Skip to main content

‘The Vibe’: Microsoft debuts Surface Pro TV ad on tablet’s problematic launch weekend

surface pro adA new Surface Pro ad is here, even if the device isn’t. I’m referring, of course, to the apparent scant availability of the tablet – particularly the 128GB version – following its launch on Saturday, but more on that in a moment.

First, the ad. It’s set in an office the likes of which the majority of us will never have worked in. You see, everyone moves in unison, snapping their bodies this way and that, spinning on tables and pulling dance moves that would land most of us in hospital with a herniated disc.

Recommended Videos

Having said that, the action might all be taking place inside the mind of the guy who appears in the opening and closing shot. Ah, yes. That’ll be it.

The 60-second commercial (below), titled ‘The Vibe’, contains several of those satisfying clicks made when the Touch Cover keyboard connects with the tablet, together with a similar-sounding-but-not-quite-the-same click of the bundled pen as it detaches from the side of the device – indeed, it’s the pen rather than the Touch Cover that takes center stage in this Microsoft ad. There’s also plenty of dancing, bar charts, beatboxing (highlighting its USB connectivity), circling of graphs and swiping of displays, though not necessarily in that order.

Whereas Microsoft’s early RT ad, released last October, featured young families, besuited workers, schoolgirls and senior citizens, the all-suits-and-office Pro ad shows the Redmond-based computer giant going after the business sector with the pricier and more powerful Windows 8 version of its tablet.

If, after viewing the ad, you find yourself reaching for your wallet and car keys while at the same time saying, “Right, I’m off to Best Buy or Staples now to get one of these,” then you may do well to phone ahead before you leave home. According to reports over the weekend, the 128GB version of the Surface Pro tablet has sold out at many stores across the country, though whether this is down to inadequate supply or strong consumer demand isn’t entirely clear at this stage.

In response to a tweet on Saturday from California-based Manu Narayan who complained of being unable to get hold of a Pro tablet despite waiting in line at a Microsoft store and visiting branches of Best Buy and Staples, Panos Panay, general manager of the Surface team, tweeted, “Sorry to hear this. We are trying hard to get more Pro devices available ASAP.”

In the meantime, plenty of disgruntled would-be buyers of Microsoft’s new tablet have taken to the Surface blog to voice their unhappiness at being unable to get their hands on the device this weekend.

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
The ever-popular Microsoft Surface Pro has a $380 discount today
Microsoft Surface Pro 11 front view in tablet mode.

If you've always wanted to own a Microsoft Surface Pro, now's the perfect time to make your purchase as the latest model, the Microsoft Surface Pro 11, is on sale from Walmart with a massive $380 discount. From its original price of $1,200, it will be yours for a more affordable $820. You're going to have to hurry in completing your transaction though -- with the popularity of this line of devices, we're not sure how much longer stocks will last and when the offer expires.

BUY NOW

Read more
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) vs. Microsoft Surface Pro 11: two diminutive laptops fight for the top
Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 front angled view showing display and keyboard.

It might seem strange to compare a clamshell laptop with a detachable tablet 2-in-1, but the fact is, if you're look for a small yet powerful, highly portable PC, you have two great options. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the best 13-inch laptop you can buy (maybe the best ever), and the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is the best 2-in-1.

Both are very small, both are fast and get great battery life, and so both can serve anyone well who wants a real PC that feels more like a mobile device. But which one is the right choice for you?
Specs and configurations

Read more
Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is $500 off at Best Buy (with a bonus)
The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 with Surface Slim Pen 2 and Surface Pro Flex Keyboard.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 can combine all the best things about laptop deals and tablet deals if you pair it with the Surface Slim Pen 2 and Surface Pro Flex Keyboard. Fortunately, you can buy all of these with huge discounts from Best Buy! The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 is on sale at $500 off, bringing the device's price down to $1,600 from $2,100, while a bundle that includes the Surface Slim Pen 2 and the Surface Pro Flex Keyboard is available at $100 off, so you'll only have to pay $350 instead of $450. That's a total of $600 in savings, so you'll only have to pay $1,950 for everything instead of $2,550, but you better hurry because either offer may expire at any moment.
Microsoft Surface Pro 11 -- $1,600 $2,100 24% off

We described the Microsoft Surface Pro 11 as a "spectacular" device in our review, and we awarded it a score of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars -- so it's a steal at a 24% discount that translates to $500 in savings. The 13-inch PixelSense touchscreen with 2880 x 1920 resolution and OLED technology is simply stunning, and it will be able to handle demanding tasks with its Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor, Qualcomm Adreno GPU, and 32GB of RAM. It's also a Copilot+ device, which means it ships with Windows 11 Home pre-installed in its 1TB SSD and it's designed to fully take advantage of Microsoft's Copilot. The Microsoft Surface Pro 11 headlines our list of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but you'll need to buy the following accessories to maximize its potential.

Read more