BUILD 2013: Attendees get 8-in Acer Iconia W3 tablet [Update: ...and a Surface Pro!]

Microsoft"s BUILD developer conference is now well and truly underway with Steve Ballmer kicking off the event with the day one keynote. In addition to announcing the launch of the Windows 8.1 Public Preview, and of course talking up the power of the Windows ecosystem, Ballmer also revealed an exciting surprise for those attending the event. 

All attendees will be getting a 8-inch Windows 8 tablet. The Acer Iconia W3 is the smallest Windows 8 tablet available so far, along with a similarly low price tag of just $379.

Microsoft is keen to welcome these smaller devices to the Windows hardware ecosystem, although Ballmer curiously said "I wouldn"t call them PCs", despite them offering all of the same functionality offered on larger Windows 8 tablets, with the added bonus of free Office 2013
 

Update: Windows head Julie Larson-Green has just announced that all attendees will also get a Surface Pro with Touch Cover!

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