Microsoft reveals Surface and Surface Pro

Microsoft's new tablets are the Microsoft Surface and Surface Pro, CEO Steve Ballmer announced at a press conference in Los Angeles today.



The Surface will run Windows RT, and the Surface Pro Windows 8. The Windows RT device will feature an ARM CPU, and the Windows 8 version an Intel CPU.

Microsoft had planned a "major announcement", sparking speculation that the company was ready to reveal a tablet by the name of Xbox Surface, or an acquisition of Yammer.

Ballmer said Microsoft Surface was "a whole new family of computing devices from Microsoft".

The Windows RT tablet has a 10.6-inch, Gorilla Glass 2.0 screen, is 9.3mm thick and the case is made of magnesium. It weighs in at 676 grams.

The device features a full USB 2.0 port and can support up to 64GB of storage space.

The Windows 8 tablet also has a 10.6-inch screen, but weighs 903g, is 13.5mm thick, and has specs that rival ultrabooks, Microsoft said. Its Intel CPU is an Ivy Bridge core i5.

It can have up to 128GB of storage space.

The Surface Pro comes with a stylus peripheral. When using the stylus, the tablet ignores your hand if it touches the screen.

Both versions of the Surface have a stand, also made of magnesium, that folds out at the back, and a 3mm-thick magnetic cover that folds out into a full multitouch keyboard. When the keyboard and the stand are both active, the tablet folds into the shape of an open laptop.

Microsoft did not name a date or a price for the new tablets' launch, but said they would be "priced to compete". There is also no word on whether the tablets will be released internationally, or in select countries. The Windows 8 operating system is expected to launch around September this year.

Windows 8 tablets are still expected to be released by Microsoft's OEM partners like Dell and HP.