Microsoft unveils new Surface tablets

AFP/Washington

Microsoft unveiled two new versions of its Surface tablet yesterday, renewing its efforts in mobile computing after the product’s launch a year ago failed to impress consumers.

The Surface 2 and Surface 2 Pro have “significant updates, including improvements to processing power and battery life,” Microsoft said at a New York launch event.

The changes represent “the revamp we need,” vice president Panos Panay said, as he demonstrated the new tablets to news media.

The launch is Microsoft’s second stab at the growing tablet market.

The Surface, released last year, failed to make a dent in a market dominated by Apple’s iPad and various devices using the Google Android operating system.

Microsoft markets the device, which comes with a kickstand and optional keyboard, as a substitute for a tablet with much of the functionality of a personal laptop computer.

Yet the device failed to get more than a 2% share of the global tablet market, according to analysts.

Panay said the new device includes Microsoft’s revamped Windows 8.1 system, the popular Outlook program and access to ten times as many apps as the previous version.

The Surface 2 will start at $449 and the Surface Pro 2 at $899 for US customers.

It will be sold initially in 22 markets, with pre-orders starting today and sales to be launched October 22.

Surface 2 Pro, aimed at business users, is “the most productive, powerful tablet in the world”, Panay said at the launch on the west side of Manhattan.

“The point of this product is to work fast. The need of the product is to work all the time.”

Panay said Microsoft added about 50% more color accuracy, and improved sound with Dolby speakers for the Surface 2 Pro.

It will have the full Microsoft Office suite and will be powered by a fourth-generation Intel Haswell processor which boosts both performance and battery life, the company said.

Panay said the basic version, Surface 2 is “a very very powerful opportunity for people”.

It uses an Nvidia Tegra 4 processor which Microsoft said runs faster and smoother than its earlier tablet and increases battery life to up to 10 hours for video playback.

Surface 2 is “slightly thinner and lighter than its predecessor,” according to Microsoft, with an upgraded camera for high-definition video.

Early reactions were cautious, with some analysts saying Microsoft has failed to make the device compelling, with only a small price cut for the basic Surface tablet.

“Surface 2 at $449 is better than $499, but not aggressive enough to get people to buy an unproven platform. Plus, keyboard is still extra,” said a tweet from IDC analyst Tom Mainelli.