Microsoft announced that its new Surface tablets will be introduced in two different versions - Surface Pro and Surface RT.
Slim and packed with strong computing, Microsoft brings in its Surface Pro tablet, weighing 903 grams (1.99 pounds). The Windows spec sheet mentions this tablet will come in with Windows 8. It will have a better processor, may be the same as Intel Core i5 that powers Ultrabook. It will be able to do the work of your laptop or desktop.
But if you thinking of casual use of your tablet, for basic computing purposes like social networking, web browsing, checking email, and streaming of videos then the software giant's Surface RT will be the best option. It will be using lesser power and might as well flash an ARM-based Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, as these processors use lesser power. They might as well feature a limited apps may be the ones available from Microsoft's Windows Store.
Microsoft's new Metro interface of Windows 8 will be the face of Surface RT, meaning it will not be possible for you to use the existing desktop programs. But that is not the case of Surface Pro which can use the existing desktop programs. All Metro apps are to be bought from Windows Store. The Metro app can be used for nearly five devices like tablet, laptop, or desktop.
The company tried to get its developers to add a few swank apps to its Windows 8 like ESPN, USA Today, Netflix, and Box.net will have their apps in the new OS. Microsoft will encompass Metro version of its Office apps in Surface RT tablets. But there may also be some unreleased big-ticket apps cropping at the time of Microsoft's Surface launch.
Surface is Microsoft's own hardware product and does not rely on its PC hardware partners, this shows how the personal computing market has changed over years.There will be many competitors for Surface tablets during its launch.
The company must have learnt lessons from Apple's iPad success as Apple controls the design and functionality of both iPad hardware and its mobile OS software.
Microsoft has got all the ingredients right for the right mixture for a perfect tablet - their own Windows OS, better drivers, peripheral compatibility; it also has its own store to buy apps from, giving a tough competition to Google, Apple and Amazon.