We think the Surface RT can be a better post PC device than the Apple iPad 4 and here are ten reasons to support it
1) Kickstand and Touch Cover Keyboard
Post PC devices are generally meant to be portable, but they are also used to watch movies or respond to an email.
Apple offers the iPad Smart Cover and the iPad Smart Case. Both come in a variety of colors, protect your tablet and help stand the device up on solid surfaces. iPad users have no alternative to their on screen keyboards unless they are willing to look toward third party products.
Microsoft chose to respond to this by adding a kick stand on their Surface tablet which lets you easily watch movies off your tablet. Even though the Surface is built using a strong material which won't get damaged or scratched Microsoft additionally offers a keyboard which doubles as a cover and stand for your tablet. This keyboard is capable of measuring pressure, so it can differentiate between when you are typing and when it is being used as an extension to the kickstand. Just like Apple's covers the Touch Cover keyboard comes in a selection of colors and users can opt for a Type cover keyboard if they prefer a more solid feel to their keys.
2) USB and MicroSD card support
For a post PC device to fully replace your desktop computer it should be able to access and deal with the same files you use in your professional life. Photographers for example would regularly want to transfer photos from their cameras on their SD cards, while professionals or students will want to edit files on their USB drives.
While Apple argues that a post PC world is entirely wireless and should rely on cloud storage, the whole world is not ready to ditch their portable data storage devices for the cloud. iPad users will find themselves purchasing additional adaptors and converters if they want to read their digital drives.
The Surface comes with a microSD port and a full USB port, which means you can simply connect your USB hard drives or microSD cards into your Surface to transfer, edit or modify your content. Additionally if you are not happy with the default storage on your Surface, you can simply add some microSD storage and you are ready to go.
3) Innovative gesture based navigation
The post PC era is all about gesture based navigation and Apple took the first steps in demonstrating how the hand can replace the traditional keyboard and Mouse. However the iPad still relies heavily on its one physical button for most tasks.
The Surface has its own physical Windows button, but Windows 8 offers a fully gesture based approach for the Surface RT tablet.
- Swiping from the right reveals the universal search, sharing, Windows shortcut, access to connected devices and settings.
- Swiping from the left allows you to see the processes running in the background, access your start menu or manually select a running process for split screen or closing
- Swiping from the top allows you to close an open application
- Swiping from the bottom reveals the menu for the open application
- Swipe from left or right within a website to navigate forward or back through the pages you have visited
Windows 8 on your Surface offers various other gesture based interactions to keep you quickly and efficiently navigating through your day to day tasks.
4) Proper multitasking
Apple's multitasking menu is a collection of icons which users have to access by double clicking on the homescreen. This form of multitasking has been criticized for many years and Apple doesn't seem to want to improve it.
Windows on the other hand provides excellent multitasking on Windows 8 on the Surface. Apps that are not in use are put in a sleep state to ensure better battery life and users have a preview of the app when they swipe from the left, exactly where they left off.
5) Split screen multi-tasking
The split screen multitasking is one of the best features on Windows 8 and the Surface RT. While iPad users don't have a feature to match this, Surface RT users can perform two tasks at a time using this feature. For example if you are composing an email and receive a skype call, you can split Skype and your email on your screen and continue both tasks at the same time. This even works if you want to chat with your friends while watching a movie.
6) A wide angle onscreen keyboard with special keys and number lock
The Windows Touch keyboard on your Surface RT has four different modes. Firstly you have the regular spaced keyboard similar to the one on the iPad, second there is a split screen keyboard which is useful when you type in landscape mode, thirdly you have handwriting recognition (which I am not certain is available on the Surface RT) and lastly you have a wide angle keyboard.
This wide angle keyboard is identical to your regular keyboard and includes special keys, number lock and even the Windows key on the same layout.
7) Free music streaming with Xbox music
iPad users are proud to have access to Spotify which is not available for Windows RT yet. However Spotify requires a premium monthly payment to be used on portable tablets. Even though Spotify offers free radio, you will have to pay if you want to listen to the music you choose.
The Surface RT comes with Xbox Music which offers the same music streaming music as Spotify but for free.
8) Full file management
This is one of the best features of a Windows device and sorely missed on Android and iOS. Users who are used to having a proper file management system on their Windows or Mac computers will be quite lost when they have to use iTunes to manage their files on their iPads. Even though their a several third party app solutions on the App Store, nothing beats the native experience your desktop platform offers.
With the Surface RT there is no compromise here. You will get the same experience you have on your desktop computer and a touch friendly option through SkyDrive if you prefer. If your Surface RT is connected to your Home network or Homegroup, accessing files is even easier.
9) Microsoft Office Suite
Microsoft Office is my favorite feature on the Surface RT after file management. Microsoft has decided to offer users a free copy of Office with the Surface RT and you can create or edit your Word, Excel or PowerPoint documents on your tablet.
If you own an iPad you have the option of purchasing iWorks apps for nearly $30 or find a third party solution in the App Store.
10) Full flash support
The iPad doesn't support flash and there is no way around this unless you jailbreak you tablet and find a solution through Cydia.
The Surface RT does restrict Flash but it fully supports it. Users can edit a whitelist of websites which can load flash and add their favorite websites to work on your Surface RT.
The Surface RT features a 10.6 inch display with a 1366 by 768 pixel resolution, it offers up to 64GB of internal storage which can be expanded through microSD, 1.2 megapixel cameras in the rear and front capable of 720p HD video capture and is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM.
The 32GB Surface costs $499 while the 64GB Surface will cost you $599. The Touch Cover will cost an additional $100 if combined with your purchase.
The iPad 4 has a smaller 9.7 inch display but a much larger 1536 by 2048 pixels Retina resolution. It offers up to 128GB of internal storage, a 5 megapixel rear camera capable of 1080p HD video capture, a secondary 1.2MP camera for video calls, optional 4G LTE connectivity and is powered by an Apple A6X dual-core processor.
The iPad 4 costs $499 with 16GB of storage with $100 increments as the storage doubles. Optional 4G LTE has a $629.00 starting price with the same $100 increments for 16GB to 128GB of storage. A polyurethane Smart Cover will cost you an additional $39 while a leather cover will add $69 to your purchase. The full protection of the iPad Smart Case will set you back an additional $49.
So what do you think of our ten reasons to choose the Surface RT over the Apple iPad 4? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.