description Microsoft Surface (Original) Overview
The original Surface line pioneered the modern concept of the 2-in-1 device. It blurred the lines between laptop, tablet, and digital canvas. By prioritizing a seamless, touch-first experience with premium build quality, it forced the industry to re-evaluate the rigid boundaries between input methods, setting a new standard for modern versatility.
help Microsoft Surface (Original) FAQ
Is the original Microsoft Surface the Surface RT or Surface Pro?
The first consumer Surface tablet released in October 2012 was the ARM model with Windows RT, commonly called Surface RT. Surface Pro was a separate Intel model running Windows 8 Pro. [Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/surface/models/surface-rt-specifications)
Can the original Surface run normal Windows desktop programs?
The original Surface RT uses an ARM-based NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor and Windows RT, so it cannot run the full x86 Windows desktop software library. It did include Microsoft Office Home and Student 2013 RT for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. [Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/surface/models/surface-rt-specifications)
What display and storage did the original Surface RT have?
Microsoft lists a 10.6-inch ClearType HD display with 1366 by 768 resolution, plus 2 GB of RAM. Storage options were 32 GB and 64 GB. [Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/surface/models/surface-rt-specifications)
Did the original Surface have a real USB port and expandable storage?
Yes, the Surface RT included a full-size USB 2.0 port and a microSDXC card reader. It also had two 720p cameras and an HD video-out port, which helped it act more like a small computer than a phone-sized tablet. [Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/en-US/surface/models/surface-rt-specifications)
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