I don't think that they will be at the $1000 price point, I don't think anyone has actually released any prices excatly yet, though I know amazon has some prices floating around for tablets. It's absolutly key that they get the price right though, with the average costumer want to buy a tablet and are confronted with all the different types of android tablet and then their is the iPad... they are going to be like WTF. Marketing and Price are key to the success of any Win 8 Tablet. Spec wise if the Win 8 tablets are going to be priced then they are going to be fairly expensive, to stand a chance on selling a RT Tablet the OEMs are going to have a lower price than an equivilent iPad.
32GB iPad WiFi only = $599 (price from the official online aple store)
32GB Win8 RT Tablet (Samsung Ativ 10.1) = $771.5 (converted, using the amazon uk pre-order price)
Now I know this isnt the MS Surface but it that is anything to go by what extra incentive is their? Yes it will run a version of Office, but most people have laptops with some sort of Office (if not MS Office). The general user will not want to use office on the go? An iPad is the generic term for a Tablet, I currently have a HP Touchpad and everyone who asks about it says "What apps you got for you iPad?" or "Im thinking of getting an iPad is it anygood". I always reply that its not an iPad and they seem shoked! If Win8 is going to wrestle the tablet market away from the massive share that Apple as on the tablet market then as said before price is going to be key
I have a little money saved up and depending on what the price is I might skip it and buy a Nexus 7 and a PS3 but thats down to me.
Hopefully these things will be priced competitivly. For me for a Surface to be successful then a 32GB Surface is going to be have to be Cheaper than the iPad, not because I'd rather get an iPa,d because believe me I will never get one, but to open the average customers eyes to other options and make them seriosuly consider getting one.
$199 is not going to happen unless it comes with a Office 365 sub, like the Xbox 360 with Gold membership deal, which has been mentioned on certain websites and on these forums.
My personal opinion on Surface being a superb hit would price the 32GB RT version at the same price as the iPad 16GB. Who knows, not long to wait now!
Here's hoping!