Microsoft Surface 2024
Microsoft is hosting a showcase for new Surfaces and AI in Windows 11 on May 20.
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Microsoft starts taking orders for 128GB Surface Pro, $999 gets one shipped on March 1st
Microsoft has been having troubles keeping the 128GB model Surface Pro tablet on virtual and actual store shelves, but it looks like the drought, as promised, is ending. The tablet's now up for pre-order on the Microsoft Store website with an estimated March 1st ship date. Best Buy will also be receiving shipments of the slate soon and is also willing to take your money now to reserve one. Alas, our friends north of the border in Canada are still without a 128GB Surface purchase option, but at least the folks at the Surface Blog have promised to provide more info on the matter sometime soon. Don't believe us? Head on down to the source and see for yourself. [Thanks, Jon]
Microsoft pushing Surface RT update to tackle WiFi and performance issues
If you've had any sustained glitches with your Surface RT, check for a software update -- Microsoft might just have sorted it out. A February refresh pushing out today should mend problems with WiFi reliability that have led to the tablet showing "Limited" access. It also eliminates sluggishness in the power and volume controls, as well as Windows as a whole. Is your Surface snappier after the update? Let fellow owners know in the comments.
Surface Pro lacks full pen support in key apps, Microsoft says it's on the case (updated)
At least some of the tablet-loving public picked up a Surface Pro this weekend. Those earliest of early adopters have discovered an unpleasant limitation, however: the vaunted pen input doesn't have complete support in important apps. Microsoft is using only an official driver without any current option to install an alternative, leaving artists without eraser or pressure support in creative industry staples such as Adobe Photoshop. While there's no immediate fix, a Microsoft spokesperson tells us that it's working with the "necessary partners" to expose full pen functionality; we've reached out to Adobe as well, and will let you know if it's one of the chosen few. In the meantime, Surface artisans who need full pen recognition may want to consider an add-on tablet as a stopgap. Read Microsoft's full statement after the break. Update: Adobe tells us it's "working with [its] partners to explore the possibility" of support, which suggests that we'll need to be patient. [Thanks, John]
Microsoft sells out of 128GB Surface Pro models online and in some stores
If you were wondering how well the public would take to a Microsoft-made tablet costing $899 or more... quite well, at least from initial impressions. The 128GB Surface Pro has sold out at Microsoft's US online store, and checks suggest a lack of stock at both the company's retail stores as well as Best Buy and Staples. Canada is facing similar shortages at Best Buy and Future Shop. Not surprisingly, storage worries (since partly alleviated) have left the 64GB tablet as the only one in consistent supply, and we suspect that the 128GB model in Microsoft's Canadian store won't last for much longer. We'd be cautious before declaring the Surface Pro a runaway hit, however -- there's no word on how many units each store had, and Microsoft has refrained from reporting Surface sale numbers to date. Still, the early uptake is good news for Microsoft's first foray into designing an x86 PC, and it shows that many early adopters aren't hung up on the price.
PSA: Microsoft Surface Pro now available in the US and Canada
After missing initial shipping plans with some undisclosed delays, and despite seeing its welcome party in NYC abolished by a storm dubbed Nemo, Microsoft's finally started the process to make that long-awaited Surface Pro available to the masses. Starting with US and Canada residents, those seeking Redmond's in-house hardware and a full serving of Windows 8 can now snag a Surface Pro starting at $899 for the 64GB model, while the more spacious 128GB unit is slightly costlier at $999. And while these prices do include Microsoft's pressure-sensitive pen, they don't account for any other fancy accessories, which means potential buyers will have to shell out a little extra cash if a Touch or Type Cover are of interest -- more specifically, $120 and $130, respectively. We'll see how Ballmer and Co. cope with demand this time around, but as history would kindly note, it's probably best to be one of the first in line just to be extra, extra safe.
Microsoft Surface Pro review
It's a compelling proposition: all the power and application compatibility of a laptop running a proper desktop operating system, all the portability and convenience of a tablet, all mixed together in one package. That's the core idea behind Microsoft's Surface tablets but, as we saw with the Surface for Windows RT a few months ago, its ARM-based nature resulted in some substantial drawbacks. Namely: app selection. Running Windows is all well and good, but when you're running the RT flavor, which strips compatibility with the entire, massive and still-swelling catalog of Windows applications, you're left with a desktop-class operating system completely bereft of any desktop apps. Welcome, then, to the Surface for Windows 8 Pro, which promises all the niceties of the Surface RT -- compelling design, build quality, performance -- with full support for x86 Windows applications. (That is: every single Windows app released before the end of last year.) And, adding a 1080p display to the mix doesn't hurt. So, then, is this perfection in a single 10-inch, $899 device? Let's find out.
Engadget's tablet buyer's guide: winter 2013 edition
As we begin 2013, we're stuck in a kind of tablet limbo. Most companies rushed to get devices out for the fall, while the models we saw at CES 2013 aren't yet shipping. As such, it's a mostly familiar deck, with Apple, Google and Microsoft once again striving for the top spot. That said, there are new entries from Amazon and ASUS, and many of us who didn't score some sweet loot this holiday season have a slate-sized pile of cash to spend. If you're in that situation, continue on for our first tablet guide of 2013. Note: If you're looking for tablets with an Atom or Core i5 CPU, you'll find those in our forthcoming laptop buyer's guide, since they have the same guts as notebooks (or netbooks, in some cases). For the purposes of this tablet guide, we define tablets as slate-type devices with low-power ARM processors.
Surface Pro appears in some retail stores, now's your chance to see it in person
Those of us lucky enough to work for gadget sites got to check out the Surface Pro last month. Now you can too, dear reader -- if you happen to live near a store that got one early. Although shoppers in the US and Canada can't actually purchase it until February 9th, the device is already on display at some retail locations. Sadly, there's no way for us to confirm which stores have it (short of making a few road trips), but we do know that it's going to be available at Best Buy and Staples in the US, along with Microsoft Stores. So, assuming you have one of those chains nearby, it can't hurt to wander over -- you might be rewarded with some advance hands-on time. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
128GB Surface Pro ships with 83GB free, 64GB has only 23GB
That 64GB, $900 Microsoft Surface Pro you plan on buying next week? Maybe you should temper your storage expectations a bit, as the base model actually only allots 23GB of that space for use. The larger 128GB version offers a bit more space at 83GB, but is still losing a massive 45GB of space to the full Windows 8 operating system and various included applications. Microsoft confirmed as much this afternoon, and issued the following the statement: "The 128 GB version of Surface Pro has 83 GB of free storage out of the box. The 64GB version of Surface Pro has 23GB of free storage out of the box. Of course, Surface Pro has a USB 3.0 port for connectivity with almost limitless storage options, including external hard drives and USB flash drives. Surface also comes pre-loaded with SkyDrive, allowing you to store up to 7GB of content in the cloud for free. The device also includes a microSDXC card slot that lets you store up to 64GB of additional content to your device. Customers can also free up additional storage space by creating a backup bootable USB and deleting the recovery partition." The Surface RT suffered the same issue when it launched late last year -- the 32GB base version only included 16GB of storage, while the 64GB version had 46GB available. The situation is what we'd call less than ideal, though you can always expand the on-board storage via the solutions Microsoft proposes. Of course, that means doling our more cash on an already expensive tablet -- not the best thing to find out after you've shelled out $900.
Surface with Windows 8 Pro tablet coming Feb. 9
Microsoft's Surface with Windows 8 Pro tablet is going to miss its planned January launch, but not by much. The tablet will now launch on February 9. The Surface with Windows 8 Pro sports much beefier internals than the Surface with Windows RT. The difference is right there in the name, as the Pro features a full version of Windows 8, meaning it should run most Windows applications, including games. That said, don't expect the internal graphics processor to churn out high settings for most recent releases.The Surface with Windows 8 Pro comes with 64GB of storage for $899 or 128GB of storage for $999. The Touch and Type keyboard covers can be purchased separately for $120 or $130, respectively.
Microsoft Surface Pro on sale February 9th in the US and Canada, starts at $899
So it won't arrive in January as originally planned, but better a little late than never, right? Microsoft just announced that its Surface Pro tablet will go on sale February 9th in the US and Canada, with wide retail availability beyond just Microsoft.com and Microsoft Stores. As you may have already read, the device will start at $899 for the 64GB model, and $999 for the 128GB version. Whichever you choose, a pressure-sensitive pen comes in the box; the keyboard does not (that'll be $120 or $130, depending on whether you get the Touch or Type Cover). Also on February 9th, Microsoft is going to start offering a 64GB standalone version of Surface for Windows RT for $599 (the 64GB model is currently sold as part of a $699 bundle with the black Touch Cover). That's good news, we suppose, for folks who prefer the tactile feel of the Type keyboard. Or, you know, who have their heart set on cyan. Additionally, Surface RT will soon be available in 13 more markets: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. All told, that more than doubles the number of a countries where the Surface RT is sold. So, Western Europe should pretty much be set now. Finally, in addition to those two tablets, Microsoft is introducing a bunch of accessories, also slated to land February 9th. These include three limited edition Touch Covers with funky patterns drawn on (we don't know about you, but we especially dig the skulls). It's not unlike the way Microsoft already sells artsy versions of its computer mice; indeed, a Microsoft rep told us the company intends to release even more special editions, the same way it keeps swapping in new mouse colors. Finally, Microsoft also announced the Wedge Touch Mouse Surface Edition, which is basically the regular Wedge mouse, just done up in the same finish as the Surface tablets. That will cost $70, while the limited edition keyboards are priced at $130 a pop. Hopefully we'll be hitting you back soon with a full review but for now, we've got shots of both the tablet and the new accessories waiting just past the break.
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX surfaces on Windows 8
Originally due in November, the Windows 8 and Windows RT version of Pac-Man Championship Edition DX are available now. Being compatible with both Windows 8 and Windows RT, you don't have to try to remember exactly which Surface tablet you bought; it'll work on any of them.Pricing on the Windows 8 version is consistent with the XBLA and PSN versions, at $9.99/8.49€. We assume the ghost count is also consistent, at so many ghosts.
Analyst: For every 20 iPads sold during the holidays, Microsoft sold one Surface tablet
If you've watched any amount of television in the past month or so, you've probably seen plenty of ads for the Microsoft Surface tablet. But while the brightly colored keyboards and techno music of the advertisements might be inseparable from your must-see TV time, the device itself isn't nearly as present in homes. Business Insider reports UBS analyst Brent Thill puts sales of the Surface at just 1 million in Q4 2012, which is roughly 5 percent of estimated iPad sales for the quarter. Thill notes that the iPad is partly to blame for the Surface's lack of impact, as well as a less-than-optimal distribution model on the part of Microsoft. Apple, for its part, is estimate to have sold as many as 26 million iPads during the same time period, taking into account both full-sized and iPad mini models.
Microsoft Surface Pro hands-on
Even though Microsoft doesn't have a booth at CES this year, that doesn't mean it skipped Vegas altogether. Panos Panay, the general manager for Surface products, is in town, holding meetings with a few members of the media, us included. And he brought some toys with him. Specifically, the forthcoming Surface Pro along with the pressure-sensitive pen that goes with it. We only had a few minutes of hands-on time and in any case, we plan on going into much more detail when we eventually write our review. For now, though, we've got a first look waiting for you past the break. Join us.
Nokia Windows RT tablet rumored to pack a battery-equipped keyboard cover
The murmurs surrounding a 10-inch Nokia tablet are growing louder, and they suggest that the company won't just follow the herd. Tipsters for The Verge claim that the Windows RT slate would center on a Surface-style keyboard cover with its own twists. While the add-on would shelter the screen, it would also include a battery to supplement the 10-hour lifespan of the tablet proper. Not enough? It could carry a pair of USB ports and serve as a kickstand. There may be a chance of a US release, as well: Nokia's tablet would supposedly include cellular access and head to AT&T in the US, much like its Booklet 3G ancestor. We're not surprised that the Finnish firm won't comment on the rumor, but we might not have long to wait for verification if the early 2013 release proves real.
Did the Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 Pro just hit the FCC?
Tablet lovers who've been eying Microsoft's elaborately named Surface with Windows 8 Pro may be one step closer to getting it in their hands now that a mystery Microsoft tablet, the 1514, has swung through the FCC's approval process. While there's no neon lights advertising the slate's identity, it's described as running Windows 8 -- the current Surface appeared at the FCC clearly labeled as a Windows RT device. The 1514 number is also just two digits away from the 1516 of the Surface we can buy today. Prospective buyers hoping for unadvertised wireless features won't get them, as there's just 802.11n WiFi and Bluetooth, but we don't think they'll mind. If the hardware truly represents the high-end Surface variant, an FCC appearance means one less obstacle to the planned January release.
Toyota Racing Development puts Microsoft Surface in the NASCAR pit lane
If you've ever been in the cockpit of a race car you know that there's not a lot of room to maneuver in there -- even if you're hustling around one of the oversized sedans colloquially referred to as "stock cars." So, when Toyota Racing Development engineers developed a Windows 7 application called TRD Race Strategy for use among their NASCAR-affiliated teams, they had a bit of a problem. Even when it was installed on a slinky Ultrabook, drivers had to climb out of the car if they wanted to use the app to look at timing data and punch in handling issues. When you're wearing a six-point harness plus various connections for cooling, drinks and communications, getting in and out can be a bit of a hassle. Enter Windows 8 and a new generation of tablet PCs that, conveniently, drivers can hand in and out of the cockpit without even taking off the window nets. With some help from Microsoft, TRD has ported the app to Win 8 and RT and have begun using the Surface with Windows RT, allowing drivers to tap away at problem corners and analyze their lap times without unbuckling. Sadly, though, they're not allowed to see much else, as NASCAR bans nearly all forms of telemetry -- and, just about anything else resembling modern technology. RAB Racing, a Nationwide Series entrant, is the first team to deploy this system in the pits, but we'd expect to see this app making a trip to the Sprint Cup big leagues next year. First fuel injection, now tablets in NASCAR. What's next, independent rear suspension?
Feeding on undead armies in Skulls of the Shogun
Here's your high-concept, catch-all elevator pitch for Skulls of the Shogun: samurai zombies meets turn-based strategy, and a dash of Words With Friends thrown in for flavor. 17-BIT's charming top-down strategy title captures the action-flavored flow of the Advance Wars series, though it ditches the grid-based world in favor of more natural radial movement. The whole package comes together around an ambitious multi-platform release that features asynchronous multiplayer match-ups and a meaty, multi-hour campaign.Don't let the "multi-platform" thing fool you. Skulls is 100 percent a Microsoft exclusive. You'll simply be able to play it on anything that runs Windows or some approximation of it. Xbox Live Arcade, yes, but also Surface tablets, Windows Phone devices, and Windows 8 PCs via the new operating system's app store.As you might have read in our earlier previews or our recent Joystiq Indie Pitch, the 10-15 hour campaign casts players in the role of a recently deceased samurai lord from feudal Japan. Horrified at being forced to wait in line for half a millennium before being admitted into the afterlife, our General Akamoto takes matters into his own hands. He enlists an army of zombie Ronin to fight by his side and sets out to carve his way into the great beyond.%Gallery-171897%
Microsoft's Surface RT to be available at UK retailer John Lewis as early as tomorrow
After announcing it would start selling its Surface RT at third-party retailers in the US and Australia, we figured it was only a matter of time before Microsoft would extend this offer over to the UK (among other places, of course). Well, according to Pocket-lint, retailer John Lewis has confirmed to the site that it will indeed commence stocking both its virtual and physical shelves with Microsoft's 10.1-inch tablet, with the 32GB plus Black Touch Keyboard bundle set to be priced at £479, or £559 for the more spacious 64GB model. John Lewis says the Surface RT will be up for grabs tomorrow, December 14th, on its website, while brick-and-mortar stores should have them in stock starting this weekend.
Microsoft says it's increasing Surface RT production, expanding retail presence this month
It's still a bit light on specifics, but Microsoft announced today that it's increased production of the Surface with Windows RT and is planning to expand its retail presence beyond Microsoft Stores "as early as mid-December." That retail availability will initially be limited to the United States and Australia, with availability in additional countries promised in the "coming months." In a statement, Microsoft's Steve Schueler says that "our plan has been to expand the retail presence for Surface after the first of the year,' but added that "based on interest from retailers, we are giving them the option to carry Surface with Windows RT even earlier." If those locations don't cover you, Microsoft's also announced that it will be extending its current holiday stores into the new year, with "several" of those said to be transitioning to permanent stores. As before, the tablet starts at $499, with the Touch and Type Covers sold separately. Update: That certainly didn't take long. Staples has now chimed in and confirmed that it will be offering the Surface RT at its retail locations and online store as soon as tomorrow, December 12th. Update 2: And now, Best Buy has noted that it'll begin offering the Surface beginning tomorrow (Wednesday) at 12:00PM CST and in all Best Buy and select Best Buy Mobile specialty stores nationwide this Sunday, December 16th.