Why Surface RT? [Infographic]

Nice graphic, and I enjoy my Surface RT quite a bit. It still has some rough edges and a few too many app crashes, but it has improved remarkably since I got it.

One slight nit pick, while there is no mouse app, there is a limited keyboard app for the 2 Surface keyboards that let you control some of the functionality. Still not as full featured as the PC counterparts, but it's at least there.

This is great. But can I add my few cents in addition to a cool Xbox integration already mentioned?

First is the kickstand and the touch/type covers. Don't underestimate them! These are truly amazing (especially the TypeCover). Nothing in iPad compares in usability and productivity of the resulting solution, especially when you factor in the width and weight. Since I got my Surface, I pretty much stopped using laptop unless I have to write code or work in the environment where a luxury of horizontal surfaces is not available and I have a lot of typing to do -- arguably not a typical environment. Even an airplane features a stowaway table.

Permanent memory expansion via MicroSD and ability to hot-swap cards or mount card memory as directories is huge for seamlessly expanding your tablet's storage capacity without adding any bulk.

And what about a standard micro-HDMI output which lets you connect your Surface to any monitor, projector, or TV? With iPad, you would have to purchase and carry $30 dongle to accomplish the same. What's even better, with Windows RT, all standard output options like mirroring or extending or external monitor only are available, and it is very easy to switch between the two.

Finally, Task Switching should definitely be expanded to mention seamless contract-based sharing via Sharing charm, ability to send data to other devices via Devices charm, be it playing music on your Xbox or printing a document. Also important are application preferences, now found in the same place in all applications similar to OS X making configuration discovery so much easier. Auto-hide app bars save a lot of space while giving you context-sensitive command options. Yes, these are things shared with Windows 8 desktop, but they make your work experience so much better.

Finally comes a very decent 16:9 screen that makes watching movies a way better and natural experience as compared to letter-boxed versions on iPad.

Paul mentioned Tegra 3 sluggish performance and application stability in many of his articles, and I have to concur. Still my experience with Surface RT was comparable to iPad and definitely better than Android tablets. I think the only major gripe today would be the apps. But these are not going to happen overnight, no matter what the rate of adoption is. Here's hoping we are going to see positive changes in this department too in the coming months.

Apple iOS 5+ has an app switcher. I use it on my iPad all the time. Four finger swipe up -> Pick your app. You can also Four finger swipe left/right to go app-to-app. Amazingly nearly ever app on my iPad is "running" in the background. They never get fully tombstoned.

The single stupidest reason I have to use their app switcher is because if you want to insert more than one picture in your email you have to switch back and fourth between the photos app and the email and click-hold -> copy then click-hold -> paste the things in one at a time.

Some good stuff. But I disagree, of course, with some points.

1. iPad has parental controls, all of those listed, plus restrictions on in-app purchases.
2. Not sure what "better keyboard" support means. Apple's works fine and pretty much any BT keyboard I've thrown at the iPad it handles fine. There are also more 3rd party keyboards specifically made for the iPad than the RT
3. When it comes to printer support you could easily flip that with "iPad comes ready to work with new AirPrint enabled printers requiring no drivers, or future driver issues, unlike Surface RT."
4. No keyboard needed to easily switch between apps with two finger swipe.
5. iWork for iPad is true tablet format productivity designed from the ground up and not with a desktop view.

Anyway...carry on!

Windows RT is hmm so so .. one might want it if one wants to make use of the Microsoft walled garden prison of applications over, say, the Apple walled garden prison.

One might be better off with the soon available Surface (x86) tablet running a full version of Windows. It will cost a bit more, but it's not running the the crippleware that Windows RT is; and in the long run the employer of the full Windows device will most likely find many reasons to be much more happy with it on a device that's free.

I have ditched my heavy corporate issued core I5 laptop and have been solely using the Surface RT as an experiment. Its been flawless. Run wireless keyboard and mouse with HDMI connection to large external monitor while in the office. I connect to all of corporate applications thru the Citrix APP which is fast and runs everything without a hiccup. Carry device while on the go and love it for casual home use. I agree with the other poster..the kickstand and the touch/type cover integration is really well done. I didn't intend to buy the RT, but I got sick of waiting and said what the hell. I'll probably get the surface pro in a few weeks for a speed boost and the active digitizer. What to do with the RT version then? Ha ha!