Surface could launch around the same time as Windows 8

Microsoft has garnered a huge amount of excitement with its latest Surface tablet and fans and critics alike have been eager to get details about the launch date and the exact pricing of this new tablet. Chances are high that Surface will be launched around the same time as the Windows 8 official launch, which is marked at October 26. That’s still a couple of months from now but with Apple’s rumoured mini iPad and the recent launch of the  Nexus 7, the tablet war is only going to get more intense. An October-November launch may just well be a good one as the holiday season comes closer. We do hope that the pricing is correct, though. Surface for Windows 8 Pro may be an expensive affair, but if the one for Windows RT gets priced competitively, it’ll make for an interesting contest with frontrunners Apple and Google.  It’s important to note that, though Microsoft has made its presence felt for the past three decades, crafting ingenious software for computing, this is the first tablet that it has ever built.

Enter the all new iPad killer (?)

And in case you’ve missed it, here are some of the highlighted features of the Surface:

Software: Surface sports a full-sized USB port and a 16:9 aspect ratio, which is 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.

More from News & Analysis

What is the US HIRE Bill and why is India’s $250-billion IT sector worried? Is the internet dead? What's this theory that OpenAI's Sam Altman says might be true?

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.

One of the strengths of Windows is its extensive ecosystem of software and hardware partners, delivering selection and choice, which makes a customer’s Windows experience uniquely their own. This continues with Surface. Microsoft is delivering a unique contribution to an already strong and growing ecosystem of functional and stylish devices delivered by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to bring the experience of Windows to consumers and businesses around the globe.

Surface for Windows RT:

OS: Windows RT

Weight: 676 g

Depth: 9.3 mm

Display: 10.6-inch ClearType HD Display

Energized: 31.5 W-h

Connectivity: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae

Productive: Office ‘15’ Apps, Touch Cover, Type Cover

Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand

Configurable: 32 GB, 64 GB

Surface for Windows 8 Pro:

OS: Windows 8 Pro

Weight: 903 g

Depth: 13.5 mm

Display: 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD Display

Energized: 42 W-h

Connected: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae

Productive: Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block

Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand

Configurable: 64 GB, 128 GB.

An October end launch – will you wait for the Surface or would you rather pick up the Nexus 7 when (or if) it is available after September? Let us know in the comments section below.