Microsoft unveils two new tablets

Microsoft has announced it will sell its own branded tablet computers as competition for the iPad, unveiling them Monday afternoon in Los Angeles. The company announced two Surface tablet models, one running Windows 8 Pro and one with Windows 8 RT, engadget.com reported. The RT model has a 10.6-inch display, is 9.3 millimeters thick, weighs 1.3 pounds and is powered by a NVIDIA ARM chip, engadget.com reported. The slightly larger Windows 8 model is 13.5 millimeters thick, weighs 1.9 pounds and runs an Ivy Bridge Core i5 processor. Both models will be available with magnetically-attachable covers that feature keyboards. Microsoft did not discuss pricing and availability, going only as far to say prices will be "on par with Ultrabook-class PCs" for the Windows 8 Surface, which will be available about three months after the Windows 8 launch. The RT model will be available at around that launch time, the company said.