Surface RT

News Byte

Microsoft’s Surface Headed to Japan

John Paczkowski in News on February 25 at 4:15 am PT

Surface RT, the consumer version of Microsoft’s new tablet, is headed to another important market. After debuting the RT in the U.S., Canada and a few other countries last fall, Microsoft is preparing to release the device in Japan — perhaps as early as next month. Sources close to Microsoft tell the Nikkei that Microsoft intends to bring Surface RT to Japan in March, a move that will pit the Microsoft-designed device against competing offerings from local manufacturing partners like Sony and Fujitsu.

News Byte

Microsoft Gives Surface RT to Europe for Valentine’s Day

John Paczkowski in News on February 8 at 1:20 pm PT

Three months after debuting its new Surface RT in the United States, Microsoft is is increasing the device’s overseas availability. The company said today that on February 14 it will launch the RT in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Still no word on when the RT’s more powerful Surface Pro sibling will hit Europe, though it is due to arrive at market in North America tomorrow.

News Byte

Microsoft’s Surface Pro Tablet to Debut February 9

John Paczkowski in News on January 22 at 10:23 am PT

The wait for Microsoft’s Surface Pro will soon be over. The company said Tuesday that the Windows 8 Pro version of its tablet will go on sale in the U.S. and Canada on Feb. 9, at a starting price of $899. The Surface Pro’s debut comes about three months after the release of the Surface RT, the consumer version of the device, which is thought not to be selling as well as Microsoft had hoped.