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Microsoft releases iPad rival

There’s a new tablet in town, which promises to be a major player in the PED market and an important consideration for streaming IFE. Named ‘Surface’, the Windows-based device may offer greater functionality and some design advantages compared with rival tablets on the market, while retaining a premium feel and a familiar style of operation.

 

Two models of Surface will be available: one running an ARM processor featuring Windows RT, and one with a third-generation Intel Core processor featuring Windows 8 Pro. Surface for Windows RT will release with the general availability of Windows 8, and the Windows 8 Pro model will be available about 90 days later. Both will be sold initially through Microsoft’s store locations in the USA and through select online Microsoft stores.

 

For a sneak preview of the device, visit: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/default.aspx

 

Right: The covers are a major selling point, with two types of keyboard and a wide range of colours to be offered

 

Beneath the Surface
• The tablet features a full-sized USB port and a 16:9 aspect ratio – the industry standard for HD. It has edges angled at 22°, a natural position for the PC at rest or in active use.

• The casing is created using a method called ‘VaporMg’ (pronounced Vapor-Mag), a combination of material selection and process to mould metal and deposit particles that creates a finish akin to a luxury watch. Starting with magnesium, parts can be moulded as thin as .65mm, thinner than the typical credit card, to create a product that is thin, light and strong.

• The VaporMg approach also enables a built-in kickstand that lets you transition Surface from active use to passive consumption – watching a movie or even using the HD front- or rear-facing video cameras. The kickstand is there when needed, and disappears when not in use, with no extra weight or thickness.

• The optional 3mm Touch Cover is a major selling point. Accessory keyboard cases can be bought for rival products such as the iPad, but the Surface’s cover uses a unique pressure-sensitive technology that senses keystrokes as gestures, enabling faster touch typing than with an on-screen keyboard. The cover, which will be available in a range of colours, clicks into the device via a built-in magnetic connector, forming a natural spine, and works as a protective cover. A 5mm-thick Type Cover can also be used, which adds moving keys for a more traditional typing feel.

 

Left: The kickstand is integrated into the device itself, rather than the case-based solutions of rivals. This could present a durability issue though

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The details:

Surface for Windows RT
• OS: Windows RT
• Weight: 676g
• Thickness: 9.3mm
• Display: 10.6in ClearType HD
• Energy: 31.5W-h
• Connection options: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
• Productivity options: Office ‘15’ Apps, Touch Cover, Type Cover
• Practical options: VaporMg case and stand
• Configurations: 32GB or 64GB

 

Surface for Windows 8 Pro
• OS: Windows 8 Pro
• Weight: 903g
• Thickness: 13.5mm
• Display: 10.6in ClearType Full HD
• Energy: 42W-h
• Connection options: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2x2 MIMO antennae
• Productivity options: Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block
• Practical options: VaporMg case and stand
• Configurations: 64GB or 128GB

 

Left: RT model is 9.3mm-thin

 

Suggested retail pricing will be announced closer to availability and is expected to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel Ultrabook-class PC. OEMs will have cost and feature parity on Windows 8 and Windows RT.

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