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Microsoft unveils new tablets: Surface for Windows 8 Pro RT and Surface for Windows

Microsoft unveiled two new tablets that could change the tablet landscape. These two tablets will both run Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system, and they will come out at around the launch of Windows 8. For some reason, Microsoft has made the launch of the Windows 8 Pro three months after the launch of Windows 8. These two tablets could let Microsoft get a hold into the huge, growing tablet market.

The Surface for Windows RT is the more consumer oriented tablet of the two. It has a very simplistic and durable design. It is made of a magnesium VaporMg case that is very light at under 1.3 pounds. It has a 10.6 inch ClearType HD display that is covered in Gorilla Glass 2. The Windows RT also has a plentiful array of ports for a tablet with Microsoft including a USB 2.0 port, a HDMI port, and a microSD port. The Surface for Windows RT also has a useful kickstand on the back. The Surface for Windows RT is also very thin at a thickness of 9.3mm. This tablet comes in two varieties, a 32GB and a 64GB version. Microsoft has not said any details about pricing, but they said that it will have "competitive" pricing with similar ARM tablets. Let's talk about Microsoft's other new tablet, the Surface for Windows 8 Pro.

The Surface for Windows 8 Pro is basically a beefed-up version of the Surface for Windows RT. The Surface for Windows 8 Pro has the more full-fledged version of the Windows 8 operating system, which would most likely let you do more work with the Pro than the RT. It also has a larger 42 W-h battery and a higher resolution 10.6 inch 1080p ClearType Full HD display. The Pro also has twice the memory of the RT by having 64GB and 128GB varieties. It is thicker and heavier than the RT at 13.5mm for the Pro, 9.3mm for the RT, under 1.3 pounds for the RT, and 1.99 pounds for the Pro. This may not seem like much of a difference but in the technology world, millimeters are everything. Microsoft also unveiled some special productivity accessories with these two new slates.

Microsoft unveiled two new keyboards that magnetically attach to the tablets. These keyboards come in two different kinds, a Touch Cover and a Type Cover. The Touch Cover is a 3mm thin, plastic cover that is a pressure sensitive keyboard that also has a trackpad on it. This keyboard is not for typing long paragraphs or papers, but more for typing quick emails or searches. The Type Cover, however is what you may want to type long paragraphs or papers on. It is a thicker cover that has trackpad and physical, plastic keys that are curved and look more comfortable to type on than the Touch Cover. These two accessories are probably not going to be revolutionary, but they look very neat. Need more information on Microsoft's new offering into the tablet market? Look into the sources for more information.

Sources: Engadget on the Surface for Windows RTEngadget on the Surface for Windows 8 ProEngadget on the Touch Cover and Type Cover, and Microsoft

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