Windows 8 Pro Microsoft Surface Prices Start At £560 In US

Microsoft has confirmed the prices of the Windows 8 Pro version of the Microsoft Surface. A 64GB tablet will cost at $899 (£560) with a 126GB edition retailing at $999 (£623).

A Surface pen will come included with both versions, but users will have to splash out on an optional Touch or Type Cover.

No firm release date was offered beyond January 2013, and there was no information regarding UK pricing or when it would arrive this side of the pond.

Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro pricing

The Windows RT Microsoft Surface was released last month, with prices starting at £399. However Microsoft is pitching the Windows 8 Pro version as both a PC and a tablet, promising that it will run all current Windows 7 desktop applications.

Windows 8 is billed as the first version of the operating system to run equally well on both tablets and PCs, with Windows RT designed for the ARM-based processors used by many mobile devices. The Windows 8 Pro Microsoft Surface looks similar to its RT counterpart, but is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor, which will apparently provide a graphics boost to the full HD display.

“It’s hard to believe it’s been just over a month since Surface with Windows RT hit the market,” said Panos Panay, General Manager of Microsoft Surface. “The response from Surface customers has been fantastic and exciting to see. In addition to sharing the terrific results that Microsoft is seeing with Windows 8 at a technology conference earlier this week, we also announced that Surface with Windows 8 Pro would be available in January 2013.”

Earlier this week, Microsoft claimed that it had sold 40 million Windows licences since it launched the platform.

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