Microsoft released the first Surface Pro tablet in 2013. The device launched in the United States, Canada, and China on February 9, 2013, before reaching the United Kingdom and other markets later that year. It was Microsoft's higher-performance alternative to the ARM-based Surface RT, running the full Windows 8 Pro operating system on an Intel processor.
Microsoft originally announced the device in June 2012 under the descriptive name “Surface for Windows 8 Pro.” The company later shortened that branding to Surface Pro. Unlike the Surface RT, the Pro model could run traditional Windows desktop applications, making it a tablet-sized computer with laptop ambitions.
The first-generation model had a 10.6-inch, 1920-by-1080 display, 4GB of RAM, and either 64GB or 128GB of storage. It supported Microsoft's detachable Touch Cover and Type Cover accessories and introduced pen input to the Surface family. A common mix-up is confusing its 2012 announcement with its 2013 retail release; the question asks when customers could buy it.