Despite the snowstorm, Microsoft managed to launch their new tablet yesterday with success, and even though they planned for a fancier launch, it’s great to know that the new Windows Surface Pro went on sale as planned.

Although the Microsoft RT’s specification were more tablet-orientated, with a Tegra 3 processor and just 2GB RAM, the Microsoft Surface Pro offers a much more laptop-like feeling with a powerful third generation Intel i5 processor, 4GB of dual-channel memory, and a built-in HD 4000 graphics card.

The Surface Pro also comes in different storage sizes, the cheapest being the 64GB model for $899, and the most expensive being the 128GB version for $999. It’s important to note though that the storage available is in fact SSD storage, giving users quicker read/write speeds than most of its competition. The Surface Pro also has a fairly decent 1920×1080 10.6 inch screen; not super-HD, but pretty decent nonetheless.

The spec sheets look very tantalizing for a tablet, however the biggest drawback is the weak battery. The 42Wh battery has been reported to have a puny lifespan of around 5-6 hours. Microsoft has talked about offering a battery extension, however the offering at launch is a little disappointing.

Regardless of the battery situation, the specifications within the tablet are quite nice for the price, and Surface Pro runs a full version of Windows 8, giving users more opportunities to take from the Windows OS.

The tablet can be bought from any Microsoft store, as well as from Best Buy, Target, Staples or Future Shop in Canada. It won’t be long before the tablet is available for purchase online as well.

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Although the Microsoft Surface RT hasn’t been a runaway success, it certainly managed to make a pretty big media splashdown when it first arrived. Although some consumers like the idea of the Surface, others need something that can do even more.

That’s where the Surface Pro comes in. The Pro is the “Windows 8” version of the tablet, meaning it has the power to run all the Windows Store touch-optimized apps as well as your legacy Windows apps for productivity and gaming.

So when is the Surface Pro coming? Microsoft has now confirmed the tablet will touch down on February 9th for $899 for a 64GB version, or $999 for the 128GB model. Neither of these configurations come with a keyboard or touch cover, so theat will add you an extra $120 to the mix.

While $899 is a lot for a tablet, remember that it also can be used as a “desktop” thanks to the added keyboard cover, though doing so brings the price even closer to $1000. The Surface Pro is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB of RAM.

What do you think, is the Surface Pro worth $899 or is the asking price too high for it to be very successful?

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There has been a little confusion by some consumers about the difference between the ARM-only Windows RT and the x86-only Windows 8. This is exactly why Dell’s Vice-chairman, Jeffrey Clarke said the company originally tried to get Microsoft ‘s Steve Ballmer to give the Windows RT OS a different name.

The idea is that Windows 8 computers have the power to run legacy Windows 8 apps, while Windows RT doesn’t. Because of this, Dell believed it wasn’t truly “Windows” and that using the Windows branding would only add to the confusion. Of course the same argument could be said to Windows Phone, since it obviously also lacks the ability to run Windows legacy desktop applications.

So why didn’t a name change take place? Not surprisingly, Microsoft’s Ballmer replied by telling Clarke the Windows franchise was to important to not be used, which is why Microsoft kept the name Windows RT.

Not everyone at Dell thought it was a bad idea to use the Windows brand, though. Dell’s Neil Hand thinks that it is the manufacturers responsibility to educate the public on the difference, “Making sure we educate the market place on the differences was going to be a necessary action no matter what. Just calling it something different is not going to solve the problem.” 

I could see how this could be confusing to some, but consumers should be aware of what they are purchasing before they make the plunge or this sort of thing will happen, and not just when purchasing tablets.

What do you think? Should Microsoft have went with a new name for their ARM-based OS or was keeping the Windows name the right choice?

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According to Microsoft, the display in the upcoming Microsoft Surface is supposed to be sharper than the Apple’s retina display. Considering the Surface has a resolution of 1,366 x 768 (which isn’t all that high by today’s standard), how is that possible? It lies in the ClearType technology utilized by the Microsoft Surface and other Windows 8 devices- so says Microsoft. Any truth to the claim, though?

According to Screen expert Raymond Soneira of DisplayMate Technologies, the answer is “Yes and no”. Sure, ClearType really does work and will likely make the Surface have a much better display than the iPad 2. As for beating out the Retina display in the 3rd generation iPad? It seems much less likely.

You might wonder how the screen expert “knows this”. He doesn’t, at least not for sure. No one has really gotten much time with the Surface yet, but he was able to compare it to a Asus netbook with ClearType technology and the same resolution. While he says it is conceivable that Microsoft has further refined the technology, the Asus device and Surface should still be about the same ballpark.

If the analyst is correct, the iPad 3 is probably going to win when it comes to display clarity. Considering the two tablets are priced the same, why choose the Surface? It has less apps and an unproven ecosystem, so why go with it? Some possible reasons include the touch covers that can be added on, the existence of USB ports – and a large array of potential devices that will work with it – and storage. The Surface had 32GB of storage and microSD for the same price as the iPad 3rd generation’s 16GB version.

Depending on the pricing, those who want the best of both worlds might want to wait until the Microsoft Surface Pro. The Pro will not only work with older Windows software, it also will likely have similar storage advantages and has a display of 1,920 x 1,080 with ClearType technology.

More than likely, that means the Pro will have the best display and will likely be the best device for productivity. Keep in mind that this ‘better model’ will also more than likely start at around $800-$1000 dollars, so it will be quite a bit pricier than the iPad 3rd generation and the Surface RT.

What do you think about the Surface, interested or not?

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