Good For: Windows tablet. Since Windows 10 is still not completely ready for the iPad form factor yet, this is as close to a tablet we will get. When you stack it between the iPad and the Lenovo Yoga, it is clearly halfway between the two. The detatchable keyboard also serves as a cover, but since the Windows keyboard is still awful it is best to keep it attached. The stand is on a hinge integrated to the back, making the tilt angle of the screen fully adjustable. It is much more effective than the wonky triangle base solution that the iPad cover comes with. The Surface seems to be designed for a desk surface, versus the iPad's hand held focus. Fold up the Surface stand and keyboard and it can play hand held just like the iPad.
Compromises: The Surface Pro works sitting on a desk and as a tablet, but it is a bad laptop. Using the touch pad feels like a chore, as the button has too much resistance. If the Windows OS were as slick as an iPad for touch screen interactions, then this would be a moot point. When I have my iPad sitting on the desk, I just connect the bluetooth keyboard and no mouse is needed. Overall, if you plan on actually using the Surface Pro on your lap, be prepared for some awkwardness that will have you looking around for the nearest table top to move to.
Overall reaction - Thumb up: The Surface Pro is a Windows PC in the most minimalist package. It has only one USB port, but plug in a docking station and you are quickly up and running with as many big monitors and input devices as you need to be very productive at your desk all day. If you need to move, taking everything you are working on with you is a light burden. Even the power adapter is more of a tablet-sized plug compared to the bricks that come with laptops, and it even features an extra USB port for power to charge your phone or tablet. That power port comes in handy because in the end, the Surface Pro cannot replace my tablet, and at the same time ceases to be a laptop. Windows still has too many functions that don't work well on a tablet, so you feel like you are working on a laptop stuck inside a tablet form factor. When I take a trip I travel with both the iPad and Yoga because they fulfill two different use cases. The iPad is perfect for hand held use and quickly accessing functions, since there is essentially no wait to come online from standby. The Yoga's touch screen and hinge allow for mobile use in small spaces, but does not compromise any laptop functions. I'm not looking for a third device to carry, but at least when I do pack it, it's a reasonably small one.