02/04, 5:50am
MS Surface Pro reaches retailers ahead of its February 9 launch
The Microsoft Surface with Windows 8 Pro has started appearing in retail stores in the US and Canada. However, the long-awaited Wintel notebook-tablet hybrid is cannot be purchased until its official on sale date of February 9. In the meantime, customers will be able to get their hands on the device and consider handing over the $899 (64GB) or $999 (128GB) that Microsoft is asking to the devices.
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01/22, 2:37pm
First Pro model powered by i5 chip
As promised, Microsoft has finally announced a launch date for its Surface Windows 8 Pro tablet. The new offering, which follows the Tegra-based Surface RT variant, is set to arrive on February 9 at a range of US retailers and select outlets in Canada.
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01/18, 5:47pm
Promotional upgrade price to stop Jan 31st
Microsoft will be changing the price of the Windows 8 Pro upgrade at the end of January, and has also detailed the cost of other Windows 8 upgrade options. The operating system maker will be putting the price of the online and retail upgrades of Windows 8 Pro up to $200 in February, once the current promotional pricing offer runs out.
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01/09, 4:29pm
Protected 10.1-inch slate joined by 7-inch Android tablet
Panasonic has updated its Toughpad range of tablets with a pair of ruggedized offerings. The Toughpad FZ-G1, aimed at outdoor and vehicle-based users, is the company's first to run Windows 8 Pro, while the Toughpad JT-B1 is a heavily protected 7-inch Android tablet for use by mobile workers in public-facing and heavy-duty industries.
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11/29, 6:39pm
Surface Pro may have 4.5 to five hours battery
When Microsoft launches the Windows 8 Pro version of its Surface tablet, the device will apparently have a battery life somewhere in the area of four and a half to five hours. This according to a Panos Panay, head of Microsoft's Surface project. Surface with Windows 8 Pro -- which runs the full version of Windows 8 -- will launch in January of next year.
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10/15, 3:05pm
Full boxed copy on sale, not as pre-order
Walmart is selling Windows 8 over the counter 11 days too early. The retailer has been spotted putting boxed copies of Windows 8 Pro on its shelves ahead of the official October 26th street date, with employees claiming the operating system was available to purchase, though the store was not promoting them.
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09/04, 7:43am
Removes Windows SP downgrade option
Microsoft will let users of Windows 8 Pro downgrade if they wish. A change to the operating system licensing agreement allows users that don't like the way Windows 8 works to replace it with Windows 7 or Windows Vista at no extra charge, however this will not be possible for the basic Windows 8 and Windows RT versions.
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08/21, 8:14am
Microsoft to push rapid adoption strategy for Windows 8
Microsoft's Windows 8 pricing strategy has been leaked thanks to anonymous source for The Verge. Windows 8 Pro will launch at a promotional price of $70 which will continue through to January 31 next year. At that point, it will revert to $199.
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07/02, 5:00pm
Downloadable Windows 8 Upgrade promotion runs until January
Microsoft is aiming to maximize the number of users installing Windows 8 via electronic download by offering the Pro version for $40 for online sales only. Users of Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 will be able to download an upgrade to Windows 8 Pro in 131 markets, according to the Windows Team Blog, with Windows Media Center being a free option after the upgrade has taken place.
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06/19, 12:55am
Two models have slight, but significant differences
Today's unveiling of the new Microsoft Surface tablets focused heavily on the aesthetics and functionality of the devices. Microsoft noted in its presentation, though, that a good deal of work went into the hardware design underlying the Surface family. Following the Surface reveal, the software giant provided a look at the technologies powering its new tablets.
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