Previous

Next

Microsoft's Surface 2 event will start at 7:30 a.m. PT/10:30 a.m. ET in New York City on Monday, September 23, 2013. Those wanting to find out Surface 2 and Surface Pro release date, price, specs, and other updates can find out through live blogs (more details below).

Surface 2 will most likely run on Windows 8.1 RT, the next version of the OS that will come with a new version of Outlook. But it still won't be able to run full Windows program.

Microsoft is expected to rebrand its Surface tablets by introducing Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2. According to leaked reports from the last few weeks, both new tablets will have a 10.6-inch touchscreen with a 1080p resolution, Tegra 4 chip (a powerhouse), a USB 3.0 port, Bluetooth 4.0, a microSD card slot, and a battery providing around eight hours of use. It will also include an adjustable two-stage kickstand.

The new surface tablets are expected to feature Haswell, a processing chip that uses less energy, which will make them lighter and thinner as well as have longer battery life.

Microsoft is expected to present new accessories, including a new Power Cover, which is a proper keyboard rather than touch-sensitive type, that could boost battery life significantly, and a Surface Docking Station, which will enable a full-size keyboard, a mouse, and an external monitor to be attached to the tablet, turning it into a desktop replacement. Both accessories work for the Surface Pro, Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, but not Surface RT, according to rumor reports.

While Microsoft has upgraded the devices' hardware and software, the ultimate factor determining the success of the sales really depends on the prices and costs for the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 tablets. Some rumors say that the Surface 2 will cost $500, but Microsoft should have learned a lesson from last year's flop of Surface RT to put a lower price tag for the new tablets to be presented on Monday morning.

Microsoft said there's no live video stream for the event, but live blogs can be accessed on The Verge and CNET as the Microsoft Surface 2 event unfolds in New York City.