Copied from a post I made in the Surface Review thread...
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I'm absolutely thrilled with my new Surface. Besides my earlier question on the RT forum asking how to "select" a single photo, the learning curve is almost a non-issue. I love swiping between open programs and the ease of navigating around. The touch keyboard does take some getting used to (I havent' used it enough to be hyper-proficient but can type pretty quickly on it when I'm sitting at a desk in a proper position), and having access to office is great.
The realization I have had is that, for me at this point in time, it isn't an iPad (or iPod Touch) replacement. Why? Simply stated the more obscure app selection that I've grown to use on my iPad for home-related devices.
* Sonos - I truly wonder if/when they'll have an RT app. You can install the desktop SW on Pro, but we're talking RT. No web interface available to my knowledge.
* My Yamaha receiver - not holding my breath. I use the app all the time to control zones, launch Pandora, etc.
* Nest Thermostat - again I wonder (especially given their Apple pedigree though they do have Android apps). They do have a web interface that I could probably use.
* Logitech Squeezebox (pre Sonos device I still have) - who knows? They too have a web interface - slightly clunkier than the app IIRC.
* Future home automation projects - I guess we'll see.
I guess what I'm saying is that I need a glorified remote at home for all of these connected devices, and I one can always rest assured that iOS will have an app that's needed, whereas until the RT ecosystem really gets a serious install base some of these more "niche" device companies probably won't allocate the resources to RT (I hope I'm wrong).
To be perfectly clear I don't think that's necessarily a negative for the Surface. Spend $199 or whatever an iPod Touch costs and have that be the glorified remote hanging out on the coffee table, but otherwise have the Surface for all other consumption & creation needs.
My only other "knock", if I can call it that, is that since game developers develop specifically for the iPad I wonder whether the breadth of RT offerings (over time) will be as optimized. IMO Jetpack Joyride is an example of a game on the Surface that is playable and fine, but not as crisp & smooth as the iPad. I'm chalking that up to being optimized for the iPad vs. being playable on the Surface if that makes sense.
All in all, I love the device and short of when I need to control those specific home devices I doubt I'll be touching the iPad much if at all....(though I hope they come out with a few decent tower defense games soon)