While Microsoft is now saying that some PC OEMs will have products running Windows 10 out of the box for its July 29 launch date, it is not committing to a specific date for when the operating system will become available on its own Surface 3 and Surface Pro 3 tablets without having to upgrade from Windows 8.1.
In a statement sent to Windows Central, a Microsoft representative told us:
"As with any Windows launch, we are working quickly to stock shelves with Windows 10 devices, including Surface. While you can expect to see Surface devices running Windows 10 on shelves soon, Windows 8.1 devices still provide an exceptional experience and are easily upgraded to Windows 10 for free. Additionally, all Microsoft Stores have the ability to upgrade new devices to Windows 10 on site."
The good news is that if you go to a Microsoft Store in North America on July 29, the chances are good you can walk out with a Surface 3 or Surface Pro 3 with Windows 10 installed with that "on site" upgrade. However, we still don't have a firm date for when customers can simply purchase one of those tablets with Windows 10 out of the box. We will stay on top of this and will post an update when we get a specific date for when the Surface tablets can be purchased with Windows 10.
