Microsoft tablet surfaces

SINGAPORE — From today, Singapore will be the first country in South-east Asia to sell the highly anticipated Microsoft Surface RT tablet.

Announced last October, the 10.6-inch device, running on the Windows RT operating system, boasts features that make it the most versatile tablet yet.

I can appreciate the work that has gone into this device just from lifting it out of the box for the first time. The matt-finish VaporMg (say vapour mag) casing feels cool and premium and, at 680g, the tablet is nicely weighted but is not heavy.

According to a Microsoft spokesperson, the casing is made of moulded magnesium alloy, which is the same material that is found in the tyre rims of some sports cars. The kickstand, she explained, is also designed to close like a door on a luxury sports car. No prizes for guessing the gender of the Surface designer, she added.

Microsoft was quick to draw attention to the convenient kickstand, which means you need not buy an accessory if you wanted to stand the tablet up — an indication of the Surface’s serious side.

Out of the box, the Surface is 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.

More apps can be downloaded from the Windows Store, which also houses apps for the Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 environment. There is 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.

Yet, the tablet is also designed to be an entertainment machine. It has a 16:9 aspect ratio wide-screen display just for watching movies; and its two stereo speakers, which are located on the top of the tablet, 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 with passable footage quality.

The tablet runs on a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor with 2GB of RAM.

Unfortunately, the Surface RT comes in just Wi-Fi-only models, so you cannot surf on-the-go — unless you tether it to your mobile phone.

The 32GB Surface RT will be available at Challenger starting from S$668. By comparison, the Apple 16GB iPad with Retina retails for S$658.

Two external keyboard options will be sold separately: The microfibre Touch Cover and the tactile Type Cover. The 32GB Surface is available with the Touch Cover — in blue, white or black — for a bundled price of S$798; the Type Cover will be available separately at S$183.