Microsoft Surface Pro 2 specs, review: The Haswell-powered Windows 8.1 Pro tablet that has been praised for it’s design and performance, the 2nd Microsoft Surface Pro now has a successor. The third iteration of the model, the Microsoft Surface Pro was announced May 20 and is available for pre-order Wednesday.

This leads us to wonder if the Microsoft Surface Pro 2, which has faced constant inventory issues at MicrosoftStore.com, with some of its models out of stock on a regular basis disappear from the online company storefront soon.

Promoted by Microsoft as the “tablet that can replace your laptop,” specs of the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 include the full version of the Windows 8.1 Pro version. The Windows tablet’s dimension is 10.81 x 6.81 x 0.53 inches and it weights 2 lbs. It has a casing VaporMG and Dark Titanium color. The 64GB and 128GB variant of the device has 4GB RAM and the higher-end 256GB and 512GB variant has 8GB RAM.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 3 has the same tagline, “tablet that can replace your laptop” and a bigger display at 12 inches.

Display for the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 is a 10.6-inch ClearType Full HD Display, with a resolution of 1920 x 1080. The tablet has a 4th generation Intel Core i5 Processor or the Intel Haswell processors, and can be idle and powered on for 7-15 days. The tablet runs on 4GB of RAM.

According to PC World, Microsoft would prefer that you think of the Surface Pro 2 as a laptop first, and that it not be compared directly with Apple’s thinner and lighter iPad. It’s difficult to ignore, however, since the Surface Pro 2 does have characteristics of a tablet.

PC World notes the improvements to the units thermal design, citing that it has been more substantial. The tech site said that it runs cool and quiet during lighter use and it doesn’t spin up its internal fans as often as the original did.

CNET praises the faster, longer-battery-life version of the new Windows tablet, benefiting from the new Haswell chips under the hood. It also noted that the keyboard cover is also improved with backlit keys, and is among the best tablet accessories ever devised.

The downside for the unit is that it remains thick and heavy compared to its sleeker competitors. CNET also says that the base version of the unit, at 64GB, may leave you starved for storage. The keyboard cover, which is basically a must have accessory, is also not included and must be purchased separately.

The reviewers at Expert Reviews U.K. say that the Surface Pro 2 maybe expensive, but it is the best Windows tablet. It says that it’s a huge improvement over its predecessor, the Microsoft Surface Pro, and that it’s cheaper than other Ultrabooks and convertibles.

Thanks to its improved battery life and graphics, the Microsoft Surface Pro 2 does seem like an attractive alternative to an ultraportable laptop.