Looks like Steve Ballmer and his crew are going to have a busy October. In a matter of just 3 weeks, Microsoft will be all set to launch the latest version of its OS, Windows 8. But that's not the only reason you should mark your calendars. The software giant will also be launching its first Surface tablet, as
confirmed by the company back in July.
Microsoft started sending out fresh invites mentioning a special "Surface Reception" event on October 25, with Windows 8 being the main subject. The invitation uses Microsoft's new identity with the simplified Microsoft logo and flattened Windows logo amidst New York's greyish skyscrapers also donning colour hues in between. The event will kickstart at 10AM EST.
At the event, details regarding the pricing of the tablet are expected to be the key focus. We've seen rumours in the past suggesting a price tag of $600-$800. More recent reports stated that
Surface for Windows RT could be priced at $199, directly competing with Google's Nexus 7 tablet.
Some reports even hinted at a
Wi-Fi-only version of the tablet at launch and will perhaps get a 3G version later as it will require carrier partnerships and may not be contributing much to the sales.
The company recently announced that it would be opening doors to its pop-up stores in the United States and Canada on October 26 to showcase the technology giant's latest gadgets including the new Surface tablet computer.
The company had earlier begun
seeking retail store managers and other personnel for its "Microsoft Holiday Stores," but mentioned no specifics on how long these shops would be operational or what they would sell. But now, they will open for the Surface launch at midnight, with other Microsoft Stores selling the tablet on October 26.
Microsoft unveiled its new line of
Surface tablets at an event held at Milk Studios in Hollywood back in June. While one will feature Windows 8 Pro, the other will run on
Windows RT with ARM-based processor.
For now Steve Ballmer has a lot up his sleeve already. While the first batch of Surface tablets set to debut in stores, we may soon hear more about the
Surface 2 already in the making.
Microsoft Surface in pictures