Microsoft launches Surface in Singapore

SINGAPORE — It would seem the fad of camping overnight for the latest tablet may be going the way of the Dodo, or the PC as it were.

Last year’s Apple’s iPad opened to little or no fanfare as retailers in Singapore as well as around the world reported shorter queues. While some were seen camping for the iPad mini, it did not attract the crowds of yesteryear.

Yet the tablet will be responsible for eroding the growth of PCs in the coming years, according to a new study released yesterday by market researcher Gartner (See report here http://tdy.sg/gartnerapr5). Apple’s iPad mini could testify to that; despite the less than expected crowds, retailers said the device sold out within hours.

Today, Microsoft will start selling its much anticipated Surface tablet in Singapore, the first to do so in Southeast Asia. The productivity 10.6-inch tablet will come loaded with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote); Windows Mail and Messaging; SkyDrive; Internet Explorer 10; Bing; Xbox Games apps. On the surfce, it boasts a full-size USB 2.0 port and a HD video out port — with accessories for VGA and HDMI ports — on its side, a 3.5mm headset jack and a microSDXC card slot hidden behind the kickstand. More apps can be downloaded from the Windows Store, which also houses apps for the Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 environment.

It also makes for a good “mobile cinema” what with its 16:9 aspect ratio wide-screen display and two stereo speakers, located on the top of the tablet, which play audio with credible lows, mids and highs.

The Surface also has two 720p HD LifeCams, one in front and one at the back, so you can video chat or shoot HD footage quality. It runs on a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor with 2GB of RAM.

I was at the Challenger Store at Funan DigitaLife Mall just six hours before the first Surface will be handed out and the queue hasn’t started forming. But should there be a queue, Microsoft and Challenger have demarcated a runway for Surface enthusiasts to wait in comfort, and mull over which model and/or bundle they wish to take. Purchases today at Challenger Funan will come with a S$100 Challenger voucher and a 10.400 mAh Valore Powerbank worth S$109 (while stocks last).

As at 6.15pm, there were 75 people in queue for the launch of the Microsoft Surface tablet at the Challenger Store at the Funan DigitaLife Mall. Challenger plans to start selling the Surface from 7pm. Mr Khoo Kwek Leong, 47, a civil servant, was the first in line with his wife taking the second spot. Mr Khoo, who had taken a half day leave specifically for the launch, was in line to purchase two sets of the 64GB version with Touch Cover bundle. The couple are Challenger members who are eligible for the member-only offer. Mr Khoo, who had been in line since 4.45pm, had decided to get the Surface as a birthday gift for his Thai daughter-in-law who would be arriving in Singapore next month. "She will be coming to Singapore for the first time and we discussed it among the family to give her the Surface as it can function as a tablet as well as a computer," said Mr Khoo. Mr Khoo said the second unit will be for his personal use and he had decided on the Surface over other tablets because it comes pre-loaded with Microsoft Office, which is a software he's been trained in and is familiar with. Even though he has a Samsung Galaxy Note, Mr Khoo said he was not familiar with other word processing apps and felt more at home with Microsoft Office.

The Surface retails for S$668 for the 32GB model; S$798 for the 32GB with Touch Cover — its microfibre external keyboard cum cover — bundle or the 64GB model without Touch Cover; S$938 for the 64GB model with the Touch Cover bundle. Exclusively to Challenger members, a special bundle of the 64GB model with Touch Cover will be available at S$928.