Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablet was released just a few months before the Intel 4th generation Haswell parts. This meant that the original tablet shipped with pretty much the same internal hardware that one would find in your typical ultrabook of the day. After the Haswell processors started to make it to market, it was assumed that Microsoft would announced a new updated version of their full Windows tablet and yesterday they finally announced it along with their more affordable Surface 2 and a whole bunch of new accessories.

For the most part, little has changed with the Surface Pro 2 from the original model but the accessories hint at some potential improvements that will likely spur it to be accepted by more and more corporations if not consumers. Lets take a closer look at both the tablet which is available for preorder today and the accessories that will not arrive until early next year.

Internal Changes

The exterior of the Surface Pro 2 is essentially identical to the original Surface Pro in terms of its size, thickness and weight. The only real change here is the kickstand. Just as with the Surface 2, the Pro version also receives the dual angle kickstand that features the original adjustment and one that tilts it back a bit more than before. This is most useful when the tablet is used in a situation where it would be below the level of a standard desk such as in one’s lap.

In fact, the only real change to the tablet was the processor. The screen, battery and peripheral ports all remain the same. Now it features a Core i5 Haswell based processor that offers slightly improved general performance, greater graphics performance and most importantly better battery life. Microsoft claims that the system should last up to seventy-five percent longer than the original Pro tablet. This puts it very close to being able to handled a full eight hour work day on a single change of course depending upon how the tablet is used.

The only other changes to the system are that the tablet is additional capacity options that includes 256GB and 512GB versions that also feature 8GB of memory rather than the 4GB for the 64 and 128GB models.

Touch and Type Covers

The first of the new accessories that will be available the same day as the Surface 2 Pro are the redesigned Touch and Type Covers. The pricing for them is essentially the same as the original versions but a number of changes have been made.

The Touch Cover 2 is the less expensive of the two at $120. It is slightly thinner than the past version but also is more rigid which might help with some of the issues of it being used on non-flat surfaces and possible tearing of the fabric. Supposedly it also offers support for more gestures across the entire keyboard.

The Type Cover 2 is slightly more expensive at $130 but it provides an experience that is much closer to a traditional laptop. The main change here is that the keyboard is now backlit which makes it easier to use in the dark. It supposedly offers a quieter typing experience and better ability to use in on non-flat surfaces with increased rigidity.

Power Cover

Probably the most exciting of the new covers is one that won’t be available at launch but sometime in early 2014. The Power Cover looks very much like a Type Cover but is thicker (about the width of the tablet) because it also houses a battery pack that can help extend the running time of the Surface 2 tablets or the original Surface Pro. It is estimated to add an extra fifty percent running time which is something that the original Pro sorely needs and makes the Surface Pro 2 reach all-day computing times. Prices are estimated to be around $200.

Surface Docking Station

Another surprising accessory announced for the Surface Pro 2 is a docking station. When the original Surface product was launched, Microsoft did no see the need for such a device assuming that people would enjoy using the tablet on its own with the Cover accessories. This wedge like docking station looks to greatly expand on the peripheral capabilities of the tablet when it launches sometime in 2014 for a price of around $200.

The primary connectors that the Docking station adds are three USB 2.0 ports, one USB 3.0, Ethernet, Mini-DisplayPort and even internal speakers. This is extremely helpful in a office environment as it allows for the use of a larger, higher resolution display (support up to 3840×2160) and standard keyboard and mice to make it much more ergonomic. The Ethernet port can also be extremely useful for companies that are very security conscious and do not provide internal Wi-Fi.

Conclusions

The Surface Pro 2 was not a surprise to anyone and still provides it with one of the best overall full Windows tablet experiences on the market. It is really nice to see the expansion of the peripherals that will make the device even better suited for the corporate environment. It is just too bad that these accessories will not be available at launch. This is even more disappointing when both the Power Cover and Docking Stations will be compatible with the original Surface Pro. Potential buyer’s may want to hold off until the release of those peripherals to get a better idea of their functionality as well as see what may happen to the prices of the original Surface Pro.