JOINING THE FRAY: Microsoft Corp took the wraps off its Surface tablet, taking aim at a market dominated by Apple Inc's iPad. - Reuters
SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft Corp took the wraps off its Surface tablet, taking aim at a market dominated by Apple Inc's iPad.
The Surface will come in two versions, one running Windows RT, based on the same chip designs that power most tablet computers today, and a higher-performance version running Windows 8 Pro.
Here's how the basic Surface measures up against the iPad:
· The RT Surface boasts a thickness of 9.3mm, versus the iPad's 9.4mm.
· It will weigh about 1.5 pounds (0.68kg). Apple's iPads weigh 1.44 pounds (0.65kg) and 1.46 pounds (0.66kg) for the WiFi and 4G LTE versions, respectively.
· A 10.6in diagonal screen, compared with the iPad's 9.7in screen. The Surface also features a unique 16:9 aspect ratio.
· The RT Surface is configurable with 32GB or 64GB of storage. Apple's iPad has 16GB, 32GB and 64GB options.
· Pricing was not revealed on Monday, except that it would be "competitive" with current tablets and Intel-powered Ultrabooks. Apple's iPads go for US$499 (RM1,497) to US$699 (RM2,097) for the WiFi model, and US$629 (RM1887) to US$829 (RM2,487) for various storage sizes of the 4G LTE model.
· The RT Surface features a built-in kickstand and comes with a cover that doubles as an ultra-thin keyboard. Apple's iPad supports a plethora of third-party covers, stands and keyboards, as well as its own Smart Cover for US$39 (RM117) to US$69 (RM207).
· The Surface features USB ports, 2x2 MIMO antennae and MicroSD slots, as well as display outputs. Apple's iPad features the 30-pin dock connector port. - Reuters
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