Microsoft reveals Surface to compete head-on for tablet supremacy

Boss: Mr Ballmer shows off Microsoft’s latest gadget at a press conference in Los Angeles. Capped from The Daily Mail.

MICROSOFT UNVEILED its response to on-going heated tablet device competition between Apple and Google. Surface, Microsoft’s line of tablet devices, was revealed at a press event in Los Angeles, 18 June 2012.  Surface tablets would feature a 10.6-inch touchscreen in a scratch-resistant magnesium case tagged as VaporMg.

On a report from The Daily Mail, CEO Steve Ballmer called Surface a part of ‘a whole new family of devices’ the company is developing.

Similar to iPad’s foldable rubber cover, Surface has a magnetically attached Touch Cover which also functions as a touchscreen keyboard. Another cover option features a built-in trackpad. Both the keyboard and trackpad power down when folded back against Surface’s screen.

Surface will be running on Windows RT and Windows 8, which is set to be released late 2012. The following specs are summarized on CNET.  Upon the release of Windows 8, Microsoft aims to let users switch between different devices with ease due to familiarity of use.

Surface RT tablet key specs

• Windows RT operating system
• Nvidia ARM CPU
• 9.3mm thick
• 676 grams/23.85 ounces
• 10.6-inch ClearType HD Display
• 31.5 watt hour battery
• Ports: microSD, USB 2.0, micro HD video, 2×2 MIMO antennae
• Storage options: 32GB and 64GB for Windows RT
• Front and rear-facing “HD” cameras

Surface Pro tablet key specs

• Windows 8 operating system
• Intel third-generation Core i CPU
• 13.5mm thick
• 903 grams/31.85 ounces
• 10.6-inch ClearType “Full HD” Display
• 42 watt hour battery
• Ports: microSDXC, USB 3.0, mini DisplayPort video
• Storage options: 64GB and 128GB
• Front and rear-facing “HD” cameras