Microsoft announced pricing for its future Surface Pro tablet last week and tech consumers faced immediate challenge. The Surface Pro - Microsoft's first own-brand Windows 8 offering - will start at $899 for a unit with 64GB of internal storage.
Controversy followed with the Apple Fan Club of analysts, bloggers, reporters and other writers fanning the flames of misinformation. These people say Surface Pro is overpriced because iPad costs so much less. However, iPad is the wrong comparison to make. Apple does not have a true Microsoft Office replacement and the third party apps do not perform well for advanced Office work.
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Taking a step back for a moment however, is the Surface Pro that expensive? We are not talking about some light-duty media tablet here, we are talking about a full-featured, cutting-edge notebook computer that just so happens to also be a tablet. It runs a full desktop operating system, a third-generation Intel Core processor powers it, and it is one of the thinnest and lightest devices in its class.
Here is a quick comparison of Microsoft Surface with Windows Pro and Apple MacBook Air:
|
Spec |
Microsoft Surface |
Apple MacBook Air |
|
Image |
|
|
|
Size |
10.81 x 6.81 x 0.53in |
11.8 x 7.56 x 0.68in |
|
Weight |
Less than 2lbs |
1.08 kg (2.38 pounds) |
|
Display |
1920×1080 |
1366 x 768 |
|
Touch Screen Support |
10-point multi-touch |
No |
|
Pen Input |
Supported and Included |
Not supported |
|
CPU |
3rd Gen Intel Core i5 Processor |
3rd Gen Intel Core i5 Processor |
|
Memory |
4GB RAM |
4GB RAM |
|
Storage |
64GB, 128GB |
64GB, 128GB |
|
Wireless |
Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 4.0 technology |
Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 4.0 technology |
|
Battery |
42 W-h |
35 W-h |
|
Cameras |
Two 720p HD cameras, front-facing and rear-facing |
720p Front camera |
|
Ports |
Full-size USB 3.0 microSDXC card slot Mini DisplayPort |
2 Full-size USB 3.0 |
|
Sensors |
Ambient light sensor Accelerometer Gyroscope Digital Compass |
Ambient light sensor |
|
Keyboard |
Detachable Touch Cover/Type Cover |
Full-size backlit keyboard |
|
Operating System |
Windows 8 Pro |
Mac OS X Mountain Lion |
|
Pricing |
From $1020 with Touch Cover/Type Cover |
From $999 |
On paper, pricing for the Surface Pro is absolutely within the realm of reality - even when including a $119.99 Touch Cover, its only $20 more expensive than comparable 11-inch MacBook Air notebooks from Apple. This is a premium tablet/notebook hybrid device that is thinner and lighter than a MacBook Air despite including high-definition display with multitouch support, dual cameras, a microSDXC memory card support and more.
Apple's MacBook Air is the most popular notebook computer in the world being sold by the biggest consumer electronics vendor in the world. Therefore, Surface Pro is Microsoft's first piece of Windows 8 hardware that is launching at a time when Windows 8 needs a break.
"The Pro does something no other tablet does: Liberates tablets from only being able to run cheap crappy software purchased off app stores", According to source.
"People don't realize the value because they're comparing it to existing products. Its value should become apparent after release when someone with a Pro is sketching on Full-blown Photoshop with a stylus and the person with an iPad is sketching on Photoshop Express with his finger. Or someone with a Pro is playing a PC quality game and someone with an iPad is cutting rope for the millionth time", the source added.
