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by seanmcdirmid 4878 days ago
Its a mistake to compare the Surface pro with a MacBook Air. You can't use the air on your lap like a standard laptop (I've tried with the RT...ouch!).

But really, I'm not sure what to compare this against, or how it fits in between my iPad and MacBook Air. Which one does it replace?
2 comments
igravious 4878 days ago
Not to be glib. But it is _meant_ to replace both presumably. Now hear me out cuz I am no Microsoft fanboy, I haven't used Windows in years but I have to credit Microsoft for innovating. We always heap praise on Apple for the iPad, iPhone, and Macbook Air so I think we should praise Microsoft when they innovate too. Ok, fair enough, ne must innovate and hit the mark, have Microsoft hit the mark?

Because it has touch and is the size of a tablet (like an iPad) and the power and form-factor of an ultra-book (like a Macbook Air) it seems obvious to me that it meant to replace both devices with one device. Why is this hard for folks to see? Now, is it a drop-in replacement? The battery (as Anand says) lets it down, so the answer is negative in this respect but you are saving on the cost of having to buy an iPad and a Macbook Air so the answer is positive in that respect. Comes with a pen for precision drawing input, positive. Runs Windows, negative (joke! ok, you can see the Linux guy coming out in me). Um, so on balance I'd have to say, intriguing device - has its plusses and minuses. If they up the battery life significantly with Surface Pro 2 and shrink it some more they are on to a definite winner and game changer. It'll _never_ be as portable as an iPad (because it has the guts of an ultrabook) so we need to get that out of our heads, all Microsoft needs to do is make it svelte _enough_.

That's my take on the whole thing. Now back to me Gentoo server ...

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nchlswu 4877 days ago
That one data point doesn't mean it's a mistake to compare it with the MBA. It's "complete" functionality and more importantly, price after keyboard means the MBA comparison should be made. Comparisons to tablets and other hybrids should also be made.

What I find interesting is the confusion about the product's positioning in the market. I am also confused and don't think it bodes well for the customer. At the base, it's most commonly known as a tablet, but the keyboard begins to confuse things. The moment you get into the Pro territory, the price confuses things even more. Even outside of the "RT/Pro" discussion, I'm not sure if it's lack of clear (existing) product category is beneficial for MS

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seanmcdirmid 4877 days ago
I have an RT with the touch cover and haven't used it yet, since I never have a table to put it on. The air doesn't need a table to use its keyboard so is much more usable for me. I use the iPad in bed since it has a better screen, I'm having trouble finding a use for the RT yet.

But I think my habits are unique, not representive of th typical consumer.

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