Microsoft Corp. finally had their big reveal yesterday and sources were right – it’s a Microsoft tablet to compete with the iPad.  They’re done relying on third party hardware makers, they’ve entered the OS-hardware making business and they’re serious about it.

“What can I say? Hell froze over — this is totally antithetical to their core business,” said Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at Gartner Inc. “They’re taking their destiny into their own hands. It’s a bold move, but it’s a very risky one. This could turn into Microsoft’s next Zune or its next Xbox.”

The tablet, dubbed the Microsoft Surface, comes in two versions: one based on Intel’s chips and one based on ARM chips.  The ARM-based, Windows RT tablet will be available when the the WIndows 8 OS is released while the Intel-based, Windows 8 Pro, tablet will be available 90 days after the ARM-based tablet is released.  Microsoft is giving consumers the option of having a tablet that functions as a tablet, the ARM-based, and a tablet that’s powerful as an Ultrabook, Intel-based.

“The Surface is something new that we think people will absolutely love,” Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer said.

Specifications

Windows RT
It weighs 676g, 9.3mm thick, features a 10.6” ClearType HD display, microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae, Office Home & Student 2013 RT, Touch Cover, Type Cover, VaporMg Case & Stand, 31.5 W-h battery, and available in 32GB and 64GB.

Windows 8 Pro
It weighs 903 g, thicker than the Widnows RT at 13.5 mm, features the same 10.6” ClearType HD display, has a 42 W-h battery, microSDXC, USB 3.0, Mini DisplayPort Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae, and comes with Touch Cover, Type Cover, Pen with Palm Block but still has the same VaporMg Case & Stand.  It comes in 64GB and 128GB variants.

More about the Surface

For one, it comes with its own stand so you don’t have to shell out extra cash for a Smart Cover or any other accessory.  Plus, it comes with Touch or Type covers in vibrant colors.  The Touch Cover is to protect the screen and doubles as a touch-based keyboard, while the Type Cover is also a cover that doubles as a traditional keyboard if you’re more into hearing the clickity-clack as you type away.  The casing of Surface is called VaporMg, which is a precision crafted material designed to protect the vital technology inside but still provides a high quality finish and feel.

What’s lacking?

The Surface looks great but there’s still some things missing if they want to remove Apple from the picture.  Some remaining questions: will it have Kinect?  Will it have the recently unveiled SmartGlass, which aims to truly connect all your connected devices?  Those are just two features that can be crucial to Microsoft’s tablet dreams.  If the Surface is launched without these key developments in Microsoft’s long term OS strategy, what would be their edge over the iPad or any other tablet for that matter?

“What they didn’t show were Kinect, SmartGlass and other software assets that could be key differentiators against the iPad,” Sarah Rotman Epps, an analyst at Forrester Research said. “The months are ticking by, and the announcement left more questions than answers about how successful these devices will be.”

Surface impact

We know that Microsoft partnered with Barnes&Noble when they invested in NewCo.  The partnership entails that Microsoft cannot make products that would compete with the Nook e-readers and the Nook Tablet, so did Microsoft violate that agreement with the launch of the Surface?

And if Microsoft is already making their own tablets, does that mean that they no longer need other OEMs in their tablet dreams?  Is Microsoft abandoning Samsung and HTC?  Weren’t they supposed to be the first ones to sport a Windows 8-based tablets?  We’re still waiting for Microsoft’s response regarding the matter.