Microsoft unveiled on Tuesday details about pricing and availability for its new 10.6-inch Windows 8 tablet, the Surface.As more tablets hit the market, consumers are faced with the task of weeding through the proliferation of options.
The Microsoft Surface touts a slightly larger display compared to the Apple iPad and Kindle Fire HD, which are among the two most popular tablet models. The Surface features a lesser-resolution screen to cut back on battery life, and only includes Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The Apple iPad and Kindle Fire HD both offer 2G, 3G and 4G LTE capabilities.
To make your purchasing decision easier, we stacked the Surface up against the iPad and Kindle Fire HD in a handy chart below.
Take a look at the specs below and let us know which device you think
is the best investment. Will you be purchasing one of the devices? Let
us know in the comments.Microsoft Surface RT vs. Apple iPad vs. Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9
| Microsoft Surface RT | Apple iPad | Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8.9 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 10.6 inches | 9.7 inches | 8.9 inches |
| Resolution | 1,366 x 768 | 2,048 x 1,536 | 1,920 x 1,200 |
| Pixel Density | 148 ppi | 264 ppi | 254 ppi |
| Weight | 1.5 pounds | 1.44 or 1.46 pounds | 1.25 pounds |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 6.7 x 10.8 x 0.37 inches | 7.3 x 9.5 x 0.37 inches | 6.4 x 9.4 x 0.35 inches |
| CPU | Quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 | Dual-core 1GHz Apple A5X (quad-core graphics) | Dual-core 1.5GHz TI OMAP4470 |
| Storage | 32GB or 64GB | 16GB, 32GB or 64GB | 16GB or 32GB |
| Connectors | USB 2.0, microHDMI | Apple 30-pin dock connector | microUSB, microHDMI |
| Operating System | Windows RT | iOS 6 | Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) |
| Battery Life | 8 hours of mixed activity | 10 hours of video playback (11,666 mAh) | 9 hours |
| Camera | Two 720p HD cameras, front- and rear-facing | 5MP rear camera, VGA front camera | HD front camera |
| Networking | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 | Wi-Fi or Wi-Fi and 2G, 3G, 4G LTE; Bluetooth 4.0 | Dual-band Wi-Fi or dual-band Wi-Fi and 2G, 3G, 4G LTE; Bluetooth |
| Price | $499 for 32GB, $599 for 32GB and Touch Cover, $699 for 64GB and Touch Cover | $499 for 16GB, $599 for 32GB, $699 for 64GB (Wi-Fi); $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB, $829 for 64GB (Wi-Fi + cellular) | $299 for 16GB, $369 for 32GB (Wi-Fi); $499 for 32GB, $599 for 64GB (Wi-Fi + cellular) |