Microsoft Windows RT user reviews

Pros This is a real tablet that can do some laptop things. Comparing to a fully functional Windows 7 or 8 is moronic. Do you compare an iPad to a Mac book? No. This this is awesome, 1.0 or whatever you want to call is already ahead of everything.

Cons Apps and some minor app bugs, but its new so I'm not real worried about it.

Summary I've already given a review on another CNET review page. I am not a Microsoft fanboy, but I know it will be tough to convert iFans. This thing is awesome and shows so much promise. If you want to judge this thing off of Zune or Win7 phones...don't.

Pros Office, speed, easy to use, awesome video playback, better productivity than any other tablet (type-pad, split screen, office apps, remote desktop etc).

Cons Need more apps, willing to pay :)

Summary Unless you somehow decided it is going to replace your laptop, you won't be disappointed. Reading some reviews I was getting worried awaiting for my Surface to arrive, fortunately most of what I read was usual anti-ms BS. Running side-by-site with my daughter's iPad and liking it a lot more. Basically it is iPad++, admittedly missing robust ecosystem just yet but with better features out of the box and smarter OS.

Pros Touch keyboard is as useful as it is cool, USB port, wide screen, durable design, MS Office, kickstand, slick interface, live tiles.

Cons Learning curve, no desktop apps outside of Office, limited apps (for the moment), windows logo rubs off easily from the back.

Summary Sure, it doesn't have 100's of thousands of apps yet but this is Windows - they will come fast. And the ones that are here look great. Live tiles make it easy to stay in the loop at a glance. It takes some time getting used to all the gestures, but once you do they make a lot of sense and are fun to use. Some may say they're complicated but they do offer more than just app switching and zooming like the iPad.

They ouch keyboard is also something that takes getting used to. But new technologies always do, and this cover/keyboard concept is so clever and useful it makes on screen keyboards seem awkward again. Having a USB port to connect keyboards or mice provides more options for those who want to use legacy devices.

The hardest element to quantify is the "feeling" you have from owning one. The original iPad was more limited than the Surface, but owning one felt - to borrow the word from Apple - magical. You get the feeling that you own something futuristic and enviable. You want to show it off to everyone. Making a productive device that's easy to use is one thing, to bundle that feeling in a device is something much harder to do. Microsoft has done a great job on both. I still have my iPad, but I'm using it less everyday and it's starting to lose it's magic the more I use my Surface.

Pros Common Windows interface across platforms, Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows Phone 8. Office on Tablet. Physical keyboard. IE.

Cons Limited application availability, but this will be resolved in time

Summary While I am a Windows Phone user, I am not a blind follower of Microsoft. I do, however, feel they have done a good job of establishing a common foundation for Window 8, Windows Phone, and Windows RT that will be a long benefit to us, the users. The more I use the Surface, the less I use my main computer. For stuff I want to access that is not available via Win RT, I run Remote Desktop to access on my desktop system.