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Scratching the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 (pictures)

As Microsoft rolls out its new Surface Pro 2, join CNET's Dan Ackerman as he takes a closer look at the Windows 8.1-powered tablet.

Dan Ackerman
Dan Ackerman leads CNET's coverage of computers and gaming hardware. A New York native and former radio DJ, he's also a regular TV talking head and the author of "The Tetris Effect" (Hachette/PublicAffairs), a non-fiction gaming and business history book that has earned rave reviews from the New York Times, Fortune, LA Review of Books, and many other publications. "Upends the standard Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs/Mark Zuckerberg technology-creation myth... the story shines." -- The New York Times
Dan Ackerman
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1 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Presenting the Pro 2

The Surface Pro 2 has a large 10-inch screen, a full Intel Core i5 processor, and a 1,920x1,080-pixel-resolution display -- all specs you might find in a high-end ultraportable laptop.
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2 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

An OS update

The device runs on the next version of Microsoft's operating system, Windows 8.1. In fact, the Surface Pro 2's October 22 sale date is just five days after Microsoft is supposed to release Windows 8.1.
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3 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Take it as a tablet

Though the ingenious detachable keyboard covers are one of the best things about the Surface Pro 2, it is a tablet at heart. So, when you're ready for some touch-screen action, just put the keyboard cover aside and tap away.
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4 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

A Surface favorite

Speaking of the Type Cover, it's thinner this time around, but with the island-style keys that are shallow and usable. The Type Cover is $129 for the basic version, but MS also showed us a second kind of Type Cover that includes an integrated battery.
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5 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Choose your color

The Type Cover comes in multiple colors, from bland to bright.
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6 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Or try the Touch Cover

The Touch Cover (left) is thinner, as well. It has the same flat keys that work, but offers less tactile feedback than serious typists need.
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7 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Kicking back

The built-in kickstand now adjusts to two different angles, making the screen easier to see from different positions. Microsoft says the new angle is 40 degrees, while the original was about 24 degrees.
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8 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

'Surface' is in

The logo branding on the back panel is different, reading "Surface" rather than "Microsoft."
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9 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Slim and trim

The Surface Pro 2 retains a svelte profile. The five dots in the center are the connection points for the keyboard covers.
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10 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

For your headphones

On one side you'll find the volume rocker and an audio in/out jack.
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11 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

For your cable needs

Of course, the Surface Pro 2 would be nothing without a USB port.
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12 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Camera lens

Sure, cameras on tablets are a controversial subject, but the Surface has one. Here's the lens on the back.

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