MS Surface Pro Details Announced

Microsoft released more information about the Surface Pro.  This is the version of the Surface tablet that is based on Intel chips and comes with a functional desktop that can run legacy applications.  The 64 GB version will sell for $899 and the 128 GB version will sell for $999.  Keyboards will be extra at $120 to $130 depending on the model.  I have to believe there will be third party keyboards and other peripherals once the Surface Pro is established in the market.  One notable difference is the statement that the Surface Pro will have half the battery life of the Surface RT.  That puts it in the 4 hour or so range.  The article on the pricing announcement in CNET has links to Microsoft’s spec sheet that compares the technical specifications of the two tablets.  Battery life is not one of the comparative points in that comparison.

Reaction ranges from what a great mix of power and price to what a terrible mix of power and price.  I suppose it all depends on what type of computing needs an individual might have.  There are any number of articles out there that comment on how the Surface Pro stands up against the iPad, Nexus tablets, ultrabooks and laptop configurations.  See here,  here, here, and here and any comments appended to the articles.  The commenters, in some respects, are more insightful that the stories.  The Surface Pro is expected to be released for sale sometime in January.

In related news, Microsoft has announced that 40 million Windows 8 licenses have been sold.  Not all analysts see the good in that.  See this article in the Wall Street Journal as an example.  Others are here and here, with the last article noting that after 30 days of general availability Windows 8 achieved a 1.8% market share of computers that accessed the web in that time.  All I can say is something is goofy in Windows land with these conflicting numbers.  [MG]