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Microsoft iPad surfaces

Microsoft has unveiled Surface, a new tablet computer that aims to rival Apple’s iPad, at a press conference yesterday.

Two models of the Surface were on display, one running Windows RT, a low power version of Windows that is similar to Windows Phone, and one powered by standard Intel chips running the full version of Windows 8.

The Windows RT edition is 9.3mm thick with the Windows 8 version being 13.5mm thick. Both devices will feature a 10.6” HD display and weigh approximately 675g and 900g respectively. The RT tablet will come with a choice of 32GB or 64GB of memory, and the Windows 8 version will include up to 128GB.

At the conference, Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer stated the Surface made no compromises between tablet and PC capabilities and the tablet has been designed to do everything that an ordinary PC can do.

Unusual for a tablet device, Surface features a full sized USB port and the screen size is at the standard 16:9 aspect ratio. It also features an HDMI port and front and rear facing cameras.

“We wanted to give Windows 8 its own companion hardware innovation,” says Ballmer. “Something new, something different, it’s a whole new family of computing devices from Microsoft.”

The Surface tablet is expected to be released in October. Although no price has been announced, technology commentators predict the RT Surface will have an entry level price of $499, with the Windows 8 edition retailing at the $1,000 mark.

David Hing, London