Microsoft Surface Pro Gets Priced, Spec’d

Microsoft on Thursday revealed pricing for the Surface Pro, the company’s first manufactured tablet device to feature a full copy of Windows 8.

The Surface Pro will launch in January 2013, and pricing for the high-end tablet will start at $899. For that starting price, buyers will receive a 64GB hard drive along with a Surface Pen and Palm Black technology. The entry-level device will not feature the company’s signature Touch or Type Covers, which come equipped on the 128GB, $999 model.

While the Surface Pro features many of the same design principles of the less powerful Surface RT, it does feature the option to run full Windows version applications and legacy Windows apps that can not run on the Surface RT operating system.

Featured on the Microsoft Surface Pro is an Intel Core i5 processor alongside a 10.6-inch 16:9 ClearType display with capacitive touch capabilities with a 1920×1080 pixels of resolution. The tablet also features a Mini DisplayPort capable of outputting to an external display at 2560×1440 pixels.

Added connectivity on the Microsoft Surface Pro is made available via a full-size USB 3.0 port.

Microsoft will be facing an uphill battle when the Surface Pro is released. An NPD Group study posted on Thursday revealed that Microsoft sales for the Surface RT have been stale, leading the company to cut its order totals from 4 million units to 2 million units. Microsoft Windows 8 has also experienced low sales with 40 million licenses sold over the last month.

Will you be running out to purchase the Microsoft Surface Pro when it is finally made available?