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Microsoft impressed with design and accessories when it revealed two Surface for Windows 8 tablets earlier in the week, but it left out several key pieces of information, most importantly the price.
Back at the announcement we were informed that the ARM chip-based Surface for Windows 8 RT would be similarly priced to “other tablets”, while the beefier Intel x86-based Surface for Windows 8 Pro would be priced similarly to an Ultrabook computer. So in theory, that would be about £400 and perhaps £7-800, we thought.
However, TheNextWeb has recently reported the prices for both models, albeit in dollars: $599 for the Windows RT model and $999 for the Windows 8 Pro alternative. We’re presuming that these are the prices for the base level models, so the 32GB Windows RT and the 64GB Pro models, which means that if you want the 128GB version you’re going to be forking out over a thousand dollars.
Bloomberg reports that both models will be Wi-Fi only, lacking the 3G connectivity option found in the iPad and other Android tablet devices – another detail that Microsoft left out at its event earlier this week. With this in mind, we can compare the $599 32GB Wi-Fi Surface for Windows RT with Apple’s 32GB Wi-Fi iPad 3, which is also $599.
So it looks as though Microsoft’s estimation on the price was correct, although we’re certain that the price of the Windows 8 RT model will be too rich for many people’s blood. For the price of an Ultrabook, we suspect the option of a full-blown laptop may prove to be a more tempting offer for some.
One thing that seems to have impressed most people about the Surface is the incredibly thin fold out keyboard dock, which appears to be included in the price of both devices. Microsoft’s about page for the Surface states:
“Surface comes with an integrated Kickstand and a revolutionary, 3mm thin, pressure sensitive cover that doubles as a fully functioning keyboard and trackpad.”
Are you still tempted to get a Surface with these prices, or were you hoping for a lower price point?
Let us know your thoughts on our comments below or via our @Gadget_Helpline Twitter page or Official Facebook group.
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