Microsoft upped the ante in the tablet game Monday as the Redwood, CA-based software and electronics maker announced its new Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 slates to be released on October 22 in select markets including the U.S. The two new flagship tablet variants will look to help separate Microsoft from the rest in a market that includes an overdue update to Microsoft’s chief rival, Apple’s iPad and iPad mini series.
Both versions come with upgrades that bolster processing speeds, display resolution, battery life, camera, and overall features as well as accessories.
Surface 2
The Surface 2 will go on pre-order tomorrow, September 24 at 8am ET, for all those interested in staking an early claim to the device. The tablet will be available for purchase online, Best Buy retail shops, and third party vendors on October 22 in the U.S. and other select market, with availability being made in China in November and other markets in the coming months.
To help sway those still on the fence, Microsoft is offering potential customers, as per the press release, “free Skype calling to landlines in more than 60 countries for one year, unlimited Skype WiFi on their Surface 2 or Surface Pro 2 at more than 2 million hot spots worldwide for one year, and 200 GB of free SkyDrive storage for two years.”
As for specs, TechCrunch is calling the Surface 2 “a very good-looking device, and one that I would feel great using at a cafe” due to the way it integrates seamlessly and effectively with its operating system, Windows 8.1.
The 10.6-inch display is of the ClearType Full HD variety, the entire show runs on a NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor, and the front and rear cameras are of 3.5 megapixels and 5 megapixels respectively.
Even the Kickstand received an upgrade for users’ viewing pleasure. It is now able to bend at two angles for optimum comfort and user-friendliness. But the bottom line, as TechCrunch continues, is that “If you think that Windows 8.1 matures the Windows 8 platform sufficiently for daily use, and that the Windows Store has become populated enough with applications in its year of life, the Surface 2 could be a device that you enjoy.”
Surface Pro 2
The Surface Pro 2 is of similar size and scope as the 2 but slightly more powerful, billed quite frankly as “a true laptop replacement.” A fourth-generation Intel Core i5 processor allows for 60% more battery life than the original Surface Tablet, rendering this device a beast for providing all things entertainment.
Interestingly, TechCrunch goes on to note that the Surface Pro 2 might be more geared towards businesses who weren’t quite enamored with the battery life of its predecessor but wanted the functionality and features that came with it.
The Surface 2 is available in 32GB and 64GB configurations starting at $449 while the Surface Pro 2 will come with both 32GB and 64GB but also 128GB, all running on 4GB of RAM and pricing will start at a slightly heftier $899. The Pro 2, though, will also come in 8GB worth of RAM versions at 256GB and 512GB of internal storage.
For the complete list of features and functions, check out Microsoft’s online store but if you’re already interested in what both Surfaces have to offer, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
[All images via Microsoft]
