American technology giant, Microsoft Corp. has unveiled a new tablet dubbed Surface Pro 3 in New York City.
"Surface Pro 3 is the tablet that can replace your laptop — packing all the performance of a fully powered laptop into a thin, light and beautifully designed device. You'll love being able to carry a single device for your next class, workday or weekend getaway knowing you have all the power you need." said Panos Panay, corporate vice president, Microsoft Surface
The newly introduced 12.0-inch Microsoft tablet marketed as an alternative to bulky laptop PCs boasts Magnesium based body with just 9.14 mm thickness and weighs less than 800 g.
Like laptops, Surface Pro 3 comes with custom configuration options. Consumer can choose between fourth generation Intel processor- Core i3, i5, and i7 with combination of 4GB/8GB RAM (dual-channel LPDDR3) and 64GB/128GB/256GB/512GB inbuilt storage options.
Other standard specifications include Windows v8.1 Pro OS, 5.0-megapixel (front and rear-side) with full HD video recording ability, a battery which can provide power for browsing the web for close to 9 hours, a stylus, Bluetooth V4.0 (LE) and Dolby Audio system.
The tablet will also boast of inbuilt kick-stand on the back to align device on table and watch movies. While the device will also have a docking-station, detachable key-board and multiple-colored covers, these accessories will have to be bought separately.
The company has confirmed that the new Surface Pro 3 will hit stores initially in Canada and USA in June with prices ranging between $799 and $1949 and later to 26 other global markets (select European and South Asian and Pacific regions) in late August.
Key specifications of Microsoft Surface Pro 3:
| Model | Microsoft Surface Pro 3 |
| Display | 12.0-inch ClearType full HD screen with 2160x1440p resolutions |
| OS | Windows v8.1 Pro |
| Processor variants | Available in Intel Core i3,i5 and i7 processor configurationwith TPM v2.0 (Trusted Platform Module – for BitLocker encryption) |
| RAM | 4GB/8GB – dual-channel LPDDR3 |
| Storage capacity | 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB |
| Camera | Main: 5.0-megapixel camera Front: 5.0-megapixel camera [Both the cameras have full HD video recording ability] |
| Battery | Up to nine hours of web browsing |
| Add-ons | Stylus, Bluetooth v4.0 (Low Energy technology), Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n/ ac), stereo speakers with Dolby Audio, USB v3.0, built-in front and rear-facing microphones |
| Dimensions | 292.10 x 201.42 x 9.14 mm |
| Weight | ~800 g |
Price Details:
| Surface Pro 3 system configuration | Estimated retail price (USD) |
| Intel® Core™ i3, 64 GB and 4 GB of RAM | $799 (around ₹47,000) |
| Intel® Core™ i5, 128 GB and 4 GB of RAM | $999 (around ₹58,700) |
| Intel® Core™ i5, 256 GB and 8 GB of RAM | $1,299 (around ₹76,350) |
| Intel® Core™ i7, 256 GB and 8 GB of RAM | $1,549 (around ₹91,000) |
| Intel® Core™ i7, 512 GB and 8 GB of RAM | $1,949 (around ₹1,14,500) |
[Photo credit: Microsoft Corp.]
