Microsoft announces Surface tablet

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Microsoft Corp announced yesterday that its new PC, Microsoft Surface, is now available for purchase at all Microsoft retail, holiday, and online stores in the United States and Canada. Microsoft claims that the Surface is designed to be the ultimate stage for Windows RT as it is unique and represents value, providing an entertainment experience and a foundation for getting things done. With a starting price of US $499, Surface will be availableonline here in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. In China and Hong Kong, Surface will be available online at Suning. More details are available here. A range of Surface accessories are also available for purchase and these include Touch Covers in five colours -- black, white, magenta, cyan, and red, and are priced at US $119.99. Customers also have the option to purchase a Type Cover in black for US $129.99, which adds moving keys for a more traditional typing feel. A PC in a tablet form factor At all Microsoft retail and holiday store locations, staff are at hand to answer questions and help with Windows RT and Surface setup, so customers can get the product that is personalised for them.  First unveiled in June, Surface represents an extension of the Windows experience, letting customers work, play and connect with others. It has an ultra-light durable casing, integrated kickstand, Touch Cover, a USB port, a 16:9 widescreen, and a high-definition display with a 22-degree angle. Microsoft claims that Surface lets customers seamlessly make the transition between entertainment and creation. As of now, there is no official word on the availability of the Surface in India. However, one can pre-order its 32GB version from eBay. The eBay seller, cart2india2010, has put up the listing as a pre-order. From the looks of it, cart2india2010 has quite a few tablets in stock. The tablet is available through a ‘Buy it Now’ option, and comes with free shipping. The different modes of payment for the tablet and include PaisaPay, Credit Card, EMI, and Debit card. The seller notes that the pre-orders will ship from November 2012, and time extension will be requested for as soon as the order is received. The seller is located in New Jersey, United States, and is selling the 32GB variant at Rs 38,490. Microsoft has recently announced the global availability of its latest Windows operating system, Windows 8. From Friday, October 26, consumers and businesses worldwide will be able to experience all that Windows 8 has to offer. This includes a new user interface and a range of applications. Also announced was the opening of the Windows Store. As a result of work with hardware partners, more than 1,000 certified PCs and tablets, including Microsoft Surface, will be available for the launch of Windows 8 — making it the best line-up of PCs ever across the Windows 8 and Windows RT ecosystem.