So far there have been a lot of buzz surround Apple and Microsoft. Consumers today want the best of the best and Apple has always managed to come out on top. However, there are 5 ways that may make the Microsoft Surface better than an iPad.
Keyboard
It's pretty safe to say that a physical keyboard provides users with a much faster way of getting e-mail and other documents written quickly. With the Surface's Touch and Type Cover, users will be able to choose from an assortment of colors and utilize the built-in magnets to attach it to the Surface tablet. iPad users can certainly purchase third-party keyboards to add on to the device, but it can be pretty clunky.
Slate's Farhad Manjoo wrote: "Lots of people get frustrated with the iPad because typing on it is a major chore. They want to use it like a full-fledged desktop, but they're stymied by the input method. ... If the Surface ships with the keyboard -- and if Microsoft markets the device as a tablet that will let you get some work done -- it could be a big hit."
Usability features like the tablet's trackpad and built-in "kickstand" are assets the current iPads do not have.
Size
The display screen is 10.6 inches, almost a full inch bigger than the iPad's. The company mentioned that it's optimized to have essentially the same dimensions as a movie screen.
The Surface for Windows RT is 9.3mm which is a fraction of a millimeter thinner than the iPad (9.4), while the heftier Surface for Windows 8 Pro will be 13.5 millimeters. The RT weighs virtually the same as the iPad (just less than an ounce heavier).
Power
Microsoft wants the surface to be something you can actually do work on, so the Windows Pro model will run on an i5 inel processor and come with up to 128 gigabytes of internal memory. The iPad currently goes up to 64.
USB ports
Both Surface versions come with two USB ports (2.0 on the RT and a faster 3.0 on the Windows Pro). One of the persistent complaints regarding the iPad is the lack of ports in the device.
Xbox SmartGlass
The Xbox SmartGlass feature was revealed by Microsoft at the E3 2012 video gaming expo. The feature will work with the iPad and Android tablets.
It will connect a smartphone or tablet with the Xbox, which in turn will be connected with the television. With the devices connected, users can watch a movie on their TV while getting additional material on their tablet. They could also enjoy a game or movie on the tablet, and then transfer it to a TV or vice versa.
This is a pretty impressive feature and if it is front and center on the Surface, it will be one more step in Microsoft's push to bring all of a user's devices together within the flexible Windows 8 system.
