After rumors of Microsoft's possible creation of a tablet, the company has finally announced its new device, called Surface. The tablet was revealed on Monday at Milk Studios in Hollywood, California.
This is the first time Microsoft has created a tablet, and the Surface joins a small group of Microsoft products that the company has created both software and hardware for. Other products like this include the Kin smartphone, the Zune MP3 player, and the Xbox 360 gaming system.
It embodies hardware and software working together," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, According to The Verge's live blog.
Two models of the Surface were shown on Monday. One device ran Windows RT with an ARM processor and the other Windows 8 Pro with an Intel processor.
The most highlighted feature of the device was its built-in keyboard, which is included on both tablets. Users can fold in the back cover to turn it into a thin 3mm QWERTY keyboard. The keyboard has a magnetic attachment to the case and includes a sensor which tells the tablet whether it is connected to the back case or whether it is being used.
What Microsoft calls, the "Touch Cover," will be featured in five different colors, including hot pink and blue.
Both devices have webcams in the front and back, integrated kick stands, dual microphones, USB ports and microSD card slots.
Although both tablets are fairly similar, the devices vary in weight and thickness. The Windows RT is 9.3 mm thin and has a 10.6-inch display, weighing in at close to 1.5 pounds. The Windows 8 Pro features the same screen size as the Windows RT, however it weighs close to 2 pounds.
No word has been given about how much the devices will cost, however the company stated that it "is expected to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel Ultrabook-class PC."
