Microsoft Jumps into Tablet Business – Announces Surface and Surface Pro

By Azeem Ullah Hassan | 19, Jun 2012 | 23 Comments

Monday saw Microsoft coming into the tablet business directly challenging Apple’s iPad. Microsoft announced 2 tablets, in fact two versions of same tablets with variation in specifications. Surface which is a lower-end tablet and Surface Pro is said to be a higher-end tablet.

Those who had the chance to experience Windows Surface tablets in a press event yesterday are throwing positive reviews about the hardware as well as for software.

Analysts are calling these two tabs a new era in mobile computing.

Here are the specs of the both tablets:

Surface

Windows RT operating system
Weight: 676 grams
Nvidia Tegra ARM CPU
10.6 inch display
Thickness: 9.3mm
32/64 Gb versions
MicroSD card slot
MicroHD video
USB 2.0
2×2 MIMO Wifi antennae
Battery 31.5 W-h
Front and rear facing HD cameras
Kickstand

Surface Pro

Windows 8 operating system
Weight 903 grams
Intel Core i5 CPU
10.6 inch display
Thickness: 13.5mm
64/128 Gb versions
MicroSDXC card slot
USB 3.0
Micro DisplayPort video
2×2 MIMO Wifi antennae
Battery 42 W-h
Front and rear facing HD cameras
Kickstand

Microsoft also announced the Touch cover and Type cover. Both are keyboards that attach to the tablet. Type cover is a 5mm thick keyboard with physical buttons and trackpad while Touch cover is a 3mm thick keyboard with no physical keys and trackpad.

Microsoft remained quite on pricing and availability but its expected this fall, sometime after tha release of Windows 8.

http://www.allupdateshere.com Usama Siddiqui

Excellent job. But Android tablets will work better for Apps and games lovers like me. Windows tablet will not provide much apps as compare to android and ios. Overall,a nice step by Microsoft.
- Zlip
  
  Surface Pro has x86 processor and any desktop x86 software will run on it. So do you think x86 software are less than Android or Apple App Store Apps.
  Normal Surface has ARM processor where your statement is correct.
  - Asim
    
    Not all softwares and games are touch enabled. A software developed for Windows on a PC won’t work on touch enabled Windows 8 devices.
    - OPYI
      
      Wrong! All will work with the Pro version, not all will be touch optimized tho.
    - Zlip
      
      In this sense that touch optimized software will not be at large in start then you are right but personal hope and guess, that Microsoft Pro variant tablets (x86) will surely cross iPad level and apps rapidly since x86 apps are at large even currently and in future they have to just tweak up little here and there.
Farough

Awsome, it looks like that in times to come all offices will have Windows tablet rather having current heavy laptops… :)
http://xufyan.com Sufyan

useless , unless it is an Android :)
Chand

looks like great… but android is android ;)
OPYI

Ufff….roflol at the android fansboys here!
WebOS

Its funny why people admiring android tablets, whereas iPad has 58.2% market share of tablets and android has only 38.7% Even IDC surveys reports say that android tablets shares will continue dropping.
Source:
http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2184698/idc-apple-s-ipad-regain-market-share-android-2012
http://www.buzzpk.com Handsome

Excuse me.. isn’t Microsoft who actually give the idea of tablet PC by designing 1st in 2002 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Tablet_PC
- OPYI
  
  No it was Apple in 87 , the newton ;)
  - Shahid Saleem
    
    The Newton was a PDA like the Psion Organiser. It was not a tablet.
- WebOS
  
  yes Microsoft introduced the “Tablet-PC”, but it was failed product so discontinued :)
Muhammad Anas

That`s a good step by Microsoft anyway.

What about the prices????? under 50K??
- Zlip
  
  Most probably not even if we go with leaked prices of WZOR.
  It is said that RT variant will have price around iPad while Pro version around Ultrabook which start from 800 US dollar.
  Personal opinion, no advantage in getting RT variant.
http://www.magdynamics.com imran

nice try by Microsoft. waiting for it while enjoying my IPAD3.
amir

which processor is used in “surface” version ?
JiGGer

This is EXACTLY what we needed….compatibility and relibility of WINDOWS 8 + PROCESSOR OF LAPTOP + BODY AND FEATURES OF A TABLET….i give you my words this thing is going to Rock…i will get it if its price is around 70-100 k
http://www.ghumfree.pk Pakistan Classified Ads

This looks great hope it will work as it looks.
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