With the release of the Windows 8 Surface Pro, Microsoft has reclaimed some of the good will it lost with the Surface RT. Unlike the earlier Surface product, the Pro features the full version of Windows 8, uses a powerful Intel Core i5 CPU, and can install and run just about any software app that a standard laptop or desktop PC can. But while it’s probably the single best example of a Windows tablet we’ve seen to date, it’s far from perfect. The modest battery life, high price, and lack of features all mean the Surface Pro is unlikely to be your main PC, or a serious challenge to popular tablets such as Apple’s iPad (although some will insist that’s an apples-to-oranges comparison). Having used the Surface Pro, I’m happy to say that it’s one of those products that come off even better in person than on paper.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.