Here, the tables are turned, with Apple's notebook costing $29.99 less than the equivalent Surface Pro with the top-end $129.99 Type Cover keyboard:įor this sort of money, you're entitled to expect the Surface Pro to offer no-compromise ultrabook functionality (primarily in content-creation mode at work), and the convenience of tablet-mode operation when the occasion demands (more often than not, after-hours at home). Whereas the Surface RT comes in at $100 cheaper than the equivalent iPad for the tablet only (price deltas vary depending on the keyboards you add, although the Surface RT is always the cheaper option), the natural Microsoft-Apple comparison for the higher-spec Surface Pro is with the 11.6-inch MacBook Air. Can this more traditional 'Wintel' device - which performs much better but is also bulkier, heavier, more expensive and has considerably shorter battery life - make a better impression?įirst let's consider the pricing. Now it's the turn of the much-anticipated Surface Pro, which launched in the US on Friday 9 February (at $899 with 64GB of storage or $999 with 128GB).
For many, Windows RT's inability to run traditional 'desktop' Windows software and the relative paucity of native WinRT ('Metro-style') apps in the Windows Store are deal-breakers, although the Surface RT does come with a version of Office Home and Student 2013 preinstalled (Office is the only desktop software that runs on the device, though). Generally speaking, the tablet hardware has been well received (with certain caveats), while the OS, software and general user experience tends to appeal most to those who are already 'plugged in' to the Microsoft ecosystem and can get by with a restricted set of applications. The Surface RT ($499-$699) shipped on 26 October and has been gathering mixed reviews ever since.
As far as recent Microsoft devices are concerned, two of the most talked-about in relation to BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) are a pair of tablets with snap-on keyboards: the ARM-based Surface with Windows RT and the x86-based Surface with Windows 8 Pro. On 9 October last year, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer told shareholders that: "Fantastic devices and services for end users will drive our enterprise businesses forward given the increasing influence employees have in the technology they use at work". If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions.
And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping.