Microsoft Surface Pro is the first generation of Surface Pro series, introduced by Microsoft on June 18, 2012. Microsoft Surface Pro has a full power of a laptop with the third generation of Intel Core Processor.
720p HD LifeCam front-facing camera with TrueColor Technology
720p HD LifeCam rear-facing camera with TrueColor Technology
Audio
Single microphone
Stereo speakers
Misc
Surface Pro 1
Inking
Supports Surface Pen
1,024 levels of pressure
Wacom Active Pen technology
Can be attached to charging port
Included with purchase
Sensors
Ambient light sensor
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Magnetometer
In the box
Surface Pro (1st Gen)
Surface Pro Pen
Power supply
Quick Start Guide
Safety and warranty documents
Warranty
One-year limited hardware warranty
More
Casing: VaporMg
Kickstand: 1 position at 22°
Physical buttons: volumes, power
Availability
The original Surface Pro came out on June 18th, 2012, at the Microsoft Surface event, with a starting price of $899 for the model with Intel Core i5-3317U, 4GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 RAM, and 64GB of SSD. It has a 10.6-inch full-HD display with touch and pen input enabled. Unlike the Surface RT, the Pro model has Windows 8 Pro that supports all Windows software and games.
At the event, alongside the Surface RT, Microsoft also introduced the Surface Pro, Surface Touch Cover, Surface Type Cover, and more.
Features
Pro-grade performance
The Surface with Windows 8 Pro features a powerful 64-bit x86 processor, courtesy of Intel. The third-generation Intel Core i5-3317U has two cores and four threads, enabled with hyper-threading technology, making it perfect for multitasking. It can support up to three displays, making it an ideal choice for maximum productivity.
Processor
Intel Core i5-3317U
Base Frequency
1.7 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency
2.6 GHz
TDP
17 watt
Level 1 Cache
128 KB
Level 2 Cache
512 KB
Level 3 Cache
3 MB
Max Memory Size
32 GB
Graphics
Intel HD Graphic 4000
Graphics Frequency
350 MHz – 1050 MHz
Graphics DirectX
11.1
Graphics OpenGL
4.0
# Display Supported
3
Original Surface Pro’s processor spec sheet
Tips and tricks
Discover how to get the most out of your Surface Pro 2 with our tips and tricks. Our comprehensive guide will help you optimize battery life, enhance performance, boost productivity, and troubleshoot effectively.
Catch up on the latest information about the original Surface Pro features and fixes introduced via driver and firmware updates from Microsoft. Here are the last five releases:
2016
Feb
26
Eliminate instances where the device wakes randomly and improve system stability when detaching the cover.
A thorough understanding of the device you intend to buy is crucial before purchasing. To help you with this, we have prepared an all-inclusive list of frequently asked questions that will answer all your queries.
The FAQ covers all aspects of the original Surface Pro, including display, battery life, performance, software, and design, ensuring you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Microsoft Surface Pro 1 has dimensions of 10.81” x 6.81” x 0.53” (275 mm x 173 mm x 13.46 mm).
3How much does the Surface Pro 1 weigh?
Microsoft Surface Pro 1 is weight at 2lbs (~910g).
4What ports are on the Surface Pro 1?
Here are all the available ports on the Surface Pro 1:
1 x Full-size USB 3.0
1 x 3.5mm headphone jack
1 x Surface Charging Port
1 x MicroSDXC card reader (up to 64GB)
1 x Surface Pro Type Cover port.
5Does Surface Pro 1 have a camera?
Yes, there are two cameras on Surface Pro 1:
720p HD LifeCams rear-facing camera.
720p HD LifeCams front-facing camera.
6What processor is in the Surface Pro 1?
Microsoft Surface Pro 1 has only one processor configuration:
3rd Gen Intel® Core™ i5-3317U
Graphics: Intel® HD Graphics 4000.
Base Frequency: 1.70 GHz
Max Turbo Frequency: 2.60 GHz
Cache: 3 MB
2 cores, 4 threads
7Does Surface Pro 1 include a pen?
Yes, Surface Pro 1 does come with a Surface Pen out of the box. It uses the old Surface Pen with Wacom technology which doesn’t have a battery.
8Does the new Surface Pro 1 come with a keyboard?
No, you will need to purchase the keyboard (Surface Touch Cover or Surface Type Cover) separately. The Surface Touch Cover costs about $120 while the Surface Type Cover 2 costs about $130.
9When was Surface Pro 1 released?
Microsoft Surface Pro 1 was:
Announced on June 18, 2012.
Not available for pre-order.
Available on February 9, 2013.
10Can you upgrade the RAM on Surface Pro 1?
No, you can’t upgrade your Surface Pro 1 RAM as it was soldered directly onto the motherboard.
11Is the Surface Pro 1 fanless?
No, All Surface Pro 1 comes with a fan inside for active cooling.
1What size is the Surface Pro 1’s display?
Surface Pro 1 has a 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD Display.
2What is the resolution of Surface Pro 1?
Surface Pro 1 has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 with a pixel density of 208ppi (pixels per Inch).
3What is the default Surface Pro 1 display scaling?
Micorosft Surface Pro 1 has a default display scaling of 150%.
4What is the aspect ratio of Surface Pro 1?
Surface Pro 1 has a 16:9 aspect ratio.
1Can Microsoft Surface Pro 1 run Photoshop?
Absolutely yes. Microsoft Surface Pro 1 equipped with the 3rd Gen Intel® Core™ processors combined with Intel® HD Graphics, is powerful enough to handle most tasks available on Photoshop.
2Can the Surface Pro 1 run games?
Yes, you can play many game titles at low or medium settings.
3Can you code or program on Surface Pro 1?
For writing code, Microsoft Surface Pro 1 is more than powerful enough to handle most code editors such as VS Code, Atom, or Notepad++. Combined with its great tactile keys, it’s the perfect mobile development machine you want to have. It’s also capable of compiling complex codes on Visual Studio or Android Studio as well.
4Is Surface Pro 1 64-bit?
Yes, Microsoft Surface Pro 1 uses the 3rd Gen Intel® Core™ processors which supports 64-bit instruction and it does come with a 64-bit version of Windows 8.1 Pro or Windows 10 Pro.
5Is Surface Pro 1 good for drawing?
Yes, drawing is smooth on most apps such as Adobe Photoshop, Windows Ink, Sketchable, Bamboo Ink, OneNote, and more.
6Is Surface Pro 1 good for students?
Not really. There is one downside of Surface Pro 1 as it lasts only around 4 hours. However, if you don’t bother to carry around the charger, it’s a great device for a student. You can take advantage of all kinds of note-taking taking including typing, drawing, and touch. You will never get stuck on taking note of all kinds of information you want.
7Will Surface Pro 1 run Office?
Yes, Surface Pro 1 comes with a Microsoft Office 365 30-day trial. Office apps will run smoothly on Microsoft Surface Pro 1.
8Will the new Surface Dock work with Surface Pro 1?
No, The new Surface Dock required a new Surface Connect interface which isn’t available on Surface Pro 1.
1What is the battery capacity of Microsoft Surface Pro 1?
Microsoft Surface Pro 1 has a battery capacity of 42 Wh (5,676 mAh, 7.4V). For more information, check:
You can charge your Surface Pro 1 by using the OEM charger that comes with your Surface Pro 1 – Plug the charger to the power source and plug the Surface charging connector into the charging port on the right side of Surface Pro 1. It’s a magnet and reversible connector and it’s an official and recommended charging method by Microsoft.
3Can I charge Surface Pro 1 via USB?
No, the USB port on Surface Pro 1 is used for data transfer only.
1Does Surface Pro 1 run Windows 10?
Yes, it does. Surface Pro 1 shipped with a full version of Windows 8 Pro and can be upgraded to Windows 10 Pro for free.
2Can you download apps on Surface Pro 1?
Yes, you can. You can download safe and Microsoft-verified apps and games from Microsoft Store. Since it’s a full version of Windows 8, you can also download and install any apps from any source you’d like to.
3Does Surface Pro 1 run full Windows?
Yes, Surface Pro 1 comes with full Windows 8 Pro.
4How do I reset my Surface Pro 1?
To reset your Surface Pro 1 on Windows 10, plug in your Surface Pro 1 so you don’t run out of power during the refresh.
Open Settings > Update & Security.
Select Recovery.
Under “Reset this PC“, select Get started.
Choose either Keep my files or Remove everything.
If you choose to Remove everything, you can choose to clean only the drive where Windows is installed and all drives.
Next, you will have the option to just remove my files and remove files and clean the drive. The option to clean the drive is more secure but takes much longer. For example, if you are recycling your Surface, you should clean the drive. If you are keeping your Surface, you just need to remove your files.
Select Reset.
Surface Pro 1 will restart and the Surface logo will appear during the reset process (this can take several minutes).
5Is Microsoft Office free on Surface Pro 1?
No, the 10.6-inch Surface Pro 1 comes with a free Office 365 30-day trial, so you need to purchase a subscription to continue using the full Office suite when the trial period ends.
6Does Surface Pro 1 need antivirus?
In most cases, you don’t need a third-party antivirus. Windows 10 on Surface Pro 1 has a built-in Windows Defender for virus and threat protection out of the box. It’s free and receives definition updates regularly via Windows Update.
1Is Surface Pro 1 a tablet or a laptop?
It’s a 2-in-1 tablet or laptop. It can function as a tablet and also a laptop when connected to a Surface Pro Type Cover.
2What is the company that makes Surface Pro 1?
The OG Surface Pro is a product among other Surface-branded products that are made by the Microsoft company.
Here are the most frequently requested comparisons for Surface Pro 1:
Evan Forrest is the Editor-in-Chief of SurfaceTip, where he researches and writes articles about Surface-related news, tips, and reviews. He has been using Surface devices since the first release of the original Surface Pro and currently uses a Surface Laptop 3 as his full-time daily driver machine. Additionally, he owns multiple Surface devices, including Surface RT, Surface 3, Surface Go/Go 2, Surface Pro 3, Surface Book/Book 2, and many Surface accessories to aid him in his research and article writing.
Eliminate instances where the device wakes randomly and improve system stability when detaching the cover.View
COMMENTS
Let us know what you think!
We appreciate hearing your thoughts, questions, and ideas about “ Surface Pro 1 specs, features, and tips”.
Where can I find a new keyboard for my Surface_PRO_1 ? Every where I look – the responses are for Surface PRO 3 and above ??
Hi Eddie, Surface Pro 1 compatible with following type covers: Surface Pro 1 Type Cover, Surface Touch Cover, Surface Pro 2 Type Cover, and Surface 2 Touch Cover. However, I recommend the Surface Pro 2 Type Cover as it has slimmer design and backlit key. Here what I found:
https://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Surface-Type-Cover-Purple/dp/B00FG7MSAC/
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Microsoft-Surface-Type-Cover-2-1561-For-RT-RT-2-Pro-1-Pro-2-Keyboard-N7W-SR/192756528925
Hey Evan,
Any idea where I can get a folio type case for my Surface Pro 1?
Can the USB port on a surface pro 1 be used to connect to a tv?
You can get a mini display port to HDMI adapter
How can I upgrade from windows 8.1 to windows 10 when every time I try and download the tool it pops up saying that it has to be from the Microsoft store to download anything