



Updated 1/29/2013 @ 2:16pm EST

Sources: Hexus, Softpedia, Microsoft

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RE: wow
By othercents on 1/29/2013 10:17:22 AM , Rating: 2
And the only reason why I even mentioned the 11.6" MBA was its size/weight relative to the Surface Pro (10.6", 2 pounds).

How does a Mac compare to a Windows device? You should really be looking at a ZenBook UX21A if you want a decent comparison.

RE: wow
By GulWestfale on 1/29/2013 10:52:53 AM , Rating: 4
we're not really comparing OSes here; it's more of a usefulness/bang for your buck thing. give me one reason why one should get a $899 10 inch screen with a mediocre keyboard, when you can have a bigger screen, roughly the same size/weight, and a great keyboard for less money.

RE: wow
By othercents on 1/29/2013 11:44:00 AM , Rating: 5

Actually we are since the fact that it is a Mac makes it useless for the majority of people. The people who are looking at a Surface Pro are the same people who wouldn't buy a Surface RT because there isn't backwards compatibility with the software they use.

Also even though the ASUS would be a better comparison equivalent to the weight and size of the Macbook Air with more memory and ability to use Windows Applications, it still lacks a touch screen and ability to watch videos without the keyboard in the way. Tablet is definitely a great form factor for watching videos while on an airplane, reading books at night, or for me having it on a music stand to read sheet music from.

Other than when I'm at work, I rarely use a keyboard and if I needed a keyboard to type a book I could pull out a BT one or use a wired one or just use my desktop that I have setup for that purpose.

Does a Surface Pro meet everyone's needs? No
Is a Surface Pro useful for some people? Yes
Is the Surface Pro overpriced? Depends on your needs
Are there other options? Yes
Do those other options meet everyone's needs? No

If you need a tablet, but you also need to use legacy software then a Windows 8 tablet is the only choice. If you need a keyboard and you type a lot then look elsewhere.

RE: wow
By Mint on 1/29/2013 2:26:56 PM , Rating: 2
Uhh, isn't it obvious? You buy Surface so that you can use it like a $500 tablet as well.

Yeah, it's 0.5lbs heavier, and has shorter battery life, but it also has a stylus and faster performance. For many that's a worthwhile tradeoff when you add in the tablet savings.

If you don't care about that, then obviously you're not in its target audience.

RE: wow
By NellyFromMA on 1/30/2013 12:42:24 PM , Rating: 1
Only you are saying its mediocre. Everyone else says its great. Are you going hands-on or citing something else?

I'm interested to hear negative reports on the keyboard because thats the complete opposite of what I've read so far from virtually everywhere for the RT.

It's the same keyboard reportedly.

RE: wow
By CZroe on 1/29/13, Rating: 0
RE: wow
By othercents on 1/29/2013 11:56:10 AM , Rating: 3
Yeah the schools near me purchased all Macbooks and Bootcamped all of them, so instead of getting 200 laptops for the students they were only able to get 100 laptops and then had to pay someone to bootcamp them for the schools.

What you can do and what you should do are always competing for our wallets. The Asus Zenbook UX21A actually has more memory than the MacBook Air for less with the difference being .02kgs or .044lbs. However my choice would be the 4.5lb M11x r3 if they were still available and I was looking for a portable gaming rig.

However if I was looking for a tablet that I could strap onto the handlebars and play Diablo III while riding, then I guess I will have to go with the Surface Pro.

RE: wow
By messele on 1/30/13, Rating: -1
RE: wow
By Mint on 1/29/2013 2:18:57 PM , Rating: 4
If you think a 3-lb ultrabook is an unfair comparison to a 2.3-lb Macbook Air, then shouldn't you also mention display?

How does 1920x1080 compare to 1366x768?

That's also ignoring the stylus, touchscreen, tablet ability, memory card expansion...

RE: wow
By tng on 1/30/2013 8:31:42 AM , Rating: 1
Display means very little to me. As long as I can read the documents, look at the drawings and use it for my business purposes, that is what I care about. I have never watched a movie on it (it has an HDMI port) and I probably never will.

Resolution for most uses is over-rated, IMO.

The only thing about the display that I wanted was the it was LED backlit, for the battery life.


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