Microsoft released the Surface RT on October 26, 2012 and entered the tablet market which received mixed reviews. The hardware and the material used was generally received well but the software was criticized with its limited Windows Store apps and the inability to install Windows 7 applications.
Microsoft released the Surface Pro on February 9, 2013 which has a faster processor, more system memory and allows the installation of Windows 7 applications.
The Surface Pro pricing starts at $899 for the 64GB option and $999 for the 128GB SSD option. There are two optional keyboards which both dual as screen covers. The first is the Surface Touch Cover ($119.99), which is incredibly thin (just 3mm) and is even spill-resistent. However, since it relies of pressure sensors to record finger taps (not actual keys) it feels like you are typing on a screen versus typing on a keyboard. The other optional keyboard, called the Surface Type Cover ($129.99), has actual keys for the classic feel. Something to note is that due to the Surface’s kickstand-style stand, the Surface Pro does not work well as a “laptop” because the stand does not support it properly while sitting on your lap. It does, however, work well sitting on a desk or flat surface.
The Surface Pro has a 10.6″ screen with 1920×1080 resolution. There’s a video output to HDMI and VGA adapters available and it has a single USB 3.0 port and a microSD card slot. Battery life has been reported just short of 4 hours. The Surface Pro comes with a touch-sensitive pen from Wacom which can help with drawing or taking notes. It will require 3rd party applications to be setup to work wi
With so many choices of tablets, netbooks & laptops that are cheaper and don’t seem to be as limited (like the kickstand issue) it doesn’t seem like this MSP would be at the top of my list. Or anyone’s for that matter.
At those prices I’ll take an iPad or Macbook Air any day!
I know a lot of people who just aren’t ready to switch from MS Windows to Apple OS X. In those cases, I think this is a nice alternative. It wouldn’t surprise me if an aftermarket company creates a new keyboard cover that resolves the kickstand issue. We’ll see!