In At an event in Hollywood, Microsoft unveiled Surface - what it calls "PCs built to be the ultimate stage for Windows." Company executives showed two Windows tablets and accessories that feature significant advances in industrial design and attention to detail.
Surface is designed to seamlessly transition between consumption and creation, without compromise. The allusion is to the limited ability of tablets such as Apple's iPad and Samsung's Galaxy that are primarily dubbed as media consumption - rather than content creation or working - devices.
The company claims that Surface delivers the power of amazing software with Windows and the feel of premium hardware in one exciting experience. Besides, it says that extensive investment in industrial design and real user experience has gone into bringing the product out from the depths and up to the surface of a world increasingly drowning in tablets and smartphones.
Here are some boasts about Surface:
Software takes center stage: Surface sports a full-sized USB port and a 16:9 aspect ratio the industry standard for HD. It has edges angled at 22 degrees, a natural position for the PC at rest or in active use, letting the hardware fade into the background and the software stand out.
VaporMg: The casing of Surface is created using a unique approach called VaporMg (pronounced Vapor-Mag), a combination of material selection and process to mold metal and deposit particles that creates a finish akin to a luxury watch. Starting with magnesium, parts can be molded as thin as .65 mm, thinner than the typical credit card, to create a product that is thin, light and rigid/strong.
Integrated Kickstand: The unique VaporMg approach also enables a built-in kickstand that lets you transition Surface from active use to passive consumption watching a movie or even using the HD front- or rear-facing video cameras. The kickstand is there when needed, and disappears when not in use, with no extra weight or thickness.
Touch Cover: The 3 mm Touch Cover represents a step forward in human-computer interface. Using a unique pressure-sensitive technology, Touch Cover senses keystrokes as gestures, enabling you to touch type significantly faster than with an on-screen keyboard. It will be available in a selection of vibrant colors. Touch Cover clicks into Surface via a built-in magnetic connector, forming a natural spine like you find on a book, and works as a protective cover. You can also click in a 5 mm-thin Type Cover that adds moving keys for a more traditional typing feel.
Two models of Surface will be available, says Microsoft. One running an ARM processor featuring Windows RT, and one with a third-generation Intel Core processor featuring Windows 8 Pro.
While the price points were not revealed in the company press release, going by the premium features and positioning, they could be much higher than iPads and other tablets. However, given the huge ecosystem of applications around Windows, there might be a lot of takers of the device - including an increasingly mobile army of IT managers and other office executives.
No one is calling it an iPad killer but the industry is going to keenly watch the developments. With the new launch, Microsoft might more than scratch the surface in tablets.
Add new comment