Months after it first appeared in the United States, Microsoft’s updated Surface 2 tablet is finally making it way to Singapore tomorrow.
The 10.6-inch tablet now comes with a Full HD screen and sports a faster Nvidia Tegra 4 processor. There’s also a “dual-stage” kick stand, so you can adjust the angle of tilt, well, at least a little more than before.
And the price? The basic 32GB version will go for S$618, while the 64GB one will cost you S$748. As before though, the tablets come only with Wi-Fi.
And like with Microsoft’s first branded tablet, the Surface 2 runs on Windows RT. This isn’t Windows 8, so you won’t be able to run your traditional Windows programs on it.
Microsoft though has been trying to rope in developers and it claims some 140,000 apps are up on its Windows Store now. Very importantly, the Surface 2 comes with Office 2013 RT out of the box, and now it includes Outlook as well.
That bundle alone should make the Surface 2 interesting for students who want an affordable, lightweight device to bring to school. It works too for office workers who just want basic productivity tools on the go.
Sadly, Windows RT has an uphill battle to win over users because many still think of Windows as a full-fledged operating system for PCs. Anything less, even with a lower price, might seem like a trade-off.
Speaking of which, you might want to wait for the Surface Pro 2 if you want a full PC with the portability of the Surface design. No idea yet when that’s coming to Singapore though.
