Microsoft prices Wi-Fi Surface tablet below new Apple iPad

Microsoft Corp is setting the price of its new Surface tablet below comparable versions of Apple Inc's  iPad, signaling its intent to grab a slice of the booming tablet market.

The world's largest software company, which announced its surprise foray into computer manufacturing in June, said it would sell a 32-gigabyte (GB), Wi-Fi only version of its tablet at $499, versus $599 for a comparable version of Apple's new iPad.

Microsoft's tablet, which is taller and slightly heavier than an iPad, will go on sale on October 26 as the company launches the new touch-friendly Windows 8 operating system. A limited number will be available for pre-order from a Microsoft website from Tuesday morning.

The company is hoping the Surface - along with Windows tablets from other hardware makers - will challenge the dominance of Apple's iPad, which has 70 per cent of the tablet market after essentially inventing the category in 2010.

The iPad's popularity demolished the market for mini-laptops called netbooks, and crimped the sales of full-scale PCs, eating away at Microsoft's Windows market.

Based on a Nvidia Corp chip designed by ARM Holdings , the Surface will run a simplified version of Windows 8 that is not compatible with old Microsoft applications.

However, the tablet will feature new app-style versions of Office mainstays such as Word, PowerPoint and Excel, and will include Xbox games, video and music apps.

The Surface, with two cameras and a USB port, will be Wi-Fi only. Microsoft has made no mention of a wireless-enabled version.

On top of the basic model, Microsoft will also offer a 32GB model bundled with a black 'Touch Cover' - that doubles as a keyboard - for $599, and a 64GB version with a black Touch Cover for $699.

That compares to $699 for a 64GB Wi-Fi only version of the new iPad.

Since announcing the Surface in June, Microsoft had been silent on the price range, saying only that it would be "competitive" with similar products.

Some market watchers had speculated that Microsoft might price its first tablet even lower to compete with Apple's less-powerful iPad 2, which costs $399, or smaller rivals such as Amazon.com's) Kindle Fire HD and Google Inc's  Nexus 7, which start at $199.

Alongside Microsoft's physical stores in the United States and Canada, the Surface will be generally available online from October 26 for consumers in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Britain and the United States.

A second, heavier Surface tablet aimed at the new generation of lightweight laptops called "ultrabooks," running on traditional Intel Corp  chips, is expected on the market in a few months.

Best Buy to sell its own tablet for $239-$259: source

Best Buy Co Inc is planning to sell its own tablet, the Android-based "Insignia Flex," for $239 to $259, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters, pitting the world's largest consumer electronics chain against the likes of Apple and Amazon.com Inc.

The Insignia Flex is intended to go toe-to-toe with Amazon's Kindle Fire HD tablet, Google's Nexus 7, and a slew of other Android tablets from Google and Samsung. A smaller and less expensive version of Apple's popular iPad tablet is expected to be unveiled next week.

Best Buy's in-house brand Insignia shared details of the new tablet on its Facebook page late last week, but has so far kept silent on the price tag, a crucial weapon on the intensifying tablet and mobile device battlefield.

Best Buy has used its in-house brand in the past to cater to customers looking for less expensive versions of everything from high-definition TVs to Blu-ray players.

The Insignia Flex will hit stores on November 11 and be sold only at Best Buy, the source said on condition of anonymity because the details were not yet public.

The Insignia Flex is based on Google Inc's Android software, which also powers Samsung's tablets, and features a dual-core 1GHz processor, 9.7-inch screen and 10-hour battery life, according to the Facebook page.

It will also feature a camera for video conferencing and weigh in at about 1.45 pounds, the source said.

The pricing compares with a starting price of $499 for Apple's 9.7-inch iPad and $399 for the older version of iPad . Amazon's Kindle Fire HD and Google's Nexus 7 are each priced at $199.

Best Buy's launch of its own tablet does not mean it will not carry rival devices, the source said. Last month, retailer Wal-Mart decided to stop selling all Kindle products. Target took a similar decision earlier this year, acknowledging the growing threat from its online rival.

Best Buy, on the other hand, has tried to position itself as a destination for tablets, carrying a wide variety of the mobile computing devices.