To date news on availability of Microsoft’s Surface tablets has been vague at best. We know from the launch that Microsoft will launch the ARM based Windows RT version of Surface first, then follow through with an x86 machine a few months later. We also know from a CRN interview with Steve Ballmer that Microsoft plans to sell the tablet via Microsoft.com.
But until now we haven’t known the exact launch date - the big money was on a launch simultaneous with Windows 8 itself, but this has been pure speculation. However in a filing to the SEC Microsoft has finally let the cat out of the bag, delivering an official timeframe for the tablet. In the Windows and Windows Live division section of the report is this statement:
"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."
It is important to remember that this just says 'begin selling', which plays into previous statements about the timing of Windows RT and Windows 8 versions of Surface. There are still no specifics on local availability, but we’ll have them the moiment they are announced.
