What he said

That's the RT version.  The higher end Intel version is "full HD" so presumably 1080p at a minimum.  It will also be more robust in its hardware, etc., so that's the one I'll be looking at. 8)

Orion, you can run REAL Windows programs on the native Intel version of the tablet.  You don't need to worry about the HTML5 Metro or Apple iPad Flash-grade $1 apps nonsense.

Should be about as popular as Zune.

I actually really liked my Zune.  Had fewer issues with it than the other MP3 players I tried.

Microsoft knocked it out this week with Surface and Windows Phone 8.  All the hate is quite amusing.

Hate aside, I felt sorry for the dude in this video: http://www.wimp.com/newtablet/

The tablet froze up during the presentation

But hell, a similar thing happened to Jobs when he was presenting the iPhone4......

i am still interested in Windows 8 on a tablet device, but this thing is no competition for the iPad.

16:9 ratio? sucks for viewing websites, ebooks, pdfs or comics. just imagine a print magazine with that ratio.

low resolution? why? the iPad 3 has a retina display, it's great. 

it's ugly. this will cost hundreds of euros, so why the same cheap plastic as in a $50 tablet from China?

No... it has the choice of 3 three new screen resolutions – WVGA (800x480), WXVGA (1280x768) and “true 720p” (1280x720p)

Not 'retina', granted... but certainly good enough.

I'm glad Microsoft finally found the courage to take some risks.  There's no way they can keep being a powerhouse these days without taking chances.  Even with Metro's poor reception, I still think they're at least pointed in the right direction with what they're doing.  Not sure it will all pay off, but at least they're moving and not resting on their laurels.

They haven't even detailed much of the display specs yet, aside from it's 10.6” ClearType HD Display.

exactly, so why would i want to replace my iPad 2 with that? when this will be released it will probably have the lowest resolution in it's price range.

the os looks good, but it needs some decent hardware to run on. 

just read this. so the choice is iPad 4, MacBook Air or this? seriously?

Not aware of trade ins, but the W8 pad will multitask and the iPad can't, for one.

Also, the Surface will work with network printers... the iPad?

I for one will keep an open mind, but I'm sure there's plenty of room in the Apple bus if you want to keep taking that ride.

as i said, the os looks good. give me a 4:3 ratio, a high resolution display, at least 10 hr battery life, a metal case at a price that competes with the iPad and not the MacBook Air and things will get interesting.

if this is the best they have to offer, Microsoft wont need a bus. a Honda will do.

As I recall reading, MS doesn't consider it to be... more an alternative with features the iPad lacks... ie, multitasking, network printers, etc.

For mine, this is a good move by Microsoft and I hope it is well received in the marketplace.  Yes, Surface may be a late comer in the pad arena by comparison, but that still doesn't make the iPad the best. In fact, several reviews rate the Samsung GalaxyIII pad very highly, and in some ways they say it's better than the iPad, which is why I guess Apple tried its very best through various courts in several countries to prevent Samsung from releasing it.  Hehe, Samsung had the last laugh, though... and again I digress.

I've never ever been interested in an iPad, iAnything for that matter, but if I were ever in the market for a pad I think MS' Surface might just be the one I'd go with, given what I've read so far. I like the idea of the built in 'kickstand' and connectible keyboard that acts as a cover... for me, both those features give it the edge over other pads.  Now I do not like Win 8 as a desktop OS with Metro as the default UI, but it would be a completely different proposition on a tablet device.  It is where Metro belongs, on a portable/touch device, like Surface, and in that environment I would come to terms with it.  However, given its extra features/options, I would have to go with the higher end model with Win 8 Pro... when the time came.

Much is yet to be known and hardware to hardware comparisons seem to put Microsoft at a disadvantage.  Obviously MSFT will have to do something to make the product competitive with other hardware already established in the market.  Maybe speculation should consider what software might be bundled with this to make it attractive from an overall cost standpoint.  Office has been mentioned once or twice.