Introducing the Surface

by CHRISTINE ABRAHAM
Photographer

Most have already heard, but Microsoft has released its first ever tablet, the Surface. This is absolutely not anything like the iPad as it is not only a tablet, but also a desktop computer.

The Surface is much thinner, and longer than an iPad. It also features a stand in the back, and attachable keyboard-cover combinations in colors such as red, blue, pink, black, and white. It attaches and detaches easily to a magnetic bar on the bottom.

There are two versions of these keyboards. First is the Touch cover, which is not any thicker than a piece of cardboard, and it simply works just by touching the letters or symbols. Then there is the type cover, which has real keys that move up and down, allowing you to type normally. It is only about a quarter of an inch thick.

“That is so cool. I like how there’s different colors! And not too expensive I have to say,” said sophomore Kirsten Pasewaldt.

The pricing of this new tablet is about $499 and $100 for an attachable keyboard. The only color the Surface is available in is in a dark titanium color.

This tablet has a 2048 x 1536 pixels resolution with 264 ppi. Also, the Surface has a bigger 10.6 inches TFT capacitive touchscreen. The Surface comes in 32 and 64GB internal storage, and consumers can expand the memory by using a microSD card. The tables comes with both front and back 1.2 megapixels cameras, the iPad having slightly better pixels.

With the Surface, users can get up to eight hours of talk time. This tablet uses a 31.5 Wh battery, which has a standby time of 360 hours.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are available; however, there is no cellular version to replace the absence of Wi-Fi when a user cannot connect to the Internet.

The only drawback about the Surface is the fact that it cannot run any PC software. Recently, however, Microsoft will release a second version of the Surface called the Surface Pro. This would be a genuine PC, running Windows and Windows apps.

The Pro is over half an inch thicker than the orginial Surface tablet, but is two pounds heavier than the regular 1.5 pounds. It is also much more expensive. With 64GB of storage, it is $900, and $1,000 with 128GB.

This a revolutionary touch-screen tablet that runs desktop software such as Microsoft Office, iTunes, Photoshop, and Quicken.

The screen is 1,080 x 1,920 pixels with high defintion. This tablet is also extremely fast, opening apps in just over a second. Programs also run and switch quickly.

The new Pro also comes with a plastic stylus that allows you to write, draw, and paint on the screen. The pen is pressure-sensitive and users can make darker lines by pushing down harder. Only the pen will make marks, not your hands.

A USB 3.0 port is also included on the device, and Microsoft has also added a second USB port on the power brick itself.

Just like the Surface, the Pro runs Windows 8 with two operating systems. Included is the Windows desktop and another one not yet named, full of colored, bright touch-screen tiles. Users now have two web browers, two control panels, two search engines, and two ways of right-clicking.

“That is amazing! It is just like a tablet! I think this is the best thing that has happened since the iPad tablets!” said sophomore Joe Babar.

It is safe to say that this is a whole new revolution for both the iPad, Surface, and other tablets on the market.