Microsoft Surface

Microsoft has announced a set of new Windows 8 tablets at a specially held event over in Los Angeles. Dubbed as the Microsoft Surface, the new 10.6-inch tablets will be made available in two versions: one for Windows RT with the ARM-based NVIDIA Tegra processor and another one for Windows 8 Pro that will be powered by an Intel third generation Core processor.

The new tablets come with a magnesium-based casing that is created using a process that is called VaporMg (pronounced as Vapor-Mag) which also includes a built-in kickstand. Here are a brief look at their technical specifications:

Surface for Windows RT
Processor: ARM-based NVIDIA Tegra
Weight: 676g
Thickness: 9.3mm
Display: 10.6-inch ClearType HD display
Battery: 31.5Wh
I/O: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
Software: Office '15'Apps
Capacity: 32GB / 64GB

Surface for Windows 8 Pro

Processor: Third generation Intel Core processor (Ivy Bridge)
Weight: 903g
Thickness: 13.5mm
Display: 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD (1080p) display
Battery: 42Wh
I/O: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, 2x2 MIMO antennae
Capacity: 64GB / 128GB

In addition to these new tablets, Microsoft has also unveiled couple of accessories to go with them such as the 3mm-thin Touch Cover which is essentially a tablet cover with integrated pressure-sensitive keyboard and touchpad. There is also another 5mm-thin cover that is called the Type Cover which features a full tactile keyboard and touchpad with clickable buttons. Surface for Windows 8 Pro receives something extra though in the form of digital pen input. 

No actual pricing have been announced yet but Microsoft has stated that these new Microsoft Surface will be priced competitively to comparable ARM-based tablets and Intel Ultrabook-class PC. The Microsoft Surface for Windows RT will be available right at the general release of Windows 8 later this year while the Surface for Windows 8 Pro will follow suit three months later.

It is hard not to assume that Microsoft's decision to come out with their own Windows 8 tablet might put a lot of their OEM partners on alert - to say the least - but nevertheless, we are curious on how Microsoft Surface will fare in the market. Let's hope we will be able to see them here in Malaysia very soon.