Microsoft Surface RT priced like an iPad - starts at $499

TechCrunch noticed that Microsoft accidentally leaked the price of its upcoming Surface RT tablets in the Microsoft Store. It seems Microsoft's partners will sleep on both ears as the pricing of these tablets is much higher than what was speculated this summer.

The price of these ARM-based devices seems to target Apple's iPad, pricing starts at $499 for the entry-level model with 32GB flash memory, the edition with the touch-sensitive keyboard Touch Cover will cost you $599, and doubling the memory will add an extra $100.

Microsoft had originally said that its Surface pricing would be roughly in line with the competition, with the RT devices matching tablets and the regular, more powerful Windows 8 varieties coming in at prices more comparable to other notebooks and ultrabooks out there. This pricing is in line with Apple’s iPad, which starts at $499 and ranges up to $699 for the Wi-Fi-only versions. Surface will be available beginning October 26, following a kick-off event for media October 25, and Microsoft looks to be ready to open pre-orders soon. The touch cover adds $119.99 to the price of the tablet when added as an accessory, and the type cover, with hardware keys, adds $129.99.

In related news, The Verge writes that Microsoft has reportedly placed orders to manufacture between 3 and 5 million Surface tablets in the fourth quarter. Mass production of Microsoft's tablet began earlier this month.