NOOK HD Tablets-Now with Google PlayMicrosoft Surface
Price: $300 to $800
Availability: October (RT version), January 2013 (Windows 8 version)
The outlook: Microsoft's foray into the tablet space looks to be a well-engineered, practical device with plenty of useful features and interesting accessories. Price may be the determining factor to its success, however.
The good: The Microsoft Surface's Metro interface is innovative, elegant, powerful, and versatile. The tablet feels strong and well-built, runs Office 2013, and includes rich video and music services. Its keyboard cover accessories are the best ways to type on a tablet, period.
The bad: The tablet's performance can be sluggish, its Windows Store is a ghost town, Metro takes getting used to, and the Desktop interface feels clunky and useless.
The bottom line: If you're an early adopter willing to forget everything you know about navigating a computer, the Surface tablet could replace your laptop. Everyone else: wait for more apps.
September 10, 2012 9:20 AM PDT
Photo by: Josh Lowensohn/CNET
