

I hope Microsoft realises that word-of-mouth is an important part of marketing for these new devices at launch and that they shouldn't fire their Windows 8 top exec over eliminating the start menu (which is no big deal, actuially), but may be over restriciting Cisco, Juniper from providing VPN apps on the RT variety?

And, if they intend to allow Cisco and Juniper to make VPN apps for the RT, they should announce it right away, even if we have to wait for the actual implementation.

I have many clients that use Junos Pulse. Without an SSL VPN client, my surface stays at home.

too bad. the surface tablet is fantastic. but without a VPN client, I have to stay with the ipad.

Microsoft -

While it wasn't the only reason I returned the Surface, the lack of VPN options was a major factor in my decision.

I do not want a thicker and heavier Windows 8 tablet, so I'm sticking with Android for now.

I manage technology within a large state University that utilizes Junos Pulse to access ALL enterprise systems (including SharePoint).  I maintain a dual mobile environment between Windows Phone and iOS.  I am losing support amongst my leadership for Windows Phone because of the inability to reach our enterprise systems.

Rather than suggest that we as clients pressure the vendors, Microsoft needs to reach out to vendors to help them transition to this platform as quickly as possible.  Microsoft has much more to benefit from this than the vendors.  We have other products to choose from that will allow us to use these 3rd party vendor VPNs.  Unfortunately, the excellently designed Surface and Windows Phone 8 devices are not currently among the product list.

I understand that we will have more options available when the Surface Pro becomes available.  However, price and size make this model a different application.  Furthermore, I cannot stress enough how enterprises have run out of time to move forward in this space.  We are sadly going to have to leave Microsoft behind very soon.

Do not worry, Microsoft will soon realize the simple math behind the sales figures:

No Cisco and Juniper allowed on the Surface RT (out of greed?) = No sales of RT Surface in large quantities to many large classes of potential buyers (business, sales, corporate, small business...).

Remember, these are classes they thought they had an advantage with in the marketplace (the people who can be tempted to abandon iPads or Androids because of Word, Excel, etc.) or with whome they can regain market share from Apple and Google.... Well, good luck with that without the VPN options the competition has?

If some genius there thinks lacking VPN options on the RT will just blackmail buyers and will translate to more "Pro" Surfaces being sold, they will soon find out (the hard way) that these same classes of users are no fools and can do the math and will either buy iPads (which have Cisco and Juniper VPN support) or go for cheaper/better laptops instead...

Good luck, your best hope is the "pain in the wallet" for Microsoft... Let's not buy RTs until we can have Cisco AnyConnect and Junos Pulse.

This is dead on. I could have sold about 6 of these devices at my office and my wife had up to 9 people interested in her office.  Unfortunately because our devices are not able to vpn 15 people are lost to IPAD 4. What a shame. This is a much better device.