Will Microsoft Make A Big Splash In The Tablet Market?

In June Microsoft held a press event and announced its departure from just providing an operating system to its PC partners, unveiling two brand new Microsoft branded tablets. The tablets as we know them will be called Surface with a 32GB model and Pro version capable of 64 or 128 GB in memory. Not to take away from the announcement of  a MS piece of hardware, but the company will also be launching Windows RT, its first OS for portable devices. The pro model will be accompanied by the highly anticipated Windows 8, an OS that Microsoft will be using to power the next generation Xbox as well. I myself and many others are wondering what type of impact these tablets and this new OS will have on the market.

Lets take a real look at how the two Surface tablets match up against their competitors:

There have been some reports as of late that we will see a late October release for these tablets and a very low starting price point of $199 of the RT model. If this proves true, Microsoft will certainly be price-cutting some of its PC manufacturing partners at the cost of getting involved in the tablet market.

A in-depth look at both models:

Surface for Windows RT

• OS: Windows RT
• Light(1): 676 g
• Thin(2): 9.3 mm
• Clear: 10.6″ ClearType HD Display
• Energized: 31.5 W-h
• Connected: microSD, USB 2.0, Micro HD Video, 2×2 MIMO antennae
• Productive: Office ’15’ Apps, Touch Cover, Type Cover
• Practical: VaporMg Case & Stand
• Configurable: 32 GB, 64 GB

The design of these new Surface tablets is sleek, and they will offer an Office Suite which entices the student audience with a touch sensitive keyboard included, and the Pro model will include pen support. In a market where the iPad is already cemented as the standard of excellence, can the Surface tablets make a big impact, and what will they need to provide to do so?