Microsoft Surface : Have A Look

 What is Surface? In physics you can give a detailed answer about it and can also give examples on it. But when you are asking the same question in Tech World, probably you will get only one answer and it is Microsoft Surface. Software & Tech Giant Microsoft has developed a Tablet Computer which runs in Windows OS. The Tablet PC is named ‘Microsoft Surface’ and it may because Surface is the ‘surface’ of Microsoft in Tablet PC Development. Surface was unveiled on last Monday and as you know, it’s the first commercial PC that Microsoft has developed, designed, and sold directly. Needless to say that Surface will be a strong rival to Apple iPad since it is from Microsoft.

 Such tablet PC was announced in last Consumer Electronics Show along with the announcement of their Windows 8 OS. And as we expect, Microsoft Surface is running on Windows 8 Platform which is still not available. Microsoft Surface has two variants called Surface RT- Which runs on Windows 8 RT and Surface Pro- Which runs on Windows 8 Pro platform. So it is sure that users will be able to run all their favorite Windows programmes in Microsoft Surface. The tech giant has also published a Specification Sheet for their ‘Success’ which you can read it here. By the way, let us have a deep look on Microsoft Surface and its features to fight with Apple iPad 3.

 As we said, Microsoft Surface was unveiled on Monday (May 18 2012) by Microsoft CEO Steve Balimer at Los Angeles event. But none of details about Release date or Price is available right now. As we expect from Microsoft, Surface has included something interesting in it with also being a rival to iPad. We can have a first look on Surface^TM and Surface^TM Pro.

Performance & Productivity

RT Version of the tablet – Surface – will be featuring a Nvidia Tegra ARM Processor while Surface Pro has a Quad-Core Intel Core i5 Processor with it. Since the tablet is from a software giant rather than a gadget giant, we could expect some expected Apps like Microsoft Office, Windows Store, Windows 8 Apps and lots more.

Screen Size & Weight

Both Surface and Surface Pro is having a 10.6 Inch screens which are definitely higher than iPad’s 9.7 Inch Display. Even Microsoft has announced that they will include High Definition display in tablets; still we are not sure that the HD Display will defeat iPad’s Retina Display. Some sources also reports that Surface will have an aspect ratio of 16:9.

  When comparing, Surface (RT) is lighter than Surface Pro. Surface has a weight of 1.5 Pounds when Surface Pro has a weight of 1.9 Pounds. So it’s hard to defeat iPad in this case because iPad is having a smaller weight of 1.4 Pounds. But I think this disadvantage will be undiminished by other features included in Surface.

Casing & Thickness

Microsoft has included VaporMg finish on the case in order to make Tablet easier to grip hence for comfortable usage. But iPad is still on a smooth aluminum covering. This VaporMg finish in Microsoft is definitely an advantage.

 Surface RT Tablet is about .37 Inches thick and Windows 8 Pro version posses a thickness of .53 Inches (I think it’s usual since the features of Surface Pro is higher than normal version)

 Ports & Accessories

Both Surface and Surface Pro comes with a couple of USB Ports (USB 2.0 on Windows RT and USB 3.0 on Windows 8 Pro Version.) While the extra ports have contributed to device’s thickness but Microsoft has already solved the expected complaint of need of extra dongles. Surface and Surface Pro are having a Micro-SD Slot with it.

 Microsoft has brought an unexpected twist on Surface’s accessories. When Surface was unveiled at the stage, it had included a cover which looks like iPad’s smart cover. But when the device was twisted, the cover changed to a keyboard. The 3 mm thick keyboard Is included in both devices with a slight difference in key construction. But both device’s keyboard consist a touchpad. Microsoft has included a built-in kickstand in the back of Surface tablet. And in order to make the touch screen usage easier, Microsoft also introduced a Pen which can be magnetically attached to the device (It resembles the stylus in all other devices)

Storage & Connectivity

Surface is available in both 32 GB and 64 GB of memory while Surface Pro is available with 64 GB / 128 GB. Needless to say that Surface can fight against iPad in the case of Storage Size too. As said before, a Micro-SD Slot can be also used for expanding memory.

 None of the details of cellular connectivity is unveiled with Surface but the company has included a Powerful Wi-Fi connectivity option with it. But Apple has included a cellular connectivity option for iPads that runs in AT&T or Verizon networks.

Pricing & Availability

Both these have a similarity of absence. Anyway Microsoft had mentioned that the details of pricing will be available near to the release date. According to analyst Sarah Rotman Epps of Forrester Research, Microsoft Surface will initially be available in Microsoft Stores and online.

 Yeah it is the brief view about Microsoft Surface. And in my view, these features and the power of Windows 8 will be enough to make Surface to be a true rival and competitor to Apple iPad and Google too. Don’t you think so? Shout your opinion at comment section because HFG is here to learn from you too.