Talk about a busy Fall. Not only are we getting ready for a big Windows Phone 8 reveal in less than two weeks time, Microsoft is also preparing to launch Windows 8 in late October. That also means the Surface tablets will be released at the same time, and it appears Microsoft wants to get the ball rolling on the hype.

First up is an in-person photo published by Surface Evangelist of a man using the Microsoft Surface at some kind of restaurant, seen above. The man could be Windows President Steven Sinofsky based on the physical resemblance, but no one can definitively confirm that it's him. What is very easy to tell though is that he is using one of the Surface tablets, complete with cyan Touch Cover and kickstand. We also noticed that the man is using what appears to be the Modern-style Internet Explorer 10, as evidenced by the black address bar near the bottom of the screen.


It's cool to see the Surface out in the wild for the first time, but chances are slim you'll get the opportunity to see one before October 26th. Unless you live in New York, where you can see the next best thing: Surface graffiti! A series of street art has appeared in various parts of the Big Apple, first publicized by The Verge yesterday. Since then more art has appeared in new locations, including high up on the sides of multistory buildings.

There is a lot similarity between this campaign and one used early on for the Windows Phone launch in 2010, where Microsoft spray painted sidewalks with time and date info for promotional concerts. The company was fined a measly $50 for the graffiti, making it a quite affordable marketing campaign. We'll see if everyday folks recognize that this is Microsoft's handiwork and are intrigued by what the Surface could be.

Several more photos after the break.

Source: Surface Evangelist (Facebook), The Verge