Surface RT priced

[MCD]

After announcing its Surface tablets nearly four months ago, Microsoft has now unveiled the pricing for both of its ARM-based Surface RT tablets at its Microsoft online stores. The 10.6-inch Surface, powered by Windows RT, will go on sale on October 26th and will be priced starting at $499 for the 32GB version without Touch Cover and a 32GB version with the Touch Cover for $599. Microsoft is also offering 64GB model for $699 with a Touch Cover included. The 9.3mm thin tablet weighs just 1.5lbs and includes a built-in kickstand and vapor-deposited (PVD) magnesium case.
 
Microsoft listed its Surface pricing at its online Microsoft Store this morning, indicating that pre-orders will be available shortly. The company has also listed the prices for its Touch Cover, at $119.99 each, and Type Cover for $129.99. The Touch Cover appears to be available in white, red, black, blue, and purple colors – while the Type Cover is listed as a single item in black.
 
Microsoft's advertising campaign for its Surface devices has already kicked off, with Surface street art spotted in a number of US cities over the past few weeks. The software maker will hold a Surface reception event for press and analysts on October 25th, and some of the company's holiday pop-up stores will open at midnight on October 26th to start selling the tablets.
 
Update: Microsoft's online store listing has now gone offline.

(Image removed from quote.)

http://www.theverge.com/2012/10/16/3271243/microsoft-surface-tablet-pricing-availability

Poor people, go home.

[Eel O'Brian]

that's about $100 more than i expected

[Mupepe]

I'm in for one.

[AdmiralViscen]

Seems like a good deal to me. Weird that they don't bundle the better keyboard.

[huckleberry]

This will crash and burn.

Borys has gone full appletard

[Eel O'Brian]

nah, it is kinda pricey for a lower res screen tablet in 2012 (though the rest of the build quality seems top-notch) and you're taking a chance on the app store turning into something decent instead of being touchpad'd in a year

there'll be lower priced windows rt tabs coming from other companies, i'm sure

[Diunx]

LOL

[MCD]

nah, it is kinda pricey for a lower res screen tablet in 2012 (though the rest of the build quality seems top-notch) and you're taking a chance on the app store turning into something decent instead of being touchpad'd in a year

there'll be lower priced windows rt tabs coming from other companies, i'm sure

Closest one so far is the Iconia but welp, it's Atom. Yeah, Atom is x86 but not touchng this shit again.

And BTW, every Windows RT device comes bundled with a free version of Office.

[huckleberry]

The keyboard price skews the value of the device completely. 

[MCD]

Specs:

Size: 10.81 inches x 6.77 inches x 0.37 inches
 
Weight: 1.5 pounds
 
Form factor: VaporMg casing, dark titanium color, Start, volume and power buttons
 
Storage: 32 GB or 64 GB of eMMC storage
 
CPU: NVIDIA Tegra 3 T30
 
RAM: 2 GB of RAM
 
Wireless: 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0
 
Cameras: Front- and rear-facing 720p HD cameras
 
Audio: Two microphones, stereo speakers
 
Ports: One USB 2.0, microSDXC card slot, headset jack, HD video out port, cover port
 
Sensors: Ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass
 
Power Supply: 24 watt
 
Warranty: One-year
 
Bundled software: Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT Preview (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote), Windows Mail, Calendar, and Messaging, SkyDrive, Internet Explorer 10, Bing, Xbox Music, Xbox Video, Xbox Games, and more

[AdmiralViscen]

What is the screen res?

[Human Snorenado]

What is the screen res?

1366 x 768 

[Beezy]

What are the differences for the Pro?

[Eel O'Brian]

Pro is a full-blown Windows 8 (can run any windows program) tablet, with laptop specs and what have you

RT can only run Windows apps made for it (and I think it can run the phone apps, too?)

[MCD]

What are the differences for the Pro?

http://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-surface-rt-8-tablet-comparison

Pro is basically an ultrabook in a tablet form.

RT can only run Windows apps made for it (and I think it can run the phone apps, too?)

No, but they can be easily ported.

[Human Snorenado]

I wonder what the price on the pro will be.  $799? $899?

[MCD]

I wonder what the price on the pro will be.  $799? $899?

Lol.

it's gonna be $1200+

[Eel O'Brian]

All I know is that the Windows tablets will be the only tablets which do word processing and office productivity worth a fuck

[Beezy]

I wonder what the price on the pro will be.  $799? $899?

Lol.

it's gonna be $1200+

Shit, seriously? My interest in the RT version just shot up.

[MrAngryFace]

Dr Feel: AND totally ok on corp networks- which is why I want one so bad

[MCD]

I wonder what the price on the pro will be.  $799? $899?

Lol.

it's gonna be $1200+

Shit, seriously? My interest in the RT version just shot up.

Hey

I am only guessing here but I bet you it won't be cheap.

[brawndolicious]

Ridiculous price they should have tried to undercut the iPad, especially as they have a much lower res screen.

There is probably going to be a windows version of the Asus Transformer Infinity, which means 1920X1200 screen, tegra 3,and 32GB for $500. Hardwa

[Tasty]

that's about $100 more than i expected

Same, and I was expecting the worst.

[huckleberry]

Ridiculous price they should have tried to undercut the iPad, especially as they have a much lower res screen.

They did undercut the price of the ipad. 499 is cheaper than 599.

If you are referring to the ipad2  for 399 then you are still wrong as the RT has a higher res screen than the 2. Not to mention that the ipad 2 is only available in 16gb.

[Tasty]

The company has also listed the prices for its Touch Cover, at $119.99 each

 

The type cover might honestly be worth it (maybe), but wtf at these prices.

[brawndolicious]

Ridiculous price they should have tried to undercut the iPad, especially as they have a much lower res screen.

They did undercut the price of the ipad. 499 is cheaper than 599.

If you are referring to the ipad2  for 399 then you are still wrong as the RT has a higher res screen than the 2. Not to mention that the ipad 2 is only available in 16gb.

The ipad 3 is 499 for the base 16 gig model. Even that asus tablet is a bit lower in res but at least its in the same ball park.

[huckleberry]

I am not sure why you would be comparing the price of a 16gb ipad to a 32gb rt but whatever floats your boat mang.

[AdmiralViscen]

The company has also listed the prices for its Touch Cover, at $119.99 each

 

The type cover might honestly be worth it (maybe), but wtf at these prices.

Most bluetooth keyboards for iPad are $99 as far as I have seen.

[DCharlieJP]

I'm sure someone at Apple stroking an ipad mini is laughing their cocks off right now :/

[ToxicAdam]

It's a like a broken record with this company and hardware. Too late, too expensive and no momentum behind it.

[Tasty]

The company has also listed the prices for its Touch Cover, at $119.99 each

 

The type cover might honestly be worth it (maybe), but wtf at these prices.

Most bluetooth keyboards for iPad are $99 as far as I have seen.

Two (soon to be one) covers for the price of an N7. Seems legit.

[Himu]

why should i buy this over an google nexus

[Tasty]

why should i buy this over an google nexus

You shouldn't.

[Eel O'Brian]

did you guys know andrex likes the google nexus tablet

he's kind of reluctant to stick his goddamned slobbering face into every single fucking tablet thread we have on this forum and mention it, for fear of being seen as a neverending annoyance, but i am sure if you pm him a nice message he might honestly list its pros and cons

[Tasty]

Self hating Nexus fans are da worst, yo.

Embrace the Goog.

[Van Cruncheon]

why should i buy this over an google nexus

better hardware

faster/snappier os

office 2013 comes with it

[Himu]

you fuckers at ms better get those fucking comic apps for this thing.

[TakingBackSunday]

I'm pretty sure Office is coming to the iPad soon, for what its worth. 

[recursivelyenumerable]

think I'll probably pass on this round and wait for 2nd gen

[pilonv1]

Waiting for pro model pricing, as long as I don't have to mortgage my first born I will be ok with it. WP8 & Surface Pro

[MrAngryFace]

I'm pretty sure Office is coming to the iPad soon, for what its worth. 

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57529665-75/microsoft-to-launch-office-for-ios-android-next-year-report/

[Rusty Shackleford]

It's a like a broken record with this company and hardware. Too late, too expensive and no momentum behind it.

The Register has run several articles indicating Intel and the OEMs are aware of the price-related indifference to Ultrabooks and are cutting sales forecasts. Hopefully Microsoft gives the x86 version a reasonable price, maybe even a loss? It would just be incredible if the deepest-pocketed OEM doesn't try to make the x86 tablet market a little easier to get started.

[MCD]

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I'm going to wait for the 2nd generation.  I want to see if Microsoft does the ol' dump n' run like they did the Zune HD.

[MCD]

•The Surface design we know now was initially inspired by a Moleskine notebook. Then a college ruled spiral notebook, carved up with a knife with strung together with scotch tape to resemble the real thing.

•The industrial design team, which Microsoft says had never received outside visitors before, stared at each other with a mix of caution, paranoia, and terror when we walked in, like some isolated indigenous tribe who'd traded spears and arrows for typeface manuals and Pantone swatches. They were up to their neck in dizzying prototype sketches and hugely complex planning diagrams. Their love was manifest.

•Speaking of prototypes, the team's leader says they went through roughly 300 models before arriving at the Surface's current form. They still sit, stacked upon each other like old magazines, in the Surface design studio. Piles and piles.

•Some of these models were unbelievably ugly—one's back was covered in reflective chrome trim.

•The current model is entirely beautiful. One of the most subtle, powerful, and lovely pieces of gadget design I've ever held.

•The sound the keyboard makes when touched was agonized over—it had to sound just as right as it felt. It does. The keyboard, Microsoft says, also knows when its trackpad is being used as a spacebar instead of a trackpad. The keyboard is smart.

•The team used paper printouts of a keyboard and ink-stamped fingertips from hand focus groups in order to craft an optimal button layout that anyone could type quickly on.

•The Surface's proprietary magnesium construction is strong as hell. At one point, a team leader brought out a Surface with skateboard wheels affixed to it and rolled back and forth standing on top. It barely flexed.

•The custom-crafted polyurethane Touch Cover is washable. Spill your gravy on it and then put it under the sink.

•Microsoft is obsessed with chamfers. Our year, 2012, might just be the year of the chamfer. The team spent literally minutes talking about the decision to go from an 0.3 mm chamfer on the Surface's top edge to an 0.5 mm chamfer. It was admitted that the chamfering of the stage Surface was first revealed upon mirrored the exact chamfering of the Surface's frame. Do you realize how crazy that is? The stage was chamfered. Do you realize how much Microsoft loves this computer? There's no shame in googling "chamfer."

•Surface just might be the most explosive, crazy-worthy gadget in a long time. Assuming, of course, that it lives up its enormous expectations. I think it will.

Full read: http://gizmodo.com/5952078/inside-surface-microsofts-insane-quest-for-gadget-perfection

[recursivelyenumerable]

I'm going to wait for the 2nd generation.  I want to see if Microsoft does the ol' dump n' run like they did the Zune HD.

What, for Windows?

[Tasty]

I'm going to wait for the 2nd generation.  I want to see if Microsoft does the ol' dump n' run like they did the Zune HD.

But Zune HD was the fourth Zune...

[Van Cruncheon]

SPILL YOUR GRAVY ON IT! bitches.

[Eel O'Brian]

•The team used paper printouts of a keyboard and ink-stamped fingertips from hand focus groups in order to craft an optimal button layout that anyone could type quickly on.

that's a really smart idea

[Cormacaroni]

and they still chose QWERTY?

[Pringo]

•The team used paper printouts of a keyboard and ink-stamped fingertips from hand focus groups in order to craft an optimal button layout that anyone could type quickly on.

and they still chose QWERTY?

What other choice is there really? Dvorak? Some custom MS layout that absolutely no one knows?

[Cormacaroni]

why not. Someone is gonna have to get rid of QWERTY at some point. It's a piece of shit relic that is very far from optimal.

[MCD]

[MCD]

http://www.wpcentral.com/microsoft-surface-rt-magnetic-power-adapter

Ever since the Microsoft Surface was announced there has been some discussion about its power adapter. That may seem like an topic to focus on but it is only because Microsoft appears to be borrowing a great feature from Apple: its magnetic power plug.
 
For those of you who don’t use Apple products, their laptops have a plug that “magically” sticks to the computer and charges via a tiny magnetic port. The benefit here is less wear and tear on the connector and if you accidently pull the plug or trip on the wire, it just pops off instead of dragging the laptop to the floor. It’s actually really nice.
 
With the Surface you’re going to have the same experience. In fact, the plug looks remarkably like Apple’s (they both have 5 prongs), which makes us wonder if Microsoft is licensing the technology from Cupertino [Edit: Turns out Microsoft has a patent on it]. Personally, we see this as a big selling point as once you go magnetic, you won’t ever want to fiddle with standard laptop power adapters again.

(Image removed from quote.)

[Himu]

why not. Someone is gonna have to get rid of QWERTY at some point. It's a piece of shit relic that is very far from optimal.

qwerty is superior.

[naff]

Love the look, but I want dat x86 version for work.

qwerty is superior.

  Poor effort

[Human Snorenado]

That thing looks super cool.  If I get financial aid next semester I'ma buy one on all of you guys' dime.

[Himu]

Love the look, but I want dat x86 version for work.

qwerty is superior.

  Poor effort

Name one alternative that is better than qwerty.

[Cormacaroni]

Really? 'e' is the most used letter in English, and it's where? You have to get to the 8th most frequently used letter (h) before you get to one that your hands are resting on in QWERTY. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_frequency#Relative_frequencies_of_letters_in_the_English_language

I've read a half dozen well-argued takedowns of QWERTY over the years, citing typing speed and accuracy mostly. I don't really care all that much myself but it does seem like someone should put it out of its misery before too long (like cursive). If you're going to do all these hours of focus testing on keyboards for ease of use, surely that would be something to look at.

[Himu]

You're right. E is the most used letter in English and yet, it's a finger away from d on the homerow keys. The top keys are very easy to access, so I have no clue how you would have a problem with e being on the top row.

So what, you want people in English countries to switch from qwerty because....? It's not inefficient and it gets the job done. So you want to stall the work force, retrain workers and people who have been using qwerty their whole lives, order new keyboards, and have every single piece of technology switch their keyboards that millions - billions - around the world use because...in English the most used letter e is one finger away from d and that's just too much work?

lol. More than that, comparing it to cursive makes no sense. Cursive is pointless and just tradition for the sake of tradition and no one uses cursive anyways, qwerty however IS used, and it's used because it works and there's too much hassle replacing it because of bullshit.