Microsoft has officially launch their Surface tablets in China, and it features a unique difference compared to its American counterpart.
Microsoft's Chinese Surface tablet features a special edition Office Home and Student 2013 software, however, it'll be under the Windows 8 Standard and not the Windows 8 Pro variant of the tablet. According to PC World, the use of Windows 8 OS instead of Windows 8 Pro is due to the simplified Chinese language.
The 128GB Surface with Windows 8 Pro will also see a change in China with an x86 processor. The tablet has been coined as the "Surface China Edition" and will be released this upcoming Tuesday.
The Surface China Edition, just as the Surface with Windows 8 Pro, will be available in 64GB and 128GB versions for 6588 yuan and 7388 yuan, respectively. When converted to the U.S. dollar, the tablets cost $1,050 for the 64GB variant and $1,178 for the 128GB model..
The Surface with Windows RT tablet has been on sale in China since October. Sales for the Surface with Windows RT in China are reportedly weak with only 90,000 units shipped during the last quarter of 2012.
"If you were to ask if they will become the number one tablet brand in China that's difficult to say," said IDC analyst Kitty Fok. "There's a lot of competition in China, with other vendors that sell at different pricing."
Apple is currently number one in the Chinese tablet market with a 62 percent share. According to IDC, Lenovo placed second with 14 percent.
The Surface with Windows RT is scheduled for release in Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, and Taiwan soon. The Surface with Windows 8 Pro is also expected in the "coming months" in Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
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