6 Ways Windows Surface Beats the iPad

It's not (yet) an iPad killer, but the new Windows tablet does have a few impressive features for business.

In a perfect world, the better gadget would always win. For the brand new Microsoft Surface RT tablet there is no question Microsoft has decided to embrace the world of touch computing, hoping to dethrone the mighty iPad and attract mobile users in droves.

We are not yet ready to say Surface RT is better than the iPad. But there are some significant features that make it attractive for business.

1. Behold, the Keyboard

You can obtain a portable keyboard for the iPad, but the Surface RT includes one that is downright brilliant. Some might argue it is not that different from the soft keyboard on the iPad, and I've seen some speed typers at airports who make me wonder how they do it. The Surface RT includes a cover that doubles as a keyboard, and there are two surprises. One, even though the keyboard only has slightly raised keys, I can type much faster and more accurately on it than the iPad. Also, there's a stand on the back of the Surface RT, so you can fold off the cover, prop up the tablet, and start typing like you are on a laptop. Brilliant. Microsoft offers a rainbow of colors and the keyboard/cover snaps into place with a click.

2. Free Office Apps

Microsoft includes the Office 2013 apps for the Surface RT for free. That's a major plus for business owners who decide to deploy the device to employees. The suite uses a fresh, clean-cut design that runs smoothly on the mobile processor that powers the Surface RT. There are the big three--Word, PowerPoint, and Excel--plus the 2013 version of OneNote, a collaboration and info gathering tool. So far, what I like best about Word is that you can quickly save a document to Microsoft SkyDrive for cloud storage, and that the app runs stable and with familiar tools. Plus, no install programs to run.

3. Smart Store

There are plenty of Windows Store naysayers, and I'm not exactly a diehard fan. There are many apps missing, including a few of my favorites like SproutSocial. But while the store is missing important apps, there is one benefit: The apps you will find are designed to run fast and reliably on the RT tablet. I tested Skype, the Kindle e-reader, the Zinio app, and several others. The apps use the same tile approach of Windows 8 for touch apps with plenty of open space and finger-aware buttons. Presumably, there will be touch apps for many popular desktop programs, including Photoshop and many others.

4. Connections, Natch

Microsoft has included several options for connecting the tablet to other gadgets. The RT supports Bluetooth 4.0 so you can connect a new crop of devices like digital pens that can automatically adjust pressure sensitivity. There's a USB port, which means you can attach keyboards and mice, webcams, and just about any add-on that does not require a driver designed only for the Windows 8 desktop version. Under the stand, you'll even find a microSD port for loading pictures and videos.

5. Battery Life

It's easy to become a slave to re-charging. Hunting for outlets at airports, connecting up as soon as you walk into a hotel room. Since the RT lasts almost 10 hours, you might find that re-charging is not as much of an issue. Ten hours is enough to get you to your next meeting after jumping off the plane, and that's really all that matters. I also found I did not have to dim the display or turn off features to get good battery life.

6. Screen Tech

The screen on the Surface RT has a sharpness that I don't see on Android tablets. At 400 nits, it is also quite bright and readable even outside. The resolution is more in line with a typical laptop, but Microsoft has used some type-smoothing tech to improve readability. Swipes and gestures on the RT worked reliably every time, and colors looked outstanding for games and photos. In many ways, the screen is the most important hardware element because it is what you look at all day. The iPad 4, announced last week, is arguably more crisp with a higher resolution, but the Surface RT gets major points for brightness and text clarity.

iPad Mini unveiled by Apple.

Apple has unveiled its widely-anticipated 7.9in (20.1cm) tablet, the iPad Mini. The device, which is 7.2mm (0.3in) thick and weighs 0.68lbs (0.3kg), was announced at an event in California. The entry wi-fi-only model, with 16GB storage, will cost £269 in the UK and be available on 2 November. The iPad Mini will compete directly with cheaper similar-sized tablets recently launched by Google, Amazon, Samsung and others. Apple's vice-president of marketing Phil Schiller told attendees that the device was 23% thinner and 53% lighter than the third-generation iPad, which was released in March this year.

Change of heart

The iPad Mini launch ends years of speculation that Apple was considering launching a new, smaller version of its bestselling iPad range.
In 2010, late founder Steve Jobs described 7in tablets as being "too small".
However, the company's apparent change of heart comes in the face of mounting pressure from its closest competitors, who already offer smaller - and crucially, cheaper - products. In the UK, both Amazon's new 7in Kindle Fire HD and Google's Nexus 7 cost £159.

During the presentation, Mr Schiller stressed the importance of being able to hold the device in one hand - a nod to the more travel-friendly appeal of the smaller devices. However, Adam Leach, principal analyst at Ovum, said he had expected the iPad Mini to be more competitively priced. "We got a mix of a bit of new Apple and bit of old Apple in the same announcement," he said. "This is new for Apple to be responding to competitors instead of pioneering their own way. It's old Apple as they've gone into this market with a premium pricing strategy. At the moment this doesn't place a lot of pressure on the Kindle Fire or the Nexus 7." He added that the iPad Mini was an indicator that Apple might be nervous about losing its control over a market which it has dominated in recent years.

During the nineties, Apple found itself outpaced in the home computer market by Microsoft and Windows-powered computers - a period of the company's history it will be conscious to avoid repeating. "The popularity of the Kindle e-reader and the Android smartphones made consumers aware of Amazon content and Google services," said Francisco Jeronimo, research manager at consultants IDC. "The low price points of the Google Nexus 7 and the Amazon Kindle Fire have been attracting consumers looking for more affordable devices that also come with the content and services they already use or want." But he added: "This new product from Apple will disrupt the market again. The iPad Mini is now the new category killer."

The other iPad Mini wi-fi-only models will have a recommended retail price of £349 for 32GB and £429 for 64GB.

Kick in the face

Apple also announced a lower-key upgrade for the full-sized iPad. Calling it the "fourth generation" iPad, Mr Schiller said its new A6X chip meant it had twice the CPU (central processing unit) power of the third-generation model.
Paddy Smith, online editor for Stuff.tv, said some Apple users might see the iPad upgrade as a "kick in the face" as the previous model was just seven months old. "I think a lot of people will be upset to see a new full size iPad so soon," he said. "For many people that represents a pretty major purchase, something you wouldn't want to do more than once a year."

Stuff.tv's Mr Smith agreed that Christmas shoppers could be hesitant.
"I think if they look at the competition and they see that the Google Nexus 7 is £100 cheaper it's going to be hard to ignore that - unless you're buying for a hardcore Apple fan." However, IDC predicted that the new device would boost Apple's already dominant position in the tablet market. It forecast that Apple would hold a 68% share of the market in 2012, compared to 29% for Android tablets. Both would fall off slightly next year with the launch of Windows 8 tablets, IDC said.

The firm also announced upgrades to its Macbook Pro, iMac and Mac Mini ranges of computers. "Its new iMac machines have been made 80% thinner at the edges than previous models", Mr Schiller said.

Asus Memo 370T

Nvidia and Asus teased a product that may change everything. At the Nvidia press conference at the CES 2012 show the companies flashed that a quad-core, Tegra 3-based 7-inchtablet would soon be released for only $250.

The tablet in question actually turned out to be the Asus Memo 370T. An upgraded version of the 7-inch stylus-supported Memo tablet Asus debuted at CES 2011.

While the previous version ran on Honeycomb and utilized a dual-core Qualcomm 8260-1.2Ghz CPU, the 370T will ship with Ice Cream Sandwich and houses a quad-core Tegra 3. No word yet on the actual speed of the processor, though. The previously announced stylus peripheral has been dropped for the device.

The 370T comes with 1GB of RAM and at least 16GB of storage. It also sports a 1,280x800-pixel IPS screen that delivered smoothly scrolling menus. Holding it in my hands, the tablet felt and looked very similar, dimensionally, to the Acer Iconia Tab A100. The 370T even hits the typical-for-a-7-inch-tablet weight of 0.88 pound, right on the nose.

Other details include a Micro-USB port, a microSD card reader, and a Micro-HDMI port. Lastly, the tablet will feature the same great 8-megapixel camera found on the Transformer Prime.

Last year, the $200 Kindle Fire had a similar effect, by offering users a quality tablet experience that didn't necessitate taking out a second mortgage.

The existence of the 370T now demonstrates that performance doesn't necessarily require a price premium. While this is likely to have a tangible effect on tablet prices, we may see an even greater effect on the portable gaming market.

Look for the Asus Memo 370T in the second quarter of 2012.