Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 are now available!
Surface is the most productive tablet on the planet. It’s not just a laptop: laptops aren’t as thin or light and don’t have a battery that lasts an entire day. It’s also not just a tablet: tablets don’t have click-in keyboards and Microsoft Office that allow real work to get done. It’s not like any device you’ve ever seen: Surface lets you run your favorite apps right alongside your favorite apps, Xbox Music next to the document you’re working on in Word, News next to Facebook, or a webpage next to a webpage for a quick view of two things (try doing that on another tablet). In short, the new Surface is the one device for everything in your life.
During the past month, members of my team and I have been able to visit face to face with thousands of our customers. It has been an eye opening experience to see how Surface affects people’s lives. People are pumped about using our products and see the quality in every device, cover, and accessory. They are thrilled about the speed and elegance of Surface 2, and are amazed by the battery life and increased specs for Surface Pro 2, and we love their energy.
We work to deliver beautiful, high-quality, high-performance devices, and the initial reaction, even from many of our critics, is that the updates to Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 deliver on that ambition. Because they run Windows, both devices are yours to customize in ways that fit your life from the apps that you use to the services that connect you to the things and people you care about. As I interact with customers and they tell me what they do with their Surface it’s obvious that this ability to make Surface truly theirs is huge part of what makes Surface great. An artist uses it differently than a busy mom, a CEO on the move uses it differently than a student, and an IT pro uses it differently than a writer. They all appreciate the fact that they can customize Surface to work for them.
I sometimes get asked what the difference is between Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, so I’ll summarize the basic difference between the two devices. Surface 2 is the most productive tablet for personal use, and Surface Pro 2 is a laptop in the body of a tablet, capable of running all Windows software and Windows Store apps.
Surface 2
Surface 2 offers all the entertainment and gaming capabilities you expect from a great tablet. It’s perfect for those who want an ultra-thin and light tablet with long battery life that also allows you to work when you need to work. It ships with Windows RT 8.1, a significant update to Windows RT, as well as Office Home & Student 2013 RT with PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Outlook. The 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD 1080p display is fantastic for watching movies, and the kickstand means you don’t have to hold your Surface while you watch. Surface 2 has 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 friends and family crisp and clear. The ability to customize makes it ideal for creative enthusiasts, gamers, or bloggers who want a simple and seamless way to quickly and efficiently update, browse, and get things done, the convenience of a tablet with some laptop capabilities.
Surface Pro 2
Surface Pro 2 offers the portability and simplicity of a tablet with the full power and flexibility of a no-compromise laptop replacement when you need it. Think of it as a device with Ultrabook performance and speed in a tablet body. With the ability to run virtually any Windows-compatible program, its 10-point touchscreen with pen technology and enterprise-grade security, Surface Pro 2 is perfect for tech enthusiasts and business professionals needing a device that maximizes productivity and offers the convenience and mobile design of a tablet.
Both Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 also include fantastic offers from Skype and SkyDrive that will help you do even more with your device. When you purchase either device, you’ll receive free Skype calling to land lines in more than 60 countries for one year, unlimited Skype Wi-Fi on your Surface 2 or Surface Pro 2 at more than two million hot spots worldwide for one year, and 200GB of free SkyDrive storage for two years.
The bottom line is that whether your work is business, gaming, browsing or connecting, Surface devices help you get it done. Please join us in celebrating the arrival of the most productive tablet on the planet!
Panos Panay
Corporate Vice President- Microsoft Surface