Microsoft Surface Tablet PC and Windows 8 Unveiled by CEO Steve Ballmer

After working in secret for some time, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer this week unveiled the company’s first serious venture into the world of computer hardware. The new Microsoft Surface is both a PC and a tablet and runs on the latest version of Microsoft’s operating system, Windows 8.

Ballmer unveiled the new Microsoft Surface to a large audience of reporters touting it as part of a, “whole new family of computing devices from Microsoft,” and calling the Surface tablet PC “a tool to surface your passions and creativity.”

The Microsoft Surface, which will be available for purchase later in the year, will be sold in two versions – the basic and the Surface Pro. Both will feature a 10.6-inch touch screen running on the new Windows 8 operating system.

The Surface can be used as a traditional touch-screen, competing with the Apple iPad. One unique feature of the Surface, however, is that the built in cover contains a keyboard and touchpad making traditional PC use possible in conjunction with the built in stand (as pictured). The keyboard is removable, and the Surface also features cameras are built into the front and back of the device.

According to the Microsoft, the basic version of the Surface weighs 1.5 pounds, is 9 millimeters thick and runs on a lower powered version of Windows 8, referred to as RT. It will be available with 32 to 64 GB of memory. The Surface Pro weighs just another half-pound more and is a little thicker at 13.5 mm. The Pro also comes with more memory with options of 64 or 128 GB.

The price for the Surface was not released during the event, however some reports suggest that the Pro version will retail for close to $1000 and will be able to run more traditional PC programs in addition to tablet style apps.