Hasta La Gadget!

So we do know that the Microsoft Surface Pro is supposed to be launched on February 8th at a Best Buy in Union Square in New York, but it seems that the high end tablet has already appeared over on Best Buy. I know that it is “better late than never”, but here, isn’t it best to be early? So far, Best Buy has listed a couple of models for the masses, and they are the 64GB and 128GB machines which have been priced at $899 and $999, respectively. It must be noted that regardless of the model you pick up, they will not be accompanied by the $129 Type Cover, which is actually a 5.75 mm-thick mechanical keyboard.

Other than the Surface Pro tablets listed, Microsoft will also be put on offer a $119 Touch Cover pressure-response keyboard. Just to recap on the kind of hardware that the Surface Pro carries, it will sport 4GB RAM alongside an Intel “Ivy Bridge” processor, accompanied by a 128GB SSD and Windows 8 as the operating system of choice.

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Reports are rolling in that Microsoft‘s Surface Pro is now on display at various retailers, although which stores have it at the moment is unknown. Some tipsters have stated that it is on display at their local Microsoft Store, so if you have one near you and you want to get a sneak-peak at the device, head on over and see if they have one.

On January 16, we reported that the Surface Pro’s production is going full steam ahead, with the first units having come off the production line a couple weeks ago. The product will be officially available on February 9, so even if you find a display model at a local retailer, you (probably) won’t be able to buy it.

The Surface Pro will kick off with a special midnight launch event by Microsoft at Best Buy in New York. The tablet, then, will also be available at midnight, if you’re really eager to own one and can’t wait until morning. The event is only open to individuals who have received an invitation to attend. Although we know it isn’t a press event, it wasn’t specified who will be there.

For those who don’t know, the Surface Pro features Intel hardware, rather than the Surface RT, which features ARM hardware. Because of this, the Surface Pro can run Windows 8 instead of Windows RT, something that has contributed to the RT’s lackluster sales, as consumers aren’t clear on the differences between Windows RT and Windows 8. The Surface Pro will be available at Best Buy and Staples starting at $899.

Microsoft Surface Pro now on display at select retailers is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

We’ve received the Microsoft Surface Pro at the office, and before we start working on the full review, we wanted to post a quick video and a photo gallery for those who want to see how the full-fledged Windows 8 tablet looks in the “real world”.

In the photo gallery, we’ve put the MS Surface Pro next to the Surface RT that we reviewed in October, so that you can see the difference in thickness. We’ve also shot a photo next to an iPad 3 which is about as thick as the Surface RT. The fact that the Surface Pro is a bit bulkier isn’t news, but it’s important to see it for yourself.

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Microsoft hasn’t seen the huge success it had hoped to see from its Surface RT tablet in the consumer market. The company, and analysts, are expecting better things from the Surface Pro tablet aimed at business users. Microsoft will be launching the Surface Pro tablet on February 9.

Microsoft has now announced that it will be having a special midnight February 8 launch event at a Best Buy location in New York. The tablet will be available at midnight at the location for buyers who want to be the first to get their hands on the tablet. The event is open to select guests who are invited to participate.

Those who are invited to the special event will be among the first allow to buy the tablet at midnight. It’s unclear exactly how Microsoft chose the guests that are invited to the event, it’s reportedly not an event for members of the press. The event will reportedly have members of the Microsoft Surface team on hand including Panos Panay, the Microsoft General Manager of the Surface Team.

It’s also unclear exactly which Best Buy location in New York will be used for the event. Presumably, the location secrecy would have to do with Microsoft not wanting people who aren’t invited to crash the special event. The Surface Pro uses an Intel processor and will start at $899. The tablet has more in common with the current crop of altered books than the Surface RT tablet that’s already on the market. The Surface Pro tablet will be available after launch online and at Staples and Best Buy locations around the country.

[via ZDnet]

Microsoft to hold midnight Surface Pro launch event at Best Buy in New York is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The standard Windows 8 Surface tablets came in for some stick, thanks to the Windows files eating up 13GB of hard drive space. That’s nothing compared to Windows 8 Pro, which requires an astonishing 45GB of the Surface Pro’s disk space for its files. More »