Microsoft’s Surface Tablet Is a Tablet-Laptop Hybrid Full of Potential

After mounting speculation all week, Microsoft today announced its new MS-branded Surface Tablet. It'll run Windows 8, come in two flavors (one with an NVidia processor and another with an Intel Core i5 processor), features front and rear-facing cameras, a 10.6" full-HD display, a built-in kickstand to prop the tablet up, and some seriously sharp looks.

The Surface Tablet is about 9.3mm thick and made of a full magnesium case that's manufactured with "physical vapor distribution," and the glass is Gorilla Glass 2.0, both of which which Microsoft says will make the the tablet virtually scratch-proof. Along with the tablet, Microsoft unveiled the Touch Cover (sort of like the iPad's Smart Covers), which magnetically attaches to the Surface Tablet and features a built-in keyboard and trackpad, and comes in cyan, magenta, orange, and grey.

The Intel version of the tablet will run a specialized version of Windows 8 called "Surface for Windows 8 Pro," and the Nvidia version will run Windows 8 RT, the tablet version we've mentioned before. According to Microsoft, the ARM version will be available in 32GB and 64GB models, and priced like similar ARM-based Windows tablets. The Intel version will come in 64GB and 128GB models, and be priced like Ultrabooks (around $1000 or so.) Details are still coming out, and pricing and availability haven't been announced yet

lifehacker.com