Several challengers to the iPad's throne have come and gone with a whimper but Microsoft's Surface seems to have the muscle to take on the leader. Since its launch last week, the Surface has stirred the market with expectations.
Microsoft has opted for a clever path of not challenging Apple's iPad directly with a 'me too' product. It is trying to build up an ecosystem around the Windows 8 OS, which will not only support desktops but also tablets and phones.
While some believe the software giant has truly re-Surfaced with its new slate, others feel that it is being designed for a fail. So how does Microsoft's challenger really fare against Apple's revolutionary New iPad?
Check out below the top five innovative features which have not only given the new product an edge over Apple but has also created a niche for Microsoft.
A Bigger Display
While iPad with its 9.7-inch is one of the larger display options present in the market, Microsoft has provided 10.6-inch screen. And, in the Windows 8 Pro version, the display will deliver a high-definition experience with 16:9 widescreen featuring ClearType HD Display technology. The device will have an ultra-wide angle for viewing and the tablet's screen will be able to auto-adjust according to the light intensity indoor or outdoor. Even if it cannot be compared with the Retina Display of the Apple device, the Surface with its large screen and HD quality display is quite a head-turner.
Type Cover, Integrated Kickstand, Digital Ink and Stylus
Users with issues about fast typing on tablets will like the new Touch Cover option offered by the Microsoft tablet. The Surface packs in a lightweight tactile keyboard that's a slimmed down version of a true keyboard with actual moving keys and a multi-touch track pad.
Microsoft has tried very hard to make the product user-friendly and it shows in every feature that it has provided. Each Surface comes with a 0.7-millimeter built-in kickstand that pops out from the back panel and holds the slate upright, letting the user enjoy media or type comfortably. "No extra weight, no extra thickness, no separate add-on. It's integrated, just like the software and hardware are integrated into Surface," said Windows and Windows Live president Steven Sinofsky.
The Windows 8 Pro version of the Surface tablet can accept stylus input and the company has shown how with the digital ink writing, highlighting and underlining on the tablet has become easy.
Windows 8 OS
Surface comes with Windows 8. The market is buzzing with the expectation that Windows 8 will become one of the most popular versions of the software ever. Inclusion of Windows 8 in Surface will be a major factor in its success, many believe. And, both versions of Surface will run the Microsoft Office productivity suite.
USB Ports
Both the RT and the Windows 8 Pro versions of Surface boast two USB ports. "These ports open up the possibility of extra storage, printing and other external capabilities that should be easier and quicker than the workarounds iPad users need involving cloud storage, Wi-Fi connections and the like," CNN reports.
Storage
While Apple's top-end version provides 64GB, Windows 8 Pro version of its Surface will have 128GB of storage onboard. This big storage will let users store more content, including video and audio, to their tablets. With almost double storage capacity, Surface has a major advantage over iPad.
According to reviewers, Microsoft's 10.6-inch device has not only targeted existing tablets in the market but also takes on notebooks or Ultrabooks. While Windows RT version is just another tablet, the Windows 8 Pro option is a notebook or Ultrabook replacement.
