Microsoft Surface
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]icrosoft has entered the tablet market with the release of its Surface tablet. The device has been paired with the release of its Windows 8 software which has been heavily geared to touchscreen devices. Let’s take a look at how the Microsoft Surface tablet measures up.
- Design: Microsoft has clearly presented an innovative design and an ambitious attempt to bridge tablet and desktop functionality with its ability to switch between modes, but the whole experience seems like a work in progress.Design Microsoft has built a tablet that departs from the slim and sleek look of its competitors. It is around the same thickness (9.3 mm) and weight (676 g) as the competition but the square, boxy design makes it feel more substantial. The sturdy kickstand and the clickable keyboard enhance its appeal, helping to set the Surface apart. It comes in an array of colors or a more traditional black.
- Features : The Microsoft Surface has a built-in kickstand for propping the device up. You can also purchase a detachable keyboard that snaps into place with magnets. A feature not found in other tablets is the micro-SD port that allows for expanding the 32 GB of storage on the base model. The Surface also comes with a USB port and the large 10.6 inch screen has 1,366 x 768 pixels resolution, which is not full HD. It has full touchscreen capability and is pre-loaded with either Windows RT or Windows 8 software. The Surface also features a front and rear-facing camera as well as stereo speakers.
- Build Quality : The Surface is very sturdy and even the kickstand seems designed for durability. The flexible and detachable keyboard adds to the devices appeal. The quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor lacks the speed and responsiveness of other tablets.
- Price : The $499 entry price point of the Microsoft Surface with 32 GB storage and Windows RT software, puts the device in the high-end tablet or laptop market. When you factor in the additional cost for the clickable keyboard covers, additional storage, and a Windows 8 upgrade, the price climbs considerably.
- Who Should Buy it : If you are looking for a tablet that can also be used for productivity, then the Microsoft Surface may be for you. Although the learning curve for switching between tablet and desktop format is steep, it does allow you to access email, Microsoft Office tools, and even save documents to your desktop like a traditional computer. If you need a tablet for on-the-go productivity and you are willing to accept the unintuitive switching between tablet and desktop mode, the Microsoft Surface may be the tablet for you
For more information, visit – http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-US
