Microsoft has unveiled Surface, a tablet computer to compete with Apple's iPad.     

CEO Steve Ballmer was on hand to announce the tablet, calling it part of a "whole new family of devices" the company is developing.     

The 9.3 millimeter thick tablet comes with a kickstand to hold it upright and keyboard that is part of the device's cover. It weighs under 1.5 pounds.     

Steven Sinofsky, the president of Microsoft's Windows division, called the device a "tablet that's a great PC --a PC that's a great tablet."

The company said the Surface's price point would be announced closer to availability and added that it would be competitive with "a comparable ARM tablet (like the iPad) or Intel Ultrabook-class PC." 

More information is availble on Microsoft's site: www.microsoft.com/surface/en/us/default.aspx