Microsoft has announced that its Surface Pro tablet will launch "before the end of May" in 19 countries including the UK.
The firm's tablet running the full blown version of Windows 8 is currently available in just three regions - the US, Canada, and China.
Microsoft Surface RT tablet, meanwhile, shipped on the same day the Windows 8 operating system was launched 26 October. Sales of this tablet with the cutdown OS have been disappointing, with Microsoft failing to release official figures.
However, Brian Hall, general manager of Microsoft Surface, remains positive, claiming Microsoft wanted to make sure the stock was in place to fulfil orders.
"To those of you who have pressed for information please understand that before making these announcements we make sure that we have the volume of devices in place and alignment with our retail partners to do each launch well," he said in the Surface blog.
Hall claimed that Microsoft's biggest challenge has been keeping the 128GB Surface Pro in stock.
"We've worked hard to increase availability, and most retail partners in the U.S. and Canada as well as the Microsoft Store now have the 128 GB product consistently in stock," he added.
"Looking forward to sharing Surface with more folks around the world."
Resellers who spoke to IT Pro at the beginning of March claimed that businesses were getting frustrated with Microsoft and that interest in the Surface Pro is likely to have all-but died once it is released.
Salman Chaudhry, a mobile computing analyst at market watcher Context, went one step further claiming the device would be an "an absolute rip-off" and users would be better off sticking to products made by OEMs.
-
ITPro is 20!We take a look back on the past two decades since ITPro launched...
-
Cyber experts issue alert after two ransomware groups team up on ‘unprecedented’ threat campaignNews The tie-up includes a new model of industrialized ransomware deployment that significantly lowers the barrier to entry for cyber crime
-
The ‘Surface Phone’ is finally here – sort ofAnalysis Microsoft joins the foldable fray with hinged phone and tablet
-
Windows 10 vs Windows 8.1: Which was the best operating system?Vs We rate Windows 10 vs Windows 8.1 in a number of key categories for professional use
-
Microsoft unveils updated Surface devicesNews Surface Pro 6, Surface Laptop 2, Surface Studio 2 and Surface Headphones officially revealed
-
Windows 10 vs Windows 8.1 vs Windows 7 - Microsoft OS head-to-headVs We pit Microsoft's most popular operating systems against each other to see which is the greatest of all time
-
How the Department for Education upskilled IT staff in Windows 10 migrationCase Studies Mobility strategy has reduced waste and improved flexibility
-
Dell Latitude 12 Rugged Tablet reviewReviews Dell's military-grade tablet wasn't rugged enough to survive IT Pro's Adam Shepherd
-
Dell agrees to sell Surface Pro as Microsoft targets the enterpriseNews Microsoft also partners with HP, Accenture and Avanade under Surface Enterprise Initiative
-
Top 10 Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 apps for 2015Best Our collection of the best and most popular Windows 8.1and Windows 10 apps to download in 2015
