October 2012 will always be remembered as the month Microsoft chose to fire its first major salvo in the battle for tablet supremacy. Two Microsoft Surface tablets, one loaded with Windows RT and the other one with Windows 8 Pro made a significant splash into the personal computing marketplace, virtually around the same time Apple hosted a product release event for new additions to its popular iPad lineup.
The inevitable comparisons between the Surface and the iPad did not take too long to materialize, and it is interesting to note that many reviewers and tech journalists agreed that the Surface user experience was similar to that of a desktop PC. This observation has a lot to do with the operating system and with Microsoft’s planned strategy to make Windows 8 a real cross-platform experience.
Will the Microsoft strategy make tablets the new desktop PCs?
A standard USB port, large display, kickstand, and full-size keyboard connector make the Surface tablet a device that could easily replace a desktop PC in some households. One of Microsoft’s goals is to allow users to seamlessly move from one Windows device to another. This means that Surface tablet users can do a lot more than just sync files and settings among smartphones, desktops and Xbox consoles; they will enjoy a similar experience across all devices.
The new Surface tablets ship with Microsoft Office, a strong signal from Microsoft that indicates its desire to make the desktop available on the go. Whereas the iPad is a great device for entertainment and personal organization, the Surface tablets clearly have productivity in mind. The iPad is not powered by the same operating system found in desktop Macs; the Surface, on the other hand, wants to be the desktop.
Other Mobile to Desktop Conversions
It does not take much to turn the Surface tablets into a desktop PCs, and they are not the only mobile devices that can be transformed into desktops. Users of iPads and the popular Samsung Galaxy tablets are already familiar with dock manufacturers like iLuv, makers of workstation platforms that turn tablets into full-blown desktop PCs, complete with powerful stereo speakers.
Tablets are not the only devices poised to serve a double life as desktops. When Samsung announced the availability of its Galaxy Note II smartphone in North America, the Korean electronics giant also released its own Smart Dock. This device greatly expands the functionality of the Galaxy Note II with a power cradle, three standard USB ports, a speaker, a line-out audio connector, and a HDMI port. This means that the Android-powered smartphone can be connected to a mouse, keyboard, speakers, monitor, and even printer –thereby turning the Galaxy Note II into a desktop experience.
Author Bio
This article was written by Sid Crosby, a PC and Tablet enthusiast. Sid is currently researching Christmas gifts for him, looking into which gadgets might be ideal for your husband, boyfriend, dad or even granddad!.
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