It's no secret Microsoft is betting big on its first tablet, The Surface; if the company wants to get into the tablet game, the device is an important first impression. It looks like the company can begin breathing a little easier now, though. The $499 entry-level version of the Surface RT is currently sold out, listed as "out of stock" on Microsoft's website, according to CNET.

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Previously, the $499 model had been listed as "back-ordered" with the $599 and $699 models.The other two models -- both come with the Touch Cover -- are no longer listed as back-ordered.

"The store periodically will run out of certain models," a Microsoft representative told CNET in an e-mail.

It's unclear exactly how many models of the Surface Microsoft has sold so far, the company has yet to release any sales figures. But, either way, this is great news for Microsoft.

From generally positive reviews of the tablet, to forecasts from industry analysts like IHS that predict the Surface will grow Microsoft's control of the tablet market, slowly, but steadily to a surprisingly high 27 percent by 2016, Microsoft is clearly building momentum. Which may be why tech giant Acer is so miffed with the company.

Microsoft has been gradually branching out into hardware ever since the company introduced its Xbox game system in 2001. But the Surface looks to be the first real crystallization of a truly competitive computing device, perhaps the first time Microsoft has presented a tangible threat to many of the companies its done business with for years by creating software.

The best evidence that the Surface is poised to take off, other than those initial sales reports, comes from one of Microsoft's partners, Acer. Microsoft has provided hardware for Acer products for years now.

In an interview with Tencent Technology, Acer executive Lin Xianlang unleashed a cautionary barb for partner Microsoft, suggesting the company stick to software, and leave hardware manufacturing to other companies. Xianlang compared hardware manufacturing to "hard rice," speculating that Microsoft might find it extremely difficult to eat, according to a translation from CNET. 

Of course, the hardware in question here is the Microsoft Surface tablet, a direct rival to Acer-made Windows 8 tablets like the Iconia.

Acer has plenty of reasons to worry about the future success of Microsoft's Surface. The company has posted steep declines in recent quarters, with its global shipments falling 10 percent year over year in the third quarter, according to research firm Gartner, and its shipments in the U.S. have fallen 28 percent over the same period.

As Engadget points out, though, "Microsoft's tablet has been boiled and salted just right, which might be the real reason Acer is so averse to it."

Indeed, the Surface looks to have begun successfully permeating pop-culture and public awareness beyond Microsoft-devotees and gadget-heads. Even Oprah Winfrey is a confirmed fan of the device. The former talk-show host added the Surface to O Magazine's "Favorite Things of 2012" list.

This isn't the first time we've heard anxiety about the Surface from Acer. Back in August, Acer CEO JT Wang told the Financial Times that Microsoft's plans to launch its own tablet in October would be a "negative for the worldwide ecosystem" in computing and beg the software giant to rethink the move.

"We have said think it over. Think twice," Wang said. "It will create a huge negative impact for the ecosystem and other brands may take a negative reaction. It is not something you are good at so please think twice."

Wang continued, suggesting that if Microsoft moved ahead with its tablet plans, Acer might replace the software giant as a partner.

"If Microsoft is going to do hardware business, what should we do? Should we still rely on Microsoft, or should we find other alternatives?" he is quoted as saying.

Microsoft Surface tablet features

The RT sports a 1366x768 HD screen, while the PRO has a 10.6-inch Clear type Full HD (1920 x 1080) screen with 16:9 widescreen.

That means they are among the biggest tablets in the market. If you are not satisfied with the typical 10.1-inch tablet, you can go for the Surface tablet. Along with the touch keyboards with the device, you can turn the machine to a small notebook.

The Surface tablet comes with five Touch Covers. Different from typical keyboards, the Surface keypads provide a smoother typing experience thanks to their touch-based surface.

The Surface tablets mount both front and rear cameras. The front camera, named life cam by Microsoft, makes the tablet ideal for video chatting through Skype or other services. Using the rear camera, you can capture images and video clips.

Microsoft puts forward better memory options with the Surface tablets. The device comes in 32GB, 64GB and 128GB options. The 128GB is available only with Surface Pro. Further, you can expand the memory using external memory sticks thanks to microSD card slot. That is, you can store enough data including music, software items and video in external clips.

The 3mm Touch Cover can be connected to your Surface tablet with a single magnetic click, so, now you can type text and send messages quite easily.

The Surface's tablet housing features a revolutionary kickstand. Along with fully functioning keyboard and track-pad, the integrated kickstand helps you place the gadget in both portrait or landscape modes.

According to Bloomberg, Surface will only be able to go online using a short-range Wi-Fi connection. This is a stark contrast to Apple's iPad 3, which has a 3G option, and a faster LTE connection.