Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 RT Priced, Starts at $499

[btarunr]

Microsoft put price tags on some of its most important upcoming products, Surface with Windows 8 RT. The prices were revealed by Microsoft Store US, and covers three models based on storage capacity and Touch Cover (cover with keyboard and trackpad). The lineup starts at US $499 with Surface 32 GB without Touch Cover. For $599, you get the same model, with the Touch Cover. Leading the pack is Surface 64 GB with Touch Cover, priced at $699. The store is accepting pre-orders for all available color options of Surface and Touch Cover. Orders will delivered as early as by October 26.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Kreij]

You forgot to put in that the 64GB w/TC is $699

 

[Octavean]

Interesting,….

The entry level iPad is also ~$500 USD however, that is the 16GB WiFI only model. In this case the Surface Windows RT model at that price is 32GB. There are other spec differences though,…

I’m not really interested in Windows RT though,…or perhaps I should say I prefer Windows 8 Pro.

 

[Easy Rhino]

it's about $50 to high. people look at price tag and are not smart enough to discern value. especially where apple products are concerned.

 

[naoan]

So it's $500 for a 20GB WinRT tablet (Windows RT default install need 12.4GB)

Remind me again why I would want this?

 

[pr0n Inspector]

Interesting,….

The entry level iPad is also ~$500 USD however, that is the 16GB WiFI only model. In this case the Surface Windows RT model at that price is 32GB. There are other spec differences though,…

I’m not really interested in Windows RT though,…or perhaps I should say I prefer Windows 8 Pro.

That depends on how big is Windows RT + Office(pre-installed). Certainly much bigger than iOS or Android.

 

[BigMack70]

Meh... it might look cooler and more "hip" than an inexpensive Windows 7 laptop (I got a nice HP Probook 4430s for $420), but I'll take the added functionality of my laptop any day over this.

Now... get that price down to $300, and then we can talk.

 

[Octavean]

With Apple and iOS devices we now see in many cases free over the air operating system upgrades. Not just one mind you, usually at least two free OS upgrades.

One thing I find difficult to visualize is Microsoft giving away a free OS upgrade without a new hardware purchase bolstering the license. Let alone making it an easy upgrade that is over the air.

As far as I am concerned, any Windows RT tablet (not just the Microsoft Surface Windows RT tablet) should be eligible for a free upgrade to the next version of Windows (Windows 9 for the sake of argument) and possibly the version after that as well. Still I just cant picture Microsoft doing it.

Microsoft giving away free OS upgrades (repeatedly) is like hell freezing over.

 

[3870x2]

With Apple and iOS devices we now see in many cases free over the air operating system upgrades. Not just one mind you, usually at least two free OS upgrades.

One thing I find difficult to visualize is Microsoft giving away a free OS upgrade without a new hardware purchase bolstering the license. Let alone making it an easy upgrade that is over the air.

As far as I am concerned, any Windows RT tablet (not just the Microsoft Surface Windows RT tablet) should be eligible for a free upgrade to the next version of Windows (Windows 9 for the sake of argument) and possibly the version after that as well. Still I just cant picture Microsoft doing it.

Microsoft giving away free OS upgrades (repeatedly) is like hell freezing over.

Aren't major OSx upgrades released more often?

Also, I wouldnt ever pay for a mac operating system. I would however pay for a windows operating system.

 

[Drone]

Hm this Surface is so pricey. It's very strange because technology is getting cheaper but ultrabooks, ssds and all that stuff is still expensive. I guess I will wait for the next generation of Surface.

 

[3870x2]

Hm this Surface is so pricey. It's very strange because technology is getting cheaper but ultrabooks, ssds and all that stuff is still expensive. I guess I will wait for the next generation of Surface.

If there were any tablet I would get it would be the surface.

BTW What is the difference between RT and 8? And why wouldnt they just release 8 instead?

 

[bencrutz]

If there were any tablet I would get it would be the surface.

BTW What is the difference between RT and 8? And why wouldnt they just release 8 instead?

8 RT -> arm processors
8 / 8 pro / 8 enterprise -> x86 processors

RT wont run your x86 apps (both 32 bit and 64 bit)

 

[3870x2]

8 RT -> arm processors
8 / 8 pro / 8 enterprise -> x86 processors

RT wont run your x86 apps (both 32 bit and 64 bit)

I was told yesterday that the appstore requires the programs to be compiled under both ARM and x86.

That could be a huge pain in the ass for developers. The only real thing that differentiates the mobile operating systems is that app stores.

 

[Dos101]

Considering an iPad is $500, these prices aren't too bad. Now, if they could announce the price for the Windows 8 Pro version then I'd be happy.

 

[3870x2]

Considering an iPad is $500, these prices aren't too bad. Now, if they could announce the price for the Windows 8 Pro version then I'd be happy.

I thought they did: $139.

There is nothing pro about a casual operating system. Out company will not implement this. Ever.

Might have well stuck with home and mobile editions.

 

[Dos101]

I thought they did: $139.

There is nothing pro about a casual operating system. Out company will not implement this. Ever.

Might have well stuck with home and mobile editions.

The Windows RT Surface tablet is the ARM version, the Windows 8 Pro Surface tablet is the x86 version.

 

[TheMailMan78]

If this thing had Wacom level sensitivity I would get one. Its just not sensitive enough. Come on MS team up with Wacom already. It would KILL Apple.

 

[Easy Rhino]

you really can't compare this to the ipad 3 considering the ipad 3 has a retina display and this has run of the mill crap.

 

[TheMailMan78]

you really can't compare this to the ipad 3 considering the ipad 3 has a retina display and this has run of the mill crap.

I don't even know what "retina display" is. Is it something that I need?

 

[Solaris17]

it's about $50 to high. people look at price tag and are not smart enough to discern value. especially where apple products are concerned.

lold

 

[Easy Rhino]

I don't even know what "retina display" is. Is it something that I need?

if you are a visual artist then you will see a great benefit in having a "retina" display. since you are a visual artists you should look into getting one or at least have the decency to know what one is so that you can keep up with the lingo in your craft.

 

[Irony]

I don't even know what "retina display" is. Is it something that I need?

Definition: It's where, if you look at anything anti apple it burns your retinas off.

(From the great irony doctionary)

 

[Solaris17]

I don't even know what "retina display" is. Is it something that I need?

just a high PPI display nothing you cant get way cheaper by shopping for other professional displays.

 

[Octavean]

Aren't major OSx upgrades released more often?

Also, I wouldnt ever pay for a mac operating system. I would however pay for a windows operating system.

I believe Apple now updates OS X annually whereas Microsoft is on a three year cycle for x86 / x64 OSes. This is neither here nor there though because we are talking about ARM.

I was referring to iOS which is a mobile OS for ARM hardware. This is analogous to Windows RT for the ARM platform. iOS upgrades are typically free and one can expect two or maybe three free upgrades before Apple drops support for the hardware version.

Whether someone would buy Apple hardware or not isn’t the issue. The issue is one of comparability. Android ARM devises often receive free OS upgrades as well. For example, the original Asus Transformer Prime received a free upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich,…..eventually. Other versions of the Transformer line may have received a free upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich as well as a pending upgrade to Jellybean. Not really sure but it illustrates the point.

To be comparable, Microsoft would have to upgrade Windows RT tablet OSes for free to whatever its successor is and possibly the successor to that OS upgrade as well. It wuld also have to be an easy over the air upgrade (no cable connection to a PC).

Again I don’t see Microsoft doing this.

I suppose one could make the case that Microsoft’s 3yr OS upgrade cycle would impede the upgrade for any one device because 3yrs is enough to make the hardware antiquated. Point taken but that would disrupt the notion of comparability (something a pricing model may depend on) and leave customers with a device that may never see an OS update. Not ideal in my book.

I was told yesterday that the appstore requires the programs to be compiled under both ARM and x86.

That could be a huge pain in the ass for developers. The only real thing that differentiates the mobile operating systems is that app stores.

Not sure what you mean here since I was under the impression that the Metro interface would be the only GUI for Windows RT tablets and devices (IE no Windows classic desktop).

 

[TheMailMan78]

just a high PPI display nothing you cant get way cheaper by shopping for other professional displays.

Figured as much. Just looked them up. NEC has had them for years. New name on old tech.