“Microsoft Corp unveiled a tablet called Surface on Monday, in a move to rival Apple Inc’s massively successful iPad,” Lisa Richwine reports for Reuters.
“The tablet will come in two versions, one running on traditional Intel Corp chips, and another using ARM Holdings. Both will have a fold-out cover that becomes a keyboard,” Richwine reports. “A prototype was demonstrated by Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer at an event in Los Angeles. The tablets will be available when Windows 8 ships later this year, according to a Microsoft statement.”
Richwine reports, “No details on pricing were mentioned, except that it would be “comparable” with current ARM tablets and Intel-powered Ultrabooks.”
LOS ANGELES — June 18, 2012 — Today at an event in Hollywood, Microsoft unveiled Surface: PCs built to be the ultimate stage for Windows. Company executives showed two Windows tablets and accessories that feature significant advances in industrial design and attention to detail. Surface is designed to seamlessly transition between consumption and creation, without compromise. It delivers the power of amazing software with Windows and the feel of premium hardware in one exciting experience.
Advances in Industrial Design
Conceived, designed and engineered entirely by Microsoft employees, and building on the company’s 30-year history manufacturing hardware, Surface represents a unique vision for the seamless expression of entertainment and creativity. Extensive investment in industrial design and real user experience includes the following highlights:
• Software takes center stage: Surface sports a full-sized USB port and a 16:9 aspect ratio – the industry standard for HD. It has edges angled at 22 degrees, a natural position for the PC at rest or in active use, letting the hardware fade into the background and the software stand out.
• VaporMg: The casing of Surface is created using a unique approach called VaporMg (pronounced Vapor-Mag), a combination of material selection and process to mold metal and deposit particles that creates a finish akin to a luxury watch. Starting with magnesium, parts can be molded as thin as .65 mm, thinner than the typical credit card, to create a product that is thin, light and rigid/strong.
• Integrated Kickstand: The unique VaporMg approach also enables a built-in kickstand that lets you transition Surface from active use to passive consumption – watching a movie or even using the HD front- or rear-facing video cameras. The kickstand is there when needed, and disappears when not in use, with no extra weight or thickness.
• Touch Cover: The 3 mm Touch Cover represents a step forward in human-computer interface. Using a unique pressure-sensitive technology, Touch Cover senses keystrokes as gestures, enabling you to touch type significantly faster than with an on-screen keyboard. It will be available in a selection of vibrant colors. 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.
An Amazing Windows Experience
Two models of Surface will be available: one running an ARM processor featuring Windows RT, and one with a third-generation Intel Core processor featuring Windows 8 Pro. From the fast and fluid interface, to the ease of connecting you to the people, information and apps that users care about most, Surface will be a premium way to experience all that Windows has to offer. Surface for Windows RT will release with the general availability 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 select online Microsoft Stores.
Additional Product Information
Surface for Windows RT
• OS: Windows RT
• 676 g *
• 9.3 mm *
• 10.6” ClearType HD Display
• 31.5 W-h battery
• microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae
• Office ‘15’ Apps, Touch Cover, Type Cover
• VaporMg Case & Stand
• 32 GB, 64 GB
Surface for Windows 8 Pro
• OS: Windows 8 Pro
• 903 g *
• 13.5 mm *
• 10.6” ClearType HD Display
• 42 W-h battery
• microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae
• Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block
• VaporMg Case & Stand
• 64 GB, 128 GB
*Actual size and weight of the device may vary due to configuration and manufacturing process.
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. OEMs will have cost and feature parity on Windows 8 and Windows RT.
Some information relates to a prerelease product, which may be substantially modified before it is commercially released. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information provided here.
Source: Microsoft
MacDailyNews Take: “Conceived, designed and engineered entirely by Microsoft employees.” Which is why it looks pretty much like an Apple iPad, except with a blurry screen, a rear and sides designed by Sony in 1985, in the wrong aspect ratio, with a logo that serves as a warning label to informed users, festooned with bunch of unnecessary ports (of course), and a silly made-to-be-broken-off “kickstand” with a bastardized Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover for iPad hanging off it in your choice of horrid hues chosen by the usual color-blind Microsoftie.
Apple iPad with Retina display and Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover
BTW: Windows “partners,” you just got PlayedForSure™. Sleep tight.
And, the best part: It’s all still just vapor. No prices. No shipping date(s). No actual sizes and weights. No nothing. 30 months after Steve Jobs first unveiled the iPad.
Oh, and “software takes center stage?” Seriously? What software? Microsoft is completely delusional.
• Software takes center stage: Surface sports a full-sized USB port and a 16:9 aspect ratio – the industry standard for HD. It has edges angled at 22 degrees, a natural position for the PC at rest or in active use, letting the hardware fade into the background and the software stand out.
“and a silly made-to-be-broken-off “kickstand” but from Panos mouth came the fact that the engineers thought very deeply as to how the kickstand sounded when shut. OMG
The RT version will have to be very inexpensive to compete against a retina display iPad. The specs are compareable to the iPad 2, so it needs to be south of $399.
Microsoft with the tablet of the Future! Sure your iPad can get things done now but what about tomorrow’s work? We present the Surface, the Future of tablets. This tablet will allow IT & CIO’s to put off buying anything right now and save it for the FUTURE! Think of the work you could put off for now and move it to the FUTURE! Shipping date can not be disclosed due to it being, well, you know, from the FUTURE! Void where prohibited by law.
i realize you are being sarcastic, but it makes me wonder who microsoft has really “osborned”? i think they have frozen, more or less, the sales of the hardware manufacturers who use their operating system. good going!
The Osborne Effect means you have something out there already but just you wait until the next upgrade. I think the term of vapour ware is more appropriate here. Didn’t Microsoft have the tablet 10 years ago?
You don’t, seeing all the work Microsoft obviously did to make this a quality product, it’s made me wonder: what would conduct the state of computers be like right now if Steve Jobs had never existed?
If it wasn’t for Jobs, we probably still be dealing with perfectly terrible computers, and assuming that because they are computers, they should be hard.
There’s a new renaissance of care and quality going on in computers. And whether these computers are from Apple or from anyone else, I say Apple gets a lot of the credit. Because none of it would be happening if Apple hadn’t raised the bar.
I’m more and more convinced that Apple started the “truly personal” computer revolution, then the movement got hijacked into business personal computing (where personal meant its at on your desk, rather than in a computer room), then Apple finally recovered control with the iPhone and the original dreams are being fulfilled.
(I kept hunting for the word “salad” in your first paragraph, them it finally dawned on me that you meant “word salad”;-). (“cable salad” is an expression I recall fondly)
“• Software takes center stage: Surface sports a full-sized USB port and a 16:9 aspect ratio – the industry standard for HD. It has edges angled at 22 degrees, a natural position for the PC at rest or in active use, letting the hardware fade into the background and the software stand out.”
“Software takes center stage…”? USB port, widescreen aspect ratio, 22 degree-angled edges?!? Yep, that’s right, highlight the software!
WTF does that commercial mean? They pointing out it’s magnetic (like the iPad)? The music is fun, and the visuals are gorgeous (well not the Surface, but the beads and such) but that’s a hell of a stupid ad.
USB3 AND 128GB storage. No way this thing sells for less than a grand.
Remember that M$ took a loss on Xboxes for years to buy market share, so it’s really hard to predict a price. That is, IF it ever ships…
Ugly, uselsess, laughable, clueless…
• Software takes center stage: Surface sports a full-sized USB port and a 16:9 aspect ratio – the industry standard for HD. It has edges angled at 22 degrees, a natural position for the PC at rest or in active use, letting the hardware fade into the background and the software stand out.
Software?
“and a silly made-to-be-broken-off “kickstand” but from Panos mouth came the fact that the engineers thought very deeply as to how the kickstand sounded when shut. OMG
(Yeah, I know, but I did it anyhow….)
Love it!
Its like the Zune turd but floats….to the surface
Slow clap.
Merry Christmas to Apple.
Looks better than any Android tablet I’ve seen.
People think. That intel model running mountain lion/hackintosh style would be very cool.
Am I mistaken or was the big-ass table also called Surface?
Great day for Android
The RT version will have to be very inexpensive to compete against a retina display iPad. The specs are compareable to the iPad 2, so it needs to be south of $399.
If the coffee-table Surface was the “Big Ass Table,” Is this the “Small ass Table?” or a “Big Ass Zune?”
I vote for “Big Ass Zune”.
When does Apple file the first lawsuit against MS, the cover looks like a complete ripoff of the Apple smart cover which I believe is patented.
It is not either of them. Microsoft has innovated here and you are all jealous! Hahaha!
Oh, Hooray!
It’s a laptop!
It’s from from Microsoft!
It has extra, plasticky bits attached!
How could this possibly fail?!
Oh frabjous day, callou, callay!
Microsoft’s announced another tablet.
But when it’d ship they would not say.
OK, will “Zune Tang” now become “Surface Tang”??
Ha ha ha ha
Microsoft with the tablet of the Future! Sure your iPad can get things done now but what about tomorrow’s work? We present the Surface, the Future of tablets. This tablet will allow IT & CIO’s to put off buying anything right now and save it for the FUTURE! Think of the work you could put off for now and move it to the FUTURE! Shipping date can not be disclosed due to it being, well, you know, from the FUTURE! Void where prohibited by law.
i realize you are being sarcastic, but it makes me wonder who microsoft has really “osborned”? i think they have frozen, more or less, the sales of the hardware manufacturers who use their operating system. good going!
The Osborne Effect means you have something out there already but just you wait until the next upgrade. I think the term of vapour ware is more appropriate here. Didn’t Microsoft have the tablet 10 years ago?
MS will blow Billions of their wads to shove this down people’s throats. Heck it worked for XBOX!
The Microsoft faithful are having orgasms all over YouTube. The commercial ain’t bad actually. Beats all that happy family crap Apple always shows.
That’s because Microsoft is not going after the consumer market.
A typical MS ad – a whole lot of nothing. Prettily shot though.
That thing is THICK!!!
1960s Thick.
Oh Lord, and there’s two versions running completely different OSes. How can this possibly fail??
They knew they HAD to create a fragmented market.
(have to keep sucking at Intel)
Mission Accomplished!
hah! there will be eleventy-seven versions of each operating system for each hardware version.
You don’t, seeing all the work Microsoft obviously did to make this a quality product, it’s made me wonder: what would conduct the state of computers be like right now if Steve Jobs had never existed?
If it wasn’t for Jobs, we probably still be dealing with perfectly terrible computers, and assuming that because they are computers, they should be hard.
There’s a new renaissance of care and quality going on in computers. And whether these computers are from Apple or from anyone else, I say Apple gets a lot of the credit. Because none of it would be happening if Apple hadn’t raised the bar.
Thank you, Steve jobs.
Sorry about the word salad in that first paragraph. I forgot to double check my transcription.
I’m more and more convinced that Apple started the “truly personal” computer revolution, then the movement got hijacked into business personal computing (where personal meant its at on your desk, rather than in a computer room), then Apple finally recovered control with the iPhone and the original dreams are being fulfilled.
(I kept hunting for the word “salad” in your first paragraph, them it finally dawned on me that you meant “word salad”;-). (“cable salad” is an expression I recall fondly)
“word salad” – ha! My attempt to make things less confusing made things more confusing!
“• Software takes center stage: Surface sports a full-sized USB port and a 16:9 aspect ratio – the industry standard for HD. It has edges angled at 22 degrees, a natural position for the PC at rest or in active use, letting the hardware fade into the background and the software stand out.”
“Software takes center stage…”? USB port, widescreen aspect ratio, 22 degree-angled edges?!? Yep, that’s right, highlight the software!
WTF does that commercial mean? They pointing out it’s magnetic (like the iPad)? The music is fun, and the visuals are gorgeous (well not the Surface, but the beads and such) but that’s a hell of a stupid ad.
Oh! You want it to show what it can actually DO?
HA! Ha Ha Ha ha ha ha…… (Vincent Price laugh)