Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 Pro Gets Priced

[Cristian_25H]

Through its official blog Microsoft has announced that the x86-flavored Surface tablet, which runs Windows 8 Pro (the ARM-based Surface RT is loaded with Windows RT), will arrive in January, priced at $899 (64 GB model) and $999 (128 GB).

Set to have about half the battery life of the Surface RT, the upcoming device is equipped with an Intel Core i5 processor and has a 10.6-inch (1920 x 1080) ClearType display supporting both finger and pen input, 4 GB of RAM, 802.11 b/g/n/ WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, a micro SDXC card slot, two 720p HD LifeCams, stereo speakers, an USB 3.0 port, a mini DisplayPort output, and a kickstand. The Surface with Windows 8 Pro is 0.53 inches thick, has a VaporMg casing, and is backed by a one-year warranty.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[LetsDoDamage]

x86 + 4GB RAM.

Well, thanks MS. Surely they are aware of the limitations of their own 32-bit OS?

 

[boogerlad]

The Surface Pro is running the 64-bit version of Windows 8 Pro.

 

[Mathragh]

I dont think they actually mean its an x86 version of windows 8.
They probably use the 'x86' to distinguish it from the other surface tablet already on the market that only supports apps from the store, and no 'x86' programs.

 

[LetsDoDamage]

Through its official blog Microsoft has announced that the x86-flavored Surface tablet

The Surface Pro is running the 64-bit version of Windows 8 Pro.

Just going by what it says in article, so it is running 64-bit?

 

[Jstn7477]

Just going by what it says in article, so it is running 64-bit?

x86 is loosely used to differentiate this from the ARM RISC architecture. Of course it is going to use 64bit (x86-64) since they stuffed a Core i5 and 4GB of RAM in there.

 

[erixx]

Nomenklatura....... aaaaah

By the way, it comes with displayport?????????? Flogging a dead horse why??????????

Ah, maybe they want Apple users to plug the Surface into their weird setups?!

 

[Jstn7477]

Nomenklatura....... aaaaah

By the way, it comes with displayport?????????? Flogging a dead horse why??????????

Ah, maybe they want Apple users to plug the Surface into their weird setups?!

How is DisplayPort a dead horse? HDMI is a pile of suck because anytime you connect your computer to a reasonably priced TV, your computer goes "OMG IT'S A TV MUST NOT SET PROPER SCALING AND 1:1 PIXEL RATIO LET'S MAKE THE PICTURE LOOK AS TERRIBLE AS POSSIBLE HERP DERP" so I'd rather have DisplayPort anyway. Sure, it isn't widely used, but it's better than a standard where 98% of TVs don't even have the right EDID and go nuts when a computer is connected to them via HDMI.

 

[erixx]

Maybe, but I fell never the need to use DisplayPort, well not even the need to look WTF it is! But I know macheads use it more (necessarily mostly for lack of other slu...., sorry slots.)

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Finally! A price! $900 and $1000 are reasonable.

 

[Mathragh]

Maybe, but I fell never the need to use DisplayPort, well not even the need to look WTF it is! But I know macheads use it more (necessarily mostly for lack of other slu...., sorry slots.)

Displayport is simply a newer and better standard. It supports higher bitrates, daisy chaining of displays, and imo the connector is designed a lot better.

I'd use it over HDMI/DVI/VGA any day, if only more display manufacturers used it.

 

[lemonadesoda]

A long time ago, I when I was in school, I used to have this calculator:

When a tablet comes out with a nice cover/stand like the ipad one, but with a flex keyboard like this on the inside of the cover... I'll be a buyer.

 

[Mathragh]

When a tablet comes out with a nice cover/stand like the ipad one, but with a flex keyboard like this on the inside of the cover... I'll be a buyer.

you mean like this?

 

[erixx]

Technically DisplayPort is marvelous, but it is just a minority thing, so that is why i WONDER why it is included in a product conceived for the masses (windows tablets and phones must save MS!)

On the other hand, I already could try a W8 x86 tablet the other week, it runs sweeeeet. If this keyboard is not a flop it could well be a full substitute of the laptop as known until now.

 

[Mathragh]

Technically DisplayPort is marvelous, but it is just a minority thing, so that is why i WONDER why it is included in a product conceived for the masses (windows tablets and phones must save MS!)

Because with a relatively cheap adaptor(10-15 dollar) you can convert the displayport output to whatever you like.

If this keyboard is not a flop it could well be a full substitute of the laptop as known until now.

Anandtech wrote quite a nice review of the surface, with 2 pages dedicated to the two types of keyboards that come with the surface.

 

[lemonadesoda]

you mean like this?
http://www.netbooknews.com/wp-content/2012/06/microsofttablet0103.jpg

Yes, isn't it clever

 

[Frick]

Do want, but way WAY out of my price range.

 

[mtosev]

hehe that's quite expensive. samsung's RT tablet also costs a lot (650eur)
http://www.mimovrste.com/artikel/2720006724/tablicni-racunalnik-samsung-ativ-tab-p8510#tech

 

[tacosRcool]

Too bad they use an i3 and then the price would be nicer

 

[creepingdeath]

Nomenklatura....... aaaaah

By the way, it comes with displayport?????????? Flogging a dead horse why??????????

Ah, maybe they want Apple users to plug the Surface into their weird setups?!

Are you kidding me dude?

Displayport is better than HDMI in every way, it supports higher bitrate, has more bandwidth, and has cool features like multiple wireless displays. Displayport is not a MAC port, it is a VESA standard. Displayport was created as a standard long before Apple started using it.

HDMI is also limited to 1080p in most implementations - case in point, all ultrabooks on the market currently use mini HDMI and WILL NOT display 2560x1600 via external port. Only HDMI 1.4a supports higher than 1080p, yet every implementation in ultrabooks for some reason will not support higher than 1080p. I've tried many times - Displayport doesn't have this problem.

Your opinion is quite uninformed. -- HDMI is garbage, and DP is superior in every way. The fact that there are 10 billion implementation versions of HDMI doesn't help matters, either; good luck finding an HDMI implementation that isn't restricted to a crappy 1080p resolution. I look forward to the surface pro, it might be the first windows solution that will actually be usable at home on my Dell u3011.

 

[brandonwh64]

Display port is half of thunderbolt. Thunderbolt uses Display port and PCIexpress in one cable.

 

[Drmark]

10.6 screen and an i5? Why not add a Invidia 690 with SLI and really jack the price up. For such a small screen it seems over powered and over priced. I would buy one if the screen was at least 18"+

 

[phanbuey]

expensive.

most serious software is not designed for this form factor yet, so as of right now this is a $999 screw-around-on-the-internet tablet.

 

[naoan]

4 hours of awkward x86 softwares navigation thanks to them not being optimized for touch. Yeah, thanks but no thanks.

http://www.ghacks.net/2012/11/30/surface-pro-price-and-battery-life-disappoint/

 

[Octavean]

Well I think the price is likely quite reasonable but I would have to see full specs to be sure.

I have an Asus Eee Slate EP121 Core i5 Windows tablet that I upgraded to Windows 8 Pro. Its older but still reasonably powerful. It has a 12.1” touch screen with Wacom digitizer (pen input) but given its age the resolution is much lower at 1280x768. When the Asus EP121 was new it cost about ~$1100 USD for the 64GB mSATA SSD version,….

I like the Surface Pro in concept but I don’t like the kickstand or the concept of their attachable keyboard. I much prefer the Asus Transform type of keyboard dock that has a battery, USB ports and the ability to angle the display at varying degrees,…..not just one angle like the Surface kickstand.

Also I really don’t think these attachable keyboards and kickstand design would work very well on an actual lap,…..its just not really designed for that,…..