Microsoft Surface: The Ultra-Light Tablet PC

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2012, highlighting the highly anticipated launch of the original Microsoft Surface tablet.

Microsoft has finally officially launched its very first proprietary tablet, the Microsoft Surface. The all-new modern tablet proudly features a beautiful 10.6″, 16:9 widescreen HD display which actively features an auto-adjusting screen brightness with a very wide viewing angle.

The original Microsoft Surface tablet displaying the Windows 8 Start screen

Lightweight Design and Options

The premium tablet is remarkably lightweight and incredibly thin. The Microsoft Surface can efficiently run on either Windows RT or on the much more powerful Windows 8 Pro. The standard Surface for Windows RT model is just 9.3mm thin, completely equipped with a standard USB port and a handy Micro SD card slot.

A side profile showing the built-in kickstand of the Microsoft Surface tablet

Innovative Features

One of the most genuinely innovative physical features is its sturdy, integrated metal kickstand and the incredibly 3mm thin, pressure-sensitive Touch Cover that brilliantly acts as both a protective screen cover and a fully functional keyboard with a built-in trackpad. The innovative Touch Cover is readily available in five vastly different vibrant colours.

The Microsoft Surface Touch Covers shown in a variety of bright colours

The sleek Surface is thoughtfully provided with high-quality LifeCam cameras neatly integrated in both the front and rear. It also features dual stereo microphones and loud stereo speakers, making it perfectly suitable for clear Skype video calls.

A close-up view of the rear-facing LifeCam camera on the Microsoft Surface