Microsoft inserted itself into the tablet hardware market in a major way this evening, unveiling its line of Surface tablet devices at an event in Los Angeles.
Wrapped in a magnesium case that Microsoft calls VaporMg (pronounced "Vapor mag"), the highlight feature of the Surface touch tablet might be a magnetically-attached, 3mm-thich Touch Cover that folds down and functions as a full touchscreen keyboard.
Another cover option, the 5-mm thick Type Cover, has a built-in track pad. The keyboards power down when they're folded back against the tablet thanks to a built-in accelerometer.
Microsoft says it will have two different versions of the Surface tablet, one with its Windows RT operating system, which runs on ARM-based processors, and another based on Intel's x86 CPU platform that will use Windows 8 Pro
Surface tablet key specs
9.3mm thick
676 grams/23.85 ounces
10.6-inch ClearType HD Display ("Full HD" on Pro model)
31.5 watt hour battery (42 watt hours on Pro model)
Ports: microSD, USB 2.0, micro HD video, 2x2 MIMO antennae (microSDXC,
USB 3.0, mini DisplayPort video on Pro model)
Storage options: 32GB and 64GB for Windows RT, 64GB and 128GB for
Windows 8 Pro
Front and rear-facing "HD" cameras
The 10.6-inch touch screen will give the Surface a bigger display than
the 10.1-inch Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. Microsoft has not
announced the specifics of the display resolution yet, but it did confirm a 16:9 aspect ratio.
The "HD display" Microsoft mentions in its spec sheet for the Windows Pro version suggests a 1,920x1,080 pixel resolution. Only the 2,048x1,536 pixel iPad has a higher screen resolution. That might also imply a 1,280x720 display (aka 720p) on the vanilla "HD" Windows RT Surface tablet.
For the CPUs, the Surface with Windows RT will use an Nvidia ARM CPU, which most likely means a quad core Tegra 3 chip, like you'll find in the Asus Transformer Pro TF300. On the Windows 8 Pro Surface, Microsoft confirm a full-fledged third generation "Ivy Bridge" Core i5 quad core chip like the chips in current Windows laptops.
Microsoft was not forthcoming about networking details on the Surface, but a "MIMO" antenna (multiple input-multiple output), implies support for both wireless and cellular data connections.
Microsoft says pricing information will be available closer to availability, but that it will be comparative to competing ARM tablets and ultrabook laptops.
Microsoft inserted itself into the tablet hardware market in a major way this evening, unveiling its line of Surface tablet devices at an event in Los Angeles.
Wrapped in a magnesium case that Microsoft calls VaporMg (pronounced "Vapor mag"), the highlight feature of the Surface touch tablet might be a magnetically-attached, 3mm-thich Touch Cover that folds down and functions as a full touchscreen keyboard.
Another cover option, the 5-mm thick Type Cover, has a built-in track pad. The keyboards power down when they're folded back against the tablet thanks to a built-in accelerometer.
Microsoft says it will have two different versions of the Surface tablet, one with its Windows RT operating system, which runs on ARM-based processors, and another based on Intel's x86 CPU platform that will use Windows 8 Pro
Surface tablet key specs
9.3mm thick
676 grams/23.85 ounces
10.6-inch ClearType HD Display ("Full HD" on Pro model)
31.5 watt hour battery (42 watt hours on Pro model)
Ports: microSD, USB 2.0, micro HD video, 2x2 MIMO antennae (microSDXC,
USB 3.0, mini DisplayPort video on Pro model)
Storage options: 32GB and 64GB for Windows RT, 64GB and 128GB for
Windows 8 Pro
Front and rear-facing "HD" cameras
The 10.6-inch touch screen will give the Surface a bigger display than
the 10.1-inch Apple iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab 2. Microsoft has not
announced the specifics of the display resolution yet, but it did confirm a 16:9 aspect ratio.
The "HD display" Microsoft mentions in its spec sheet for the Windows Pro version suggests a 1,920x1,080 pixel resolution. Only the 2,048x1,536 pixel iPad has a higher screen resolution. That might also imply a 1,280x720 display (aka 720p) on the vanilla "HD" Windows RT Surface tablet.
For the CPUs, the Surface with Windows RT will use an Nvidia ARM CPU, which most likely means a quad core Tegra 3 chip, like you'll find in the Asus Transformer Pro TF300. On the Windows 8 Pro Surface, Microsoft confirm a full-fledged third generation "Ivy Bridge" Core i5 quad core chip like the chips in current Windows laptops.
Microsoft was not forthcoming about networking details on the Surface, but a "MIMO" antenna (multiple input-multiple output), implies support for both wireless and cellular data connections.
Microsoft says pricing information will be available closer to availability, but that it will be comparative to competing ARM tablets and ultrabook laptops.
