The Microsoft Surface is the latest entrant to join the already robust tablet market and it certainly can hold its own amongst the fray.
Considering that this is the first tablet that Microsoft has ever built, they have done a mean job of putting it together and their efforts suggest that they should take a bow. Refreshingly the surface does not contain cues from the iPad. It weighs 1.5 pound and measures 10.8 by 6.7 inches. Superior sound is ensured by the inclusion of stereo speakers. The Surface can be connected to almost any USB device and it contains both front and back video cameras are 720p high definition. It will have double the space of its iPad counterparts (32 and 64 gigs retailing at $500 and $600).
Employing more modernistic cues, it has a black magnesium body with angled edges and it has a touch screen. At 1,366 by 768 pixels, expect some high resolution for your viewing pleasure. The lower half of the back is sealed magnetically and is opened manually, when opened it sits at a 22 degree angle. Its touch cover is less than wafer thin. Conveniently, the keypad does not require Bluetooth connectivity and its keys gets disabled and the keyboard comes into play. The keypad is completely flat but for those that yearn for something more tangible, check out the Microsoft Type Cover that has actual keys and will sell for around $130.
The Surface runs off Windows RT which is also a variation of Windows 8 and includes a preview of Word, Excel and PowerPoint. It will run apps that can be found exclusively on the Windows App Store. Its battery life is a little lower than its competitors (eight to ten hours) and the surface can only be charged from its wall adapter which is slightly disappointing. However on the whole, the Surface does have some minor shortcomings but luckily they are minor and its pluses are not eclipsed.
