Microsoft Surface tablet launch date confirmed

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http://www.todayonline.com/Technology/EDC120731-0000073/Microsoft-Surface-tablet-launch-date-confirmed

Microsoft's first tablet, called Surface, will launch on Oct 26 at the same time as the Windows 8 operating system.

Writing in its annual report, Microsoft confirmed, "The next version of our operating system, Windows 8, will be generally available on Oct 26, 2012. At that time, we will begin selling the Surface, a series of Microsoft-designed and manufactured hardware devices."

The announcement applies only to one version of the two Surface Microsoft will sell. The device, based on ARM processors rather than Intel's, is the first computer the Windows-maker has ever produced itself.

The new Windows 8 operating system offers a mode that looks like Windows 7, called Desktop, and a new version that uses the same 'Metro' interface that is available already on Windows phone, making a tablet version's success particularly important.

Microsoft is hoping that its new hardware will allow users to replace their Apple iPads and Windows 7 laptops with new Windows 8 tablets.