Microsoft to launch Surface tablet on October 26

In its annual report, Microsoft said that the much-awaited tablet computer would be released at the same time as the Windows 8 operating system.

Microsoft's new tablet Surface shown during the press conference in Hollywood, California. Pic/AFP

u00a0"The next version of our operating system, Windows 8, will be generally available on October 26, 2012. At that time, we will begin selling the Surface, a series of Microsoft-designed and manufactured hardware devices," the firm said.

According to the Telegraph, the announcement applies only to one version of the two Surface models Microsoft will sell.

The device, based on ARM processors rather than Intel''s, is the first computer the Windows-maker has ever produced itself.

According to the paper, the new Windows 8 operating system offers a mode that looks like Windows 7, called Desktop.

It also offers a new version that uses the same ‘Metro' interface that is available already on Windows phone.