In a press conference today, Microsoft detailed a new tablet computer they're calling Microsoft Surface. It weighs 1 and a half pounds, it's 9.3mm thick and it comes with a 10.6 inch display. Early adopters can get it with either 32 or 64 GB of storage, but it's got a few more features than your average tablet.
Along with the front and rear-facing cameras, Microsoft Surface will have a full USB port, in addition to HDMI out, Gorilla Glass on the front, and a kickstand. Surface features magnesium casing and a groove around the device to help in keeping it cool.
And yes, there are two versions of the device to choose from at retail. There's an even skinnier version that runs on Windows RT with an ARM processor (kind of like many phones on the market). The Pro version comes with beefier guts, including an Ivy Bridge processor, USB 3.0 and other high-end specs. The Pro version can also be outfitted with 128 GB of storage space.
The tablet will run Windows 8 and the software that comes with that operating system, but perhaps the "best" thing about the Microsoft Surface tablet is the case accessory. Instead of just being… a case, a piece of plastic, the Surface case actually acts as a full keyboard and trackpad.
Little key information was shared about the device, including the pricing structure, availability, release date, wireless network capabilities, or how Surface will interact with Xbox Live and the Xbox 360, although we could probably guess Surface's main gaming application.
