Surface and Other Similar Hybrid Gadgets

Microsoft’s Surface brought about a tendency among the users and other analysts to compare the device with other advanced tablet / hybrid products.

Although there was a popular conception that the specifications of Surface will be similar to the hybrid tablets of other companies, yet there are significant differences between the products.

Surface is being powered by Quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3, and even supports a RAM of 2GB. Microsoft’s bigger-screened tablet, Surface differs from all other hybrid tablets of the genre in a variety of ways, especially regarding specifications.

A comparative study can help in solving the mystery. 

General specifications of various hybrid tablets

Microsoft’s Surface

The flagship tablet of Microsoft, Surface has been developed to ensure full advantage of the software of Windows RT, manufactured by Microsoft.

It is said that Windows 7 and its earlier versions face several issues regarding performance owing to underpowered hardware.

Microsoft wanted to make full use of the operating system of its own, thereby Surface came into the market.

The company is toeing the strategy of Apple, by manufacturing hardware and software for a product under the same roof.

Del XPS 10

This product poses an advantageous position over Surface in terms of battery life expectation.

The product has built-in battery in the keyboard and provides about 10 to 12 hours of working duration. 

Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx K3011

The device has a large display of 11.6 inches.

Optional external keyboard provides better typing.

In addition to this, the full-sized virtual touch-keyboard over the bigger screen also provides better typing option.

Asus Eee Pad Transformer

This is the first device that brought about the technology and concept of detachable keyboard for the hybrid tablets.

The device is powered by Android, Honeycomb (version 3.2).

However, it can be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich (Android version 4.0).

The detachable keyboard, other than helping in easy typing, also made an impression of a protective cover for the screen of the gadget, when not in use.

In addition to this, Asus even improvised the concept of adding battery into the keyboard that increased the overall duration of performance by the gadget.

HP Envy

This device is highly priced and comes with a keyboard. To be precise, this product cannot be called a tablet in its true sense.

However, it is argued by the manufacturers that optimum advantage of Windows RT cannot be achieved without a device with keyboard.

Unlike Asus, HP’s Envy does not come with battery in the keyboard.

On the other hand, the power of SuperSpeed Dual Video Docking Station helps the device to sport a resolution up to 2048 x 1152, which is quite impressive in comparison to several other gadgets under the same category.

Comparison between Surface and other hybrid tablets

Microsoft’s decision to provide a device that would ensure ultimate advantage of the OS of Windows RT had forced them to innovate on the tablet, Surface.

In case of all the devices specified above, the resolution of the screen stays incomparable to the retina display provided in the gadgets by Apple.

Even the latest iPhone provides the technology that has a superior screen resolution than any of the said product. However, Asus and Dell, with their innovative idea of coming up with battery-enabled keyboard, has been able to beat the product of Apple in terms of operational duration.

Microsoft, on the other hand, has even provided HD camera (both frontal, as well as rear) for enabling better and clearer video conferencing through the gadget.

It is even featuring an advanced Wi-Fi system to help the users stay connected with the web world from any part of the world.

On a particular note, Surface can be regarded as a hybrid tablet since it comes with an external keyboard system.

The screen cannot be detached from the keyboard (like that of Eee Pad Transformer from Asus, or the IdeaTab Lynx).

Even the keyboard is not provided with additional battery, bringing down the working duration of the product by a considerable time when compared to the device by that of Asus or Dell.

However, on a positive note it can be argued that the keyboard provided in Surface is spill-proof and even a touchpad. It cannot be compared with the conventional keyboard with which the consumers are familiar.