Microsoft's Surface tablet might cost between $1K and $2K
Pricing on a Swedish Web site shows that the software giant's much anticipated tablet might cost far more than previously predicted.
Despite all chatter about Microsoft's upcoming Surface tablet being competitively priced, rumors are swirling that it might cost $1,000 at the cheapest, according to The Next Web.
This news comes via a Swedish Web site that lists prices for all four of the future models, including the Windows RT and Window 8 Pro editions. The cheapest of the four models has the price tag of 6,990 kroner, which is $1,002, and the most expensive is 14,990 kroner, equaling $2,150.
Of course, the tablets could cost less in countries with a lower cost of living than Sweden. However, the iPad is significantly cheaper in Sweden; in the online Apple Store, the most expensive iPad is 7,195 kroner or $1,032 but the cheapest is 5,395 kroner or $773.
Microsoft has been vague about the pricing of the Surface tablet, and so far has said only: "Suggested retail pricing will be announced closer to availability and is expected to be competitive with a comparable ARM tablet or Intel ultrabook-class PC. OEMs will have cost and feature parity on Windows 8 and Windows RT." This suggests that the Windows RT would probably cost about $500 and the Pro version would flirt a bit beyond the $1,000 mark.
The Surface will be different than tablets that just run Apple's iOS and Google's Android, since Microsoft is adding in a special keyboard accessory with tactile keys and a full version of Windows. However, it is still slated to compete with the iPad. That means that besides being slick, pretty, and hi-tech, it also needs to be in a similar price range.
Microsoft declined to comment for this article.
