You didn't take the hint with the primetime debut of a television commercial for the first Microsoft-built computer yesterday? Really? If you were paying attention to our Twitter feed last night, you might have also noticed us talking about a Paul Thurrott article which claimed pricing would be announced tomorrow.

Thankfully it was true and we don't have to wait until October 25th at 11:59 PM to find out how much one of these slick new tablets is going to cost us. Without further ado...

Here is the pricing breakdown of the Surface RT when it will become available next Friday:

• 32 GB Surface RT — $499.99
• 32 GB Surface RT with black Touch Cover — $599.99
• 64 GB Surface RT with black Touch Cover — $699.99
• Touch Cover in White, Red, Black, Cyan, and Magenta — $119.99
• Type Cover in Black — $129.99

Microsoft wasn't kidding when they said prices would be in line with the competition, because the Surface RT is aiming directly at the iPad. We know you've already got a reaction in your head, but let's deconstruct these prices for a moment.

For starters, the Surface RT is actually a better value than the iPad in a way, since the 32 GB model is the same price as Apple's 16 GB tablet. Moving up the price scale to $599 and $699, the storage matches between the Surface and the iPad but Microsoft is throwing in a free Touch Cover — again, another value add. It's also important to point out Surface's included full-size USB port and MicroSDXC slot. Finally, it's noteworthy to remember that every Windows RT tablet ships with a free version of Office Home & Student 2013 which is a big advantage for students and the working class alike.

Miraculously, Microsoft has figured out a way to beat Apple on price even if it's not immediately noticeable.

However when it comes to the Touch and Type Covers, that pricing advantage bottoms-out. The Touch Cover, the flat and colorful typing option, is going to set you back a Franklin and a Jackson if you want it in any other color besides black (or if you want an extra black cover). Then there's the Type Cover, the slightly thicker better-feeling typing experience, which is oddly just $10 more but only comes in Black. Peculiar pricing, no doubt.


Anyway, if the price is good for you and you're already convinced by the tablet there's more good news to be had. The company is now accepting pre-orders online at Surface.com, although it is unclear when the first batch will ship to customers. Also, the tablet will be available online when it launches in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the United States.

If you want to know all of the nitty gritty details before you buy into the Surface RT here's a look at all of the specs your heart could desire and a few more glory shots of the tablet.

• Software - Surface with Windows RT comes with Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT Preview (which includes Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote)
• Exterior - 10.81 x 6.77 x 0.37 inches, 1.5 pounds, VaporMg casing, dark titanium color, volume and power buttons
• Storage - 32 GB; 64 GB
• CPU - NVIDIA T30, 2 GB of RAM
• Wireless - Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0 technology
• Cameras - Two 720p HD cameras, front- and rear-facing
• Audio - Two microphones, stereo speakers
• Ports - Full-size USB 2.0, microSDXC card slot, headset jack, HD video out port, cover port
• Sensors - Ambient light sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, compass
• Power Supply - 24W power supply
• Warranty - One-year limited hardware warranty
• Apps (included) - Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT Preview (2) (Word, PowerPoint, Excel and OneNote), Windows Mail and Windows Messaging, SkyDrive, Windows Internet Explorer 10, Bing, Xbox Music, Xbox Video, and Xbox Games

Source: Microsoft, Surface