3 Microsoft Surface tablet lands on October 26

Microsoft Surface fans waiting with bated breath to know when they could buy the Microsoft tablet, your wait ends now. Steve Ballmer took the wraps off Microsoft Surface back in June earlier this year. And the secret Microsoft project and alleged iPad killer now has a release date -- October 26, same day when Redmond giant unveils Windows 8 to the world. 

Microsoft Surface tablet’s launch day revelation was found hidden inside the company’s annualreport to the SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which regulates the stock market). 

There was much speculation around the launch date of Microsoft Surface tablet, especially after Microsoft officially announced the October 26 release date for its highly anticipated Windows 8operating system. Many industry experts and commentators were expecting the Microsoft Surface tablet to be launched “around the same time,” but no one knew the date for sure until now. 

According to the report filed by Microsoft yesterday: 

“The next version of our operating system, Windows 8, will be generally available on October 26, 2012. At that time, we will begin selling the Surface, a series of Microsoft-designed and manufactured hardware devices.” 

The report doesn’t highlight any other aspect of Microsoft Surface, most importantly its price. And why Microsoft would keep its launch date hidden inside an SEC report is difficult to understand, so is all the secrecy surrounding Microsoft Surface’s other aspects. 

Readers should note that there are two versions of Microsoft Surface -- an ARM (or tablet version) known simply as Surface, and an Intel x86 version called as Microsoft Surface Pro. The version that’s slated to go on sale on October 26 is Microsoft Surface tablet, the ARM version of the product.  

The Microsoft Surface Pro, which closely resembles an ultrabook, is expected to hit stores 90 days or three months after Microsoft Surface is released on October 26 alongside Windows 8 -- just in time for CES 2013 -- according to a previous Microsoft statement. 

Courtesy Paul Thurrot