Microsoft Surface will be Wi-Fi only at launch: prices to start from $599 for RT, $999 for Pro?

4. bobfreking55 (Posts: 866; Member since: 15 Jul 2011)

for the Pro Version, I think it's reasonable - especially for those that can't decide between a tablet / laptop or an ultrabook --- it is still spec'd like an ultrabook.

for the RT i'm not sure... I'd rather keep my Transformer Prime.

i wish i knew the prices for the Asus Taichi and the Transformer Book, which has Core ix btw.

5. RoundBallmer (banned) (Posts: 43; Member since: 19 Jun 2012)

Now tell me what the xoom offers as compared to surface ? Its just yet another oversized android.

37. Whateverman (Posts: 3284; Member since: 17 May 2009)

Well, the Xoom is outclassed at this point by this and the iPad. But the reason I brought it up is because they originally tried to sell the Xoom at $800 bucks. At first glance at the specs, the Xoom was the better device, but the experience was nowhere near the iPad. Updates made it much better and lower the price to match the ipad but people were already turned off by then. They pretty much screwd the pooch, much like what Microsoft is doing right now.

10. scnix (Posts: 41; Member since: 01 Jul 2010)

I can't say about yourself, but I'm pretty damn sure I'll be buying the Pro version when it gets released. Who needs cellular when you have a smartphone with tethering?

34. CharlieAtInfinity (Posts: 253; Member since: 10 Apr 2012)

I definitely wont be buying with that $999 price tag to run x86 apps, better continue using my laptop!

54. CellularNinja (Posts: 306; Member since: 27 Sep 2011)

But I think people are forgetting what each can do. The iPad (though great) is basically a big iPod Touch. I'm not saying that's a bad thing! It's great for consuming content, playing games, reading, web browsing, exc. But the Surface will be the full Windows 8 experience with the ability to run the full fledged Office Apps, which is huge! You should be able to do way more things in terms of productivity with the surface. I would easily pay the extra $100 for a tablet I can use for school and for play. Rather than just play.

61. DFranch (Posts: 247; Member since: 20 Apr 2012)

and don't forget the Surface comes with Office built in. No additional charge for the software.

63. CellularNinja (Posts: 306; Member since: 27 Sep 2011)

I doubt he's laughing about having serious competition. Competition that will probably do very well because it's way more productive.

20. e.wvu (unregistered)

The covers for the iPad is $50 as well, so it wouldn't neccessarily be a fail.

24. tigermcm (Posts: 860; Member since: 02 Sep 2009)

but the cover for the iPad wasnt a keyboard

28. Synack (Posts: 681; Member since: 05 Jul 2011)

Or even a badass touch keyboard.

56. Jeromeo (Posts: 135; Member since: 11 Jan 2010)

Wait 'till they've sold so few of these keypad boards that Microsoft offers it as a free bonus if you're desperate enough to buy one of these tablets before the price drops to either half or a third before it becomes a HP Touchpad...
BTW, my $99 HP Touchpad 32GB makes an amazing ICS Android tablet for the $.

16. TylerGrunter (Posts: 1543; Member since: 16 Feb 2012)

This is actually a race:
Google and iOS use more performing OS but with stripped functionalities. Windows RT has more functionality, but higher prices.

Google will keep adding funcionality in the next years as far as hardware and prices allows. Windows will be getting cheaper as the hardware becomes more powerful.

But if you ask me Apple and Google are ahead in the game, as their strategy allows the tablets to be cheaper. Most of the people buy a tablet as the second or third computer, just a toy to surf the web, play vidios, games, etc. So price is key in the tablet market to gain volume.

The Pro version has an opportunity in the profesional market for people traveling a lot that need a full computer AND a tablet.
But for $600 the RT has very little chances to gain track. You can buy an Asus transformer 300 with keyboard for $500 or a higer resolution iPad. 500 would have been a good price, for 600 I don't see it getting a lot of market.

17. bobfreking55 (Posts: 866; Member since: 15 Jul 2011)

I agree with that. To put it shortly, Apple and Google has been competing in a non-matured market yet wherein the products they sell are not yet a necessity. On the other hand, Windows Pro has set up the era, it will mature. Though expensive, it is a necessity as a PC replacement... because it is a PC.

Tablets present nowadays are laptop wannabes --- android is the closest u'll get right now - with the file manager and open source nature of it.

62. DFranch (Posts: 247; Member since: 20 Apr 2012)

Don't forget it comes with Office. That's easily worth the extra $100.

8. tigermcm (Posts: 860; Member since: 02 Sep 2009)

thats the price i was hoping for but um those prices......i'm going to have to wait for a nokia tablet

52. Joshing4fun (Posts: 1237; Member since: 13 Aug 2010)

Agreed. Otherwise how could it challenge the iPad? At $200 higher than the iPad; heck even id start to consider the iPad to save that cash.

15. haseebzahid (Posts: 1853; Member since: 22 Feb 2012)

can ur Ipad run Crysis 2 err no and never Surface probably CAN

35. Dr.Phil (Posts: 1616; Member since: 14 Feb 2011)

I wouldn't think the Surface RT would be able to run it (or if it did, it would be on the low graphic setting since this is Crysis 2) and the Surface Pro is $999, which is pretty much the same cost as building your own PC with most likely even better specs than what is on the Surface. So, I guess my question is, why would you want to buy a $1000 10 inch screen tablet to play a game that should be meant for a $1000 PC with the graphic and processor capability that could bring out the full potential (or as close to the full potential since we are just talking $1000) of the game?

38. Dr.Phil (Posts: 1616; Member since: 14 Feb 2011)

Also, I want to add that I have nothing against the Surface. I think it's great that Microsoft has decided to enter the competitive tablet world. I was just pointing out that I don't think anyone should buy this tablet just so they can say they "can possibly run Crysis 2." When it comes to buying a tablet, I think you should ask yourself what you are going to really be using the device for and compare the tablets that way.

45. saiki4116 (Posts: 404; Member since: 31 Mar 2011)

but how you play on it matters,i can run ubuntu on galaxy s2.....

18. JSern (Posts: 282; Member since: 22 May 2011)

get a job