REDMOND, WASH.--Microsoft Corp. on
Tuesday announced that its newest Surface models — Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2
— as well as an expanded portfolio of new Surface accessories are now available
for purchase at Microsoft retail stores, http://www.microsoftstore.com,
select
third-party retailers and authorized commercial resellers in 21 initial
markets, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and
the United States. The new Surface products will be available in China in early
November. Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 are the most productive
tablets on the planet, and they each benefit from significant updates,
including improvements to processing power and battery life, display and camera
resolution, and the kickstand — now featuring a second, wider angle so it’s
more comfortable to use Surface on your lap or at your desk. Enhancements in
Windows 8.1 RT and Windows 8.1 Pro make Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 even more
powerful and customizable.
Knowledgeable staff are on hand at all Microsoft retail
store locations to answer questions and help with Surface setup, so customers
have a great out-of-box experience and walk out the door with a product that is
personalized for them. Customers can visit http://www.microsoftstore.com
to find a Microsoft retail store nearest them.
Each new Surface comes with built-in value
To help people get the most out of Surface 2 and Surface
Pro 2, customers who purchase either device will receive free Skype calling to landlines in more than 60 countries for
one year, unlimited Skype
Wi-Fi on their Surface 2 or Surface Pro 2 at more than 2 million hotspots
worldwide for one year, and 200 GB of free SkyDrive storage for two years.[1]
Surface 2
Surface 2 is the most productive tablet for personal use.
It offers all the entertainment and gaming capabilities you expect from a
tablet, along with the ability to get work done. Surface 2 is powered by an
NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor, making apps run faster and smoother and increasing
battery life to up to 10 hours for video playback. The 10.6-inch ClearType Full
HD display now renders 1080p video for enjoying shows and movies, and its
full-size USB port has been upgraded to USB 3.0 for up to four times faster
file transfers. Camera resolution has also increased, with a 3.5-megapixel
front camera and 5-megapixel rear camera, both capable of capturing 1080p video
and featuring improved low-light performance, making face-to-face conversations
with your favorite people crisp and clear. Even with these and other upgrades,
Surface 2 is slightly thinner and lighter than its predecessor.
Surface 2 ships with Windows 8.1 RT, bringing improvements
in key areas, such as personalization, search, multitasking, built-in apps, the
Windows Store experience and cloud connectivity. The new Xbox Music allows you
to stream millions of songs for free, and an updated Video app and great games
from the Windows Store such as “Halo: Spartan Assault” will help ensure you
never run out of ways to play. When it’s time to get serious, Surface 2 is
preloaded with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT and Outlook 2013 RT;
simply click in a Touch or Type Cover and get to work.
Surface 2 is available in 32GB and 64GB configurations2
and starts at $449.
Surface Pro 2
Surface Pro 2 is the successor to Surface Pro and, like
its predecessor, is a true laptop replacement, capable of running virtually all
your Windows software, including the full Microsoft Office suite[3] and apps
from the Windows Store. Surface Pro 2 offers the portability and simplicity of
a tablet when you want it and the power and flexibility of a laptop when you
need it. It is powered by a fourth-generation Intel Core i5 processor that,
combined with other improvements, delivers increased performance and up to 75
percent longer battery life than Surface Pro.Starting at $899, Surface Pro 2 is
offered in 64GB and 128GB configurations with 4 GB of RAM and in 256GB and
512GB configurations with 8 GB of RAM.[2] Full specs are available at http://www.Surface.com.
New accessories
Microsoft also released seven new accessories that will
make Surface even more flexible, more portable and more productive:
• Touch Cover 2. Thinner and lighter than the original
Touch Cover and measuring just 2.75 millimeters thin, Touch Cover 2 features
backlit keys for even better readability. Touch Cover 2 is more rigid,
registers keystrokes with greater accuracy and features updated sensors that
support a variety of gestures across the keyboard. Touch Cover 2 is available
Tuesday for an estimated retail price of $119.99.
• Type Cover 2. Type Cover 2 features the same superthin,
lightweight design of the original Type Cover, but it’s now backlit and
available in Cyan, Magenta, Purple and Black. It’s also more rigid, providing a
better lap-typing experience, and it was designed to be noticeably quieter when
striking the keys. Type Cover 2 is available Tuesday for an estimated retail
price of $129.99.
• Power Cover. Power Cover delivers the same great typing
experience you get with Type Cover but adds up to 50 percent additional battery
life to your Surface 2, Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 to help you make it
through that late-night meeting or an international day of travel. Power Cover
will have an estimated retail price of $199.99 and has a projected release date
of early 2014.
• Docking Station for Surface Pro. The Docking Station for
Surface Pro lets you quickly connect Surface Pro and Surface Pro 2 to desktop
PC peripherals in a single step, taking you from laptop to desktop in an
instant. While Surface Pro or Surface Pro 2 is docked, it can connect with up
to two 4K external monitors, Ethernet, speakers and power supply. PC
peripherals connect via its one USB 3.0 port and three USB 2.0 ports. The
Docking Station for Surface Pro will have an estimated retail price of $199.99
and has a projected release date of early 2014.
• Wireless Adapter for Typing Covers. The Wireless Adapter
for Typing Covers connects magnetically to any Touch or Type Cover, letting you
type from anywhere in the room using Bluetooth technology, so it is even easier
to connect Surface to a TV or monitor[4] and type from another location, such
as the couch. Wireless Adapter for Typing Covers is available Tuesday for an
estimated retail price of $59.99.
• Car Charger with USB. Car Charger plugs into most cars’
power or lighter ports and charges Surface without the need for an additional
adapter. It also features a USB port to allow simultaneous charging of a phone
or other device. Car Charger will have an estimated retail price of $49.99 and
has a projected release date of early 2014.
• Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition. This special-edition
Arc Touch Mouse has been updated to match the look of Surface. Like other Arc
Touch mice, it is designed for comfort and flattens for portability. It
connects via Bluetooth 3.0, freeing Surface’s USB port for use by other
devices. Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition is available in the U.S. and Canada
Tuesday for an estimated retail price of $69.99. Distribution in additional
markets is projected to begin in the coming months.More information on Surface
and the new accessories is available at http://www.Surface.com.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the
worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and
businesses realize their full potential.
[1] Skype offer not available in China. Internet access
fees may apply. Skype offer excludes calls to special, premium and
non-geographic numbers. A fair usage policy and Skype’s Terms of Use apply; see
http://www.skype.com/surface
for details. For Skydrive offer terms and conditions, see http://www.skydrive.com/surface.
[2] System software uses significant storage space.
Available storage is subject to change based on system software updates and
apps usage. 1 GB = 1 billion bytes. See http://www.Surface.com/storage for more details. Initial
quantities of Surface Pro 2 with 512 GB will be limited.
[3] Office sold separately.
[4] Adapter required and sold separately.
