During the mystery event in Los Angeles today, Microsoft unveiled the Windows 8 Surface tablet. Microsoft is obviously beginning to consider a partnership between software and hardware design and development.
During the event in Los Angeles, Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer proclaimed that Windows has exceeded the company’s expectations by powering over 1 billion PCs. “Today we want to add another piece to that Windows 8 story,” Ballmer adds during his speech at the event. “It was always clear that what our software could do would require us to push hardware, sometimes where our partners hadn’t envisioned.” Ballmer announced that the company would be creating a whole new family of computing devices so Windows 8 “could have it’s own hardware.”
The Surface tablet is the first PC with a magnesium case (a first of its kind) and features a 10.6 inch display. It is super thin at 9.3mm and weighs in at 1.5 pounds. Microsoft proclaims that Surface will have the best WiFi of any tablet today. On top of that, the tablet will feature a stand for those who don’t want to hold it! The Surface tablet will run Windows RT or Windows 8 Pro for one that runs on an Intel chip. You can view the full specs here.
“Conceived, designed and engineered entirely by Microsoft employees, and building on the company’s 30-year history manufacturing hardware, Surface represents a unique vision for the seamless expression of entertainment and creativity,” Microsoft explains. Pricing for the Surface tablet will be announced once it becomes closer to availability and expect it to cost as much as an ARM tablet or Intel Ultrabook PC.
