Microsoft's Surface Tablet Gets a Release Date

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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