Microsoft Surface with Windows RT Retail Release Now Available in Staples, Best Buy Set for Dec. 16; Prices Start at $499 for 32GB Tablet

Shortly after Microsoft confirmed it will retail their Surface with Windows RT tablet to stores outside of the Microsoft name, two stores have been confirmed.

Microsoft confirmed rumors of the retail release on Dec. 11, adding the Surface with Windows RT tablets will hit shelves as soon as "mid-December."

The first retailer to confirm it will sell the Microsoft Surface is Staples, already selling it since Wednesday, Dec. 12, a day after Microsoft's confirmation.

"Staples is excited to provide this innovative product to customers just in time for the holiday season," said Staples Executive Vice President Merchandising Mike Edwards. "Staples is a leader in offering the latest technology for small businesses and consumers, and our customers can now experience Surface in store or online."

According to Staples, it will be selling the Surface with Windows RT tablet as follows:

- Surface with Windows RT 32 GB  (tablet only): $499

- Surface with Windows RT 32 GB with Black Touch Cover: $599

- Surface with Windows RT 64 GB with Black Touch Cover: $699

Accompanying Staples will be Best Buy.

The retailer launched the Surface with Windows RT tablet on their website on Dec. 12 as well, but will have the tablet in all Best Buy stores and select Best Buy Mobile stores nationwide on Sunday, Dec. 16.

"Right now the only place you can get a Microsoft tablet is at a Microsoft store. That all changes today as BestBuy.com begins offering the Surface," said President of BestBuy.com Scott Durchslag. "Customers have come to expect Best Buy - both its store and website - to be the place with the broadest selection of consumer electronics and our sale of this much-hyped new tablet just reinforces that point."

Best Buy will sell the Surface with Windows RT tablet at the same prices as Staples, but Best Buy noted an additional .99 cents for the Black Touch Cover version of the Surface.

"Consumers have heard about this tablet and now even more customers can experience it," said Scott Anderson, merchant vice president for tablets at Best Buy. "Starting this weekend we will have almost 1,400 stores where people can buy it. The Surface is a fantastic add to our already enormous tablet assortment and makes Best Buy the destination for gift givers this year."

Microsoft will be launching another Surface tablet in January, titled the Surface with Windows 8 Pro. The Windows 8 Pro tablet has garnered attention, not necessarily from different features compared to the Windows RT tablet but due to price. The starting price of the Windows 8 Pro tablet starts at $899 for the 64GB model and $999 for the 128GB model. Regardless of the price, it will not feature the keyboard cover and Office suite software, unlike the Windows RT tablet.

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