Despite its less than significant sales, Microsoft introduced a new Surface 3 tablet that will be more affordable than other Microsoft Surface tablets, as well as other tablets produced by Google and Apple.

The Surface 3 tablet will be available in early May, starting at $499. Other tablets, like the iPad, can be well over $600. The initial price of the Surface 3 is appealing, but if consumers want a little more out of their Microsoft tablet experience, they will need to pay extra.

Users will have to pay an additional $129 for Surface 3-designed Type Covers, $100 for double storage and capacity and ram, and $50 for an optional stylus pen.

The Surface 3 will come with 2GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. The newer tablet is thinner than its Surface Pro counterpart with 8.7 mm thickness and weight 622 grams. The display screen is 10.8 inches.

It will also come with a Micro USB charging port, a full-size USB port, microSD reader and a mini Display Port. The processor will be an Intel Atom. The Surface 3 will have a front 3.5 MP and a rear facing 8 MP camera that will capture 1080p video along with an auto focus feature.

The Surface 3 will come fully equipped with Windows 8.1, with the option of upgrading to Windows 10 once it's launched later this year. A pre-loaded, one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal will also be available with all Office apps and 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage.

While initial sales of Microsoft tablets have been low, the company is looking for ways to promote that their tablets are still around and just as good as their competitors.