Surface Mini tablet to launch this year

TagsSurface Mini, Windows RT 8.1, Microsoft Surface

Steve Ballmer with a Surface tablet Credit:CBS News / iTechPost

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Microsoft seems all set to launch the second generation of its Surface tablet and rumors suggest that the company will also launch a Surface Mini tablet this year.

The company launched its first tablet range, which included the Windows RT-powered Surface RT and Windows 8 run Surface Pro tablets, last year. The Surface RT hit the shelves in October 2012 and a few months later the Surface Pro went on for sale in February this year.

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Both the 10.6-inch tablets failed Microsoft's sales expectations and did not attract many customers. Some reports indicate that the poor compatibility of the Surface RT and the high price tag of the Surface Pro tablet have contributed to the not-so-great sales of the first-generation Microsoft tablets.      

Apple initially launched the 9.7-inch tablet and in 2012 entered the smaller tablet market with the launch of the 7.9-inch iPad mini. It seems that Microsoft wants to grab a share of the smaller tablet market with the launch of a compact version of the Surface slate. However, customers may have to wait a bit longer before the company launches the Surface Mini tablet.

"While Microsoft is announcing the initial two second generation Surface devices tomorrow (sic Sept. 23), I don't expect them to launch until October 18, 2013, when Windows 8.1 hits the streets. Perhaps Surface 'mini' will ship later, in November. But I've not heard," reports WinSuperSite.

Technology blogger Paul Thurrott also notes on WinSuperSite that the Surface Mini will have an 8-inch display and a Qualcomm (ARM) processor. The rumored tablet is expected to run on Windows RT 8.1.

Apple is also due to launch the second-generation  iPad mini. Some rumors suggest that the company will reveal the iPad mini 2 along with the iPad 5 in October this year, but a confirmed launch date is not known.

The upcoming iPad mini 2 is expected to sport a Retina display and some improved features. If Microsoft launches the Surface Mini in October or November this year, the tablet may give stiff competition to the next-generation iPad mini 2.

With competition increasing in the tablet arena, however, Microsoft will have to put a competitive price tag on the Surface Mini tablet to attract more customers.  

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Microsoft Surface 2 now official: 10.6-inch 1080p display, Tegra 4 processor, and more

Tagsmicrosoft, Surface 2

Microsoft Surface 2 Credit:Microsoft / iTech Post

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Microsoft has officially announced the Surface 2. The new tablet features a 10.6-inch full HD 1920 x 1080 display, Tegra 4 processor, Windows RT 8.1, and more.

The company's first-generation Surface was more of a failure than a success, but the company has decided to give it another try and launch a second-generation Surface 2. At first glance, the new Windows RT tablet looks a lot like its predecessor, but Microsoft has made some important changes that it hopes will make the Surface 2 a serious contender in the tablet market.

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One of the most welcomed changes the Surface 2 offers over the original is a higher-resolution 10.6-inch display. The new screen is full HD at 1920 x 1080 compared to the first-generation Surface's 1366 x 768 display. Microsoft is using the new Tegra 4 processor to power the Surface 2, it has also doubled the RAM by using 4GB of RAM, and the company claims that the new model should run three to four times faster than its predecessor. The new tablet also comes with a USB 3.0 port compared to the USB 2.0 port on the original model. Microsoft has been able to increase the battery life of the Surface 2 as well, and it says battery life is now 25 percent longer and should provide up to 10 hours of video playback.

The Surface 2's design is virtually identical to its predecessor, but Microsoft has tweaked it ever so slightly to make it more comfortable and functional.  It still comes with the very popular kickstand Microsoft debuted with the Surface RT and Surface Pro, but it's now a two-stage kickstand, which allows the user to choose which angle works best for them. It also makes using the Surface 2 on your lap an easier task, thanks to the new angle. The tablet's case is also thinner and lighter than the original, coming in at 8.99mm and 676g.

The Surface 2 will be available in two color choices, silver and black, though both options use a black bezel around the display. The new tablet comes in two configurations: 32GB for $449 and 64GB for $499. The Surface 2 will be available for pre-order through Microsoft's online store beginning Sept. 24 and will go on sale Oct. 22.

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Microsoft officially announces Surface Pro 2, up for pre-order on Sept. 24

Tagsmicrosoft, Surface Pro 2

Surface Pro 2 Credit:Microsoft / iTech Post

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Microsoft has officially announced the Surface Pro 2. The new tablet runs Windows 8.1, is more powerful, adds longer battery life and more.

Microsoft is taking the same approach it did when it announced its original Surface tablets last year. It is offering a version that runs a stripped down version of Windows 8.1, along with a professional model that runs the full desktop version of Windows 8.1.

Just like the Surface 2, the Surface Pro 2 doesn't stray from its original design. Also like its Windows RT-running sibling, the Surface Pro 2 comes with a two stage kickstand that allows users to use the tablet at two different viewing angles, which comes in handy when using the tablet on your lap. The tablet features a 10.6-inch full HD 1920 x 1080 display, which Microsoft claims provides 50 percent more color accuracy than the original. The company also upgraded the processor to a 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 Haswell processor. The new processor is reportedly about 20 percent faster than the original Surface Pro, offers improved graphics performance, and has increased battery life by 75 percent. The tablet includes a USB 3.0 port, mini DisplayPort, Ethernet, and audio in/out.

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The company wants to make it clear that the Surface Pro 2 is much more than a tablet, it's a "full power pc" than has the portability of a tablet and the power of a desktop.

The Surface Pro 2 still ships with a stylus and can use the new accessories Microsoft also announced. The new Power Cover adds a keyboard and standalone battery that increases battery life up to 2.5x the Pro 2's standard battery life. Microsoft also showed off a new Type Cover 2, which is now 1mm thinner than the original and is backlit.

Microsoft will start taking pre-orders for the Surface Pro 2 beginning on Sept. 24 and the slate will go on sale Oct. 22. The company will offer a base model, which includes 64GB of internal storage and 4GB of RAM for $899, but customers can choose different configurations of up to 512GB of storage and 8GB of RAM.

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