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.

The consumer Windows PC and tablet market didn't get the boost it needed from the launch of Microsoft's Windows 8 in the U.S. Since the Windows 8 launch on October 26, Windows device sales have fallen 21 percent versus the same period last year, according to leading market research company The NPD Group's Weekly Tracking Service. Notebooks, which have been weak throughout most of 2012, saw that trend continue as they fell 24 percent. Desktop sales have fared better this year, dropping just 9 percent.

"After just four weeks on the market, it's still early to place blame on Windows 8 for the ongoing weakness in the PC market," said Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis at NPD. "We still have the whole holiday selling season ahead of us, but clearly Windows 8 did not prove to be the impetus for a sales turnaround some had hoped for."

WD, a Western Digital company, and a world leader in external storage and solutions for today's connected life, announced today comprehensive support for new storage features in Windows 8 and an app for the new Windows user interface that makes it easy to discover, enjoy and backup digital media and files.

The WD app for Windows 8 automatically discovers digital content on connected WD direct attached storage solutions and showcases those photos, videos and music on a live tile on the Start screen. Within the app, customers can easily find and enjoy their digital content as well as share their media via email and social media sites with the Share charm. Windows 8 automatically installs the WD app for certified WD products or it can be downloaded from the Windows Store.

Yesterday at the Credit Suisse 2012 Annual Technology Conference Microsoft's Tami Reller (Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Financial Officer for the Windows division) has announced that, in its first month of life, Windows 8 has reached 40 million sold licenses, outspacing Windows 7 in terms of upgrades.

Microsoft did not provide one-month numbers for Windows 7 but the estimates back then were that it sold about 40 million copies, meaning Windows 8 is pretty much on par with its predecessor after one month. Not a bad start for Windows 8 but certainly not a raging success.

MultiTouch Ltd has announced the launch of 42" and 55" MultiTaction Cell multitouch displays, fully integrated with Windows 8. The new MultiTaction Cell 42" (MT420W8) and 55" (MT550W8) with Embedded Windows 8 on Intel Core i7 are the first large-format displays available with a built-in touch user interface -and the first to support simultaneous use of unlimited touch with hands, the new Windows 8 native pen tracking and real life object interaction.

The addition of Windows 8 makes MultiTaction an even better proposition for clients seeking large integrated Windows 8 devices particularly suitable for use in public spaces. The new MultiTaction Cell displays allow clients to use applications from the Windows 8 store, with both 42" and 55" models running applications compatible across smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop PCs.

A renowned brand of graphics card maker - VTX3D, unfolds a might weapon to HD7870 series with VTX3D HD7870 Black Edition. The VTX3D HD7870 Black extends the benefits of VTX3D HD7870 series, but taking advantage of progressive GPU design, showing extraordinary performance than before.

The new model consists of ground-breaking feature which runs at a clock of 925MHz, and 6.0 Gbps for memory, even allowing higher frame rates in games by using AMD PowerTune with boost which overdrives core frequency to dynamically overclock up to 975MHz. Also, VTX3D HD7870 Black features 92mm ultra large fan and 3 heat pipes design, which can significantly reduce heats and keep the temperature low.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of motherboards and graphics cards, today announced that their dual Thunderbolt series of motherboards support 4K resolution monitors in configurations derived from two Mini DisplayPort connectors, each capable of 2K resolution output. Testing was successfully carried out at GIGABYTE's regional facility in Tokyo, Japan with the EIZO FDH3601 high resolution color monitor that is designed for air traffic control and geophysical services.

"Desktop PC motherboards are all about cutting edge features, performance, and upgradeability, and this is why GIGABYTE was the first motherboard company to adopt dual Thunderbolt ports instead of the single port option," commented Tim Handley, Deputy Director of Motherboard Marketing at GIGABYTE. "When combined with other innovative products, such as EIZO's 4K resolution FDH3601 monitor, GIGABYTE Thunderbolt motherboard users can enjoy next generation display options with their existing platform, without having to wait for future 4K resolution standards."

Today MSI introduces the new 20 inch entertainment model, the Wind Top AE2031 comes with the world's advanced PC OS: Windows 8 is a totally new version of Windows. AE2031 creates entry level All-in-One PC value through completed mechanism design and value-added software allow you to connect social networks and embrace the colorful life. The MSI Wind Top AE2031 will be available in channel before the end of November.

Ahead of its December launch, Lenovo gave us a sneak peak of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Touch Ultrabook on its website. The 14-incher retains the essential design of its August 2012 launched predecessor, with the addition of Windows 8 Pro, a multi-touch screen, and a screen-resolution marked "HD+," which most probably is 1600 x 900 pixels. No other details were revealed. We don't expect the new X1 Carbon to deviate from its formidable system specs, which includes Core i5 "Ivy Bridge" with vPro processor, GeForce graphics, and SSD/HDD storage options.

Not yet announced by AMD, the Radeon HD 8000 family of graphics cards has already started to creep up courtesy of several e-tail stores who jumped the gun and put up for pre-order an ultrabook (the ASUS VivoBook U38DT-R3001H) equipped with a Radeon HD 8550M. Unfortunately the listings are short on details and only mention that the Radeon HD 8550M (which hopefully isn't a rebranded 7 series card) has 1 GB of memory.

In addition to the HD 8550M, ASUS' 1.6 kg ultrabook packs a 13.3-inch (1366 x 768) LED-backlit display, a 1.6 GHz A8-4555M processor, 4 GB of RAM, a 500 GB hard drive, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, B&O ICEPower audio, an SD card reader, three USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI output, and a 6-cell battery providing up to 5 hours of operation. The VivoBook U38DT-R3001H runs Windows 8 and is priced at €799.

Club 3D unveils today its brand new Radeon HD 7870 jokerCard graphic card, the new premium graphic card of the acclaimed Club 3D Radeon HD 7870 Poker Series. The Club 3D Radeon HD 7870 jokerCard graphic card features the highly awarded CoolStream high performance cooling design, a Limited Edition of the Radeon HD 7870 GPU powered by 1536 Stream Processors and the memory running at an amazing clock speed of 6000 MHz. Prepare to be blown away by the incredible speed of the Radeon HD 7870 jokerCard in the hottest DirectX 11 and DirectX 11.1 games and Microsoft Windows 8 WDDM 1.2. Experience amazing graphics with Morphological Anti-Aliasing (MLAA 2.0) and Adaptive Anti-Aliasing technologies that help smooth out jagged edges without compromising performance.

ASUS' EeeBox line of compact PCs will soon be expanding thru the release of two new models, the EB1035 and EB1505. Both models come with Windows 8 pre-installed and feature a 1.1 GHz Celeron 847 processor, 2/4 GB of RAM, up to a 500 GB hard drive (the EB1035 also includes a 32 GB SSD), Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, a 4-in-1 card reader, two USB 3.0 and four USB 2.0 ports, plus D-Sub and HDMI outputs.

The EB1505 also packs a slim optical drive (DVD writer or Blu-ray combo drive) and measures 193 x 39 x 193 mm, while the ODD-less EB1035 is 219 by 29 by 172.5 mm. No word on pricing.

Super Talent Technology, a leading manufacturer of flash storage solutions and DRAM memory modules, announces its USB 3.0 Express RC8 has been certified as a go to market partner with Microsoft for usage with Windows To Go, a new feature of Microsoft's Windows 8 Enterprise edition. Windows To Go enables enterprises to provision a full corporate image on an external USB drive which users can boot and operate from almost any PC.

Certified through the Windows 8 Hardware certification kit, Super Talent's RC8 is one of the world's top USB 3.0 drives with SSD technology; it provides high random read/write speed capabilities and reports itself as fixed media. Supertalent RC8 meets and surpasses many of the performance requirements of Windows To Go certified drives.

ASUS, a global leader in the new digital era, today announces VivoTab, a thin and light tablet featuring Windows 8. With an MSRP starting from US$799, VivoTab has an 11.6" multi-touch HD display, Wacom digitizer stylus and Intel Atom dual-core processor for an excellent combination of performance and energy efficiency. Its optional Mobile Dock offers increased productivity too, thanks to its full keyboard and a built-in battery that gives up to 19 hours' mobile use.

ASUS VivoTab has a 1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760 dual-core processor with enhanced performance and incredible energy efficiency allowing Windows 8 to run both, the latest software and legacy applications, giving users a wide choice of software for every need. VivoTab's 11.6" multi-touch display has a pin-sharp 1366 x 768 HD resolution with vibrant colors, wide viewing angles and superior outdoor visibility, thanks to the amazing brightness of its Super IPS+ technology. ASUS TruVivid technology enhances image clarity still further by reducing the display thickness, while scratch-resistant Corning Fit glass with anti-fingerprint coating keeps the screen crystal-clear.

Wortmann has this week released a new laptop running Microsoft's Windows 8, a 15-inch model called TERRA MOBILE 1529. This mobile machine weights 2.2 kg and features an LED-backlit (1366 x 768) display, a 2.4 GHz Core i3-3110M processor, 4 GB of RAM, Intel HD graphics, a 500 GB hard drive, and a DVD writer.

The TERRA MOBILE 1529 also has a 2-megapixel webcam, Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, a 9-in-1 card reader, two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI output, and a 6-cell battery. The notebook is backed by a two-year warranty and costs €619.

Imation Corp., a global scalable storage and data security company, today announced beta availability of its IronKey Workspace, certified for deployment of Windows To Go. The IronKey Workspace lets organizations outfit mobile professionals with a secure, fast USB platform to run Windows To Go from a USB stick on multiple compatible PCs, an ideal solution for teleworkers, contractors, and those implementing BYOD ("bring your own device") strategies. The IronKey Workspace is certified for deployment of Windows To Go, a feature of Windows 8 that lets enterprise users boot a full version of Windows 8 from an external USB drive on compatible host PCs.

"The traditional and static arrangement of the software instance of the user's workspace bound to a single hardware device no longer fits the personal computing requirements of a growing population of workers and, for that matter, their employers; breaking this software-to-hardware linkage is essential," said Michael Suby, Stratecast's vice president of Research at Frost & Sullivan. "PC on a Stick addresses this need by infusing complete and secure workspace portability into the realm of personal computing."

Ben Reitzes, an analyst with Barclays, slashed his already grim outlook for PC sales, and cautioned that demand for PCs could drop for "years to come." In his report, Reitzes writes "We are lowering our 2012-2016 PC forecasts due to weak macro conditions, confusion around Windows 8, ongoing cannibalization from tablets, and an elongation in replacement cycles," adding "Also, a long-running belief by PC leaders is that emerging markets are destined to reach the 100% PC-penetration rate (per person) that exists today in the U.S., however, we believe that key markets may only reach a fraction of the U.S. penetration rate as consumers now realize a balance between tablets and smart phones - at a far earlier stage in development."

A major factor in declining PC sales could be slow PC replacement rate, "with analysis pointing toward a 1-2 year extension in the replacement rate from 2010-2015 due to income diverted to 'disruptive' mobile products like tablets and smart phones across the globe." Among the companies whose price targets and estimates Reitzes cut are HP and Dell.

QNAP Systems, Inc. today announced new Turbo NAS V3.8 firmware; which incorporates sought-after improvements to Turbo NAS multimedia applications and new business features. New features of Turbo NAS V3.8 firmware include support for Windows 8, improvements in Turbo NAS multimedia capabilities, the addition of Surveillance Station Pro, and proxy client for flexible yet secure Internet access in business environments. Firmware V3.8 supports the newest Microsoft Windows 8 operating system, allowing Windows 8 users to enjoy their Turbo NAS experiences which are optimized for Windows 8.

"QNAP is pleased to announce compatibility of our award-winning Turbo NAS lineup with the global launch of Windows 8," said Jason Hsu, product manager of QNAP. "Our customers will be delighted to know that their Turbo NAS experience has been optimized for Windows 8."

Lenovo today announced the IdeaCentre Q190, the world's smallest full-function desktop PC - measuring just 22 mm (0.86 inches) wide - and the latest additions to the C-Series all-in-one (AIO) family. With convenient space-saving designs that fit into any home, the IdeaCentre Q190 and C-Series AIOs offer affordable but powerful performance and multimedia features designed for immersive entertainment.

"Lenovo is committed to making PC innovation accessible to all, and the IdeaCentre Q190 and latest C-Series AIOs deliver just that." said Ouyang Jun, Executive Director and General Manager, IdeaCentre Business Unit. "Whether it's the subtle, space-saving design of the Q190 that transforms your living room TV or monitor into a home theater, or the sleek look, powerful performance and family friendly features of the C-Series AIOs, Lenovo's latest desktop PCs are designed to meet the entertainment needs of any household."

WD, a Western Digital company, and a world leader in external storage and solutions for today's connected life, today unveils the new My Net AC1300 HD Dual-Band Router and My Net AC Bridge as the latest additions to the acclaimed My Net family of HD dual-band routers. These products combine next-generation 802.11ac wireless technology with WD's exclusive FasTrack technology for automatically prioritizing high-bandwidth entertainment services like Netflix, YouTube, online games and Skype, to provide maximum streaming performance inside the home.

A leading product testing and analysis organization, The Tolly Group, conducted performance testing of the My Net AC1300 router and My Net Bridge amongst comparable products on the market today. Results show that the My Net AC1300 router is faster than leading competitive products averaged across ranges of 30 to 75 feet, demonstrating the strongest performance in providing stable wireless speeds over long distances, and cutting out buffering and lag times to provide a smooth HD entertainment streaming experience throughout the home.

Science fiction and futuristic movies stepped into reality today as a result of powerful new touchless gesturing technology from Elliptic Labs based on ultrasound. Enabling consumer electronic devices to respond to natural hand movements all around a screen, Elliptic's breakthrough technology is the first of its kind commercially available and has been incorporated in the Windows 8 Gesture Suite, introduced today. See video here.

Elliptic is the leader in ultrasonic touchless gesturing for consumer electronic devices. Its patented, low-power, responsive new technology is superior to the limited, camera-based approaches on the market. The Windows 8 Gesture Suite enables a touchless version of all touchscreen gestures in the new operating system. Combined with Elliptic's SDK, the technology gives OEMs the flexibility to create disruptive new ways to interact with devices.

Armed and dangerous is the only way to describe the new series of desktop gaming systems from CyberPower Inc., which will feature Intel's latest Extreme Edition Core i7-3970X CPU. The Intel Core i7- 3970X Extreme Edition gets world's fastest bragging rights with its base clock speed of 3.5 GHz and a Turbo Boost 2.0 performance of 4.0 GHz. It will be the featured CPU in CyberPowerPC's top-of-the-line Fang III Black Mamba which is also equipped with a pair of the "world's fastest" single GPU GTX 680 graphics card in SLI mode.

The combination of the Intel X79 Express chipset with the unlocked Intel Core i7- 3970X Extreme Edition processor lets you customize the system by changing the processor core multipliers and DDR3 memory ratios to give extreme gamers and demanding enthusiasts the performance they seek. CyberPowerPC customers will be assured of blistering gaming performance and great versatility and speed in video transcoding for all the multi-threaded supported power-hungry applications.

It looks like Microsoft is using the old DirectX limitation trick to push PC enthusiasts to buy its latest operating system. According to a Hardware Info report that cites a post on Microsoft Answers Forum by Microsoft employee Daniel Moth, the company may restrict DirectX 11.1, of which the newest generation of GPUs from AMD and NVIDIA are compatible with, to Windows 8. Windows 7 users will have to make do with DirectX 11. The move could be a little harsh, as each new version of Windows has access to at least two new DirectX versions. Windows XP saw DirectX 8 and 9.x, Windows Vista DirectX 10 and 11. Microsoft DirectX 11.1 adds a few new features to its Direct3D component. In addition to a vendor-neutral stereo 3D platform, it adds a host of 3D API features.

HighPoint Technologies, Inc., a leading SAS/SATA HBA and storage solutions manufacturer, proudly announces that its entire line-up of 6Gb/s SAS and SATA RAID PCI-Express 2.0 host bus adapters are Windows 8 ready: RocketRAID 4500 Series SAS 6Gb/s Hardware RAID HBA's, RocketRAID 2700 series SAS 6Gb/s Host RAID HBA's, RocketRAID 600 Series SATA 6Gb/s Host RAID HBA's, and RocketU Series USB 3.0 HBA's. HighPoint has actively supported every major Windows operating system from the early days of 3.1, to the recent debut of Windows 8. Our extensive line of 6Gb/s SAS RAID, 6Gb/s SATA RAID, and USB 3.0 HBA's are ideal storage solutions for any Windows 8 platform.

Wortmann AG has this week a new version of the Terra Mobile Ultrabook 1450 II, one that comes with Windows 8 Pro (64-bit) pre-installed. Pictured below, this Win8 ultrabook weights 1.6 kg, is 19 mm thick an features a 14-inch (1366 x 768) screen, a 1.8 GHz Core i3 processor, 4 GB of RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4000, and a 120 GB solid state drive.

Wortmann's creation also has a 1.3-megapixel webcam, Gigabit Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth, a 3-in-1 card reader, one USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports, an HDMI output, and a 7,800 mAh battery providing up to 7 hours of operation. The Terra Mobile Ultrabook 1450 II is backed by a two-year warranty and costs €729.