Microsoft Surface Announced

MicrosoftAs recently rumoured, Microsoft announced a self-built tablet yesterday adding to their current hardware line which includes mice, keyboards and the XBox 360.

Branded the Microsoft Surface it is available as both Windows RT, arm powered 32 or 64GB memory, or as the Windows 8 Pro, powered by an Intel i5 and with either 64 or 128GB of memory with both versions coming with built in Micro SD slot for more, exchangeable memory;

Microsoft Surface

With either CPU, Surface is a thin, light system which Microsoft claim will have a “great battery” and comes with a built in kickstand;

Microsoft Surface is slim and comes with inbuilt kick stand

Microsoft Surface comes with inbuilt kick stand

The optional 3mm cover is thin, pressure sensitive and doubles as a fully functional keyboard and trackpad which connects to the Surface with a single magnetic click. The cover comes in five vibrant colours;

Microsoft Surface available in five colours

I’m quite impressed by what I have read on the Surface but my main skepticism, being based in the UK, is what they will do with prices when it is launched over here as far too American companies do an almost one-to-one conversion of USD$ to GBP£.

The Windows RT Surface is aimed at consumers with apps download-able from the new Microsoft AppStore, while the Surface Windows 8 Pro version is a fully functional Windows machine, capable of running both the new Winsows 8 apps from the AppStore and traditional Windows programs, which can be joined to a Domain.

I’ve held off getting a tablet thus far and stayed with my Acer Netbook and a laptop when I want something more powerful (if I can’t be sat at the PC) but the Surface does look tempting. For my needs, I think the Windows RT version would be sufficient as a Netbook replacement; a web browser, Word, Excel and a simple graphics editor is all that my light needs require.

Full details and spec sheet are available on the Microsoft Surface site.

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