Perhaps one of the most annoying things about the iPad is that it doesn’t have an external keyboard. But we’re committed and fully fledged iPad fans here, so there’s not a lot we have to gripe about, really.

Running Windows 8, Microsoft’s newly announced “Surface” tablet is billed as bridging the gap between tablet and laptop (and potentially toppling the iPad’s leading market position).

Available from October, two versions of the Surface were unveiled, one running Windows RT (kind of like Windows Lite for smart devices) and one running the new full Windows 8.

The idea is to get folks like you trading in old iPads and using our sell for cash service to fund an upgrade from a traditional tablet or laptop to a funky little combo – the Surface tablet.

Specs:

• 10.6inch HD display
• Two devices 9.3mm and 13.5mm thickness respectively
• Two devices 676g and 903g respectively
• Case incorporates keyboard
• The Pro version offers up to 128GB memory, the RT version either 32GB or 64GB
• USB port

And that’s pretty much it on the information stakes. So before you go rushing off to sell your laptop to fund a Surface tablet, it’s worth pointing out that, historically speaking, Windows have a great track record with PC hardware and consoles like the Xbox, but have yet to prove themselves in the tablet arena. Still, props for trying and we can’t wait to try it out in October!