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Microsoft Reveals Surface Tablet Release Date Set for October 26th

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After a long post announcement wait, Microsoft slipped the Surface Tablet release date into an SEC filing, which puts the tablet’s launch on October 26th.

The Surface Tablet release date is linked to the launch of Windows 8, which goes on sale on the 26th, but this is the first confirmation from Microsoft that the iPad competitor will launch on the same day.

Paul Thurrott discovered the filing which discusses the October 26th Windows 8 launch and includes the following statement about the release of the Surface Tablet “At that time, we will begin selling the Surface, a series of Microsoft-designed and manufactured hardware devices.”

Surface Tablet Release Date

The Surface tablet release date is set for October 26th.

Microsoft will only release one model of the Surface Tablet in October. The first Surface RT tablet runs Windows RT and uses an ARM processor similar to that found in the iPad and other consumer tablets. The first Surface Tablet will ship in two configurations, with 16GB or 32GB of storage.

The price of the entry-level Surface tablet remains unknown. Microsoft says the new Surface tablets will be in line with other ARM based tablets. The SEC filing says that Microsoft ill reveal pricing closer to launch. Undoubtedly the pricing will be within the iPad price range, but that starts at $499 and goes up to $829. Many competing Android tablets choose to start pricing above $500.

Surface Pro Tablet HERO

The Surface Pro release date looks good for CES 2013.

October is only the start for the Surface tablet. Microsoft plans to release the Surface Pro, an Intel powered Surface tablet with inking, external storage and a Mini Display port for connecting to a larger monitor. The Surface Pro shares many features with the Ultrabook, including the starting price which Microsoft says will be in line with Ultrabooks. This also leaves a wide range of pricing, but Ultrabook prices are dipping to the $699 mark as manufacturers aim for mainstream pricing.

There is no Surface Pro release yet, though Microsoft plans to bring the Surface Pro to store shelves 90 days after the Surface tablet release. This means we should expect to see the Surface Pro at CES 2013 in January.

The promo video above shows off the Surface tablet and the smartcase style keyboard which attaches via magnets.

7 Comments

7 Comments

  1. JM_66

    07/31/2012 at 9:40 am

    What a missed opportunity. They should be releasing SurfacePro at the same time as the RT version. I think the full suite is really what people want, but even the very nice Samsung Series 7 Slate is bulky once you add a cover and a keyboard to carry around. Now I have to wait another 6+ months? FAIL!

  2. Linda Greenwood

    08/29/2012 at 12:17 am

    So dumb. Typical of Microsoft to screw up things just before the customer touches them. They should have released the Pro version first of anything. That’s the one I want.

    • harvir kooner

      09/02/2012 at 4:06 pm

      i know right

  3. Andy

    09/21/2012 at 5:54 am

    I’m guessing it’s Apple ‘S’ model type thinking, quite a few people will buy the initial offering and probably also the pro edition after if it’s been long enough for their pockets to fill up again.

  4. ideasinantiquity

    10/21/2012 at 10:20 pm

    Well, the good news is that there will be plenty of opportunities to snap up Suface RT re-sales when the Pro comes out.

  5. Bowbalitic

    10/26/2012 at 1:14 pm

    Unless they technically still own devices after you buy them and require a cut of any resales :P … But all joking aside… I was all excited for the windows 8 release only because of these tablets, now im finding out I have to wait another 3 months…

  6. anthonyprovidence

    10/26/2012 at 5:48 pm

    It would have been good for us to have an earlier release of the SURFACE PRO which appears to be really outstanding

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