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Borrowing Apple's zeal for secrecy, Microsoft only
unveiled this morning the exact location of its clandestine press event
to the gathered media/press in Los Angeles.
The reason behind the extreme measure became more obvious just hours ago
as the software giant’s CEO, Steve Ballmer, took to the stage at Milk
Studios Los Angeles and unveiled the Microsoft Surface tablet PC.
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The reason behind the extreme measure became more obvious just hours ago
as the software giant’s CEO, Steve Ballmer, took to the stage at Milk
Studios Los Angeles and unveiled the Microsoft Surface tablet PC.
The first major venture into hardware since its successful game console
Xbox and the now defunct Zune media player, the Microsoft Surface is
essentially identical to the tablet industry, Apple iPad, in weight and
thickness. One difference is Microsoft Surface’s slightly larger screen
size, a 10.6-inch display versus iPad’s 9.7-inch.
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Another difference is Microsoft Surface with be available in two
variants – a thinner version powered by ARM chipset with Windows RT
operating system and one with 22nm Ivy Bridge chip by Intel running on
the upcoming Windows 8 Pro, which is “thicker” at just 13.5 mm.
Both will be quipped with VaporMg Case & Stand, Microsoft’s answer to
Apple’s new iPad Smart Case. There are two interchangeable
keyboards/covers as well. The Touch Cover is an integrated keyboard and
trackpad that supports multi-touch. The other, the Type Cover, a thin
version of a regular laptop keyboard, with a thickness of around 2 mm.
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Though Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer did not go into details on the
business aspect of these new tablets, a lot is riding on them. Since
Apple’s introduction of the iPad and competing tablet devices, Microsoft
has seen a steady decline in the usage of its Windows OS, especially
among first time PC users. If successful, the Microsoft Surface might be
first stop-gate measure to slow the propagation of Apple, Google, and
others on what was once Microsoft’s turf.
No confirmation on availability and price at the moment but more
Microsoft stated more detailed information to come very soon. |
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