Microsoft launched the Surface 3 earlier this week, finally removing Windows RT in favor of Windows 8.1. It's now a fully functioning hybrid laptop instead of a tablet with the same form factor of the Surface Pro.

Internally, the Surface 3 features an Intel Atom processor, 2 GB of RAM and 64 GB of solid state drive storage. It will feature a 10.1-inch full HD display, a serious knockback from the quad HD display on the Surface Pro 3.

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The low-specs on the Surface 3 mean most professional apps will take a while to load and don't expect video games to run marvelously on the tablet. That said, it will offer more applications than Windows RT was able to load.

Microsoft has updated the Type Cover and Touch Cover to fit with the new Surface 3. In the past year, Microsoft launched an array of covers to fit almost any profession, including DJ, producer, musician, artist and architect. All of these will be reconfigured to fit the Surface 3.

The Surface 3 without the keyboard starts at $499 and it is $599 with the keyboard. Microsoft also offers a 4 GB of RAM, 128 GB of solid state storage option for $599. An LTE option will be available later in the year for another $100 although it's not clear if all options will get LTE.

This could be Microsoft's real step into the low price tablet market, competing against the iPad and Google Nexus 9. The original Surface gained 900,000 sales but failed massively and cost Microsoft millions in inventory space and promotion.

The Surface 3 will go on sale later this year in the U.S. and across Europe. It should be available in other regions by the end of 2015.

Microsoft is planning to offer a free update to Windows 10 when it arrives in the summer. Surface 3 owners will be able to grab the free update whenever but Windows 7 owners will only have half a year to pick up the new version for free.

TagsSurface 3, Tablet, windows 8.1, Intel Atom