Microsoft squares up to Apple over touchscreen tablets

Microsoft's 'Surface', a 9.3 millimeter thick tablet Credit: Press Association

Microsoft is squaring up to Apple with the launch of its new tablet computer called 'Surface'.

It comes as no surprise that Microsoft is looking to take a chunk out of the tablet market. Sales are expected to triple in the next two years, topping 180 million-a-year in 2013, easily beating traditional PCs.

Apple has already sold close to 70 million iPads.

Microsoft's latest innovation is a big change for the company which has relied on computer manufacturers to make and market machines which then run the Windows operating system.

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer unveils 'Surface' Credit: Press Association

It could throw the world's largest software company into direct competition with its closest hardware partners such as Samsung and Hewlett-Packard.

Here's how the Surface and iPad compare:

  • The Surface boasts a thickness of 9.3 millimeters, versus the iPad's 9.4 millimeters

  • It will weigh about 1.5 pounds. Apple's iPads weigh 1.44 pounds and 1.46 pounds for the WiFi and 4G LTE versions, respectively

  • A 10.6-inch-diagonal screen, compared with the iPad's 9.7-inch screen. The Surface also features a unique 16:9 aspect ratio

  • The Surface is configurable with 32 GB or 64 GB of storage. Apple's iPad has 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB options

  • Pricing was not revealed on Monday, except that it would be "competitive" with current tablets and Intel-powered Ultrabooks

  • The RT Surface features a built-in kickstand and comes with a cover that doubles as an ultra-thin keyboard

Contrary to expectations, Microsoft made no mention of integrating content and features from its top-selling Xbox game console into either tablet, or the Skype video calling service it bought last year.

MSNBC took the new Surface tablets out for a test run: See what they thought of the design features here.