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Microsoft Surface 2 4G LTE tablet lands at AT&T

For $679, you can get the Microsoft Windows RT 8.1 slate with 64GB and the perk of high-speed data on-the-go.

Xiomara Blanco Associate Editor / Reviews - Tablets and monitors
Xiomara Blanco is an associate editor for CNET Reviews. She's a Bay Area native with a knack for tech that makes life easier and more enjoyable. So, don't expect her to review printers anytime soon.
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Xiomara Blanco
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The article has been edited to correctly identify store availability.
Microsoft Surface the second, now with more LTE! Microsoft

Microsoft's Windows RT tablet-darling is the latest to join AT&T's growing family. Rocking a $679 price tag, the Microsoft Surface 2 4G LTE hits Microsoft Retail Stores, MicrosoftStore.com, and Best Buy starting March 18.

Powered by a Nvidia Tegra 4 processor and 2GB of RAM, the 4G LTE version of the Surface 2 packs the same internal and external specs as the Wi-Fi only version -- for the most part. Microsoft simply added a GSM micro-SIM card slot just south of the volume rocker, on the left edge.

When it comes to tablets, the Microsoft Surface 2 is like an aspiring Renaissance man, steadfast on following its own path. Josh Miller/CNET

The Windows RT 8.1 slate houses 64GB of internal storage and features Microsoft Office 2013 -- for work, homework, or if you're the type of person who likes to keep track of things in Excel spreadsheets (I'm a Google Doc person, myself.)

The are a few data plan options for tablets on AT&T's network, including shared data plans for families, however, availability, coverage, and pricing depends on your location. The Surface 2 4G LTE ships unlocked and, as of yet, AT&T is the only wireless service provider to carry it.

The Surface 2 is portable and light, but I've seen lighter. Josh Miller/CNET

Considering the comparable 64GB Apple iPad Air goes for around $800, the Microsoft Surface 2 4G LTE's $679 price tag doesn't sound like a bad deal. Not to mention the built-in Micro-HDMI and full-size USB 3.0 port, as well as MicroSDXC card reader it houses. The downside is Windows RT 8.1, an incompatibility with XP, Vista, or Windows 7 PC programs, and the droughty app store, all of which hold back Microsoft's ARM-based tablets in an increasingly competitive market.

Though the "best tablet" ultimately lies within one's individual needs, if you need a productivity-geared gadget and cellular connectivity on-the-go, Microsoft's "If you build it, they will come" approach may suite you. What do you think about the Microsoft Surface 2 4G LTE? Let us know in the comments section.

Check out the full review of the Microsoft Surface 2 review and check back for one of the LTE version when we get our hands on it.