With the Microsoft Surface Pro set to release 6 days after the Super Bowl there are now fresh claims that it will be D.O.A. but many consumers believe these claims to be unjust. That’s not all, it’s also been suggested that the Redmond company shouldn’t even be in the hardware business, and there could be a few people who would share this view considering the ill-fated Zune. However, if they were not in the hardware business then we would not have the Xbox 360 and the next-generation version already in development.

In a recent interview with Yahoo Finance analyst Brent Thill had made those claims we spoke about above but also said that Microsoft faces an uphill struggle with the Surface Pro because the tablet market is a tough one, which Microsoft could struggle to crack, which is evident with poor Surface RT tablet sales.

One of the funniest moments in the video was when the reporter had asked Thill who he thought would buy the Surface Pro, in which he replied Steve Ballmer, his kids, and other members of his family. However, we have to admit that Thill is being a little harsh and that the Surface Pro is not as bad as he makes out.

The first thing we need to point out is that the Surface Pro is not just a tablet; it is more of an ultrabook that has a tablet form factor. While I may never purchase a Surface Pro it’s easy to see the appeal of such a device because you can run full on applications, as well as the design appealing to a younger generation – something that Apple once did.

There’s also the fact that you will be able to run Battlefield 3 on the Surface Pro, although you will need to turn some of the settings down, which we explained for you in our post about gaming being debatable on the Pro becasue of the Intel HD 4000 dedicated graphics card.

The wait will soon be over for the millions of you who have been waiting for solid news on Microsoft Surface Pro tablet. The RT’s bigger brother has finally been given a release date and we can confirm that you’ll be able to buy one at the start of next month. Unlike the RT, it offers full Windows applications support, but gaming performance on the Surface Pro will be a bit sketchy due to the inclusion of an Intel HD 4000 graphics card only.

It would have been nice to see a dedicated graphics card from the likes of NVIDIA to really justify the high price tag for the upgraded Pro, but Microsoft seems to have put gaming as a lower priority on the Pro. The company has confirmed that the big date for launch is February 9, and prices will start at $899 for 64GB and then $999 for a 128GB version – both models will not come with a keyboard cover.

If you want a type or touch cover thrown in which most consumers will probably want, then that is an extra $119.99 for a Touch cover and $129.99 for a Type cover – not exactly cheap. Full Windows support is the main incentive for Surface Pro buyers though and if you are also worried about gaming performance, you may have to live with playing games on a low resolution setting only.

You’ll be able to run games like Battlefield 3 right off the bat, just not with optimum settings and with luxury settings such as AA disabled. For those looking for a more detailed analysis of what the Intel HD 4000 chipset is capable of, this benchmark study will serve you well.

Will you be picking up a Surface Pro with gaming in mind? Should Microsoft be throwing in a touch or type cover to justify the high costs?

Those of you lucky enough to have recently acquired the new Microsoft Surface may be looking for a decent case to keep your new product safe and easy to carry, therefore the Microsoft Surface Padded Nylon Sleeve from Incipio is the ideal case, especially when traveling. Coming in a range of colors this quality accessory has your busy lifestyle in mind, protecting your valued equipment when it is not being used.

Providing durable protection for your Surface the Incipio case is sleek with soft faux-fur lining cushions with discrete close-seamed zipper and measures 11.69 inches in length and 7.5 inches in width. The quality carry cases come in a variety of different colors including cyan, magenta, red, white and an all black version. This Incipio Microsoft Surface case sells for $39.99 or the equivalent in your country.

The cases are light in weight at around 4.37 oz and come with a life long warranty and those who own one have plenty of good things to say about it, regarding this case as nicely made and plush inside. More details and images of the padded nylon sleeves can be obtained by visiting the official Incipio website, and we also have an embedded video of this product below, so would you find the Incipio Microsoft Surface case ideal for your traveling requirements?

All the signs are there that the release of the Surface Pro is just a matter of weeks away now, and looking at the less than impressive sales figures of the Surface RT, Microsoft is surely counting down the days now? We had assumed that we would already be enjoying the new Windows 8 tablet for professionals by now, but we’re still within the 90-day limit of when the RT was first released.

According to analyst Brent Thill, he believes that Microsoft should be feeling far more optimistic in regards to the release of the Surface Pro when compared to the RT model because the former device will be available in retail stores, unlike the latter tablet. He also believes that it will be more of a match for the iPad, which is currently the tablet to beat, although that could change just as the smartphone market has in the last year or so.

Do you consider the Surface a success or not? There has been a mixed reaction in regards to the Surface RT because while some users suggest that the user interface is lacking in key areas and it could expect the same success as the Zune, others believe that it is far better than carrying a laptop or an iPad because of how much lighter it is, as well as the fact that the Surface comes with one of the most important apps, and that is Microsoft Office.

Going by the rule that the Surface Pro would be released 90 days after the RT model like Microsoft indicated, then we could expect Microsoft’s latest tablet to be released next week sometime, although there has been speculation of January 30.

Microsoft may have wowed the tech world with the unveiling and release of their slick Surface tablet, but there is already growing speculation that the company may decide to follow up with a Surface-themed smartphone. It makes sense to us if the tablet goes on to be a huge success and we have a great concept video to show you, which gives you an idea of what a Microsoft Surface phone could look like if it hits the market in the near future.

We always love looking at concept designs of products that may or may not release at a later date and as far as we’re aware, this is one of the first that we’ve seen for a potential Surface phone. If you are a fan of the Surface tablet or have already purchased one, you are bound to love the look of the phone version as there are clear similarities with some of the features borrowed from the tablet.

One of the standout features of the Surface tablet was undoubtedly the touch sensitive keyboard, which doubled up as a typing input method as well as a protective case when folded up. The design received a lot of positive feedback from consumers and it’s no surprise to see similar elements featured on this Surface phone concept.

A flip case which also features touch input can also be seen, while other features include a USB3 port, a 12 megapixel camera and ‘ultra bright flash’ technology within a 5-inch based Super AMOLED display. There’s even a kickstand thrown in as well for media needs and it looks pretty slick with the rectangular design we must say.

If Microsoft are currently not planning a Surface phone, perhaps they should take a look at this concept for inspiration, as we have a feeling that a lot of consumers would be interested in buying one in a second. Watch the concept below for yourself and give us your thoughts on this.

Would you support the decision to bring out a Surface phone?

Microsoft Surface is very new to the game and is seen as a great way for those to replace an old desktop, even though there are limitations to these touch devices. The tablet is perfect for a great number of applications, along with surfing the net as well, but there does seem to be a lack of apps. There is currently not a great deal of developer support, even though Microsoft has come up with a more lucrative profit share scheme when compared to their rivals.

However, this has yet to persuade those devs to increase the number of Microsoft Surface apps available, and what shocks us even more is the fact that there is no Facebook app on the Windows App Store. While this may sound worse than it is, one has to go back a few years because Google faced the same issues with Android, now look how that mobile OS is dominating the market. It is hoped that once the Windows Surface Pro finally launches this should hopefully stir more interest from developers, only if the new tablet is a susses though.

Knowing that it takes time to get into gear there are still a number of great apps available, so we thought we would point you in the direction of a couple of articles that have been looking at the best Microsoft Surface apps available right now. One such article has pointed out what they believe to be the 5 best apps on the Windows App Store, with Toolbox for Windows 8 being right up there on the list because the utility offers all what a user would need, such as a clock, weather, voice notes, a calculator and much more.

Another great app is PDF Touch, which is an essential application to have on any such device, but there’s an added benefit rather than just opening up a PDF file, you can also write on the document using the touchscreen of your Surface device as well.

Business Insider has listed the Netfilx apps as one of their top apps for Microsoft Surface because it allows you to gain access to all that great content. They also know that consumers will use this as an e-reader, so feel that the Kindle app is well worth the download. However, we do like the old school look of the Wikipedia app, as it’s laid out like an old encyclopedia, making it much easier to read over.

What do you feel are the best Microsoft Surface apps available right now? If you don’t agree that any of those apps mentioned above are the best Microsoft Surface apps, then view the video below for even more choice.

It is no secret that the Microsoft Surface Pro release date will be this month at some point, and a launch date becomes more obvious as the days left in this month decrease. Today we have heard from one source that claims to have insider information, which apparently comes from a source that is close to Redmond campus.

If Softpedia are to be believed, then we should see Microsoft Surface Pro on sale for January 30. The launch will take place the day before and should see the Surface Pro price set from $899 for the 64GB model, although you can also pay just under $1,000 for the 128GB version.

It is worth noting that you’d need to pay extra if you want the Touch Cover on Microsoft’s Surface Pro, which will set you back another $119. The above date is yet to be confirmed, although if true it seems that Microsoft want to stretch the confirmed launch month out as much as possible.

Are you waiting to order the Microsoft Surface Pro? You can read about the apparent battery life in our earlier article, which is a lot less than the Surface RT version, but expected considering the difference in specs. In a nutshell you’ll get half the battery life on the Surface Pro.

You can see the difference in specs between the Microsoft Surface RT and Windows 8 Pro here.

Now that consumers have finally gotten their hands on the HP Envy x2 Windows 8 hybrid device, questions will now be asked how the tablet come netbook stands up against the Microsoft Surface, or more so the RT devices which uses the ARM processor rather than the Atom. There’s no denying that the HP device looks better visually, but there is a lot more to it and we know that affordability will be key rather than power as we enter yet another year where there is still far less disposable income than there once was a few years back.

There are other hybrids on the market, but to us the HP Envy x2 is the best of the bunch, but the price is certainly going to be an issue for some because the Envy x2 and other such hybrid netbooks have been priced a little too high when you could get yourself an ultrabook for almost the same price. An interesting article has been looking into the pricing aspect of these devices and feel that those who have come up with the price are “detached from reality.”

One has to wonder how much the likes of HP would charge if there was an even more powerful processor powering these hybrid netbooks? Don’t get us wrong the Atom CPU from Intel is more than up to the job, but if you are using more demanding software then the Atom will struggle. However, the ARM powered Windows RT devices are able to run desktop software as well, and for many do a pretty decent job as well.

How much should a hybrid notebook cost? There’s certainly a market for these hybrid notebooks that also double as a tablet, but we’re not certain that charging almost $1000 for one is key to their success.

Microsoft knew that they were a little late to the game in the tablet market, which they have made a bit of a habit recently in other markets as well, but that has not deterred them from producing a device that has gained them a decent amount of support of late. We’re talking about the popularity of the Microsoft Surface and how it has been winning some consumer love in recent reviews.

It’s been reported that while sales numbers have not been as impressive as the likes of the iPad and the Nexus 7 and 10, those who have decided to go ahead and purchase the Windows 8 tablet have been very pleased, well according to a recent Best Buy survey. Okay, so we know that the Microsoft Surface lacks in a number of key areas, but it more than makes up for it in others, such as a decent amount of storage capacity and also a respectable starting price as well considering the Microsoft Surface spec list.

We do fear that because sales have not been as impressive as Microsoft would have hoped for their tablet, it could share the same fate as the Zune, but if they stick with it like they have done with some of their other popular products in the past, then in a couple of years we could see the company rise back to the kind of levels we have seen in previous years.

How can Microsoft make their tablet range more popular? There are numerous reasons why Microsoft’s tablets are not selling as well as expected, and one of those could be down to confusion. An example of this is Microsoft’s Windows RT tablet, as some experts believe that the Redmond company should drop that moniker and just simply call itself Surface, but we do know how consumers hate change so late in the game.

When it comes to getting a name right for any device it’s just as important as getting the hardware precise, get it wrong and this could have a series effect on the future of whatever product you are trying to become the next big thing. This is something that Microsoft could soon face, as it has recently been discussed that in order for them to make their tablet a success they need to drop the name Microsoft Windows RT and evolve it to just ‘Surface’.

An interesting article has been looking at why Paul Thurrott believes that the best way for Microsoft to move forward with its Windows 8 mobile OS business is to re-brand it, and much of what he says is correct – although some fans would disagree. For many fans they believe that even the name Windows 8 is boring when compared to just Android or iOS, but there are still those who believe that the name is mature.

This is a worry for Microsoft because they are uncertain just how many consumers are on the side of the name Microsoft Windows RT; maybe most of them would just like the name Surface because it just rolls off the tongue? The biggest issue that Microsoft would have to face, putting cost aside, is how people don’t like change. If the Redmond company had just gone with the simpler name in the first place then all well and good, but trying to persuade consumers to drop a name now is going to be a tough call.

The Windows RT device was created for tablets running the ARM processor, which has a desktop mode, but most consumers don’t even look at their Windows tablet that way and just refer to it as a Surface tablet, which could be seen as yet another sign to drop the long and awkward name. The differences between the RT and the Pro can be better explained in our recent article.

If Microsoft were to make a change then maybe they should not go as drastic as a complete name change for Windows 8, although Surface OS has a nice ring to it, but they should consider dropping the name Windows RT as it just doesn’t sound right.