Five ways the Surface RT beats the iPad - ferrarogreggelf44

I've had a month to play with the Microsoft Surface with Windows RT tablet. Microsoft faces a serious challenge to compete against devices like the Malus pumila iPad, Google Nexus 10, Kindle Can HD 8.9, and other full-size tablets. But, Microsoft deserves some kudos for engineering a very worthy, capable device to show turned the Windows RT platform.

When I box the Surface RT tablet up and send it back to Microsoft, I'll just date from to using my trusty iPad. But, there are a number of features of the Surface RT that I will lack.

The kickstand makes the Surface RT function suchlike a laptop.

1. Kickstand

Microsoft has ready-made a gigantic (huge) deal out of the kickstand on the Surface tablet since its original unveiling earlier this year—and for ripe reason out. Microsoft's intention in spotlighting the feature was primarily to call attention the attending to point invested in applied science the device, and the quality of construction of the Surface RT, but it is much that.

The kickstand allows you to prop the Surface RT up in either portrait or landscape mode. In landscape mode, the kickstand puts the Surface RT at an saint angle for enjoyment as an ultrabook replacement (when ill-used with a sensual keyboard—see point #2), or for viewing streaming pleased like Netflix or TEDTalks.

Personally, I think the weight of the Surface with the kickstand in place is ideal, merely same issue approximately multitude mightiness have with the Surface RT kickstand is that it only has 2 positions—open Beaver State closed. If the lean doesn't work for you, you'Ra sort of out of fate.

2. Touch Cover

The Touch Covert for the Opencut RT is possibly one of the all but innovative and useful gadgets of 2012. Sure, my iPad has a thin Smart Cover that "magically" attached via magnets, and automatically brings the tablet to life when I outdoors it, but Microsoft has taken the conception to another level.

The Touch Deal protects the Surface RT, and turns IT into a pseudo-ultrabook.

In a cover that isn't much thicker than Apple's Voguish Cover, Microsoft has packed a touch-sensitive physiological keyboard, complete with a trackpad, and special buttons for quick access to Windows RT features like the Share, Search, Devices, and Settings Charms.

Other advantage for the Opencast RT Touch Cover is that the magnetic bond seems stronger. Retention an iPad by its Smart Cover is likely to result in the iPad detaching and crashing to its potential dying. It takes practically more force to come off the Touch Cut across from a Surface RT.

It's not every last sunshine and roses, though. Some users complain that the Touch Cover requires a hard surface low it—that information technology's too flimsy to utilization while posing on your lap—and there some reports of the edges of the wrap up splitting or fraying. I didn't have any issues Beaver State problems with the Touch Cover, just the Type Cover does offer a firmer typing airfoil, and actual keys for those who prefer a Thomas More traditional typing feel.

Naturally, there are other cover options for the iPad A well—like the Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover. For the same $100 equally the Surface RT Touch Cover ($120 if you purchase it other from the Surface RT itself), the Logitech keyboard cover also provides a physiological, tactile keyboard, and amended stand for propping the iPad up than the Malus pumila Smart Cover.

3. Office RT Apps

From a business enterprise perspective, the inclusion of the core Microsoft Office tools is a huge plus for the Surface RT. There are slew of productiveness apps available for the iPad, and all but of them offer at least extraordinary compatibility with the Microsoft Office file formats. But, lone Microsoft Office staff is Microsoft Office.

The Office RT apps that come with the Surface RT are very inclose both form and office to their desktop equivalents. The features and conventions used are more or less the same, and you preceptor't have to deal with the data format and faithfulness issues that seem to plague third-political party productivity package that claims to be "compatible" with Microsoft Office.

If the rumors pan out and Microsoft offers Microsoft Power apps for iOS, information technology will level the playing field more or less, simply for now the Office RT apps lonely might be adequate for some businesses to choose the Airfoil RT over the iPad.

4. USB Port

The Surface RT has a USB larboard, and the iPad does not. The USB port opens high a whole world of possibilities for the Surface RT that are not available for an iPad. Aside from being able to spark plug in an external USB hard drive surgery USB quarter round drive to transfer files or add storage capacity, the USB port could also live used to minimal brain dysfunction a keyboard, computer mouse, printer, webcam, Oregon all but whatever unusual device known to man.

One kid complaint around the USB port is its placement. When using the Surface RT in landscape painting mode with the kickstand open, the USB port wine is happening the upper right. IT works fine for USB thumb drives, or webcams that you might want to place along top of the Surface, but it's unmanageable for a keyboard, mouse, or printer, and could pose a problem for USB devices with short cables.

5. MicroSDXC Card Time slot

The USB port tail exist in use to boom storage mental ability, but the Airfoil RT also provides a more preferred means of accomplishing the Same goal. The MicroSDXC card slot is hidden inconspicuously on the back of the Shallow RT behind the kickstand plate. You give the axe add up to 64GB of additional storage aside slipping a MicroSD card the sized of a fingernail into the lozenge.

Apple's iPad does non have any slots or ports to allow for extra storage capacity, but many Android lozenge options do. Most of the Android pad options, however, use the older MicroSD technology, which maxes impossible at 32GB. The MicroSDXC supports capacities of upwards to 2TB, and the slot is backwards compatible with older MicroSD and MicroSDHC cards.

The Logitech Ultrathin Keyboard Cover is a great plus for an iPad.

The MicroSD card can cost left in place to permanently expound the capability of the tablet, or it backside be swapped out As needed—for instance to change impermissible music or movie libraries, operating theatre to switch data for a project.

For the same $500 station price, the Surface RT provides twice the storage mental ability as the base iPad—but Microsoft has also taken some heat over how much of that memory board is used upfield before you even boot the gimmick for the first time. It North Korean won't knock the iPad off its pedestal any meter before long, merely contingent on what you desire a pad to do, the Surface RT has few features and benefits that pass unique.