Looking for a lightweight holiday laptop? The Macbook Air beckons, but the Microsoft Surface Pro comes out in January. Could it be worth the wait? How does the tablet/ultrabook hybrid compare with the similarly priced 11-inch Apple Macbook Air?
The Surface Pro's more portable sibling, the Surface RT, is already out. It's a true tablet, and positioned to compete with the iPad, but sales have been sluggish.
The Surface Pro might suffer the same fate, especially if it can't find its own niche.
It's bulkier, heavier, and has a shorter battery life than the Surface RT, but those are typical tradeoffs for more power. The Surface Pro offers a full version of Windows 8, complete with access to third-party applications.
But when used as a tablet, it has some drawbacks. The charge won't last all day and it's less portable than most competitors. The Surface Pro works better as a small laptop, though its removable optional keyboard can make it difficult to be simultaneously productive and transportable.
Processor
Both the Surface Pro and the Macbook Air come with Intel Core i5 processors and an Intel HD graphics 4000 card, offering a lot more power than a tablet. Standard configurations for both also come with 4 GB of RAM.
Operating System
Reviews are mixed on Windows 8, with some users absolutely hating it, while others are adapting more quickly to the mobile focus. These days OS X is the gold standard for operating systems, at least among those who don't fish around for the latest Linux builds, which is most of us.
Hard Drive
Both the Macbook Air and the Surface Pro come with 64 GB of flash storage, with a 128 GB optional upgrade. But the Surface Pro also comes with a microSDXC xlot, a bit of expandability not found on the Macbook.
Screen
The Surface Pro outshines the Macbook Air here. The 1920 by 1080 pixel display has a much higher resolution than the 1366 by 768 pixel screen on the Air. But the Macbook Air's screen is physically larger by a full inch, so it might be easier for some eyes to view, even if it won't display as much information.
In addition, the tablet ancestry of the Surface Pro shows up in the 10-point multitouch input and stylus.
Size
The form factor of the Surface Pro is also a bit better than the Macbook Air. At its thickest point, the Air is just over two-thirds of an inch thick, but the Surface Pro is barely more than half an inch thick.
The Macbook Air is about an inch wider and almost an inch deeper than the Surface Pro. Both computers are feather-light, with the Surface Pro weighing in at two pounds and the Macbook Air only a third of a pound heavier than that.
Battery
The Macbook Air is very specifically a laptop, if a very portable one. It's not made for all-day travel, but it is easier to move between working locations, Its 5 hours of battery life is quite good for an ultrabook.
The Surface Pro gets a comparable 4.5 hours of battery life, which is great if the Surface Pro is used like a laptop.
But for use on-the-go, one of the prime selling points of the Surface Pro, it's atrocious battery life for a tablet. The charger needs to be carried around for the day, adding to the bulk. But the option does exist, and it's easier to just forgo the keyboard and use the stylus or multitouch while in transit, especially if it involves public transport or someone else can drive.
Keyboard
The Macbook Air has a full-size backlit keyboard and trackpad, and it's remarkably spacious for such a small machine. The Surface has 10-point touch and a stylus, but the optional physical Type Cover keyboard costs an extra $130. It affixes to the Surface Pro with small magnets.
Price
The $899 base model Surface Pro is $100 cheaper than the baseline 11-inch Macbook Air. But add in the keyboard (which is necessary for long-term productivity) and the Surface Pro is more expensive. Add in memory upgrades and warranties and the two are essentially evenly priced.
But if you're looking for a light laptop, there are three more Macbook Air models with increasing capabilities (and price tags) that are just as portable.
And for smaller and thinner workhorses, tablets are working well for most people.
The Surface Pro occupies a relatively small niche for people who want access to a full-powered laptop with a real operating system but don't want even the slimmest of laptops.
Against initial resistance, Apple created a market for tablets by convincing people they wanted something smaller than a laptop but bigger than a smartphone, with capabilities somewhere between the two. Microsoft is less adept at that brand of marketing.