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Microsoft's Surface Tablet Gets a Release Date

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Surface and Windows 8 will debut on the same day.

It's been well over a month since Microsoft gave us our first glimpse of its Surface tablet. Though the company was more than happy to show off the device back in June, Redmond left out some key details, including a full spec list, a price, and a release date. While we may still be in the dark with regard to the full spec list and a specific price, it seems Microsoft has confirmed a release date for the device.

Microsoft just recently filed its annual report for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012. This report includes confirmation that Microsoft will start selling the Surface on the same day Windows 8 launches.

"The next version of our operating system, Windows 8, will be generally available on October 26, 2012," the company wrote in its report. "At that time, we will begin selling the Surface, a series of Microsoft-designed and manufactured hardware devices."

This shouldn't come as a huge surprise  to anyone. After all, Microsoft did say the tablet was scheduled for availability around the same time as the Windows 8 launch when it unveiled the device on June 18. However, we can't imagine Microsoft's hardware partners will be pleased they'll be directly competing with Microsoft from the get-go. Several PC makers have talked about their plans to release Windows 8 tablets as soon as Windows 8 is available.

Microsoft announced the release date for Windows 8 last week. The company's annual report didn't specify as to whether or not both the ARM- and Intel-based Surface models would be available from October 26.

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26 Comments Comment from the forums
  • back_by_demand 31 July 2012 05:13
    Surface Pro is the only thing that interests me, I want my x86 backwards compatability
    Reply
  • 31 July 2012 05:14
    Woohoo, can't wait, these are going to be great. Been using the Samsung Series 7 with Win8 RP and it has completely replaced my laptop with the mini dock and a BT keyboard/mouse. Really getting used to Metro and while I agree it is a much more fluid experience on the Slate where it comes in to its own, on the desktop with dual monitor is actually pretty darn nice as well when you get used to it, yes it does have a small learning curve.
    Reply
  • phamhlam 31 July 2012 05:14
    Nobody gives a crap if OEM are sad. They put this on themselves with their crappy products. I am excited to get a Surface Pro built from MS with quality. OEM keeps aiming to make cheap products and it only hurts them when consumers don't come back.
    Reply
  • NightLight 31 July 2012 05:42
    about time, i want to try it out!
    Reply
  • dimar 31 July 2012 05:46
    16:10 ratio 12" is what I'd like. Will never get a 16:9 or wider tablet. Biggest mistake Toshiba made. Hopefully Microsoft will be smarter.
    Reply
  • phamhlam 31 July 2012 05:55
    dimar16:10 ratio 12" is what I'd like. Will never get a 16:9 or wider tablet. Biggest mistake Toshiba made. Hopefully Microsoft will be smarter.
    The Surface Pro has a 1920x1080 screen. 16:9
    Reply
  • rooket 31 July 2012 06:07
    phamhlamNobody gives a crap if OEM are sad. They put this on themselves with their crappy products. I am excited to get a Surface Pro built from MS with quality. OEM keeps aiming to make cheap products and it only hurts them when consumers don't come back.
    This remains to be seen. Remember the Xbox360? Red ring of death? Is that the quality we are going to see? I hope whoever makes xbox consoles doesn't touch the Surface, otherwise it will be a total catastrophic failure and will bring down the Windows 8 OS along with it.
    Reply
  • teh_chem 31 July 2012 06:09
    I have no interest in adopting windows 8 on my desktops/laptops, but I would welcome a windows 8 tablet if it truly is an integrated product. I'd gladly sacrifice the "huge" google play store (though it's mostly filled with junk) if the apps that I DO want to use don't constantly crash or not load on the first attempt. MS could do it right, and I hope they do. Because as of now, the only other alternative for an "integrated" product tablet is an ipad, and I have no interest in an oversized ipod touch with zero functionality, zero multi-tasking, and zero productivity options.
    Reply
  • killerclick 31 July 2012 06:12
    Hmmm, this is the one that will have 1366x768 screen, Tegra 3 (same as Nexus 7), few apps, and cost as much as the new iPad or Transformer Infinity.

    The thick and heavy dust breathing (yay moving parts) Pro version will come in late January/early February and cost around $1000. Can't wait to use Photoshop on a 10" screen on a crippled ULV processor, it's gonna be awesome!
    Reply
  • hp79 31 July 2012 06:15
    dimar16:10 ratio 12" is what I'd like. Will never get a 16:9 or wider tablet. Biggest mistake Toshiba made. Hopefully Microsoft will be smarter.You'll just have to suck it up. I know it sucks, but that's where everyone are going. I have a X230T and the tablet is almost useless for note taking in portrait mode. It is okay for reading long PDF articles and such, but horrible for the pen experience. Especially because the pen has a hard time with accuracy on the edges.

    I have tried Samsung Series 7 Slate, it was a really good experience, except the fail build quality and problems with the backlight problem.
    Reply