surface 2.0

Buy now, if you dare: Microsoft takes orders for $8,400 table PC

Some 10 months after its introduction, Microsoft has opened up presales of its second-generation table computer.

Microsoft and Samsung today said the new unit, which starts at $8,400, is now available for preordering in 23 countries, with a release to follow in early 2012.

The computer, called SUR40, made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, and is Microsoft's second attempt at large-scale multitouch computing. It sports a more powerful processor, new system software, and new sensor hardware that promises to make touch recognition more accurate. … Read more

CES: Underneath Microsoft's new Surface

LAS VEGAS--While much of last night's CES kick-off keynote by Microsoft centered on huge Kinect sales, Windows Phone 7 features, the latest PCs, and the technical prowess of the next version of Windows, tucked into the presentation was a product that has been largely untouched since its introduction back in 2007.

That would be Microsoft's Surface, a $12,500 table-top, multitouch computer, which has a new version shipping out later this year that's five grand cheaper, has 10 inches of additional screen real estate, more powerful internals, and a drastically thinner underside.

The new unit is four … Read more

What we know now about Surface 2.0

With the teaser of the next version of Windows earlier today at CES, Microsoft rather surprisingly unveiled version 2.0 of Surface--the multi-touch, table-size computer the company introduced to the public back in early 2007.

Version 2.0 of the Surface is thinner, more accurate to touch, and can be put in places the previous one couldn't. And unlike the first one, this one might actually end up inside the homes of consumers instead of being relegated to retailers, hotel lobbies, and museums.

But there are some big unknowns--several of which Microsoft says should be addressed at tonight's … Read more