Microsoft's Surface was released to the public yesterday and on the hardware front the tablet has won accolades like no other tablet. Measuring slightly bigger than the iPad yet weighing the same as the Apple counterpart, the tablet PC is a treat to the eyes. The device is now perfect for a movie playback with its dual speakers. The HD cameras on both sides make it exceptionally good for basic needs of a camera and Skype requirements.
It quashes the rival iPad on the connectivity end but for the cellular connectivity. The Wi-Fi only tablet from Microsoft features a standard USB 2.0 port, video output jack, memory card slot which can only leave the Appleboys jealous of all the freedom. The USB can be used to connect to all possible USB devices; keyboard , mouse, flash drive, speakers, hard drive and anything you can name.
Well all this for cheaper. At a price of the new iPad you get double the storage. The $500 Surface has a storage of 32 GB; the 64 GB version is $600.
Where it scores less is the battery which is said to run for only 8-10 hours, a tad lesser than the iPad. Non-cellular tablet is certainly a disappointment. Screen resolution runs at 1,366x768 which is not bad at all but is poorer compared to the 2048x1,536 resolution native to the iPad which is also accentuated by the retina display.
For just a hundred bucks more, $120 if you decide to buy it separately without the tablet, you get a magnetic smart cover akin to the iPad but with a keyboard that is embossed on the inner side of the cover itself. This is razor-thin, adds little weight and doubles up as a keyboard which connects directly; no wires, no bluetooth, no hassles. The keyboard also features a trackpad. Now you basically have a PC that weighs only a pound and a half which you can take everywhere. The folding flap on the smart cover can prop your tablet on any flat surface at a 22 degree angle for the best viewing.
There are also drawbacks to this amazing gadget; which, knock on wood, may only be temporary for the time being. The Windows 8 RT version that comes on the tablet doesn't allow legacy apps, X86 executables, to be installed on the tablet. The Microsoft application store is also not well equipped at currently. But, hey, you need to start somewhere. Android or even apple for that matter has begun from scratch and it is only due to the extensive support and development over the years that there are countless apps that most people never use fill up the stores.
If you are willing to embrace a change and be patient, Microsoft is sure to bring some of the best features to your tablet within a very short span.
BTW, did you know? Microsoft has thought so far ahead in the future that the OS is capable of supporting devices running on not one, two or four cores but as many as 64 cores.
(AW- Anil)
