Microsoft Surface on sale at Currys, PC World, not in shops

The Microsoft Surface is coming to Currys and PC World -- but you still can't try it out, as it's not coming to your nearest shop, yet.

You can only order the Surface online, whether for delivery or to have one sent to a Currys or PC World store for you to collect at your convenience. But don't think you can pop down to your nearest branch to have a poke and a play with the Surface, as they won't have them in shops either to try or to buy.

Update: Currys and PC World have now confirmed to me that the Surface will be in stores in "coming weeks", but only selected stores will have them this Friday. Original story continues below.

It seems that retailers just aren't confident enough in the Surface's ability to shift units to dispatch them to the four corners of the country. After all, nobody wants to be lumbered with a warehouse full of TouchPads or PlayBooks. 

When you order online the 32GB model costs £400, while the 64GB model sets you back £480.

Both flavours come with a black Touch Cover for an extra £80, the magnetic clip-on keyboard featured prominently in the advert that's currently on telly every five blinkin' minutes.

This is of course the Microsoft Surface RT, the version of the Surface that runs a pared-down, mobile-specific version of Windows 8. As such, it only runs apps downloaded from the online app store; you can't run the programs you'd usually install on your computer.

For that you want the Microsoft Surface Pro, the more expensive version that can run any Windows program. That's due to come to the UK but timing is vague: Microsoft says it's arriving "in coming months."

Will you be investing in a Surface? Do you need to try a gadget before you buy it, or is buying online the only way to shop these days? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.