Surface Tablet vs. iPad: What are the Consumers Saying?

Matching up two of the top hi-tech computer gadgets available today-the Microsoft Surface and Apple's iPad-consumers have a lot to say about both of them.

Matt Baxter of ZDnet.com writes, "On iPad -- and I mention this only because it's a benchmark device -- everything is slick and snappy. Try to compose a new email with the iPad app, click the "reply" button and -- pop! -- the compose window is there."

Comparing the Surface's processes, Baxter has a less than glowing review. "On Surface, do the same thing and it's "one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi, three-Mississippi, ah, there it is!" Click "close", "delete draft", and again it's "one-Mississippi, two-Mississippi, and we're back!"

User Jason Pope posted on Gizmag.com, "[The Surface] is not even a competitor to the iPad.. The iPad is 99% an entertainment device.. this is being marketed as a office users device."

Matt Buchanan at Buzzfeed was not a fan of the Surface's at-home abilities.

"Deadlier still, a lot of what the New Microsoft promises is a total unity across Windows, Xbox and Windows Phone, but my experience with SmartGlass, the new application that connects an Xbox to a Windows device, was not exactly fantastic," Buchanan wrote. "The music and video apps baked into Surface were designed and built by the Xbox team, but music, particularly in concert with my Xbox, was totally confounding to use."

Ken Colburn of the East Valley Tribune compares the two head-to-head. Noting that the Surface is designed both for work and for entertainment as opposed to the iPad's primarily entertainment-focused design, Colburn also notes that the iPad has many more apps available as opposed to the Surface in Microsoft's online store.

"My opinion is that if you're more interested in entertainment, then stick with the iPad but if you lean more towards being productive with a side of entertainment, the Surface tablet is worth a look as long as you don't mind being an early adopter," he writes.

Mathew Honan at Wired liked the "meticulous" and "well-designed" look of the Surface, but disliked the keyboard cover and cameras.