Microsoft Announces Windows 8 and Windows RT “Surface” Tablets
Finally the wait is over! As expected, Microsoft has finally announced its own tablet which will be known as “Microsoft Surface” and will run on Microsoft’s upcoming OS “Windows 8“.
This new tablet will come in 2 variants:
- Tablet running on Windows 8 Pro edition
- Tablet running on Windows RT
According to Microsoft press release, the tablet running on Windows 8 Pro will come with a third-generation Intel Core processor and the one running on Windows RT will have an ARM processor.
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If you don’t know about Windows RT, its a new Windows edition specifically created for ARM processors. For more details, please go through this topic.
Surface Tablet for Windows 8 Pro Specifications:
- OS: Windows 8 Pro
- Weight: 903 g
- Thin: 13.5 mm
- Clear: 10.6″ ClearType Full HD Display
- Energized: 42 W-h
- Connected: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae
- Productive: Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block
- Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand
- Configurable: 64 GB, 128 GB
Surface Tablet for Windows RT Specifications:
- OS: Windows RT
- Weight: 676 g
- Thin: 9.3 mm
- Clear: 10.6″ ClearType HD Display
- Energized: 31.5 W-h
- Connected: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae
- Productive: Office 15 Apps, Touch Cover, Type Cover
- Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand
- Configurable: 32 GB, 64 GB
Surface tablet will sport a full-sized USB port and a 16:9 aspect ratio for HD. The casing of Surface is created using a unique approach called VaporMg which helps in creating the Surface tablet thin, light and rigid/strong.
Microsoft tablet will also feature a built-in kickstand. The kickstand is there when needed, and disappears when not in use, with no extra weight or thickness.
It’ll also come with a 3 mm Touch Cover which senses keystrokes as gestures, enabling you to touch type significantly faster than with an on-screen keyboard. Touch Cover clicks into Surface via a built-in magnetic connector, forming a natural spine like you find on a book, and works as a protective cover. You can also click in a 5 mm-thin Type Cover that adds moving keys for a more traditional typing feel.
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The prices are not announced yet but according to Microsoft, suggested retail pricing will be announced closer to availability and is expected to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel Ultrabook-class PC.
Surface for Windows RT will release with the general availability (GA) of Windows 8, and the Windows 8 Pro model will be available about 90 days later. Both will be sold in the Microsoft Store locations in the U.S. and available through selected online Microsoft Stores.
Check out following official video from Microsoft showing Surface tablet:
Interested people can download official Microsoft Surface tablet specification sheet using following link:
Download Link: microsoft.com/global/surface/en/us/renderingassets/surfacespecsheet.pdf
So what do you think about this new Surface tablet from Microsoft? To be honest, it looks quite interesting. Lets wait for its release and pricing details…
New Windows Store logo… I wonder if that’s the logo they’re really using
^^ Most probably yes.
@a
I already replied your email. Actually the announcement about this tablet was made on official AskVG pages at Facebook, Twitter and Google Plus just after Microsoft announced it officially. Thats another benefit to subscribe to AskVG at social networks so that you can get latest news and other interesting stuff before its posted here. 😉
This makes me happy! I really like Mac OS but I’m not so sure I want to go out and get an iPad or any Apple hardware especially considering the way they are manufactured, and also their negligence of security issues all these years. I don’t think I will need Win8, but this tablet might just be useful. I might have to give in and get one of these, but not until the second or third gen so the major bugs are worked out.
So cool!! BTW VG the PDF specifications link is wrong. It should be microsoft.com/global/surface/en/us/renderingassets/surfacespecsheet.pdf
but it’s
askvg.com/microsoft-announces-windows-8-and-windows-rt-surface-tablets/www.microsoft.com/global/surface/en/us/renderingassets/surfacespecsheet.pdf
^^ Thanks. It happened due to Firefox’s new feature which removes http:// prefix from addressbar URL. 😉
Hey VG , mind posting an article on the 200 features of iOS 6 ? Please ??
Missed Microsoft’s surface announcement??
watch it here: tinyurl.com/86mfz63
I can’t wait until this come out! I love my MacBook Pro and Windows 7 in Boot Camp but this looks simply amazing! I am defiantly going to buy this when it comes out instead of an iPad.
^^ True.
@V!3
Thanks for the link.
@Shanmukh
Thanks for the request but sorry to say I dont have much idea about iOS and its features so cant make an article for it. 🙂
@VG , no problems . I thought it would increase your publicity as I personally feel you have a lot of fans who like apple products . I remember you posting about iOS 4 or 5
If this gets a good graphics card, I’m in for the x86 tab.
^^ Currently only the above mentioned details are available. Check out the official press release page for details. 🙂