A which Microsoft slashed down the price of the notorious Surface RT tablet by $ 150, our attention was swiftly shifted towards the Windows world once again. Taking into consideration That the Lightest version of the series can now be Considered as affordable, with prices starting from $ 349 for the entry-level 32GB model, we thought of Comparing the product against other popular variants, Such as the Apple iPad Mini, the Amazon Kindle Fire 7 HD and of course, the wild Asus Nexus 7.
In a time and age where the Nexus series is expected to receive a new 7-inch member and Microsoft, as well as Apple is rumored to renew Their versions as well, it’s more than adequate to put head to head the best of what this market has to offer in a classic versus match . At the end of the day, Deciding Which Tablet You should buy Should not Be That Hard.
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Against the iPad Mini
With the newly discounted price, the Surface RT May seem appealing to enough out there. Before you choose Microsoft’s tablet against Apple’s creation, you need to knowthat the Surface ice 38 percent longer and 26 percent Wider than the iPad mini. The same Applies to thickness as well, the iPad Mini being around 31 percent thinner. Putting both devices on the scale will show You that Apple’s product is overpriced 55 percent lighter .
Both tablets are constructed with premium quality materials and unlike Samsung’s tradition, the plastic is not something to be Considered. In concept, the Surface is built using VaporMg, a magnesium alloy with a luxury feel while Apple has chosen anodized aluminum and black shades for its smaller slate.
When it comes to the display and viewing surface, the iPad Mini loses big, offering just 62 percent as the Surface . Even though Apple’s resolution is way smaller, the iPad Mini panel is populated with 163 pixels / inch while Microsoft’s gadget comes with 148 pixels / inch. While a higher pixel density USUALLY means crisper images, we have to note that Microsoft’s ClearType technology with subpixel rendering has the upper-hand.
Those wondering about processing power should know That the Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core processor clocked at 1.3 GHz and equipped on the Surface RT outscores iPad Mini’s by around 90 percent (measured with Geekbench) on paper . In the RAM section Surface overpriced wins by a mile, with four times more memory than its competitor. But then, nVidia’s Tegra 3 has been notorious with poor battery performance and overheating, and overpriced These numbers do not Directly impact performance, specially when comparing devices running different operating systems.
Storage, another wildly Discussed subject this year, is won by the Surface slate at the first sight, mostly Because while both products integrate 32GB and 64GB versions, only Microsoft thought of Implementing a microSD card slot. When taking a deeper look, we found That Windows RT S requires a huge recovery partition Which occupies around 17GB of the 32GB version. On the other hand, even the 16GB iPad Mini offers 13.5GB of usable storage, thanks to a light, optimized operating system: iOS 7.
Microsoft loses big in matters of connectivity with only a Wi-Fi antenna against Apple’s wireless and LTE capabilities . Even though This should be seen as an advantage in the battery segment, the bigger unit packed on the Surface falls two or three hours short When Compared with the iPad Mini (mostly due to the bigger display).
A similar advantage can be seen in the camera section, where a more CapAble camera was mounted on the back of the Apple unit. Unfortunately, we can not say the same for connectivity ports, with the Apple Lightning technology being quite limited in comparison with the classic USB 2.0 and micro-HDMI ports mounted on the Surface. Also, it’s worth mentioning That the loading port Allows Microsoft lovers to stream 1080p Full HD movies on a compatible TV.
Microsoft has put a lot of effort into marketing the Surface RT with a detachable keyboard built in style. You must know thatthis keyboard, baptized Type Cover, ice USUALLY sold for $ 129 and besides looks and functionality, it does not bring much value to the game. While Apple doing now? Designed an official model, there is a wide range of 3 rd party manufacturers That sell iPad Mini keyboards for cheaper prices.
Another small, but interesting aspect is the fact That the Surface RT comes with a built-in kickstand and the capability of Adapting a regular mouse, besides the keyboard. Both of These features paint from the iPad Mini.
Software wise, the iPad Mini wins by a mile. While Windows 8 is not an awful creation, the slimmed RT version offers limited functionality. Future users can only access the touch-based navigation method, formerly known as Metro. Even though the Windows Store has over 100,000 applications optimized for touch, Necessary and highly valued titles can hardly be found.
Except Office 2013 RT, there’s pretty much Nothing that can beat Apple and its army of premium developers. Once again, in matters of experience, iPad Mini wins by a mile.
Winner : iPad Mini, only Because Windows RT is dreadful.
Against the Nexus 7
While the similarly sized opponent from the Google camp, the Nexus 10, is way more expensive than Microsoft’s creation, the Nexus 7 is still a slate to Consider. Even though the size and price are in a completely different price range and a sequel is rumored to hit soon, we’ve taking into consideration of Analyzing this Asus creation and compare it with the Surface RT. First stop, size and dimensions.
As seen from the picture above, the Surface ice Clearly a full-sized tablet while Nexus 7 is just a mini device. Microsoft’s product is mostly designed for a landscape view while Asus has a thing for portraits. Despite its larger panel, the Surface is a bit thinner than the Nexus 7 and exactly twice as heavy .
Returning to displays, the massive 10.6-inch panel mounted on the Surface RT comes with a slightly bigger resolution than the Nexus 7. When we compare the pixel density indicator, we See that Asus has the upper hand with 216 pixels / inch while Microsoft boosts only 148 pixels / inch (of course, once again, with a ClearType feature That Should Increase quality).
In the processing segment we find thateven though Microsoft has more room to innovate, an almost identical chip ice packed on both products: NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core. The only difference can be spotted in the clock frequency, where Surface RT outpaces Nexus 7 with 100 MHz. A bigger edge in performance can be observed in the RAM section, where twice the memory was integrated by Microsoft.
Battery life overpriced goes in favor of the smaller Nexus, eventhough a larger unit was attached on the Surface RT. As for cameras and connectivity options, there is not much That sets the two products apart.
When we reach the party software, Windows RT still falls as an issue to most consumers and considering the fact thatusers will not enjoy the traditional desktop environment and the wide range of applications thatcame alongwith it, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, the OS packed out-of-the-box on the Nexus 7 is the clear winner here. With Android and its Unmatched marketplace of all mobile platforms out there, future owners will surely find morethan CapAble titles.
Last but not least, the official detachable keyboard of the Surface RT represents a small advantage against the Nexus 7 and an expensive one as well. While the Asus-made slate is Purely constructed for portrait views, 3 rd party manufacturers have adopted wireless keyboards as well so in case you wanted one, options exist.
And let’s not forget the pricing figure, shall we?
Winner : undecided – if you want a Broader viewing area and not much besides movies and media, go for Surface RT. If you settle with a smaller screen BUT a wide range of apps, the Nexus 7 will do just fine.
Against the Amazon Kindle Fire 8.9 HD
Amazon has its sacred place in this round-up with an interesting productthat sells for a rather affordable price, at least the Wi-Fi only version. For starters, Unmatched Kindle Fire version comes with an 8.9-inch screen and a healthy resolution. When comparing the pixel density between the two, we FindThatBand Amazon managed to reach “Retina” levels while Surface RT is stuck in the low-range section.
On the other hand, Microsoft’s creation wins in the processing section where the quad-core Tegra processor squeezes quite a punch. Unfortunately, the Kindle Fire HD is not a tablet Meant for powerful tasks, as you’re about to see In the following lines.
Returning to specifics, both slates come with large storage capacities and no external expansion options. The Kindle Fire HD has the upper hand here, with a much optimized operating system That occupies just a small portion of the storage capacity.
In matters of connectivity and ports, the two are pretty matched. A huge advantage is given to Amazon thanks to a 4G/LTE antenna, integrated in the more expensive models. This portability advantage grave leaves marks on the price, with the 32GB 4G version costing $ 399 at this moment.
Even though the Surface RT is a 10.6-inch tablet, its larger shapes were integrated into a lighter bod y, weighting just 1.14 lbs. On the other camp, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 is a bit bulkier, with a final count of 25.1 lbs.
As with any other opponents Analyzed above, the larger battery of the Surface RT fails short against a smaller, more optimized screen. In otherwords, Kindle Fire users should get more life out of Their gadget but I would not vouch for that to happen once That greedy LTE antenna is enabled.
In matters of software and functionality, the Amazon Kindle family is powered by a highly modified version of Android, Which acts simply as a frame and does not bring its wide market aboard. In a few words, the operating system of the Kindle can hardly ask Organisations recognized as an android member and it’s Purely concentrated on media consumption. Because is a proprietary technology, multitasking does not work as good as in Google’s camp and some described it as filled with Unnecessary clutter and too much gestures to reach a basic function.
As for experience, we have to acknowledge That Amazon has Unmatched entertaining database. Filled with movies, books and audio files, the Kindle Fire HD has access to millions of interesting titles and to special offers like the Amazon Prime. Unfortunately, it lacks greatly in applications.
Because Amazon has chosen to Promote its own marketplace instead of Google Play, Their clients do not have access to regular Android applications, Which is a huge drawback. Interesting titles do not exist on Amazon’s domain, but They are sparse. On the other camp, Windows RT is a better choice for productivity and management, eventhough it lacks the desktop component.
Winner : choose Surface RT if you want some work done or the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 if you simply enjoy watching and reading stuff.
Bottom Line
In my opinion, Microsoft’s move was done in the right direction but it’s a bit too little and a little too late. A 30 per cent discount will not make the Surface RT a viable option for both business and consumer markets instead of tougher opponents Such as the iPad Mini. It comes with an awful price, a terrible operating system and a highly limited application offerings. Even though Windows RT has the Microsoft Office Advantage (and soon Outlook), the Redmond-based company has made That package available for iOS as well.
Then, there’s the fact overpriced That Surface RT Essentially stay connected the external keyboard, however, to get some work done, and That slashes $ 100 more of your pocket When bought at a package with the slate.
It’s a tough world, but Microsoft would pull it through if the Surface RT would cost $ 250 and $ 300 with the keyboard dock. Until then, seek a better option.
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