Microsoft Surface Pro to Be Released February 9 with $899 Price Tag

[MacRumors]

Microsoft today announced that its Surface Pro tablet will go on sale on February 9 in the United States and Canada. Originally slated to arrive in January, the Surface Pro tablet is priced at $899 for the 64GB model and $999 for the 128GB model.

The Surface Pro sports an Intel Core i5 processor with Intel HD Graphics 4000, 4GB of RAM, and a more robust battery. Unlike the RT version of the Surface, it is able to run the full version of Windows 8 as well as Windows 7 applications.

Both versions of the Surface Pro ship with a Surface pen, but the Touch or Type Covers, which retail for $100, are not included.

Anandtech took a preliminary look at the tablet, and created a chart comparing the Surface Pro to the Surface RT and Apple's iPad.

Beginning on February 9, the Surface Pro will be available for purchase on Microsoft's website, at Microsoft retail outlets, and third party retailers like Staples and Best Buy.

Alongside the Pro, Microsoft is planning to release a 64GB standalone version of the Surface RT for $599, $100 less than the version that ships with the included Touch Cover, and a slew of new Surface accessories.

Article Link: Microsoft Surface Pro to Be Released February 9 with $899 Price Tag

[ronwasserman]

They are high.

[iAco]

Originally Posted by ronwasserman

They are high.

No they're not. High people think of better ideas than the Surface Pro.

Just look at it. It's a shrunken laptop with a touch screen and detachable keyboard and trackpad!

I see the past looking out the Windows.

It's about Apple and Google today.

[Darrin Bell]

Originally Posted by ronwasserman

They are high.

Not really. This is going to make me switch to PC. I've owned nothing but Macs since '95 and I love the OS; but I'm a digital artist and I'm tired of waiting for Apple to come out with something like this (and the Modbook is WAY too expensive). The Surface Pro can run Photoshop, Storyboard Pro, and it's got a Wacom pressure-sensitive digitizer. I never wanted to go back to a PC, but this just makes so much sense for artists (and I'm sure it'll make plenty of sense for PC users who just like the form factor).

[ZZ Bottom]

Originally Posted by Darrin Bell

Not really. This is going to make me switch to PC. I've owned nothing but Macs since '95 and I love the OS; but I'm a digital artist and I'm tired of waiting for Apple to come out with something like this (and the Modbook is WAY too expensive). The Surface Pro can run Photoshop, Storyboard Pro, and it's got a Wacom pressure-sensitive digitizer. I never wanted to go back to a PC, but this just makes so much sense for artists (and I'm sure it'll make plenty of sense for PC users who just like the form factor).

------------------
DarrinBell.com

Checked out your website, your stuff is very impressive.

We can hope that products like these experience enough success that it convinces Apple to offer an "iPad Pro" version with an active digitizer. It won't be OS X, but there will certainly be enough iOS apps that allow as much creative abilities as Mac OS counterparts like Photoshop and Toonboom, with some obvious performance/project size limitations.

Also judging by the amount of negative posts in this thread that make zero acknowledgment of the wacom digitizer, you're not going to convince most of them who have no use for a computer in general aside from creating word docs and consuming media.

[Darrin Bell]

Originally Posted by ZZ Bottom

Checked out your website, your stuff is very impressive.

Thank you!

We can hope that products like these experience enough success that it convinces Apple to offer an "iPad Pro" version with an active digitizer. It won't be OS X, but there will certainly be enough iOS apps that allow as much creative abilities as Mac OS counterparts like Photoshop and Toonboom, with some obvious performance/project size limitations.

That's my hope as well. If a future iPad has an active digitizer and lets me run apps that approximate Photoshop (complete with layers, filters, actions, etc.) and ToonBoom, I'm sure I'll be back. I just feel like I've been holding my breath for them to do that for several years now.

Also judging by the amount of negative posts in this thread that make zero acknowledgment of the wacom digitizer, you're not going to convince most of them who have no use for a computer in general aside from creating word docs and consuming media.

True. I know the professional or student artist niche (while it numbers in the millions) is probably too small for Apple to prioritize. Hopefully the market will show that this sort of thing appeals to far more than just artists.

Originally Posted by 4D4M

Bye. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Seriously? Was that called for?

Originally Posted by LachlanH

Photoshop on a 10" 1080p screen? I am very curious to know if that would actually end up being....enjoyable. Surely the UI elements would be simply too small to be practical or comfortable to use? I mean most 1080p screens that photoshop would be designed for would be 23" and above no?

I've been using the 12" Wacom Cintiq with my Macbook Pro for years now, and I find that it's enough screen real estate. I'm not sure whether cutting two more inches would make it unpleasant. If I could scroll the image around with my fingers, it'd probably be just fine. But you're right, it is a concern.

Oh and also.. although the surface pro has an i5, it's not exactly a 35w desktop i5. How well does photoshop run on a base 11" MBA? If it's too slow on that then the surface isn't going to fair any better. Just something you might want to consider, not trying to talk you out of the Surface as such, I'm just curious to know if this sort of usage scenario is actually...viable.

To be honest, it'd probably still be a step up for me, since I'm currently using a 2007 Core 2 Duo MBP. If I had a newer MBP I might think the Pro's i5 was unacceptable, but I'm use to Photoshop CS5 taking up to half a minute just to save a file, so even the Surface Pro would seem blazing fast to me.

Originally Posted by MacRumorUser

Its the 256 levels of pressure sensitivity that might stop me. I'm not convinced that's enough.

Otherwise I'm like you...

And like you I looked at the mod book pro but its just way too expensive. At $2500 if I imported paid VAT/Tax charges it would be closer to €3000 here. A surface pro at €899-999 is a third of that, and more justifiable,

Take the OS out of it and our design software looks and behaves exactly the same on PC as it does on Mac, so software wise I'm not bothered that its running windows 8, just that it will run my illustration programmes which it will.

I agree, the software's more important than the hardware, and the programs I use are identical on the PC. I am concerned about the 256 levels of sensitivity, but I've never used any less than 1156, so I don't know what 256 would end up looking like.

------------------
DarrinBell.com

[LachlanH]

Originally Posted by Darrin Bell

Not really. This is going to make me switch to PC. I've owned nothing but Macs since '95 and I love the OS; but I'm a digital artist and I'm tired of waiting for Apple to come out with something like this (and the Modbook is WAY too expensive). The Surface Pro can run Photoshop, Storyboard Pro, and it's got a Wacom pressure-sensitive digitizer. I never wanted to go back to a PC, but this just makes so much sense for artists (and I'm sure it'll make plenty of sense for PC users who just like the form factor).

------------------
DarrinBell.com

Photoshop on a 10" 1080p screen? I am very curious to know if that would actually end up being....enjoyable. Surely the UI elements would be simply too small to be practical or comfortable to use? I mean most 1080p screens that photoshop would be designed for would be 23" and above no?

Oh and also.. although the surface pro has an i5, it's not exactly a 35w desktop i5. How well does photoshop run on a base 11" MBA? If it's too slow on that then the surface isn't going to fair any better. Just something you might want to consider, not trying to talk you out of the Surface as such, I'm just curious to know if this sort of usage scenario is actually...viable.

[AppleScruff1]

Originally Posted by LachlanH

Photoshop on a 10" 1080p screen? I am very curious to know if that would actually end up being....enjoyable. Surely the UI elements would be simply too small to be practical or comfortable to use? I mean most 1080p screens that photoshop would be designed for would be 23" and above no?

Oh and also.. although the surface pro has an i5, it's not exactly a 35w desktop i5. How well does photoshop run on a base 11" MBA? If it's too slow on that then the surface isn't going to fair any better. Just something you might want to consider, not trying to talk you out of the Surface as such, I'm just curious to know if this sort of usage scenario is actually...viable.

When they 11" Air first came out there were people on the MB forums claiming they were encoding 4K video with no problems.

[4D4M]

Originally Posted by Darrin Bell

This is going to make me switch to PC.

Bye. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

[yakapo]

Originally Posted by Darrin Bell

Not really. This is going to make me switch to PC. I've owned nothing but Macs since '95 and I love the OS; but I'm a digital artist and I'm tired of waiting for Apple to come out with something like this (and the Modbook is WAY too expensive). The Surface Pro can run Photoshop, Storyboard Pro, and it's got a Wacom pressure-sensitive digitizer. I never wanted to go back to a PC, but this just makes so much sense for artists (and I'm sure it'll make plenty of sense for PC users who just like the form factor).

------------------
DarrinBell.com

If you can hold off, Haswell chips will be released this summer. Maybe they'll have a mid cycle refresh. Haswell should be a substantial improvement over the integrated graphics.

[Darrin Bell]

Originally Posted by yakapo

If you can hold off, Haswell chips will be released this summer. Maybe they'll have a mid cycle refresh. Haswell should be a substantial improvement over the integrated graphics.

That's a good point.

[Adidas Addict]

Originally Posted by yakapo

If you can hold off, Haswell chips will be released this summer. Maybe they'll have a mid cycle refresh. Haswell should be a substantial improvement over the integrated graphics.

Incremental, like the last 3 updates from intel. Nothing to get excited about over Ivy.

[damitssam]

What?! People who spend $$$ on apple products all of sudden can't "afford" a surface pro?

Really?

I personally like it, but really a laptop guy so no real use for me besides sitting on the crapper. (My ghetto hp touchpad still does the trick)

[inlinevolvo]

Skip win 8, it's pretty much a usability nightmare.

[everything-i]

Originally Posted by inlinevolvo

Skip win 8, it's pretty much a usability nightmare.

Got to agree, maybe by Windows 9 they will have a more seamless integration between desktop and touch interfaces but at the moment it is a pain to use.

[IJ Reilly]

If they keep throwing things against the wall one of them might even stick.

[MacRumorUser]

Anandtech chart is flawed....

Why the comparison with the iPad only ? Surely a fairer comparison would be between the surface pro and the MacBook Air 11" stock.


MBA
11-inch : 64GB
1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.6GHz
4GB memory
64GB flash storage1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1376x768 Resolution

$999.00


SurfacePro
10.1"
Dual Core i5 processor
4GB memory
64GB flash storage
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1920x1080

Surface Pen accessories included.

$899

Touch Cover additionally $119

Total cost of Surface pro including Touch Cover = $1018

[kyjaotkb]

Originally Posted by MacRumorUser

Anandtech chart is flawed....

Why the comparison with the iPad only ? Surely a fairer comparison would be between the surface pro and the MacBook Air 11" stock.


MBA
11-inch : 64GB
1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.6GHz
4GB memory
64GB flash storage1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1376x768 Resolution

$999.00


SurfacePro
10.1"
Dual Core i5 processor
4GB memory
64GB flash storage
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1920x1080

Touch Cover & Surface Pen accessories included.

$899

Yep - and one BIG point here, as you rightfully pointed it out, is the ability of the MBA to temporary push the thermal envelope and go full thrust on one core at 2,6 GHz. I'm pretty sure the Core i5 equipped Surface can't do that - simply because it has no fans or because it is just too thin/packed to properly dissipate heat. Well, that's pure brainvomit from my part but I'm pretty sure it is the case. And that would further push the "jack of all trades, master at none" aspect of the Surface Pro...

[pgiguere1]

Originally Posted by MacRumorUser

Anandtech chart is flawed....

Why the comparison with the iPad only ? Surely a fairer comparison would be between the surface pro and the MacBook Air 11" stock.


MBA
11-inch : 64GB
1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.6GHz
4GB memory
64GB flash storage1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1376x768 Resolution

$999.00


SurfacePro
10.1"
Dual Core i5 processor
4GB memory
64GB flash storage
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1920x1080

Touch Cover & Surface Pen accessories included.

$899

You chart is flawed too.

From the article:

[...]the Surface Pro tablet is priced at $899 for the 64GB model and $999 for the 128GB model.
[...]
Both versions of the Surface Pro ship with a Surface pen, but the Touch or Type Covers, which retail for $100, are not included.

Which is wrong as well anyway since a Touch cover is $119.99 and a Type cover is $129.99.

http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-...es/touch-cover
http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-...ies/type-cover

You should update your price accordingly and mention other specs such as screen size and the fact that a MBA has better (backlit) keyboard and trackpad, and an actual hinge so you can use it on your lap and adjust the angle of the screen, which is kind of a big deal.

[BC2009]

Originally Posted by MacRumorUser

Anandtech chart is flawed....

Why the comparison with the iPad only ? Surely a fairer comparison would be between the surface pro and the MacBook Air 11" stock.


MBA
11-inch : 64GB
1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.6GHz
4GB memory
64GB flash storage1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1376x768 Resolution

$999.00


SurfacePro
10.1"
Dual Core i5 processor
4GB memory
64GB flash storage
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1920x1080

Touch Cover & Surface Pen accessories included.

$899

Do you have a source that indicates the Touch Cover is included? Because according to to Microsoft, it does not seem to be included for that price.

To quote the linked press release from Microsoft:

Starting at an estimated retail price of US$899, Surface Windows 8 Pro will be available in 64GB and 128GB models.[1] A Surface pen with Palm Block technology, designed specifically to work with Surface to let customers edit, collaborate and get things done, is included with Surface Windows 8 Pro.

Notice there is no mention of Type Cover. Further down in a caption for a picture we see this text (my emphasis):

The Surface Windows 8 Pro is shown with an optional Type Cover and is available for purchase in the U.S. and Canada Feb. 9 and starts at US$899

This would put the price at $1028 with the Type Cover priced at $129.

[phillipduran]

Originally Posted by MacRumorUser

Anandtech chart is flawed....

Why the comparison with the iPad only ? Surely a fairer comparison would be between the surface pro and the MacBook Air 11" stock.


MBA
11-inch : 64GB
1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.6GHz
4GB memory
64GB flash storage1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1376x768 Resolution

$999.00


SurfacePro
10.1"
Dual Core i5 processor
4GB memory
64GB flash storage
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1920x1080

Touch Cover & Surface Pen accessories included.

$899

I think the touch cover is another $119.

[ATC]

Originally Posted by MacRumorUser

Anandtech chart is flawed....

Why the comparison with the iPad only ? Surely a fairer comparison would be between the surface pro and the MacBook Air 11" stock.


MBA
11-inch : 64GB
1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.6GHz
4GB memory
64GB flash storage1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1376x768 Resolution

$999.00


SurfacePro
10.1"
Dual Core i5 processor
4GB memory
64GB flash storage
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1920x1080

Touch Cover & Surface Pen accessories included.

$899

According to Engadget, the $899 64GB unit does not come with the Touch Cover. That's an extra $120 or $130 depending if you choose the Touch or Type cover. Link

[M-O]

Originally Posted by MacRumorUser

Anandtech chart is flawed....

Why the comparison with the iPad only ? Surely a fairer comparison would be between the surface pro and the MacBook Air 11" stock.

i bet they weigh the same if you add the keyboard cover.

[Akarin]

Originally Posted by MacRumorUser

Anandtech chart is flawed....

Why the comparison with the iPad only ? Surely a fairer comparison would be between the surface pro and the MacBook Air 11" stock.


MBA
11-inch : 64GB
1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.6GHz
4GB memory
64GB flash storage1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1376x768 Resolution

$999.00


SurfacePro
10.1"
Dual Core i5 processor
4GB memory
64GB flash storage
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1920x1080

Touch Cover & Surface Pen accessories included.

$899

Brilliant!

A fairer comparison would be iPad vs Surface RT, not against something that has a desktop OS.

[iheartiphone4]

Originally Posted by MacRumorUser

Anandtech chart is flawed....

Why the comparison with the iPad only ? Surely a fairer comparison would be between the surface pro and the MacBook Air 11" stock.


MBA
11-inch : 64GB
1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
Turbo Boost up to 2.6GHz
4GB memory
64GB flash storage1
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1376x768 Resolution

$999.00


SurfacePro
10.1"
Dual Core i5 processor
4GB memory
64GB flash storage
Intel HD Graphics 4000
1920x1080

Touch Cover & Surface Pen accessories included.

$899

Too bad Microsoft put it in the tablet category and not PC category. Idiots!