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There have always been big differences between Microsoft and Apple, but the most striking is perhaps that Apple has created its own computers. Microsoft does not have it. You can buy a Windows PC from dozens of companies, but not Microsoft, which has led Apple to tout its computer system and software designed to work together. For years, though, it seemed inevitable that Microsoft would manufacture its own Windows hardware. On June 18, 2012, the company unveiled the original Surface range.
Surface and Surface Pro were both clearly inspired by the iPad, whose popularity was booming at the time, but Microsoft chose its own tablets. First and foremost, both devices have been announced with keyboard cover accessories, making them much more suitable than the iPad for doing "real work". The iPads were keyboard-compatible from the first day, but Surface and Windows were much better suited for keyboard-mouse control than touch in 2012.
But the Surface was one of the first times we saw a tablet built next to a detachable keyboard accessory. The concept was simple: use it with the keyboard to navigate Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations, and then remove the keyboard for a tablet-centric touch. But as often, the devil was in the details – and the first Surface devices did not exactly have these details.
The first Surface was put on sale in October and obvious problems immediately arose. From a hardware perspective, it was difficult to defeat the non-adjustable kickstand, the relatively small screen size of the first Surface and its bulky 16: 9 format (which made it virtually unusable as a tablet). But the Windows RT software for the device, which only allowed you to install applications from the Windows Store, was perhaps even more overwhelming. Of course, he was running full versions of Microsoft Office, but beyond that, the software ecosystem was severely limited. All this made the surface a bit difficult to sell: it was not better as a tablet than as an iPad, and it was more limited than other Windows laptops.
The Surface Pro, which did not arrive until February 2013, came with its own problems. On the plus side, it offered a much better screen than the standard surface and supported the new Surface Pen accessory. It was also more powerful and used a full version of Windows 8, compatible with the wide range of software available for Microsoft's main operating system, even though it was not optimized for touch. But the Surface Pro was just too big and too heavy to serve as a tablet. the battery life was much worse than the standard surface; And it was not the most convenient device to use on your lap because of this crutch. As such, it was difficult to recommend it over traditional laptops, especially when it cost more than $ 1,000 with a keyboard.
Although Microsoft did not get the details the first time, the company did a good job of iterations and continual improvements over the next few years. Quickly, Microsoft gave up a model of Surface reduced power and limited capacity and focused all its efforts on the Pro, a decision that bore fruit in 2014. The Surface Pro 3 has evolved to a larger screen but managed. reduce the thickness and weight, while the multi-level kickstand made it more comfortable to use. The Surface Pen has become more and more efficient, the battery life improved, Microsoft has abandoned the 16: 9 display ratio, and in 2015, when the Surface Pro 4 was launched, Microsoft finally has concretized the vision that he had presented years ago.
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