Microsoft Surface – need to know

Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro tablet – design and build

The Pro model is a fair sight heavier than its RT sibling, tipping the scales at a heftier 930g, with a thickness of 13.5mm. A fair bit chunkier then, but with good reason (which we'll get onto later). You'll also have the same kickstand mechanism for easier movie watching or word processing on the go.

Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro tablet – screen

The Windows 8 Pro Surface tablet also has a 10.6in ClearType HD screen, with a beefier 1080p resolution. Not a hair on the new iPad 3's Retina Display then, but a very decent offering nonetheless.

Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro tablet – power

Rip open the Pro version of the Surface and you'll see why it's packing a bit of extra thickness – an Intel i5 processor is powering the show. Welcome to grown-up laptop territory folks. RAM specs remain elusive once again, but we'd expect at least 2GB given the inclusion of the i5 processor.

Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro tablet – connectivity

64GB or 128GB of memory will please power users, as will the speedier USB 3.0 port, microSDXC and Mini DisplayPort. The dual Wi-Fi antenna is also present, and a larger 42W-h battery should hopefully be enough to power that Intel processor for more than just a few hours.

Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro tablet – OS

The Pro edition of the Microsoft surface tablet will offer the full WIndows 8 experience, desktop and all. This means that you can have the full power of programmes like Photoshop at your fingertips, in addition to Metro apps. The longshot is that the Windows 8 Pro Surface could be the first tablet fill the role of a laptop entirely. Exciting isn't it?

Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro tablet – price and release date

The Pro model is expected to be placed in the same price bracket as Ultrabooks, which sounds a little pricey to us, but we'll just have to wait and see till its release date which is tentatively slated as being 90 days after the RT model's.