Microsoft Announces New Surface RT SKU: 64GB Without Touch Cover
by Anand Lal Shimpi on January 22, 2013 12:00 PM ESTWhen Microsoft launched Surface RT, you could only buy the 64GB SKU with a bundled black touch cover. Although Microsoft's custom keyboard covers are an integral part of Surface's design, Microsoft offered them unbundled so: 1) you could choose whatever color you'd like, and 2) Microsoft could make tons of sweet cash on selling you a $120 cover.
Today, along with a bunch of other things, Microsoft is annoucing a 64GB Surface RT SKU without a bundled touch cover for $599. The pricing is in line with everything else, $100 more than the base 32GB configuration and competitive with other high-end ARM based tablets on the market.
| Microsoft Surface RT SKUs | ||||
| 32GB | 64GB | |||
| Surface RT | $499 | $599 NEW | ||
| Surface RT + Black Touch Cover | $599 | $699 | ||
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kmmatney - Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - link
crickets....mjv.theory - Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - link
Can't quite get my head round how they can justify charging $100 for a $2 keyboard.bapcorp - Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - link
Probably because it was built by Apple !tipoo - Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - link
Point me to where we can get capacitive touch keyboards that thin for $2? 50-70 dollars isn't unreasonable for a regular keyboard imo, for something as thin as this and with capacitive touch buttons which probably cost more I don't think 100 is unreasonable.MonkeyPaw - Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - link
By comparison, you can get a Transformer dock for ASUS tablets for anywhere from FREE (Transformer RT) to $200. I managed to get one for my TF700T for $99 at Best Buy. It's no Touchcover, but it does offer more battery and a couple extra expansion ports. The keyboard itself isn't half bad. Makes the tablet far more useful for everyday tasks, while also serving as a "cover" of sorts.paul878 - Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - link
Microsoft Logic---It is more expensive than Apple so it must be better!tipoo - Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - link
How so? 500 for the 32GB SKU, the 16GB iPad is that much. Granted Windows 8 RT takes a lot more storage than iOS, lets call the storage a draw (the Surface still has a bit more), the price seems the exact same to me.The keyboard is more expensive than the Apple one, but the Apple one isn't this thin, magnetic, and capacitive.
uhuznaa - Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - link
But then the Apple BT keyboard is a real keyboard. And with a case or stand for the iPad you can position the keyboard as you like.I agree that the keyboard cover should be much, much cheaper. MS should just include it for the base price. This would make it attractive and MS needs its platform to be attractive. It seems that nobody gets the most crucial thing: Market share is crucial and without it you won't be able to make any profits later on.
tipoo - Wednesday, January 23, 2013 - link
True,but is a "real keyboard" best for tablet use? It doesn't attach to the tablet, you have to carry it around separately, and with a separate case if you want the tablet to stand while typing. The smart cover plus the Apple keyboard end up no less expensive than the Surface + touch cover and built in stand.paul878 - Tuesday, January 22, 2013 - link
If Microsoft drop the price to $299 this would fly of the shelves, and they would have an ecosystem overnight. The Surface is a slick design but price to fail.