You’ve already read about the launch event and an overview of what Microsoft showed the world. Dig a little deep and you’ll find out Microsoft in fact launched two different Surface tablets. One that runs Windows 8 RT and the other one running Windows 8 Pro. The differences are not only in the Windows version but go all the way to the internal as well as the external hardware.
Surface for Windows RT tablet
- Processor: NVIDIA Tegra-based ARM chip
- Weight: 676 grams
- Thickness: 9.3 millimeters
- Display: 10.6-inch ClearType HD capactive touchpanel
- Battery: 31.5Wh
- I/O: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae
- Software: Windows RT + Office Home & Student 2013 RT
- Accessories: Touch Cover, Type Cover, VaporMg Case & Stand
- Capacity: 32GB / 64GB
- Availability: “Around” the Windows 8 launch (fall 2012)
- Pricing: To be determined
Surface for Windows 8 Pro tablet
- Processor: Intel Core i5 (Ivy Bridge)
- Weight: 903 grams
- Thickness: 13.5 millimeters
- Display: 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD (1080p) capactive touchpanel
- Battery: 42Wh
- I/O: microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort, 2×2 MIMO antennae
- Software: Windows 8 Pro
- Accessories: Touch Cover, Type Cover, VaporMg Case & Stand, Pen with Palm Block
- Capacity: 64GB / 128GB
- Availability: ”Three months after” the Windows 8 launch this fall
- Pricing: To be determined
The differences become a lot clearer when you go through the comparison above. Surface for Windows 8 RT is aimed squarely at Android tablets as well as the iPad from Apple. It’s a pure tablet experience since RT is limited to only the Metro interface of Windows 8. That means you won’t get the desktop part here. Naturally it will only be running Metro apps only. Since the internal hardware is essentially all smartphone like, Microsoft managed to keep the tablet thin and light. The battery is smaller too since the Tegra 3 SOC isn’t nearly as power hungry as the Core i5 from Intel. Microsoft has not officially gone on record regarding screen resolution but it’s rumored to be of the 1366×768 variant, which is a shame and will eventually come to haunt this tablet when it goes head to head with the 1080p panels of Android tablets and the insane Retina Display of the new iPad.
Surface for Windows 8 Pro is more like a full desktop experience in a 10.6 form factor. Like they did on Windows 8 RT, Microsoft has gone all out on specs for this particular variant. You get a full 1920×1080 panel which results in PPI of a little over 200. Not quite the same as the new iPad but a heck of a lot better than the rudimentary 1280×720 panels we see. The CPU is also a desktop grade Core i5. To keep all this power in check sacrifices had to be made regarding dimensions and weight. The tablet measures 13.5mm in thickness and 903 grams in weight. That is substantial and quite a bit bulkier than your average tablet. But then again your average tablet does not run a Core i5. Battery is also beefed up to 42Wh. Unlike RT, you get a full version of Windows 8 here which includes the old desktop interface behind the Metro UI. Also supported is pen input. Where the RT version will go head to head with the iPad and Android tablets, the Pro version is a bit of a niche product. On paper it’s suppose to be a MacBook Air competitor but it looks and performs nothing like it. Such is the beauty of Windows 8. And if Microsoft can capitalize on this, they can surely give the competition a very tough time.