Microsoft announced the Surface and Elysium Magazine was impressed. The Padlet (PC – tablet) looks fantastic and received a positive reaction from the “early adopters”. Elysium Magazine looks at the Surface to establish whether or not this is the future of mobile computing. Lets start with the basics….
What is the Microsoft Surface?
Surface is the name Microsoft’s chosen for its own-brand line of tablets, powered by the new Windows 8. There will be two versions, both of which have 10.6-inch screens, and pop-out kickstands at the back.
The first Surface model will run Windows RT, the tablet-based version of Windows 8, alongside an ARM processor. It’s 9.3mm thick and weighs 676g, with a chunky 32GB or 64GB of storage.
The second Surface (Pro) model runs Windows 8 Pro, and has an Intel Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor, as well as 64GB or 128GB of storage. As a result the hardware makes it a bit thicker at 13.5mm, and heavier at 903g.
The RT version won’t have access to the full Windows desktop, so you’ll be stuck with the touch-friendly interface. The Pro version gets the whole Windows experience, but will likely be more expensive.
A Tablet with a keyboard?
The Surface features a choice of two screen covers which attach magnetically and fold down to reveal a slick looking keyboard. The cover has touch-sensitive keys and is 3mm thick. A 5mm Type Cover is also available and is bound to be less reactive and sensitive.
Screen specs rival the new iPad?
There are no confirmed specifications on the screen display as yet but Microsoft is describing the regular version as boasting an ‘HD Display’ while the Pro edition has a ‘Full HD Display’. That likely means the starter option has a 1,280×720-pixel resolution, while the Pro should be an impressive 1,920 x 1,080 pixels.
Both resolutions are brilliant but not even close to the new iPad’s 2,048 x 1,536 retina display. What we do know is that the 10.6-inch screen has a 16:9 aspect ratio which Microsoft are keen to shout about; this mean it will be fantastic for watching movies sans black bars.
3G connectivity?
Microsoft has not made any official announcements on connectivity but Bloomberg has reported that the Surface will only ship as Wi-Fi only models. While there is no confirmed reports, the sources used by Bloomberg are said to be reliable – what will this mean to the market?
Price
Again, no official price for the Surface but rumours all over the web have suggested, the Surface will be priced around £500 for the the Pro, while the Windows RT-based model will be around £380.
The Wi-Fi versions of the iPad are priced at £399 for the 16GB model, £479 for the 32GB and £559 for the 64GB.
Conclusion
The Surface looks the part, with great hardware options it is a real contender to replace dull laptops. They still pack a punch but at this stage appear to be pitched at a different market than the iPad. The Surface appears to be a cross between a Ultra-book and a tablet which means it may only appeal to techies rather than the mass market which have fallen in love with the iPad.
While Elysium Magazine is seriously impressed with the Surface, Microsoft may find that it cleans the floor with the likes of other Android based tablets but may still have a tough time against the iPad. Microsoft missed a trick when it revealed the Surface recently – so many people were impressed and it was featured heavily as the next best thing – there is still no release date! Although Microsoft remains cutting edge and innovative, it still has a lot to learn from Apple.