Microsoft announces Surface RT pricing, opens Aussie pre-orders
- — 17 October, 2012 08:34
Microsoft has announced Australian pricing for its upcoming Surface RT tablet and has promised to deliver pre-orders of the device by Tuesday 6 November.
The Surface RT tablet will aim to compete with Apple's market leading iPad in the consumer space. It has a 10.6in display, is powered by the Microsoft's new Windows 8 RT operating system and boasts a magnesium case.
The Microsoft Surface with Windows RT tablet will be available in Australia in three models. The entry-level 32GB model will be priced at $559, a 32GB version bundled with a black keyboard Touch Cover accessory will cost $679, and the 64GB model bundled with included Touch Cover will sell for $789.
The 3mm thin "Touch cover" accessory has a full multi touch keyboard and also includes a trackpad. The Touch cover is available in black, blue, red, pink and white colours and sells for $139.99 on its own.
Microsoft will sell the Touch Cover ($139.99) and the Type Cover ($149.99) as optional accessories for the Surface.
For users who prefer traditional tactile keys over touching a flat surface, an optional "Type cover", which includes a full trackpad with clicking buttons, is available in black only for $149.99.
Microsoft says all three models of the Surface RT can be pre-ordered by Australians in "a special limited quantity", though the company refused to reveal how much pre-order stock will be available. The tablet will officially launch next Friday 26 October.
Consumers who pre-order the Surface RT online through Microsoft's Australian pre-order page are assured the "order will arrive by November 6."
The Australian pre-order page for the Microsoft Surface RT.
In addition to Australia, the Microsoft Surface RT will go on sale in the US, UK, Canada, China, France, Germany and Hong Kong.
A video demonstrating the design process around the Surface can be seen below.
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