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2012-06-18 00:17:32



Microsoft will announce its own tablet next week at an event in Los Angeles, according to reports, taking a page from Apple's playbook.

If true, this is not the typical Microsoft business model; usually it leaves device announcements to device makers. The PC industry is the classic example of this.

And, so far, that has been the case for Windows 8 and Windows RT tablets. Companies like Acer and Asus demonstrated Windows 8 tablets and hybrids at Computex last week, for instance.


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2012-06-18 00:20:35
last modified: 2012-06-18 17:52:45


Microsoft to unveil tablet with Barnes & Noble?



Now we are hearing that the while the tech titan is indeed expected to unveil a tablet, the new product is being developed in conjunction with Barnes & Noble and will focus on entertainment, according to a TechCrunch report. Another sources says Xbox streaming is also on tap for the tablet.

If true, the report suggests that a new Microsoft tablet would be aimed at Amazon's Kindle Fire rather than Apple's slate. While Amazon's tablet is popular in the e-reading sector, its modified version of the Android operating system tends to make it less optimum for Web surfing than its focus of e-reading magazines and books, listening to music, and streaming video through Amazon Prime. (This was a possible strategy that was first suggested by Mary Jo Foley, my colleague at ZDNet.) Additionally, the two booksellers have for years been locked in a bitter battle for content and customers.

Not long after the media invitations to tomorrow's event in Los Angeles surfaced, speculation swirled that Microsoft was getting ready to unveil a tablet running either Windows 8 or Windows RT. The Wrap went so far as to report that the new device would be a Microsoft-manufactured tablet that would put the company in direct competition with giant rival Apple.


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Update: Barnes & Noble Is NOT A Part Of Today's Big Microsoft Event


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2012-06-18 16:40:31
last modified: 2012-06-18 16:41:14

The so-called Microsoft Xbox Surface tablet will, according to purportedly leaked specifications from Shifted2u, have a 7-inch 1280 x 720 multitouch display and connect wirelessly to a stationary computing device base station with twin 3.1GHz IBM processors, a custom 28nm AMD GPU and 250GB of speedy storage.

The tablet will also have WiFi and Bluetooth, along with a separately mentioned 2.4GHz connection that is presumably being positioned as a proprietary link between slate and base-station. There’s an SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot, rechargeable battery with up to 7hs of runtime, and 288MB of RAM paired with a “custom IBM engine for scale-out workloads.”

As for the main unit, that will supposedly have 5GB of DDR3 memory, an 825MHz GPU clock and 1.2GB of dedicated GDDR5 video memory. Four USB 3.0 ports are suggested for peripherals and external storage, along with support for up to four wireless controllers, a component video output, HDMI, optical digital S/PDIF audio and an ethernet port.


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2012-06-19 09:58:43


Microsoft Surface tablet demo June 18, 2012 Event in SF




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2012-06-19 10:14:13


Microsoft unveiled its foray into the tablet world Monday evening with Surface. Available in two computing options – the Surface for Windows RT (on an ARM processor) and the Surface for Windows 8 Pro (on an Intel Core processor) — Surface is an eye-catching new option in the competitive tablet market. The 10.6-inch tablet hosts some striking features that have us wanting Microsoft to announce the price and availability soon so we can claim our place in line.

Here are the standouts:

Built-in kickstand — It's simple and obvious, so how did we go so long without a company introducing a built-in kickstand on the tablet for all our reading, Netflix-watching, and basic Internet browsing needs? Based on first pictures, Surface's kickstand looks unobtrusive and as if it adds no extra weight or thickness to the device.

Full multitouch keyboard — Again, so obvious. Why buy $50 add-ons because your touchscreen keyboard is just too hard to get used to? The Touch Cover functions similarly to Apple's Smart Cover in that it snaps onto the tablet through a magnetic connector. The difference on Surface's cover is major; it also functions as a pressure-sensitive keyboard, sensing keystrokes as gestures. Plus, it'll be available in a variety of different colors.

Operating system options — Yes, we'll admit it: Windows RT looks exciting! After years getting used to two standard mobile operating systems (that means you, iOS and Android), the aesthetics of the Windows RT on Surface are a welcome change. If you need the functionality of a PC, then Surface for Windows 8 Pro is your go-to when some serious work needs completing.

Small stature — Both versions of Surface weigh in under two pounds — very portable.


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2012-06-19 22:17:15


Microsoft needs to hook customers with better pricing if it wants to capture market attention with its new Surface tablets, analysts said Tuesday.

The Windows 8 Pro version of the Surface will be priced in line with Intel-powered ultrabooks by other vendors, Microsoft said. Those guidelines could put the Windows RT Surface at more than $600, and the Windows 8 Pro at more than $700, and possibly higher, several analysts said.

But those prices are too high to win favor with buyers who might be intrigued by the innovative Surface tablets with their attachable keyboards that double as covers, analysts said.

Jack Gold, an analyst at J. Gold Associates, said that $600 for a Windows RT Surface tablet would be a "non-starter." Even $500 would probably be too high unless that price includes a cover/keyboard, he said.

"I think the Windows RT version needs to be in the $400 range to compete with older iPads and the new Android devices," he said. The new iPad starts at $499.

Gold said a Windows 8 Pro Surface will probably cost $600 to $700.

Tom Mainelli, an analyst at IDC, said he assumed that the cover/keyboards will be sold separately, which could raise the costs substantially, possibly by $100 or more.


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2012-06-19 22:29:04


Made out of magnesium, the Surface is solidly built, yet light for a 10-inch tablet. At 1.5 pounds, it’s a bit heavier and thicker than the iPad, but you’re getting more real estate. It’s also fairly thin, at just 0.4 inches thick. We liked the sturdy build, as well as the beveled edges, which made holding it fairly comfortable.

The tablet’s integrated kickstand, which is quite sizable, also feels very sturdy for something so thin. Two small indentations on the long ends of the Surface allow you to flip it out easily, but we, along with some others here, struggled at first to figure it out. It was a small learning curve, though.

Aside from the kickstand, the other big hardware feature is the magnetic cover with the built-in keyboard. One version uses a touch-sensitive keyboard and touchpad, which measures how hard you press on its felt-like surface. It measures just 3 mm thick. A more traditional keyboard, with mechanical keys and touchpad, is about 5mm thick. Both snap on firmly to the tablet, and, in a neat trick, will change the background color of the Surface to match the color of the keyboard.



Microsoft Surface Tablet Hands-on: The Future of Windows is Here [Video]

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2012-06-22 09:43:34


Yesterday rumored pricing emerged for Microsoft’s new Surface tablets, with the ARM-based Windows RT variant reportedly aiming for $599, while the Intel-based Windows 8 Pro version would cost around $799. Bloomberg reports that the first versions of the tablets will only feature WiFi connectivity, with no immediate plans for 3G/4G options.


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2012-06-25 19:06:05


Rumor has it Microsoft's 10.6-inch Surface Pro is going to cost a thousand dollars.



Today brings us rumors of something more specific than that. Just yesterday word on the street was that the ARM-based Surface would cost $600 and the Wintel model $799 at the very least. The Next Web is now reporting that while the Windows RT Surface will cost $599, the Intel version of the tablet is going to cost closer to $1000. TNW cites a source close to Microsoft in reporting that the Tegra 3 powered RT model will retail for $599 and the Ivy Bridge Windows 8 Pro model will sell for $999.


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