Microsoft sets prices for Surface tablets

In line with the retail price for Apple’s iPad, Microsoft has set the price of its first-ever homegrown computing device, The Wall Street Journal reports. The software company says the least expensive of its new Surface tablets, due out this month, will be priced at $499. That model does not come with a cover that doubles as a keyboard and has featured prominently in Microsoft’s marketing of the device. Microsoft will also offer a $599 model that comes with a black version of the cover-keyboard combination, and a $699 model with that accessory that has greater data storage capacity. The new tablets will be available on Oct. 26. Microsoft, known for selling software rather than hardware, announced the surprise plan to offer its own tablet in June without disclosing pricing or other details. The pricing scheme seems to position the Surface against the iPad, though Microsoft’s hardware offers more memory at each price point than Apple’s hit device. Microsoft’s device was designed to run its latest operating system software, which comes with a new interface that is designed for a touchscreen. The models of the Surface announced today run a version of the new software called Windows RT. Click here for more on the Surface and how it factors into the tablet wars.