Can the 180-day trial software be downloaded onto a Windows surface tablet?
This is a Surface Pro running Windows 8.1? Not RT, which does not run Widnows desktop programs.
If so, yes. But you will need to install .NET 3.5 sp1 before your installation. After that you should have no problems running ArcGIS for Desktop 10.2.x /10.3 with Windows 8.1 on a Surface Pro.
Stuart