When Microsoft took the wraps off of its Surface tablets earlier this month, there were a couple of crucial details about the devices that the company didn't divulge: pricing and release dates. The latter is still a mystery, but a new rumor today claims to shed some light on how much interested customers will need to pony up for Microsoft's new slates. The Next Web claims to have been told by "a source close to Microsoft" that the Surface for Windows RT may be priced at $599 when it makes its retail debut. The Intel-powered Surface for Windows 8 Pro model is said to be a tad pricier, with a possible cost of $999.
The Surface rumors don't stop there, as Bloomberg's "people familiar with the matter" claim to have details related to the tablets' connectivity capabilities. The publication's sources allege that the Surface slates will only be available in Wi-Fi-only flavors, at least initially, meaning that customers hoping for a cellular-enabled model may be out of luck. Creative Strategies analyst Ben Bajarin suggests that the decision to go Wi-Fi-only could be an attempt to help keep the cost of the Surfaces down.
While some folks may be disappointed by the potential lack of a cellular-capable Surface, many people will likely be fine with sticking to Wi-Fi connections, especially if it helps to make the Surfaces more affordable. Speaking of pricing, Microsoft said that the cost of the Surface for Windows RT and Surface for Windows 8 Pro would be "competitive" with comparable ARM tablets and Intel Ultrabook PCs, respectively. While the $599/$999 price points are still a rumor at this point, they seem like they could be a little on the high end of Microsoft's projections. What do you all make of these Surface rumors? Are you ok with a Wi-Fi-only model? Would you shell out $599 or $999 for the Windows RT or Windows 8 Pro models?
