I was rather hoping the keyboard would be included with the package. I think Microsoft can ill afford to charge so much for an accessory that is pretty much a USP for their tablets.
Eh, in a way it kind of does? What I mean is I think of it as "you can pay less without" because if you get it WITH the keyboard then it matches the iPad price. If you get it without, it undercuts iPad by $100.
I don't think it is fair to say it undercuts the price - the cheapest surface matches the cheapest ipad 3 at ~$500, while apple still offers the ipad2 for $400.
The surface does offer more storage at the $500 level, but the ipad has a higher resolution screen.
With as much fan fare as they have given to the two keyboards and their prominence in the first commercial, it seems like a missed opportunity to not include it.
I don't know the retail logistics, but they could have at least put together some sort of "savings bundle", so that they people could choose their keyboard colour.
I prefer it without the keyboard - a simple tablet. If I feel the need I can purchase one later. We may even have 3rd parties (Logitech, etc) provide keyboards for this.
I think that's fair.