Microsoft Surface Pro Launches in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia This Week

Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablets – the ones that rock the full version of Windows 8 – are now rolling out across much of Southeast Asia and beyond. The Surface Pro launched in Singapore yesterday (June 3), and the tablet will hit Thailand tomorrow (June 5), Malaysia on June 7, and South Korea on June 11.

Weighing in at a wrist-snapping 916g – yes, nearly a kilo – Microsoft’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) flagship tablet is apparently better suited to getting some serious work done with the aid of the optional extra Touch Cover or Type Cover keyboards.

The Surface Pro launch comes about seven months after the Surface RT launch, the other Microsoft tablet that runs a stripped-down version of Windows 8. That cheaper model is supposed to compete with Apple’s iPad and higher-end Android tablets, but many reports suggest the RT has been a huge flop. IDC’s report for Q1 2013 states that only 200,000 Surface RTs shipped in that quarter – in contrast to 27.8 million Android-powered tablets in the same period.

Microsoft will be hoping that the full-fledged Surface Pro sees stronger sales with its expanded roll-out across Asia. The Surface Pro is S$1,198 ($950) in Singapore.