Growing the Surface Family: Surface Windows 8 Pro Availability Confirmed

The following is a post from Panos Panay, General Manager of Microsoft Surface.


Ever since we launched Surface Windows RT late last year, it’s been exciting to see the ongoing customer response to this amazing device. We are also pumped about all the anticipation and excitement in regards to Surface Windows 8 Pro. There have been a tremendous amount of questions to date, and today, I am pleased that we are formally announcing the date of availability. Surface Windows 8 Pro will be available in the U.S. and Canada starting on Feb. 9 through all Microsoft retail stores, microsoftstore.com and at Staples and Best Buy in the U.S. as well as from a number of locations in Canada. Not only has it been fun watching the anticipation, it has been great working with such an amazing team to bring these products to life.

Powered by an Intel Core i5 processor, Surface Windows 8 Pro provides the power and performance of a laptop in a tablet package and will run all Windows 8 applications as well as current Windows 7 desktop applications. Last month, we announced Surface Windows 8 Pro pricing starting at $899 and that it will be available in 64 GB and 128 GB models. A Surface Pen is included and makes for an amazing experience for writers, graphic designers or even engineers, and with Palm Block technology writing and drawing is fun for everyone on Surface Windows 8 Pro.

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Surface Windows 8 Pro is an exciting new addition to the Surface family, bringing a powerful, work-ready device that is just at home in the boardroom as it is the family room. Whether you’re a road warrior, a student or someone who just wants a flexible and powerful Intel PC, the Surface Windows 8 Pro will deliver. It’s the perfect complement to the Surface Windows RT and delivers hours and hours of entertainment with plenty of power and productivity to get your work done as well.

Market availability expanding

The response to Surface Windows RT has been exciting to see since its launch. In the coming weeks, we are more than doubling the markets in which Surface Windows RT is available. Surface Windows RT is already available for purchase in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and the United States and this announcement will expand its availability to 13 additional markets worldwide. New markets in the coming weeks include:

· Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Introducing: New members of the Surface family

One of the benefits of Surface is that it becomes the ideal personal computer allowing customers to use it as a laptop or tablet. They have the ability to truly make it theirs and bring their personality to life through the Touch Cover. Starting in February, customers can click in three new Touch Cover Limited Editions. Priced at $129.99 in the US, Touch Cover Limited Edition features unique laser-etched designs in three distinctive colors: red, magenta and cyan.

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Each design is different and allows customers additional personalization options beyond the various colors of Touch Cover that are already available. These limited edition Touch Covers will be available for purchase on Feb. 9 in the 8 markets in which Surface is currently sold, with additional markets to follow in the coming weeks. In addition to the limited-edition Touch Covers, Microsoft is releasing a special Surface Edition of the Wedge Touch Mouse. The Wedge Touch Mouse Surface Edition is specifically designed to complement the Surface experience in all its forms, providing four-way Touch scrolling and easy navigation at one’s fingertips. It also has a similar finish to Surface’s VaporMg casing, the combination of material selection and manufacturing process that is used to create Surface. The Wedge Touch Mouse Surface Edition will be available on Feb. 9 for estimated retail price of $69.95 in all markets in which Surface Windows RT is currently sold.

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We’ve taken a lot of customer and retailer feedback into consideration and are happy to announce the 64 GB Surface Windows RT standalone version, not bundled with a black Touch Cover. This allows customers to personalize their Surface Window RT 64 GB with the Touch Cover or Type Cover of their choice. Starting Feb. 9, customers can purchase a 64 GB Surface Windows RT as a standalone unit in all markets in which Surface Windows RT is currently sold.

We’re extremely excited to share more about Surface Windows 8 Pro and the growing Surface family of products. We’ll have additional information as we get closer to Feb. 9. Until then, for more details on Surface Windows 8 Pro and Surface Windows RT, you can visit Surface.com, find us on Surface on Facebook. Or follow Surface and me on Twitter for additional updates.

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