I was surprised to hear about the announcement of the Microsoft Surface tablet while I was in California last week (It was there too, but I wasn’t invited!! ). Microsoft kept this one very quiet so it was a surprise to many industry people (including Microsoft MVPs), not to mention an unusual achievement for them!

There is very little information available at this time on the specs of the surface. Judging by the pictures the device is very specifically targeted at playing catch up in the consumer space.

From touch to type, office to living room, from your screen to the big screen, you can see more, share more, and do more with Surface. – Microsoft Surface Website

What looks interesting about the surface:

• Slick, appealing design – showcased brilliantly in the marketing video below
• Magnetic keyboard / cover – a vast functional improvement on Apple’s “smart cover”
• USB port, Mini Display port (the same connector that Apple use on MacBooks), microSDXC card support
• ARM option for Metro only and Intel “Ivy Bridge” option for Metro and Desktop support.

This is a tablet that will put Microsoft back on the consumer map! However, I don’t think it is likely to worry many existing Windows tablet manufacturers because of what is not present:

• Security options like fingerprint readers, smart card and RFID
• Removable / replaceable batteries
• Workflow options
• Hardware buttons
• Ruggedness.

Leading tablet manufacturers like Fujitsu, Samsung, ASUS, Motion Computing and others will still have plenty of places to go even with surface on the market.

If anything, the surface will

• Further legitimise the Windows 8 tablet as a serious option in the minds of consumer and corporate users
• Serve as a working reference design tablet manufacturers who can take features like the Surface keyboard and work them into their own designs
• Push technology advancements with hardware OEMs so that everyone can achieve smaller, lighter, faster and better tablet designs.

Enjoy the Microsoft Surface marketing video below… if you haven’t already!