Microsoft Had Been Working on the Surface Since 2009

Microsoft has finally unveiled pricing for the Surface tablet and although the device is yet to be publicly revealed, new and very interesting bits of information continue to spread on the web.

Steven Sinofsky, head of the Windows division, told engadget.com that Microsoft had been working on the Surface for three years, as the project was started in the summer of 2009.

The whole idea was pretty simple at that time: Microsoft was giving the last touches to Windows 7 and prepared for an entirely new and more ambitious project called Windows 8.

The new operating system was supposed to focus on touch capabilities from the very beginning, so developing a tablet that would perfectly bring all these features in the spotlight pretty much made sense.

Microsoft advanced with this apparently secret project as Windows 8 took shape, so now that the new operating system is ready to see daylight, so is the Surface.

As you probably know by now, the Surface is available in three different versions, 32 GB with or without a Black Touch Cover and 64 GB with the magic cover.

The cheapest version is already sold out, so preorders have been pushed back for three weeks, which means that all those who want to get a tablet on October 26 would have to choose the two more expensive versions.

Microsoft apparently hopes to sell up to 5 million Surface tablets this year, as the company has already placed orders to produce this impressive amount of units. It remains to be seen however whether Microsoft is indeed too ambitious or simply realistic.