News & Reviews:   Microsoft Surface

Apart from being the lightest, thinnest and most affordable tablet of the Microsoft Surface range of tablets, the Surface 3 also comes with an optional stylus called the Surface Pen. Tech specs for the tablet are still quite high-end with a quad-core Intel Atom x7 processor, 10.8-inch display with 1280 x 1920 pixel resolution and Windows 8.1. It is also one of the devices that will get a free upgrade for the upcoming Windows 10 upgrade on 29 July 2015. The video below shows just how precise and accurate the optional Surface Pen stylus can be for the Surface 3, recreating a painting in real-time. Check it out for yourself in this article.

With 5 Microsoft Authorized Reseller stores already launched Microsoft are launching 2 more stores this weekend at Lowyat Plaza on 13 June 2015 and The Mines on 14 June 2015. As usual the store will offer a hands-on experience for Microsoft products like Windows phones, feature phones, Surface tablets, Microsoft Office 365 and more. For customer Sam How, the store opening at The Curve also saw his wedding proposal to his girlfriend of 7 years (who said yes). While there may be no extra festivities this weekend, do check out this article for promotions and activities for the aforementioned store launches.

Microsoft is picking up the pace for their ultimate goal of 39 Microsoft Authorized Reseller stores by opening 2 new stores here in Malaysia. This will include a Microsoft Authorized Reseller store in The Gardens Mall on 30 May 2015. Another store will be opened at One Utama on 31 May 2015. As usual the store will offer a hands-on experience for Microsoft products like Windows phones, feature phones, Surface tablets, Microsoft Office 365 and more. Check out the promotions and activities in this article.

In line with their previous statement to open 39 more Authorized Reseller stores in Malaysia by end of 2015, Microsoft Malaysia will be opening their second Authorized Reseller store at Sunway Pyramid on 23 May 2015. Like the first store recently opened in KLCC, this store in Sunway Pyramid will feature an assortment of best-in-class Microsoft products, including Windows Phones, Feature Phones, Surface devices as well as Windows, Microsoft Office 365 and more. Visitors can get a hands-on experience of all these devices and products, and special consumer training sessions will also be available on the opening day. If you've been curious about Windows 10, a preview version of the operating system will also be made available to try. Check out this article for more promotions, deals and details.

Microsoft Malaysia recently announced that Malaysia would be getting the first Microsoft Authorized Reseller Store in Asia Pacific. Located in Suria KLCC, the store will offer various Microsoft products including Windows smartphones, phones, Surface tablets and software like Windows and Microsoft Office 365. The extensive line-up will be available for the public to get a hands-on and personal view with available Microsoft devices, apps and services. While it may be the first, it won't be the last as 39 more such retail outlets are planned for Malaysia by the end of 2015. Promotions will include the following:

• The first 50 customers to purchase any Lumia or Surface device will walk away with a pair of Monster Headphones
• With every purchase of a Lumia or Surface, customers will be able to participate in the Live Tiles of Fortune game, where they stand to win shopping vouchers worth RM50. 
• In collaboration with AirAsia, any purchase of a Lumia 532 and Lumia 535 will entitle customers to 5,000 worth of AirAsia Big points which can be redeemed for a return flight to selected destinations. For more information on this promotion, do visit http://www.airasiabig.com/promos/lumia/ 
• The top 3 (three) most creative pictures taken using the Mobsta device using the hashtag #MicrosoftMYStore stand a chance to win attractive prizes such as a Limited Edition Gold Lumia 930, Lumia 535 with Coloud Boom headset, and a Lumia 530.
• Customers can also get their free caricature done on a Surface Pro 3 by artists when they visit the Microsoft Store. 
• Every three hours starting from 11:00am, visitors to the store can compete with others in Zombie Tsunami. The top three scorers of each game will win a Seagate Wireless Plus HDD, Microsoft Treasure Tag and Coloud Boom Headset respectively.

Microsoft Malaysia recently and officially launched their new Microsoft Surface 3 tablet. While it is the thinnest and lightest Surface tablet to date, it is also the most affordable, starting at RM1989 for the version with 2GB RAM and 64GB storage while the version with 4GB RAM and 128GB storage retails for RM2389. Designed as the tablet that can work like a laptop, the Surface 3 tablet will be available in Malaysia from 9 May 2015 at authorized retailers like Aone Plus Supplies & Services, Harvey Norman, All IT Hypermarket, PC Image Sdn Bhd, Senheng Electric, senQ Digital Station, SNS Network, Thunder Match Technology, Viewnet Computer System, Hello Station at Suria KLCC, and Style Vision. Stand out tech specs and features include a 10.8-inch ClearType HD multi-touch display, Surface Pen stylus, Dolby Audio-enhanced sound and built-in three-position kickstand. The durable magnesium case only weighs 622g and it comes with the full Windows 8.1 experience with free upgrade to Windows 10 and one-year subscription to Microsoft Office 365 personal. Here's what Microsoft had to say about it:

“When we first envisioned Surface years ago, we challenged ourselves with an ambitious goal: to build a perfect product, a tablet that can replace your laptop. It wasn’t something we would achieve overnight and we couldn’t do it alone. So we went on that journey with our customers – listening and learning – and that desire to build something that people will love is what drives us. We are extremely thrilled with the enthusiastic response from Malaysians when we began our Surface journey in Malaysia – beginning with Surface RT and Pro in 2013, which continued with Surface 2 and our big hit release Surface Pro 3 last year. The feedback we have been receiving consistently shows us that when people try Surface, they love it. So our next challenge became how we get Surface into more people’s hands – and the result is Surface 3. Surface 3 is the best of a tablet yet works like a laptop – offering productivity and design people love about Surface Pro 3 in a thinner, lighter, more affordable package.” Rukmani Subramanian, Chief Marketing and Operations Officer, Microsoft Malaysia. 

Microsoft Malaysia has sent out the invites and it looks like Malaysia will be the first country in the Asia Pacific to get their own Microsoft Store. Located at Suria KLCC on Level 3, the Microsoft Store will offer users first hand access to Microsoft products like the Microsoft Lumia smartphones and Surface tablets along with the various accessories for each of Microsoft products available in Malaysia. If you're looking to get some hands-on time of your own, do swing by on 9 May 2015 at Suria KLCC. Rumours indicate that this could mean that we're finally getting local support for the Microsoft Xbox game console, but these are still early days and we can't confirm that just yet. In addition, Microsoft have also opened up a Facebook event page stating that you could also win 2 tickets to Paris. We expect more prizes to be also up for grabs so do check them out for yourselves. 

In Microsoft's recent "small gathering" the company went on to reveal the largest Surface tablet to date with the official announcement of the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 tablet. While we thought the "small gathering" hint was pointing at a Surface Mini tablet it was in fact about the Surface Pro 3, which is probably the thinnest tablet in the Surface range. Going for a magnesium casing like the Surface Pro 2, this super thin tablet features a 12-inch display but is 100g lighter than the Surface Pro 2. The bigger screen has a resolution of 2160 x 1440 resulting in 216ppi pixel density. 

The Microsoft Surface Mini remains one of those as of yet unannounced rumours but Microsoft have since come out with an invite for a "small gathering" on 29 May 2014, hinting that they could be announcing the Surface Mini tablet there. Currently, rumours have the Microsoft Surface Mini sized with a 7.5-inch display with 1440 x 1080 pixel resolution and 4:3 Aspect Ratio to compete directly with the Apple iPad Mini. Previous versions like the Microsoft Surface and Surface Pro use a 16:9 Aspect Ratio. Other tech specs and features include an NVIDIA Tegra processor, Windows RT, 2GB of RAM, 32GB / 64GB of storage and no built-in kickstand. It is expected to have WiFi and LTE versions. The dealbreaker remains the pricing though as the other Microsoft's other Windows RT installed tablets only started selling well when they hit below RM1K pricing. Again, no news on Malaysia pricing or release dates but stay tuned for more developments.

Microsoft Malaysia recently announced the arrival of the Surface 2 here in Malaysia at a price tag of RM1399 for the 32GB version and RM1699 for the 64GB version. Tech specs for the Surface 2 look to be upgraded somewhat with a 1.7GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor but it is still running Windows RT 8.1. Additional accessories like the Type Cover 2 or Touch Cover 2 cost RM409 and RM379 separately. The Surface 2 should be available after 14 March 2014 but it's announcement has also meant a price cut for the existing Microsoft Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets. The 64GB Surface RT tablet has been discounted down to RM1199 from RM1399 while the 128GB Surface Pro is now RM1899 from RM2749. Considering the slightly lower pricing for the Surface 2, we expect the Surface Pro 2 to go for around RM2649 making the current Surface Pro tablet a very tempting choice for those looking to get an older but powerful Windows 8 tablet.