We know Windows 8, Windows RT, and Microsoft Surface tablets will be released on October 26. What has been eluding us is pricing for the Surface tabs, and pricing is critical to the success of these tabs. With the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire dominating the sub-$200 market and the iPad dominating the $500 real estate, the right price can make Surface while the wrong price can break Surface. We still have no hint about the pricing on Windows 8 Pro Surface tablet, aside from being told it will be priced like an ultrabook, but a new rumor has emerged about how much the Windows RT Surface tablet will be sold for: $199.

Quoting an “inside source” from Microsoft‘s TechReady15 conference, Engadget is reporting the Windows RT version of Surface tablet will be sold at a starting price point of $199. It isn’t entirely clear if there will be different versions of tablet which will cost more, such as how the Nexus 7 8GB is $199 while the 16GB version if $249 or WiFi-only and 3G/4G versions, but a starting point of $199 is extremely juicy. Seeing as the Windows RT Surface tablet is a 10 incher, it will likely shake up the market — where the $200 price level is left squarely for 7 inch tablets — if indeed this rumor turns out to be true. I don’t know about anyone else but I can say this much. I wasn’t initially too interested in Windows RT but for $199, this is the first tablet I will purchase. How about you? Let us know in the comments below.

[via Engadget]