Although Microsoft unveiled the Surface and Surface with Windows RT tablets in June, they still largely remain a mystery. While OEM partners have announced their Windows RT and Windows 8 offerings, Microsoft has stayed mum about its own tablets, letting the operating system and third-party hardware hog the spotlight.

On Tuesday, Microsoft finally started taking pre-orders for the Windows RT version of Surface, and revealed more info about the device. Some details it had exposed before, such as the fact that it has a 10.6-inch display. But some appear to be new, such as the fact that the display includes 1,366 by 768 pixels, and that it has (just?) 5-point multitouch to boot.

The real unveiling, though, was the price:, which starts at $499 for the 32GB version; a 32GB version bundled with a black Touch Cover will cost $599. There will also be a 64GB version bundled with a black Touch Cover priced at $699. Touch covers will be available separately for $119.99 each and will come in black, white, magenta, cyan, and red. A black Type cover, which is something more akin to a traditional keyboard, is $129.99. In all, the Surface RT’s price is more competitive with the iPad(Opens in a new window) than an Android tablet, with some analysts speculating that it’s already too high. (For more, check out Surface RT vs. iPad: Specs Compared.)

The Surface RT tablet measures 10.81 x 6.77 x 0.37in, and weighs 1.5 pounds. The chassis is made up of Microsoft’s VaporMg casing, which gives it its thin, slim form factor without sacrificing structural strength. The Surface RT also includes 720p cameras on the front and back, a novel choice for tablets, which typically put a lower-resolution camera on the front, if not the back, as well.

But how does it all fit together? Microsoft’s teardown provides the answers on what’s inside this shiny, new tablet. Hit the slideshow for more.