OK. I am going to be mostly negative. But I will be subjectively negative.
First of all, there is nothing really new or stunning about this device. Maybe it is good, but it doesn’t really strike most people as stellar, I predict.
The magnetic cover is kinda a copy of an Apple’s idea. But that’s not important. I think the danger for having a keyboard like that, is that, it is not really better than a laptop keyboard, but in order to use it, you have to put the tablet as if it is a real laptop. The kickstand (ugly but practical) restrict the orientation of the tablet, and it makes this tablet MORE space hunger than a laptop: because you need extra space to support the kickstand. The real danger for having this keyboard, is that it discourage people from touching the screen. Touch is the magic with iPad. Also, you do not get adaptive keyboard with this fixed keyboard thing. Many of the neat features of iPad keyboard is that it is adaptive to the apps. Jailbroken iPad can install Chinese input method that can do so much because of this freedom. You can also not have an English and a Greek keyboard. You cannot input Emoji from it. By discouraging people from using the touch screen, you are definitely going to have a less intimate experience than the iPad, also less engaging. Sure you can remove that keyboard, but then what’s differentiating this tablet?
RT and Windows 8 Pro version is confusing as hell. There are many reasons for someone to have a Macbook Air/Pro as well as an iPad. But you will not have enough reasons to own a RT and Windows 8 version: Windows 8 version is essentially a “ultrabook”. It is going to be heavy, and power hungry and thick. I think it will eat into ultrabook PC market instead of iPad. But then it would be difficult to make your customer happy. Those who got RT will regret not having full Windows programs. And those who got Windows 8 Pro version will be unhappy because their tablet is so bulky and bad battery life. Microsoft may have created an opportunity to make their potential customers unhappy either way.
More about the keyboard thing, is it also comes with a TRACKPAD. That will further prevent people from touching. Otherwise it is a waste of space. It would be quite strange to use “cursor” in a way, although I do admit sometimes maybe a cursor is what iPad needs, but not often.
16:9 display is always strange for a tablet, once you use it in portrait mode.
I still think the Metro UI is a mess and not a fan of “tiles”.
What do I like about it? OK. The hardware itself looks good. I don’t dislike the design, it probably looks better than most Android tablets out there. I think a lot of Android tablet buyers may buy this instead. Which would be really bad news for Google. I don’t really see Android phone users having strong reasons why they would choose Android tablet over this. This product and Windows RT may just kill Android on tablet and keep it as a phone OS. I like the colors, but apparently MS is just copying Apple here.
It’s been over 10 years! Surface was decently successful, but did not take the world by storm. It has been, however, allegedly some of the better Windows laptop/tablet out there. It seems to be more popular than Android tablets in the end.
I recently upgraded to an iPad Pro 12.9″ because my personal MacBook Pro M1 Pro is used as BYOD for work, and somewhat locked down. Instead of paying for the very expensive Apple keyboard stand for iPad Pro, I opted for a cheaper, Logitech keyboard cover with a kickstand. My complaint and criticism of kickstands are so real, it is the least favorite part of this keyboard case for me.