Microsoft has presented in New York the new Surface models to compete, not only with iPad, but also with the rest of the Android-based tablets and the Amazon Kindle. The names chosen for the new models are Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2. In this article we will only deal with Surface 2, because the Pro 2 model moves outside the tablet market, and can be considered more of an option to the MacBook Air ( both have a Core i5 Haswell).
HARDWARE
- iPad: A6X dual-core with quad-core graphics processor and 1GB of RAM.
- Surface 2: NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor at 1,7 Ghz and 2 gb of RAM.
SCREEN
- iPad: 9,7-inch LED-backlit Multi-Touch and Retina display with IPS technology and 2.048 by 1.536 resolution at 264 pixels per inch (p / p).
- Surface 2: 10,6-inch screen with a resolution of 1920 by 1080, ClearType Full HD.
OPERATING SYSTEM
- iPad: iOS 7, new and completely renewed.
- Surface 2: Windows 8.1. The RT version for the old tablet was a failure due to the limitation it had when it came to installing available applications (the same ones as in Windows 8 could not be installed). However, they have opted for a new version but with the same limitations.
AUTONOMY. Both have the same autonomy, approximately 10 hours. In the case of the iPad, which has a version with connection through mobile networks, the duration is reduced by one hour, up to nine.
APPLICATIONS
- iPad: According to Apple, there are approximately 375.000 applications available for this device (there are applications that can only be used on iPad and not on iPhone), which allow you to do anything, from drawing, creating music, retouching photos. Whatever happens to be done on the iPad, it will have its corresponding application.
- Surface 2: The new Surface 2 once again uses updated Windows RT. But if the ecosystem of applications you have does not grow, even if it competes in price with the iPad, you will have nothing to do if in the end there are not enough and useful applications to use this device. Includes Office 2013 RT as standard, with Outlook optimized for touchscreens.
CAMERAS
- iPad: 1,2 Mpx front. Rear: 5 Mpx. With the front camera you can record in 720p and with the rear in 1080p.
- Surface 2: 3,5 Mpx front. Rear: 5 Mpx. With both cameras it will be possible to record video in 1080p.
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
- iPad: The Wi-Fi version has a slightly lower weight than Surface 2, it stays at 652 grams (10 grams more in the cellular version). The height is set at 24,12 cm and the width at 18,57 cm. The thickness is fixed at 9,4 millimeters.
- Surface 2: The new Surface 2 has lowered its weight to 679 grams. The thickness has remained at 8,9 millimeters. Dimensions are the same as its previous 27,46cm x 17,20cm model.
CAPACITY
- iPad: 16, 32, 64 and 128 GB.
- Surface 2: 32 and 64 GB. During the first two years, we will have 200 GB of storage available through Skydrive, Microsoft's Dropbox. Much of the device's capacity will be occupied by the operating system and all the applications that are pre-installed, so the free space on the device will be left with more or less half of the model's capacity (depending on the version). By having a microSD card reader we can expand the space of the device or connect an external hard drive through the USB 3.0 port it has.
PRICE
- iPad: Starting at 469 euros for the Wi-Fi version with 16 GB of storage and 629 euros for the Wi-Fi + Cellular version with 16 GB.
- Surface 2: For the 32GB version, the price has been set at 429 euros. If we need more capacity, we can find the 64 GB version for 100 euros more, 529 euros.
CONNECTIONS
- iPad: The only available connection is Lightning type, which we can use to charge the iPad and synchronize it with the computer.
- Surface 2: It has a USB 3.0 connection through which you can copy files and load other devices. It has a slot for reading micro SD cards. To play the movies stored on the device, we can make use of the HDMI connection it has.
ALTERNATIVE TO iPAD?
Personally I think Microsoft is wrong again using the RT version for this model. As I have commented before, the limitation and lack of programs for this version of Windows 8, does not make a useful option when it comes to taking it into account if we are looking to change or buy a tablet for the first time. It may be that for small businesses with Office and Outlook RT it will serve them more than enough and they have no need for anything else. But for the general public and large companies I do not see it as feasible.
Man is the only animal that trips over the same stone twice. Recall that Microsoft has lost about 900 million dollars with the previous version and basically Surface 2 is the same as Surface RT.
On the other hand, the Surface 2 Pro, if I see it in a position to stand up to the MacBook Air, having a powerful processor capable of managing the complete Windows 8 and being able to install all the compatible applications without having the limitations of the RT version.
More information - Microsoft presents the new Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2, Apple launches iOS 7, it can now be updated, The 64 GB Surface Pro only has 23 GB free
Garbage and more garbage, your sales will fall again when the new iPad 5 and iPad Mini come out
An article written by an Apple fanboy. What a curiosity that everything on the Surface is bad, there is always a tagline. You put that Apple Store has 375.000 apps for Ipad, but do not comment that in the Microsoft Store there are 100.000, counting that they take much less time. By the way, IOS does not use the same applications as OS X, it is the same that you are criticizing Windows RT. The processor of the Surface passes over the Ipad, the RAM, the touch cover, Usb 3.0, an OS improved compared to the original Windows RT, Office, Outlook professional, come on ... When you criticize something, have the decency to do it objectively And don't be such a fan
What is clear is that the Ipad is for Leisure, and the Surface for leisure, study and work. After each one has their tastes, but let's not try to manipulate people's opinion. And I recognize that the iPad is a great product, but above all I recognize the ability of Apple to sell anything at any price, whether good or not so good.
An article written by an Apple fanboy. What a curiosity that everything on the Surface is bad, there is always a tagline. You put that Apple Store has 375.000 apps for Ipad, but do not comment that in the Microsoft Store there are 100.000, counting that they take much less time. By the way, IOS does not use the same applications as OS X, it is the same that you are criticizing Windows RT. The processor of the Surface passes over the Ipad, the RAM, the touch cover, Usb 3.0, an OS improved compared to the original Windows RT, Office, Outlook professional, come on ... When you criticize something, have the decency to do it objectively And don't be such a fan
What is clear is that the Ipad is for Leisure, and the Surface for leisure, study and work. After each one has their tastes, but let's not try to manipulate people's opinion. And I recognize that the iPad is a great product, but above all I recognize the ability of Apple to sell anything at any price, whether good or not so good.
The iPad when it appeared on the market had no one to compare with. Obviously, any tablet that appears must be compared with the first one that appeared on the market. The lack of applications dedicated only to Windows RT is what makes it lose weight in the comparison. For the rest of the features I have not commented that it is at any time inferior or superior to the iPad. The iPad is not just for entertainment. Precisely both I and most of the editors use it to work and not to entertain ourselves. By having so many different applications for the same purpose, the limitations that we find in one app can be overcome with another that does all of the above plus the new needs. In the Microsoft Store there are not so many alternatives for the same purpose.
It is clear that you can use it to work, the question is ... is it a device designed for this purpose? It is that area I think the Surface 2 has no rival, with the Office pre-installed, the Usb, the keyboard cover… it is a small laptop, while the Ipad is a large Tablet.
That is why the iPad has been a worldwide success for years and the Surface RT a real fiasco ... 😉
I swapped my iPad for a Surface and I am delighted, I finish my work much faster and I am millions of times more productive. The "lack of apps" is not felt, except because you want to play Plants vs Zombies 2, in addition the multitasking that Microsoft incorporated makes it very efficient, especially when I am on a Skype call with my partners while I can see my business data on the Same Excel that I use on the computer. I can connect it to any printer and connect it to USB devices without the need for any adapter that Apple's were very expensive and did not last at all, in addition to the fact that most printers were incompatible, I can connect it to monitors and projectors with HDMI for presentations with the complete PowerPoint (which by the way is incredible), which on my old iPad was unthinkable unless I paid for the AppleTV which was also very expensive. Another thing is that I can connect my Xbox controller! and the applications in the store are compatible with it and by connecting it to an external monitor I have practically a console with the graphics that Nvidia incorporated. It's a great job from Microsoft, I strongly suggest both the author and the readers of this article to change their iPad, they will be very satisfied unless they want to play Plants vs Zombies 2 as I already said (that with time will be solved)